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Maxim nodded. “Understood. Monsters are filled with nasties.” He stroked his jaw. “I can devise something to electrocute it.”

“Good,” Jameson said. “Get to work.”

Maxim jerked his head. “Kai, help me bring my gear from the Talon.”

“There’s a lot of it,” Colbie warned.

“A genius needs his tools,” Maxim quipped.

“We have a decent-size workshop you can use,” I said. “It’s all yours. It has a roller door to the outside on the far end of the dam. I’ll go and open it for you.”

“Perfect,” Maxim said.

I watched Maxim, Colbie, and Kai head back to the Talon. They started pulling crates and bags out of the quadcopter’s cargo hold. I headed for the workshop, put the code into the lock, and the large roller door slowly rumbled open.

“This should do,” Jameson said.

I jolted at the sound of his voice. I hadn’t heard him follow me.

“The quicker Maxim gets this done, the quicker my team can get back to work.” I shifted some stuff on one of the workbenches, stacking it to one side.

Jameson sighed. “Greer?—”

Maxim stepped inside, his lean body silhouetted by the sunlight. He looked around at the workbenches and nodded. “Good.” He set a toolbox down and barked orders at the others carrying in his equipment.

It wasn’t long before he was setting his gear up and plugging in several devices. Soon, he got lost in his work. I knew from experience that once Maxim was in the zone, nothing else existed for him.

I got it. I felt the same way about my work.

That’s exactly how I wanted a man to feel about me. Like nothing else existed.

My parents had a love like that. They often fought—sometimes spectacularly—but they made up just as passionately. Dad had risked everything to rescue my mom during the invasion.

I wouldn’t settle for anything less.

I glanced at Jameson. His back was to me, and for a moment, I greedily took in the slabs of muscle. Then I made myself turn away and head back to my team.

“Jordan, come and see the changes I want to make to the design.”

Jameson

I stopped in the doorway,watching Maxim work. The man stood at a bench, with metal wires and electrodes and who-knew-what lying in front of him.

He hadn’t heard me. I shook my head. Maxim was well-trained and could fight, but this was his true passion.

Turning, I looked out the open roller door. My gaze glanced over Greer’s people. Everything had been quiet this afternoon.

Too quiet.

I spotted Greer. Again, she was ignoring me.

I slid a hand into my pocket. I hated this tension between us. I wanted her to smile at me.

When Maxim had kissed her earlier, I’d almost lost my shit. I knew it had just been friendly, but I didn’t want any other man’s lips on hers. I blew out a breath.

I had to stop thinking about her.

Kai walked over to me and gave me a chin lift.