Page 25

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“I can drive myself.”

Jay headed for the driver’s side of his car only to have Saint block his path, his beefy arms crossed over his chest. It was strange having Saint around all the time, especially in his condo.

He’d insisted Saint make himself at home, but even so, walking into his kitchen in the morning, half asleep, to find a man there had scared the hell out of him.

This is what it was like. Yes, it was for Jay’s safety, and if Jay hadn’t known Saint, he might have been able to put his mind to it and forget the guy was there, but he did know Saint, not just as a colleague. He was Ryden’s best friend. Why did all his thoughts circle back to Ryden?

Saint didn’t budge. “I didn’t know you’d taken up defensive driving.”

“The moment I got my Florida driver’s license.” Jay arched an eyebrow at his new burly shadow.

Saint barked out a laugh. “Touché.”

“You’re not going to let me drive, are you?”

Saint shook his head and ushered him over to the passenger side. Jay reluctantly handed the keys to him, and Saint opened the passenger door.

“You might as well stop fighting it.”

“Fine,” Jay grumbled, getting in. “I will allow you to chauffeur me then.”

“That’s one way of looking at it,” Saint replied, amused. He closed the door, hurried to the driver’s side, and got in. As soon as their seatbelts were fastened, they were off. Five minutes in, and Jay couldn’t help it.

“Have you heard from him?”

Saint let out a heavy sigh. “No.”

Don’t jump to conclusions. It was probably really late by the time they finished, and they were waiting until today for updates. Still, Jay worried his bottom lip. “Do you think it went okay?” They had no idea who these guys were—other than dangerous—or what shady shit they were up to.

“He was with Jack, Joker, and Chip. You know they had his back.”

“I know.” Jay turned his attention to the window. “I don’t like this.” How had attending a wedding turned into a covert military operation? It was unreal.

The wedding… Where he’d wrapped himself around Ryden and kissed the shit out of him. Jay hadn’t expected him to taste so damned good. All he could think about was doing it again. And again. And again. Among other things.

“So, you and Ry.”

Jay glanced at Saint. “What about me and Ry ?”

“You two dating?”

Jay’s heart skipped a beat. “What did he say?”

“Nothing.”

“Sure.” Jay didn’t buy that for a minute. He’d worked with the two long enough to know they discussed everything . It’s like they were taking lessons from Ace.

“No, really,” Saint laughed. “We haven’t had a chance to talk, what with everything going on, but he did say he felt good about it.”

“Really?” That shouldn’t have made Jay as happy as it did. “I feel good about it, too,” he admitted. A thought occurred to him. “Did he…tell you he was interested? Before all this, I mean.”

“Oh no. He was deep in denial. I mean, deep. Like, the deepest recess of the ocean deep.”

Jay snickered. “I guess I was, too.” Whenever Ryden was around, his presence, smile, laugh, or scent usually caused some form of physical reaction in Jay, whether it was a shiver going through him or heat spreading through his body.

Unwilling to accept it for what it was, Jay had become an expert in denial, telling himself it was a reaction to Ryden’s annoying behavior.

“You think it could work out between you?” Saint turned into the parking lot of Four Kings Security headquarters.

“I don’t know. I think so. How well does anyone know how things will turn out when it’s all so new? We don’t know each other.”

“You two have been working together for years now. A good part of that has been pushing each other’s buttons, but it’s not like you never talked or hung out at parties and events. Remember the night at the tavern?”

Jay sighed. “Why would you bring that up?”

“I know what he said was inexcusable, but I think the reason he was such an asshole that night was because he was jealous.”

“ What ?” Jay sat up and stared at Saint. “Jealous?”

“You should have seen the look on his face while he watched you, sitting there, flirting and having fun with those guys, making them laugh. I think he was jealous, and in his hot-headed, very Ryden way, instead of talking to you about it, he stuck his boot in his mouth in glorious fashion.”

That sounded like Ryden. “He apologized. Said he’d been off that night.”

“Yeah, I think it had been building and simmering under the surface.” Saint smiled softly.

“You know, underneath it all, he’s a great guy, and I’m not just saying that because he’s my best friend.

” His smile faded. “He’s been through so much, and yeah, he’s made many mistakes, but he’s built a new life for himself.

I think he finally is himself. He deserves to be happy. ”

“And you think I can make him happy?”

Saint’s smile returned, and it reached his eyes. “I do.” His smile became wicked. “I think you’ve both found your match.”

Jay chuckled and climbed out of the car. They certainly kept each other on their toes. “Thanks, Saint.”

