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Chapter 16
When the guyscame home – it was odd how much I was beginning to consider their little apartment home – I was sitting on the couch reading thePerks of Being a Wallflower, with Cleo purring in my lap. I had been excused from training for the day. Knix had set himself up to draw another set of blueprints for a separate property and was working at the small kitchenette’s table. He immediately got up and pulled Marv aside, as the guys piled in through the frontdoor.
Texas and Bellamy’s eyes lit up when they saw me, turning my insides to mush. While Bellamy hung back, Texas bulldozed right over and crash landed on the couch over my lap and Cleo. She hissed and batted at his face. He just leaned down and kissed her furry little head. I was glad that Texas seemed to have gotten over his shyness with me. Before, he had held himself apart as though I were a coworker. Now that the rest of the guys had decided I was alright and in it long term, he was just as friendly. Or maybe he just really likedCleo.
“Guess what I did today,” he urged, tilting his face up to look at me with his soft, brown eyes. A lock of dark hair fell over his forehead and I brushed it backgrinning.
“What did you do?” Iasked.
He shook his head. “Nuh uh. You have toguess.”
“Hmmm,” I hummed, glancing over him for any potential clues. His usual jeans were replaced with khakis and instead of a t-shirt, he wore a much nicer green polo tucked halfway into his pants with a brown belt to top it off. His feet were bare, but I caught the pair of brown suede loafers sitting by the front door. “A job?” Iasked.
He blinked in surprise before turning his head to Bellamy. “Did youtattle?”
Bellamy shook his head back and forth quickly, grinning. “Nope. Not aword.”
Texas rounded back to me, sitting up on his knees. “Did Knix tell you?Marv?”
“Full guesswork.” Ismirked.
He huffed, indignant. “Well, that blows. I was looking forward to making you sweat forthat.”
“Next time don’t give it away with your reaction,” Bellamy advised as he ambled over to the table, looking over Knix’swork.
Texas laid back down in my lap, and sighed. “Well, yea, I got a job,” he said. “You’re looking at the on call, IT guy for Sweratt Inc. Resort and Retreat for the next week. I’m on loan,” he paused, raising his hands to put air quotes around the word ‘loan’. I giggled. “–from another company that they associatewith.”
“What company?” I asked,curious.
He grinned, poking my nose. I batted his hand away, but still, I liked how playful he was today. “GoodeConstruction.”
“Huh?” The name wasn’tfamiliar.
“It’s Knix’s company,” Bellamyexplained.
“Knix has a company?” Why hadn’t I known that? Thinking back, it made sense though; the blueprints, the information about his dad, the guys at the worksite that had followed hisdirections.
“Yea, he sort of took over his dad’s company and then made it his own,” Bellamyexplained.
“Yup,” Texas agreed, “and it’s useful in situations such as these. So, I’ll be on the island with you and Marv. Knix and Bellamy will likely not be able to make it on. At least not for the first twenty-fourhours.”
“Why?”
“It’s lockdown time. Sort of.” Texas scratched Cleo under her chin, earning a rewarding purr and lick. “See, all of these people are business men and women. Their entire lives revolve around work and the first twenty-four hours require them to give up cell phones, laptops, and anything else that can link them to the work world. Their security is actually pretty good, so you and Marv won’t have anyeither.”
My eyes widened. What if something bad happened? How would we get in touch with them? Texas caught my eyes and sat up, hugging me to his sidereassuringly.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be right there and unlike the guests, I am there to work. Cell phones are required for me and I’ll be giving Marv one when we meet up on the island. You two shouldn’t be separated and you won’t be without one for more than the time it takes you to get through security to the firstdinner.”
I relaxed, knowing that my panic was unwarranted. I hadn’t relied on a phone until I met these guys. It really wouldn’t be so hard to go without one for a few hours. Then again, we were going into a potentially dangerous situation. Suddenly, I was more appreciative of the training Knix had put me through, and I wished we had practiced more again today. I must have still looked concerned because Texas took the arm he slung around my neck and pitched me forward, locking my head into his side. I squirmed and pushed, but the more I did, the harder he chuckled until he was enveloped in a full-blown laugh. His chest vibrated and I could hear his lungs squeezing in air as he held me like that, and I struggled playfully to get away. I poked him in his side and he finally released me, rolling to the floor to escape my flying fist ofrevenge.
He gripped my wrist and twisted me until I landed on the floor with him hovering over me. He pressed down, his eyes sparkling, lighting a fire within. I gasped, staring up at him. His smile was wide and friendly, filled with amusement. I relaxed, slumping back on the floor, and grinned back at him. A pair of feet, covered in smooth black dress socks stopped just above my head and both Texas and I tilted our necks to look up. Marv stood, feet spread apart, hands on his hips, squinting down atus.
“What are you two doing? Don’t we have work todo?”
The groan that rumbled from my chest was echoed by Texas’ and we glanced at each other before we broke into another peal of laughter, causing Marv and Bellamy to shake their heads andsmile.
Hours later, I was back at the outlets where Marv had bought my first dress, this time with only Texas as my escort. We had been instructed to purchase two daytime outfits and another cocktail dress for the retreat. Marv had to do an errand for Knix, while Bellamy had remained behind to prepare for the coming weekend on Sweratt Island, or so that’s what I was calling it. Apparently, the island didn’t actually have a name. It was barely a mile long and about two miles wide. It was only large enough for a resort and spa owned by Sweratt Incorporated, a few VIP guest houses, lodging for employees, and not muchelse.
