Page 28 of Made for You
Malik spoke first. “All good. Smooth sailing.”
Amani nodded in agreement. “Yep. Cake walk.”
I smiled internally, appreciating their brevity as much as I did the absolute certainty that they had everything in hand there. Malik and Amani Washington had both been operators at EMU. They met there, married there, but their opposing deployment schedules had stressed them, and when Wilder and I approached about joining Saint, their only requirement had been that they work together. It hadn’t come as a huge surprise, and so far, we were finding it to be a dream setup. Once we agreed, they’d submitted their retirement packets and hadn’t looked back.
After a few more minutes, we wrapped. These meetings only worked if we were truly checking in, and none of us delved into real details of our given responsibilities. It wasn’t the time for a deep summary or airing issues. It was a check-in.
“See you all in a few weeks, and on Friday if you’re around,” I said, watching the VTC screens go dark and everyone disperse.
“Friday?” Nikki asked quietly.
That familiar thrill shot through me, and I nearly smirked at myself. I’d managed to keep my mind on the business a good eighty percent of the meeting. I’d managed not to try catching her subtle clean scent or think about how much I liked the way her lips naturally curved up at the corners.
Victory!
“We do a little happy hour on Fridays for anyone who’s free. It’s just a morale thing. You’re welcome to join us,” I explained as we waited for Eddie and Beast to exit. I then turned to Wilder, who was retrieving James from Tristan. “We putting him on the payroll?”
Wilder pulled him in and got this look on his face that made my heart squeeze. My God, it was good to see the man so happy, so full of genuine love and joy. He’d been broody and solemn most of the years I’d known him, but that was nothing special. A lot of men in our line of work were introverts and tended to be extremely smart and capable. While that might seem like something that left us ready to make friends, it could isolate. Hence why the team element of being in special operations was so key.
What’d pulled me in about Wilder had been the man underneath that quiet, somber air. He was a lover, soft in a way that might surprise people—he had this huge heart and he wanted to share it. And now, he did—with Sarah, and this one. He’d made even more room for his mom and brothers, their wives and kids, and even his stepdad and stepsister. Then for Eddie, his new sister-in-law. And me. I’d been the lucky recipient of his friendship, his brotherhood, for years, and I would never take that for granted.
“I think we’ll let him coast on his good looks a while longer and be the mascot, as long as he’s not bothering anyone.” He raised a brow like he was really asking the question.
“Of course not,” I replied, right as Tristan said, “Don’t deprive me of baby snuggles, Saint.”
Wilder’s full-blast grin had me chuckling, and when I turned to glance at Nikki, the sucker punch of her charmed smile reinforced the odd beauty of the moment.
“You know, not that I ever thought about it before right this moment, but I never imagined a bunch of former special ops guys at a security company would be so… baby friendly.” Nikki’s grin faded once she stopped speaking, and then as though she realized she’d misstepped, she rushed to add, “I mean, not that men don’t like babies, or that it’s wrong to have a baby here, I just… sorry. Sorry. That was inappropriate.”
I tipped my head to the side to study the flags of red high on her cheeks, embarrassment painted clear as day on that skin where nothing could hide. But Wilder spoke first.
“It’s an understandable assumption, Nikki. I’m glad I happen to be the owner and have the first baby among employees because it lets us set the tone. I’m doing a terrible job with boundaries, but we want people to live their lives.”
I nodded. “We’ve lived the version of the story where everything gets swallowed up in favor of the job. We don’t want that for anyone here. And having lost enough along the way to know what actually matters, we want it all for every person who walks in the door. We want full, whole lives.”
The words hit me. Was I living a full, whole life? Could I say that? Wasn’t that what the guys were trying to get me to see a few days ago over a beer and pizza?
She swallowed, like something I’d said had affected her, and I watched that slim line of her neck, her throat working, before I wrenched my eyes away to focus on Tristan, who’d started speaking.
“They offer amazing parental leave, sick days, PTO… it’s a good place to work. Might not be able to take our word for it yet, but you’ll see.” Then, he performed the usual subtle dip of his head in farewell, and Tristan was gone. After Wilder got James all packed off to his office, Nikki and I returned to sit across from each other at my desk.
“Sorry if we put the pressure on about the job, but we’re all happy to be working for ourselves.” That was the least of it. Well, maybe not theleast, but it wasn’t the main thing.
“I can see that. And while I don’t mind the hard sell, I should say I have already accepted the job and I’m eager to start. So, boss, please walk me through how I can help.” She leaned forward, bellying up to the opposite side of my desk, and rested her elbows on the surface like she was ready.
Internally, I sighed. I liked this woman too much. I liked how forthright she was, how she didn’t play games, and HR forgive me, I liked the way the creamy skin of her collarbones looked soft against the dark black of her suit jacket.
But I couldn’t be thinking that, so I nodded, a casual smile there to cover the jolt ofbosscoming from her lips while I lightly fantasized about tracing the dip at the hollow of her throat with my thumb, and we got to work.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Nikki
Gram’s expression seemed far too cagey as she held out the trash bag for me.
I narrowed my eyes. “Please tell me why you have that look.”
Her brows arched high. “Me? Look? This is just my face, Nikki. I can’t help my face.”
