They can eat a bag of dicks.
It didn’t matter that it was fast, and he sure as shit didn’t care what other people would think. Beckett knew what he felt, and he damn well knew it was real.
The mind-blowing sex was merely a bonus.
“Relax, darlin’.” He gave Evie’s hand a gentle shake as they made their way up the sidewalk to Falcon and Avery’s home. “You’ve already met the team, and they love you.”
“They hardly know me, Beckett.”
“They know enough.” His lips curved upward. “Listen, the guys all know you’re comin’ and that we’re together. And they’re cool with it.”
“You really think so?”
“Iknowso.” He gave her shoulder a playful nudge. “Just like I know the wives are gonna love you.”
“Well, let’s hope you’re right.” Evie crossed two fingers on her free hand. “Otherwise, this is going to be a very long, veryawkwardafternoon.”
With a chuckle, Beckett followed the sidewalk’s curve up to the home’s front porch. Thanks to Avery’s decorative eye, the vinyl and rock sided arts and crafts-style home appeared as warm and inviting as he already knew it to be.
Located on a quarter-acre lot near Charlotte’s northeastern city limits, the secluded piece of property offered its owners aprivate backyard and patio perfect for casual gatherings. And since the men of Tac-Ops used any excuse they could to hang out and shoot the shit, this had become the team’s unofficial cookout headquarters.
Not bothering to knock, Beckett opened the front door and stepped to the side, motioning for Evie to enter. Once inside, he took the lead again, guiding her through the small foyer, past the home’s impressive kitchen, and through the open living room space to the back patio doors.
Beside him, he noticed the long, deep breath Evie had just pulled into her lungs. Knowing she was steeling herself for her first social interaction with the group, he paused long enough to give one final reassurance.
“Come here.” He pulled her to him. Releasing the grip on her hand, he brought both of his to each side of her flawless face. “Everything is going to be fine.”
“I know.”
Her words said one thing, but the greens and browns in her gorgeous hazel eyes were a dead giveaway that she was more than a little nervous. A sudden need to ease her unnecessary anxiety about getting together with his friends had Beckett leaning in for a kiss.
He pressed his lips to hers, keeping the contact publicly appropriate in case they were spotted. For her sake, only—because he didn’t give a fuck who saw them—he gave her a sweet, chaste kiss before pulling back and staring deep into her eyes.
“I know it won’t happen, but if atanytime, you decide you want to bail, all you have to do is say the word, and we’ll go.”
“I’m good, Beckett.” Evie visibly shook her worries away. “It’s just a small case of the jitters, that’s all. Promise.” She rose to her tiptoes to give him a kiss of her own.
“Okay, then.” He slid the patio door open and held out his hand. “After you.”
The bottom portion of her light pink sundress blew against her legs with a passing breeze. In the back of his mind, Beckett had the fleeting thought that he was glad she’d decided to add the cropped denim jacket at the last minute.
He didn’t want her being cold, after all.
Dude. Pushing the protective bit a tad far, don’t you think?
No. No, he didn’t. The way he saw it, now that they were officially a couple, his job wasn’t solely about keeping her safe from terrorist pricks or asshole pseudo-fathers. He wanted to protect her from everything he could…for as long as he could.
Because he loved her.
“About time you showed up!”
Beckett looked up to see Falcon headed his way. The six-three sniper had two amber colored bottles in his hand. One with the cap still on, and one without.
“Dude, we’re like ten minutes late,” he told the former Army Ranger. “And”—he glanced over their host’s shoulder to the smoking grill several yards away—“Apollo just put the burgers on the grill, so the food’s not even ready yet, anyway.”
The man’s blue eyes gleamed with humor as he held out the unopened bottle and grinned. “That all you came here for? The food?”
“Don’t forget the beer,” Beckett teased, taking the offered beverage from his friend’s outstretched hand. “Thanks. You remember Evie…”