Page 5 of Corey
As Corey sat down, Lottie appeared and set a cold beer on the table in front of him. Charles “Chaz” Madden’s petite, blonde wife was sweet as pie, and she gave Corey’s shoulder a little squeeze. “Good to see you, Corey.”
Lottie Russell Madden was the happiest, bubbliest soul Corey had ever met, while Chaz was her complete opposite. Yet, somehow, they complemented each other perfectly. She and her daughter Reya smoothed out his rough, growly edges, and the former Delta Force man even smiled now.
“Thanks, Lottie.” He watched her stroll over to her husband and drop a kiss on his lips. Chaz beamed and, when she tried to straighten up, he pulled her onto his lap for another kiss, this one longer and steamier.
“Newlyweds,” Xander Hawke grumbled. “Aren’t they precious?”
The former CIA agent was their newest recruit, thanks to Mitch, and the youngest at forty-one. He could be hard to read, extremely mysterious, and disappeared more often than not. But he came through when they needed him—most recently when Lottie had been kidnapped by Donato Ferrante, a Las Vegas mafia man.
What would it be like to have that?Corey wondered, watching Chaz and Lottie completely lose themselves in each other, forgetting—or not caring—that they were in the middle of a crowded bar.
No fucking idea,he answered himself, and took a swig from the bottle.
“Tell me these are baked goods,” Jayson “Jay” Knight said, dragging a bag over to inspect its contents. The single father and Army Ranger left his military career to raise his daughter Emma after her mother took off twenty-five years ago. Emma was his world. Ever since she got engaged and moved out earlier that year, Jayson had been struggling with Empty Nest Syndrome.
“Help yourself,” Corey said. “I, ah, was in a bit of a baking frenzy.”
His friends exchanged concerned looks.
“Anything I can do?” Murph asked, voice laced in concern. His best friend knew December was a hard month for Corey.
“No, I’m fine.” Corey took another pull of his beer. Truthfully, he wasn’t, but he didn’t want to worry them. They had enough going on, and he didn’t want to dampen their holiday joy with his shit. “How about you guys? Any word from Mitch?”
Brand shook his head, setting his glass of whiskey down. “He’s been busy saving the world, but he hasn’t called on the Motley Crew’s services yet.”
A wave of disappointment flooded Corey. He wanted a distraction. Needed one more than usual.
“I have to get back to work,” Lottie murmured, extricating herself from Chaz. “Before my demanding boss gives me a hard time.”
Brand shook his head and smirked. “Yeah, I hear he’s an unforgiving hard ass.”
She grinned, stood up and fluffed her blonde curls. “Does anybody need anything?”
Brand stood up, his eyes on his fiancée Julia who was working the busy bar. “Lottie, you should take your break. I’ll help Julia.”
“I can wait—” she began to say, and Chaz stood up with a growl.
“You’re pregnant, Sunshine. Why don’t you sit, rest those feet and I’ll get you some ice water and a snack.”
Lottie didn’t argue and the big man wandered off, always wanting to do whatever it took to make her life easier.
Leaning back in his chair, Corey watched the men open Tupperware containers and pass them around the table, happily devouring the treats.
“So, what’s happening up on that mountain of yours?” Murph asked between bites of a chocolate croissant. He adjusted his prosthetic leg beneath the table, and Corey knew the coming ice and snow weren’t his buddy’s friend. But that didn’t stop him. Nothing could. Wes Murphy was a man who never gave up, despite wanting to after he thought his wife Ellie had died. “They’re predicting a snowstorm. If you want to stay with me and Ellie—”
“Or me,” Jayson offered, polishing off a bear claw. “God knows, I’ve got a big, empty house.”
“Thanks, but I’ll be okay. Already chopped plenty of wood.” He did have to check that generator, though.
“Well, sorry, but you can’t stay with me,” Lex announced with a cocky grin, reaching for another cherry strudel. “I have company coming.”
“‘Coming’ being the operative word,” Murph stated dryly, and the guys cracked up because they all knew Lex only too well. The lady killer liked to keep things light and easy with women. His bedroom must have a constantly revolving door.
“Hey, can I help it if this dashing former Navy pilot is in high demand with the ladies?” Lex lifted his beer bottle in a toast and everyone groaned.
“What did I miss?” Chaz asked, returning to the table and offering Lottie a glass of ice water and a bowl of mac and cheese from the kitchen.
“Lex here was just reminding us how irresistible he is to the women of Cielo Springs,” Xander stated dryly.
