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“Hey, how are you two ladies doing?” asked Becky.
“Getting by. We’re going to work on that computerized sketch program for Sharlee. We might come up with something.”
Becky came in closer, whispering, “I hope this gets figured out soon. I’m just about toast between my overprotective Carter and a boss who is worried about everyone. It’s making me moody and you know, being pregnant makes me moody enough.”
Becky walked into Jac’s home office, searching for him. Darcy and Finley headed to Sharlee, who had already loaded the programs they would need on a laptop. Levi and Ben sat on the other side of the room watching the women but also working on following up on some leads that were shaky but what else could they do until they got lucky?
Cash was busy staying on top of who was in the house and keeping security tight. He and Levi took turns doing security rounds, but Cash did the majority of the house security. He needed that control, but it kept him busy most of the day. Levi knew that Finley missed him.
“Are you and Finley an item?”
Levi looked at Ben with a thoughtful smile. “Finley, Cash and I.”
“Really? I thought that was what I’d understood the other night, but things were pretty dicey that day. You good with sharing?”
“Honestly? I wasn’t sure, but we’re finding our way. It’s where I believe I want to go. Cash is all for it. Finley? Sometimes I’d say yes, but other days?” He shrugged.
Ben nodded. “What do you think is holding her back?”
“I’d say fear of what committing would be like. What she would be required to do and how much would she have to giveup? We were friends for nearly the whole time she’s been here. Cash and I since we were ten. Without realizing it, I have grown attracted to her in a more than,” he used air quotes, “friends-with-benefits way. Cash has never had a committed relationship like this, but he’s shared before.”
“And the sex side. Is that a threesome as well?”
Levi laughed. “If you mean do we cross swords, nope, not happening. We have been figuring out what works for us. It might turn out to be an either-or situation as far as the sex side of things. You know, she gets the king bed and one or the other shares space with her. We don’t mind sleeping together with Fin, or having some fun, but full-on sexy times two, yeah, not as appealing.”
“Ah, so you’re worried she might not want to stick with this type of arrangement?”
“Sort of, but it’s more than that. I don’t want her to wake up some day and realize that she doesn’t have anyone significant in her life and she goes looking for him, singular. The day she was kidnapped, I decided that was what I wanted to be to her, significant. Cash was waiting for me to declare. I just don’t know if she is ready for it all.”
“Thought about asking her?”
Levi scoffed at the question. “Of course. But you don’t know Fin. She has a heavy protective coating that you can’t break, but if you have a key, she just opens right up.”
“Do you have the key?”
“Sometimes I think I do. Sometimes, when we’re lying in bed after sex all relaxed, she tells me things I didn’t know or that I only suspected about her and her upbringing. The military was hard for her. Not only was she female in a macho MOS, military police, but she was also ridiculed by some of her friends and family back home. They didn’t understand her joining up.”
“Man, that’s fucked up. When a person takes a hard hit like that, it’s difficult to see the world as anything but levels of hostile.”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t all bad, and she tries to focus on those things. She doesn’t want kids and she figures most guys do. She’s a nanny now, and having kids isn’t her goal. She loves Storm and if Sharlee has another one, then she would love that one too.”
“Just not her own.” Ben leaned over to grab another paper to peruse.
“Right. Cash is all fine whether we have a family or not, engage together or separately. So long as he has her, the rest is open to define. Finley has that distant soft look in her eye sometimes when she looks at Anora, but I’m trying to interpret as I go.” Both men look over at the women. Levi continued. “You seem to have settled Darcy down. She was a little jumpy there at first. Finley says she helped things work in getting Storm to safety. And Fin’s hard to impress.”
Ben nodded and shared a ghost of a smile. “She’s getting her bearings and seems to trust me a little.”
“I hope that’s a good thing.”
“Me, too,” said Ben.
Chapter 14
It had gotten quiet with most of the team gone to their own homes. It was coming up on two weeks and nothing further had happened. All the potential leads had all but dried up. Jac hated that he was being dangled on a chain, but until they found more to sink their teeth into, there was nothing else he could do. He did this cat and mouse for his clients, but for himself, it was maddening.
The women demanded to go home at least at night and the guys had to agree. There was no reason not to at this point. All that remained during the day were Ben and Darcy, Levi, Cash and Finley, and Storm’s additional bodyguard. That Jac wouldn’t allow Finley to protect Storm on her own, as she’d done previously to the kidnapping, bothered Finley.
Ben stood after a long morning of no results. “I think I’m taking Darcy back to my place. I’m not someone anyone would expect as related to any of your organization and so Darcy will be fine with me. I’ve got good security and Mark upgraded me a little. Added a few more cameras.”
