Feeling like an awkward bystander, Emma almost asked how this man was connected to R.I.S.C. when his words finally sank in.
When the boss beckons. The boss...
“You work for Jake?” she blurted a little too loudly.
Both men looked over at her, but Sean butted in before Trace could answer. “I see you’ve already met my little sister.”
Despite the fact that it was true, Emma really hated how juvenile that sounded. She was twenty-six, not twelve.
“Sister?” Trace blinked before studying her a bit too closely. “Oh, right. I can see the resemblance, now.”
“Trace is going to be leading the new team in Richmond for us,” Sean informed her.
Emma’s heart began beating just a little bit harder. Richmond...as in one of the two cities she could be moving to, soon. Should she accept Jake’s offer, that is.
If I choose Richmond, I’ll be working with this man. Closely.
Like every, single, day.
The prospect sounded both wonderful and dangerous.
Closing the planner, she offered him an apologetic smile. “I guess that means you don’t need to make an appointment, after all.”
“Guess not.”
There was a stretch of silence—a slight moment passing between the two of them—before Sean cleared his throat and spoke up again.
“Okay, well...I’m sure Emma has things to do, and the meeting’s about to start, so...”
“Of course.” Trace blinked again, and just like that, any semblance of heat that had been there was gone. “It was nice to meet you...Emma.”
“You, too.” She sounded a bit too cheerful while struggling to keep her expression steady.
Turning back in the direction from which he came, Sean began filling the other man in as they walked away.
“Bravo Team’s on an op overseas, and Carpenter, the operative who’ll be running Delta Team, got tied up with a family emergency. So you won’t get to meet those guys today. But all of Alpha Team is here, so you’ll at least have a chance to get to know us a little bit.”
“Sounds good.”
Their words trailed off as they disappeared down the hallway. With no one else around to notice, Emma shamelessly took in the view for as long as she could.
Damn.The man looked as good from the back as he did from the front.
Of course, Sean’s ‘little sister’ comment had probably put her in the no-fly zone before she could even ask the guy out for a drink.
Just like when they were growing up.
Back then, anytime she or Alyssa—their middle sibling—had showed interest in a guy while Sean was around, he’d immediately intervene. Start questioning us and the poor guys like he was the Spanish Inquisition.
Emma loved her big brother dearly, but sometimes he was a real pain in the ass.
Not that it mattered. If she did take the job in Richmond, chances were there’d be a no-fraternization clause in her contract.
Except Sean and Mac are on the same team, and they’re engaged to be married. So maybe...
The tiny voice in her head did have a point. Still, she was getting way ahead of herself. For all she knew, Trace was married with six kids.
There wasn’t a ring.