“Anytime.” Saint locked the car and handed the keys to Jay. They headed inside the building, greeting the security guys as they put their stuff through the X-ray machine.

“Hey, Rodrigo,” Jay chirped at the large, bearded man behind the controls of the X-ray machine. “How’s Mariana doing at the new job?”

“Oh, she loves it. Thank you for the flowers, by the way. She was so happy.”

“I’m glad.” Jay stepped through the metal detector. “Good morning, Pat.”

“Morning, Mr. Starling.” Pat waved the wand over Jay, then stepped to one side, his smile bright. “Daniela loves her castle. Can’t get her out of that thing.”

“Well, she does have a kingdom to reign over,” Jay teased.

Pat laughed. “Tell me about it. Her mother and I are her subjects. Does her father get to be her knight in shining armor? Nope. She picks the dog.”

“I mean, I would pick Olaf to be my floofy white knight, too.” Jay wished them a good day as he and Saint headed for the elevator, where Jay tapped his ID card.

“How do you keep it all together?” Saint asked, sounding awed.

Jay shrugged. “It’s my job, but I love connecting with everyone here. We’re a family. That means treating people like they’re family, not just saying it. Actions speak louder than words.”

The gifts came from Four Kings Security, but everyone knew Jay made all the arrangements.

He never said as much, but as amazing as their bosses were, everyone knew Jay kept them organized and informed.

His job was to make their jobs and lives easier, which meant taking care of things like birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, and graduations so the Kings could focus on what they did best: providing safety and security.

Upstairs, he went to his desk and tucked his bag under it.

After making himself his second tasty morning latte, he returned to his desk and logged into the system.

Everything for the day was set. He was always several months ahead of schedule and spent most of his days dealing with adjustments, new appointments, cancellations, and ongoing contracts, among other tasks.

Jay hummed as he took a sip of his latte. These minutes before everyone arrived and the day officially started were everything. He could sip his latte in blissful peace, the morning sun shining through the blinds in the many windows around the floor.

Over the last few years, he’d added various potted plants and flowers.

He’d read several studies discussing how having plants in the workplace could help improve mental health, increase productivity, and enhance focus.

The plants hadn’t just made their space more aesthetically pleasing, but everyone seemed a little lighter.

Jay had even caught Ryden checking the plants on more than one occasion. Now he understood why.

Soon, the floor was bustling with staff. They all greeted him cheerfully or stopped by his desk for a brief chat. Jay checked his many emails, shot off replies, and prepared King’s files for the day. He opened his desk drawer to grab a notepad.

What the…?

Jay pressed his lips together and stared at the fuzzy little green thing inside his desk drawer. He took it out and did his best not to laugh. O.M.G., he didn’t.

“Jay, can you—” Saint tilted his head. “Um, what’s that?”

Good question. Jay studied his desk’s new occupant. “It’s a chameleon, I think.”

“What’s it made of?”

“Pipe cleaners.” Jay flicked the fuzzy red tongue and snickered. It even had big googly eyes.

Saint opened his mouth, then closed it. “That’s…interesting. Is this something you do now?”

Jay laughed. “No, it’s something your best friend does.”

Saint blinked at him. He shook his head. “I’m sorry, for a minute there, I thought you said Ryden made that.”

“He did.” The imagery of Ryden sitting at his kitchen counter with a bunch of pipe cleaners, making this tiny guy, was almost too much for Jay’s heart. The man was adorable.

“Why?”

“I was teasing him about having a collection of pipe cleaner animals.” Jay glanced up at Saint. “Did you know he gardens, too?”

“I knew about the gardening. He and my dad talk about plants all the time. It’s weird. I didn’t know about…that.” He pointed to Jay’s little friend. “Not gonna lie, I’m a little concerned.”

“It’s cute.”

“It’s something alright,” Saint muttered. “Are you sure we’re talking about the same guy? Marine? Eats a metric ton and never gains weight? Big mouth?”

“Yes,” Jay snickered. “Why is it so hard to believe he made this?” None of the guys Jay had dated in the past would have made a chameleon out of a pipe cleaner. “He’s trying to sweep me off my feet.”

Saint eyed him. “And this does it for you?”

“Yeah, it does. It’s sweet. Don’t knock people’s romantic gestures.”

“What? No. I’m not—What’s happening right now?”

Ace stopped in front of Jay’s desk. “What’s that?”

“It’s a pipe cleaner chameleon,” Saint replied. “Ry made it.”

Ace blinked at Saint. He looked so confused. “I’m sorry, what?”