She wasn’t actually as high maintenance as the statement probably made her sound. Emma just liked what she liked and saw no reason to settle for less.
Plus, any chance she got to razz her brother, well...those moments were too good to pass up.
The other men in the room snorted and snickered, two of them politely covering their mouths with some not-so-subtle coughs. Emma smiled with them, knowing they weren’t actually laughingather, but rather with her.
Something else she’d quickly learned since being here...these guys liked to give each other grief every chance they could.
With a roll of his eyes, Sean simply shook his head while Mac—the only female member of R.I.S.C.’s Alpha Team—came to her defense.
“Don’t worry, Em.” The petite sniper playfully pushed Sean to the side as she walked by. “These guys wouldn’t know a good cup of coffee if it splashed them in the face. I’ll take a medium caramel macchiato with an extra shot of espresso, whipped cream, and caramel drizzle.”
Mac reached into her jeans pockets and pulled out a ten-dollar bill.
“Did you just order coffee or desert?” Sean asked his fiancée with a raised brow.
“Ignore my brother.” Emma stood straight while waving the offered funds away. “And this one’s on me.”
Mac’s brows dropped slightly. “You sure?”
“Consider it a pre-wedding gift.” Giving Mac a wink and the others a wave, she added, “I told Jake I’d be back before the meeting starts, so I’d better go.”
With that, Emma left the office in search of what was sure to be a cup of heavenly bliss.
Ten minutes later, it was finally her turn to order. After letting the barista know what she and Mac wanted, she stepped to the side to wait while the drinks were being made.
Breathing in the delicious combination of coffee, chocolate, and other delectable scents, she wondered if the offices in Chicago or Richmond would have a quaint shop like this one nearby.
Soon Emma’s mind was filled with more thoughts about possibly moving when the bell above the entrance chimed, breaking through the swarm of possibilities. Emma glanced in the happy sound’s direction, not at all prepared for what she was about to see.
Catching sight of the large man who’d just walked in, she was completely taken aback by the sudden rush of physical reactions she began to feel.
Her breath stuttered inside her lungs. Her lower belly tightened, and her mouth actually began to water.
It happened fast. Went unnoticed by anyone else around her. But for Emma, one glance at the sexy man was all it took for the earth to completely stop spinning.
Standing well over six feet, the muscular god was a bit older than her. Something that was a turn-on, rather than a deterrent.
Men her age—at least the ones she’d dated—were still incredibly immature. At twenty-six, they should be settling down with a steady job and planning for the future. It had been her experience, however, that most guys that age were still trying to hold on to their high school glory days. That or they still fancied themselves the college fraternity partying type, spending their days sleeping until noon, playing video games all afternoon, and then hitting the bars at night.
Definitely not the kind of man Emma imagined herself with.
She wanted a mature man. Someone who knew what he wanted in life and wasn’t afraid to go after it. A man who’s secure enough in themselves they’d stand beside her, rather than in front of or behind her.
If appearance meant anything, the guy who’d just reached the counter sure seemed like that kind of man.
He had the kind of salt-and-pepper hair and close-shaven scruff she’d always found attractive. A pair of sunglasses hid his eyes, which she hated. But the strong jaw, confident stance, and partial tattoo showing from below his left sleeve checked all her boxes.
Physically, anyway.
Of course she didn’t know the guy from Adam. And the way her luck had been going with members of the opposite sex lately, he was probably as big a jerk as the rest of the idiots she’d dated. Except...
He doesn’t look like an idiot. He looks like someone I’d love to get to know.
Actually, with his well-worn jeans, dark gray tee, and black lace-up boots, the handsome stranger looked like he could be on her brother’s security team.
Too bad he isn’t.
During her time at R.I.S.C., Emma had met the members of both Alpha and Bravo teams. And this guy was someone she definitely would’ve remembered meeting.