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“I think you all know more than you think,” Brandon said. “I’d want Nelson and Emmett on my side in a fight every time, and Parker can charm anyone who comes around. What criminal stands a chance against that smile?”

Parker laughed. “That’s right. Brag me up all you want.”

“Seriously, my security guys are top-notch,” Rock inserted.

“Some of them were borrowed from Robbie’s colleagues employed by Aiden Porter, some from Sutton Smith, and some I’ve trained myself.

The plan is for you to each enjoy your vacation and your ‘perfect woman’.

” He smirked at all of them. “Let my teams worry about their safety.”

Sutton Smith and Aiden Porter were the top security specialists in the world. All the rich and famous people used them when they got in trouble. Chase would trust anyone Rock had trained. The Rock would notice every danger, check every detail, and keep them all safe.

“All right,” Nelson said. “It wasn’t easy, but I got all my projects to a spot where I could take the two-week break for your ‘trip of a lifetime’.

Honest truth, I would’ve rather hung out with the six of you for the annual Squadron 7 Bye Week rather than some beautiful woman I don’t know, but I guess I’m in. ”

Chase was surprised Nelson sounded disenchanted with the opposite sex. He’d been a ‘woman-magnet’ as Parker called him since high school. He was naturally good-looking, and with the contractor appeal, he probably still had women chasing him nonstop. Maybe he’d gone through a hard relationship.

Sadly, Chase only saw most of Squadron 7 when Brandon orchestrated their Bye Week. He didn’t know much about their personal lives or dating history, besides that they were all single. Which blew his mind as they were each successful and, he’d assume, appealing to the opposite sex.

Chase realized all eyes were on him. He gestured to the Rock. “What about you?”

“I’m exempt.” Rock gave him a rare smile. “Brandon needs me by his side.” The smile disappeared so quick Chase wondered if he’d imagined it.

“You’re in danger?” Chase asked Brandon.

“Always. Why else do you think I keep him around?” He gestured to Rock with an easy smile. “He’s the worst wingman of any of y’all.”

Nelson chuckled, and Parker laughed.

“You don’t need a wingman,” Rock grunted. “You need to stay alive.”

“Until the brain cancer takes me,” Brandon shot back.

That took the mood down a notch.

“Are you in?” Brandon asked Chase, quickly covering his rare snip.

Chase already had work off, and what did two weeks in Europe matter one way or the other? He’d have some experiences and adventures, see the sights, protect the lady, and if the stars aligned, find love.

No. Love and collecting a million dollars weren’t in his stratosphere, but if this trip was Brandon’s last wish, he would do his part to fulfill it.

He shrugged. “I guess.”

“All right.” Brandon punched a fist in the air and glanced around the table. “Any questions?”

“Can I please get set up with Madelyne?” Parker asked, his puppy-dog brown eyes seemingly innocent. “Since you’re dying and all. Wouldn’t want such a perfect angel to be lonely and hurting when I’m willing and able to comfort her.”

Nelson cuffed him upside the head as the rest of the group laughed and groaned at the same time.

“Is that a no?” Parker asked.

“Sorry.” Brandon didn’t seem offended at all. “I’ve got bigger plans than even you for the lovely Madelyne.” He smiled even as Rock looked more thunderous than ever. “Let’s get you to your flights.”

He stood, and they all followed suit. Rock led the way out of the boardroom door with Brandon right behind him.

Two of the security guards that had been waiting outside the room preceded the Rock down the hall toward the elevator.

The other two waited for Robbie and Chase, the last to leave the room.

Robbie leaned close to Chase as they filed down the hallway. “I don’t like this. Keep your eyes wide open.”

“You’re worried about Alice?”

Robbie nodded. “And you and each of our friends. How did he find five women who were all in danger and set them up with each of us for the next two weeks?”

Nelson was directly in front of them. He glanced back at Robbie’s words. He didn’t say anything but nodded as if he’d had the same thought.

“It’s fishy,” Chase admitted.

The two front security guards arrived at the elevator and punched the button.

“He’s got something planned,” Robbie said in a low voice.

“He always does,” Chase returned, his stomach turning with nerves.

Robbie grunted at that.

It was comforting and disconcerting at the same time that Robbie and Nelson suspected the same thing he did.

Nothing was cut and dry with Brandon; he could be pulling a trick on them.

Chase could think of dozens of examples, like the night Brandon had dragged them out to old man Carlisle’s property for ‘night games’ and somehow rigged the chicken coop to explode.

Brandon was miraculously the only one who had disappeared before the police showed up.

Luckily, the police had seen through their teenage loyalty to not rat their friend out and had enough experience with Brandon’s mischief to not put the rest of them in a detention center or mark anything permanent on their record.

What if this was something more nefarious than a Brandon-style stunt?

“Appreciate ya,” Chase said to his friend.

Robbie nodded to him. “Likewise.”

It was as mushy as either of them ever got.

Brandon pivoted and pinned them with his blue gaze as they approached the group waiting by the elevator. There was no way he could’ve heard their muttered conversation, but the glint in his eyes said he suspected what they were chirping about.

“No worries, Robbie, my man. You’re almost as adept at protection as Rock is. We doubt the threats will follow your ladies across the ocean, and if they do, you have plenty of support with Rock’s guys. You can all relax, have a fun vacation, maybe fall in love.” His eyes were sparkling now.

“I tried love,” Nelson said. “Not a fan.”

The elevator beeped, and the door slid open. They all filed in.

Brandon slapped Nelson on the shoulder. “Don’t give up on love, my friend.

Madelyne is a genius and a genie. She has a whole team using resources from Aiden Porter, FBI, police departments, social media, and her associates with Vogue magazine to find beautiful, smart, accomplished, fun-loving, and endangered women to pair you with.

Your angel will be straight out of your dreams.”

“That’s concerning,” Nelson said. “I only dream about drill bits and roofing tiles.”

They all laughed.

“Time to elevate those dreams,” Brandon said.

The elevator door shut, and they descended quickly.

The slight hop in Chase’s abdomen had little to do with the efficient, high-dollar elevator system.

Two weeks basically alone with a beautiful woman he’d never met.

He dated, but not as much as he’d like to.

He supposed women found him attractive, but he wasn’t a standout.

He wasn’t naturally handsome like Nelson or Parker.

He wasn’t famous and wealthy like Emmett and Brandon.

Despite his training and military experience, he wasn’t untouchable and hard to get yet somehow still appealing to women like Rock or Robbie.

He hoped his lady wasn’t disappointed in the ‘nice guy’, and he hoped Brandon wasn’t pulling a fast one on all of them.

Both worries were a possibility.

He caught Robbie’s gaze on him and nodded as the elevator reached ground level.

The two of them had been through a million times more discomfort and danger than this next two weeks could possibly bring.

For Robbie, keeping Alice safe would be worth it.

For Chase … he wasn’t certain why he’d agreed.

He wasn’t going to trick a woman into falling in love with him for a million dollars.

That was all kinds of wrong, and he doubted he could accomplish it anyway.

If only the woman he was being set up with really was ‘perfect’ for him. The problem was, he’d given up on finding the right woman for him years ago.