Page 40 of Nails

“Alright, gentlemen.Before we begin, let me introduce you to Special Agent Riley Aiken with HSI.She’ll be temporarily assigned to our team as part of the upcoming operation.Treat her as one of our own.”

Nails couldn’t stop staring.Holy shit.Riley was standing just feet from him.And from what Derek just said, she was going to be working with them.

Riley looked at Derek.“Thank you, Commander Connors.”

He gave her a nod before introducing the team.

“Starting at the front here, this is Joker, then Jay Bird, Aussie, Duke, Bear, Snow,” he said as he went around the table.Then he motioned to the last seat.“And that’s Nails.”

The moment her eyes landed on him, her lips parted slightly, but she covered the shock well.Really well, actually.But he saw the tiny oh-crap moment flicker in her eyes before she schooled her features.

“Carson?”she said, her voice a mix of surprise and curiosity.And definitely loud enough for everyone to hear.

Nails grinned, slow and unapologetic.“Morning.”

Snow let out a low whistle beside him and muttered, “Well, this just got interesting.”

Derek glanced between the two of them, clearly picking up on the vibe.“You two know each other?”

“We’ve met,” Riley replied, straightening slightly.“I live next door to his mom.We actually just met the other day.

Derek slowly turned his head and looked directly at Nails.He had one eyebrow raised like he was silently asking,“Please tell me you didn’t sleep with her and ghost her, Torres.”

Nails cleared his throat.“Actually, Snow and I both met her.She was stuck in my mom’s attic window.It’s a long story.”

He watched as Riley’s cheeks turned red.Okay, maybe he shouldn’t have brought up the attic window situation.At least he didn’t mention her panties.

Suddenly, it seemed as if everything clicked into place, as every one of his teammates at the table turned their attention to Nails.

“This is the woman?”Duke said slowly, pointing between them.“TheRiley?”

Jay Bird let out a whistle.“Damn, Nails.No wonder you’ve been acting like a kicked puppy.”

Playboy actually leaned forward, a shit eating grin plastered on his face.

Joker mouthed‘no way.’

Aussie smirked.“Looks like Christmas came early for you.”

Bear just shook his head, looking amused.

Nails sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, resigned.He was never going to live this down.

But when he risked another glance at Riley, thinking she might be upset with all the attention she was getting, he was relieved when he saw the small smirk playing on her lips.

Maybe this wasn’t so bad, he thought to himself.

What.The.Hell.

Riley took another slow sip of her coffee, letting the bitterness anchor her to the moment as her eyes locked with Carson, or should she call him Nails, across the room.

She couldn’t believe that Carson, Ms.Torres’s son, was a Navy SEAL.

However, that also explained a lot, like why Ms.Torres was so hush-hush about what her son did for a living.

She swallowed hard, fighting the tangle of emotion in her chest.She was partially surprised and partly annoyed.And there was something else she felt entirely.This was the guy she’d be working with?The same guy who saw her wedged into a window frame like a Humvee in a drive-thru—too big, too wide, and not supposed to be there.But it was also the same guy that she had almost kissed in her kitchen.Great.Just freaking great.

Suddenly, a light bulb went off in her head.Oh, God, this had to be the “Uncle Nails” that little girl Amira from the restaurant last night was talking about.The one who was apparently strong, brave, and had a reputation with the ladies.