“You invite the boss?”Boone asked.
“Yep, but he’s not gonna show.Holt’s catching up with Jett before he and Anna head out to their cabin.Apparently, they left all their kids at home with the nanny, so Jett is eager for some alone time with the missus,” Xaden said with a laugh.
“Damn.I can’t even imagine that—a wife, a house, kids.Jett did okay for himself after leaving the service.I’ve seen his place in New York, and it’s damn impressive.Then there’s the whole security empire he started from the ground,” Boone said appreciatively.“The guy’s a force to be reckoned with.”
“He is,” Xaden agreed.“That’s a guy you never want to get on the wrong side of.I’m going to fill in Coop about tonight,” he continued.“Text Knox and tell him to meet us there.”
“Will do,” Boone said, ending the call.He shot off a quick text to his teammate, doubting Knox would join them.The guy generally liked to keep to himself.At the last minute, Boone thumbed a text to Radley as well.As the only woman currently working with the team, he didn’t want her to be unintentionally excluded.Plus, he wanted eyes on her.Sure, she was damn pretty to look at, but he didn’t like that she was being threatened.
He’d almost considered following her back to her condo earlier, but he knew she’d be pissed at him.Odd that he felt so protective towards a woman he hardly knew.
Thirty minutes later, he was pulling up to the bar the team was meeting at.Xaden and the other men had been in Seattle longer and had already discovered their favorite local hangouts.He’d have to get the names of some other places to check out.
Boone parked his big pickup truck and sauntered inside, ignoring the appreciative looks of a few women seated at a high-top table near the bar.He wasn’t here to pick up a girl.Boone clapped Gage on the back as he strode up, gesturing to the bartender for a beer.
“You made it,” Gage said with a grin.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Boone said, looking around.The space was dimly lit with low music thumping over the speakers and a good-sized crowd for a weeknight.It had a laid back, easy vibe that he appreciated.Boone could see why his teammate liked the place.
Xaden ambled over, his arm already around a pretty brunette in a tight dress.“Can I buy you a drink?”he asked, his eyes heating as she snuggled closer to him.Boone and Gage exchanged a look.
“I’d love a glass of white wine.”Her hand landed on Xaden’s broad chest, and he smirked.
“Sure thing, sweetheart.Coming right up.”
A beer appeared before Boone, the bartender already moving, and he took a long pull, trying not to snicker at the woman fawning all over Xaden.He was eating that shit right up.Even Gage looked rightfully amused.
“Hell of a day,” Boone said.“And we just got started.”
“Don’t I know it.Nothing like juggling multiple problems at once,” Gage said.“Hopefully Radley’s okay at her place.”
“She’s meeting us here,” Boone told him.
Cooper walked up right then, chuckling.“No shit.And who invited her?”he asked, giving Boone a knowing look.
“We work together,” Boone pointed out.“There’s nothing else going on,” he said smoothly.
“Keep telling yourself that,” Cooper said.
Gage rolled his eyes.“You’re just jealous Boone spotted her first.You should go after the receptionist.Word on the street is she’s single.”
“Oh yeah?”Cooper asked, looking interested.“She’s pretty, and I do have a thing for blondes.She’s new in town, too.We definitely should’ve invited her to join us tonight—something I intend to rectify the next time we all go out,” he joked.
Gage and Cooper continued talking, but Boone’s gaze caught on the door to the bar as it opened.He nearly did a double-take as Radley strode inside—beautiful, confident, and fucking stunning.She’d changed into tight jeans and a slim-fitting top, a leather jacket tossed over it.The high-heeled boots she wore clung to her calves like a second skin, and her dark, glossy hair bounced as she moved.The woman looked badass sexy.
And she was his damn coworker.
Boone lifted a hand in greeting, trying to keep his expression neutral as she moved toward him.“Find the place okay?”he asked, clearing his throat.
“Of course.It’s not my first rodeo,” she joked, causing Boone to smirk.
Her peachy floral scent slammed into him as she brushed her hair back, and Boone bristled as Cooper called out to her.“Looking good, Rad.”
Her eyes slanted his way.“Thanks, Coop.You fishing for compliments?”
“Course not,” he razzed.
Boone clenched his fist.Of course, his buddy was acting like they were on a nickname basis already.He had to hand it to Radley though—she gave as good as she got.And he liked that she wasn’t fawning all over Cooper like women often did.He usually drew them in like moths to a flame, but so far, Radley seemed impervious to his charm.