Page 98 of Beautiful Chances

It takes me a hot minute to catch on to which pair of boots he’s referring to. “Oh,” I gasp as the light goes on. Rummaging through one of my small suitcases, I pull out my thigh-high boots. “Want to pick a top?” I ask Kas, secretly loving that they’re picking my outfit.

My jokester looks through my clothes, taking his time to eye each piece. “This one, sweets.” I don’t even consider picking something else but the chocolate brown long-sleeved sweater he’s holding out for me to take.

Even though I’ve had it for at least a year, I don’t think I’ve ever worn it before. It’s tight and asymmetrical, with a gap between the neckline and my cleavage. I bought it because it looked great on the mannequin. I just never liked how it looked on me. However, standing here in the middle of the room, I feel like I’m wearing my new favorite outfit. Each of my men looks at me with heat in their eyes, like I’m wearing the most scandalous and sexy outfit.

“Mhmm, you look good enough to eat, Baby.” Alec’s gravelly voice creates a fire in my lower stomach. “Don’t forget this.” He holds up my gun, and I take it from his outstretched hand, placing it on the small of my back.

“Or this.” Kas holds up the small microphone. We’ve all been given one as well as a tracker, and I quickly attach the mic to my bra, placing the small tracker in one cup.

Coen licks his lips, eyeing me like I’m the prime rib on his plate he’s receiving after days of denying himself. “I love those boots on you.”

Turning around, I preen under Kas’ hooded gaze. “This is—” As he swallows, I look at his Adam’s apple, watching it bob in his throat. “I wish we had time to peel you out of that outfit,” he says with want palpable in his husky voice.

“Later!” I don’t know if the promise is for them or me.

It’s not until we exit the plane, flanked by Martin’s security, that I realize I didn’t pack any of what I’m wearing, which means… “Did you guys sneak clothes into my bags?”

“No!” Coen denies the question immediately.

“Absolutely not!” Alec states.

“Maybe!” Kas waggles his eyebrows for good measure, making me laugh.

Not wanting the security to overhear, I lower my voice to a whisper. “If there’s ever anything specific you want me to wear or not wear, all you have to do is ask.”

Once upon a time, the thought of dressing for someone—or three someones—without being paid would make me balk. Now, I love it. I love seeing the approval and love in their eyes. If I’m being completely honest with myself, it makes me walk taller in my boots to know that such a small thing brings them that much joy.

“Here you go, Miss Hargraves.” One of the men in black—literally—opens the door to the sleek SUV waiting for us outside the airport. Martin really has thought of everything, including where we’re staying. We’re staying in the same hotel I use whenever I’m here. However, the floor we’re on is decked out with Martin’s security team, who’s staying with us throughout our trip.

“Thank you,” I say before sliding across the seats to the middle. “Come on!” Urging the guys in, I get us arranged so I’m in Kas’ lap.

“Miss Hargraves, Martin wouldn’t approve of this—”

Rolling my eyes, I snap, “Martin isn’t here.” I already know this isn’t safety-recommended, but I don’t want us to separate. Whenever I think about one of them not sitting with me, I get the urge to scream and cry.

We’re a fucking team!

The drive to the hotel doesn’t take long at all. In fact, it goes by too fast for my liking. Especially since the moment we leave the car, I can’t stop looking around to find out if we’re being watched. My modicum of calmness is gone, making me feel vulnerable and exposed.

I’m no longer able to embrace the ‘if he’s watching, he’s watching, to hell with it’ attitude I’ve been donning. Instead, I feel like an impostor, and a part of me wants to return home.

Logically, I know the only change in the situation is the state we’re in, but it feels much more potent than that. Here, in New York, it’s not just my guys and me. My family is here, and sadly, that doesn’t offer me any strength or reassurance. I am scared for them, mostly because I don’t know what to expect.

Ever since I called her, my mom has been nice… No, it’s more than that. She’s been attentive and interested, which should be a good thing. So why does it put me even more on alert? I’ve quickly mentioned it to Coen, hoping he could help calm my mind. His best guess was that I was so used to her icy and demeaning behavior that my mind was waiting for the other shoe to drop. And, yes, I suppose that could be it—could being the operative word, because I don’t buy it.

My mind keeps insisting that my mom is lying to me, that her behavior is mendacious rather than honest.

“Deep breaths, Baby.” Wrapping his muscular arms around me from behind, Alec pulls me closer. “We’re all here, and we’re not leaving you.”

I let Alec’s reassurance wash over me as I breathe him in and sag against his hard body, molding us together. “I know,” I say, hating how small my voice is.

Not wanting to spoil the moment with words, I soak up the safety and warmth Alec provides me. Ever my protector, it makes sense he prefers to be at my back. “Stop thinking. You wanted this, and you got it, so now you need to own it.” His warm breath fans across my skin, making goosebumps appear in its wake as he bends down and whispers directly into my ear. “You know we won’t let anything happen to you.”

He’s right, I know. But this isn’t just about me. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to them. Of course, they have shut me down every time I’ve given voice to that fear. They want my head in the game and not on what-ifs—which is fair, I get it. But that doesn’t make the fear evaporate into thin air like smoke.

I’m about to demand we go over the plan one more time when there’s a knock on the door, and a woman calls out, “Room service.”

“Come in,” Kas casually shouts back after moving to my left while Coen flanks my right.

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