Page 2 of Boone
“Who said anything about love?”Gage asked, appearing in the doorway.“More like lust, and damn.That girl was wild in bed.Just about killed me to put her on a plane home last night.And hell yes, I heard you assholes from all the way down the hall talking about me.”
“Guilty as charged,” Cooper said, not looking upset in the least.“We’re just living vicariously through you, bud.”
“Sounds about right,” Gage smirked.“When was the last time you saw any action, Cooper?”
The easy grin that spread across Cooper’s face had made plenty of women fall for the big, muscular guy over the years.He was never short of female attention anytime Boone had been out with the guys.All beef and brawn, Cooper somehow knew exactly how to sweet talk the ladies.“A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell,” Cooper said smoothly.
“Don’t see any gentlemen here,” Xaden razzed.
“You’re just still pissed about your break-up last year,” Cooper said.
“Damn straight.She just about put me off relationships for-fucking-ever.It’s unlike me to get tangled up with a woman anyway.Somehow that one got under my skin, but it won’t happen again.It’s strictly hot, meaningless sex for me from now on,” Xaden declared.
“Classy,” Boone retorted.He didn’t know the details of their fallout but sensed Xaden was more bark than bite when it came to his ex.“Where’s Knox?”Boone asked.“I figured he’d be here already.”
“And you’d be right,” Gage told him.“He’s already down in the gym.”
“Boss said we’re meeting in ten,” Boone pointed out.
“He knows.Knox is meticulous in everything he does.He wasn’t exactly going to skip a workout just because it’s your first day on Bravo Team.”
Boone crossed his arms, eyeing the other men.“Sounds about right.Guess I missed out with joining up so late.Just because I saw you fellas every so often since leaving the service doesn’t mean I should’ve skipped all the teambuilding shit.”
“Nah.Sounds like you were useful to Jett from what I hear,” Xaden said.
Boone eyed him, and a silent exchange passed between the two men.Of all the guys on the team, he and Xaden were probably the most alike.They kept their personal lives to themselves and didn’t mind working alone.As a sniper, Boone was used to watching over the team from afar.He’d be perched high above with an eagle’s eye view while they stormed buildings and shit.
And Xaden?
He didn’t let anyone get too close.Another reason they’d all been surprised he had a woman a year ago.Boone was certain there was a story there, and he was also damn certain he’d never hear it.Despite being more than content to razz the other guys on the team, stirring up trouble, Xaden enjoyed his privacy—a fact Boone could respect.
Gage crossed his arms, still standing in the doorway, and lifted his eyebrows.“What have you been up to?Sniper stuff?”
“Something like that,” Boone confirmed.
Gage grinned.“You’ve always been a crack shot.Guessing it didn’t go well for the other guy.”
Boone pressed his lips together, giving his old friend a subtle nod.He’d helped out on several jobs since reconnecting with his former military buddies, knowing he could never turn down his expertise to someone who needed it.Did guys like him ever really leave the game?Hard to say.Just because Boone had separated from the military years ago didn’t mean the will to serve and protect wasn’t still in his blood.
He’d been coasting along since leaving the Army, not completely fitting in to civilian life.Most guys didn’t walk into a building, their gaze sweeping their surroundings and assessing every exit, before settling in.And he never truly relaxed—not when Boone knew what it was like to have men after him, who’d kill without thought, taking his life and those of every innocent person around him.
It felt good to be back, surrounded by brothers.They’d seen the same hellish wars and third-world countries as him.They were alert and aware of their surroundings to a fault.No one would ever question his actions when he was with them.Boone would be living life with a clear purpose and mission once more.That settled him in a way that was surprising, because he’d barely gotten his boots wet so far.
A soft, feminine voice drifting in from the hallway had Boone glancing to the door of Xaden’s office, and a pretty brunette passed by, making his heart stutter.He barely got a glimpse of her, just silky, flowing hair and an outline of womanly curves in the tight, black outfit she wore.His hands itched to reach for her, stopping the mysterious woman for a closer look.Because hell—she made his entire body stand up and take notice.
Holt’s voice came through the doorway next, and Boone realized he was escorting the woman out.They were speaking in hushed tones, and Boone’s interest piqued.That wasn’t the only thing rising to attention.His cock twitched as the mystery woman paused for a moment to look back at Holt, and Boone took in the swell of her breasts, slender column of her neck, and perfect pink lips.Shit.It almost felt like he’d been struck with a damn arrow.
It wasn’t like Boone to instantly lust after a woman, but hell, she was a looker.Feminine and sexy and somehow faintly sweet, all rolled up into one package.It was the slight hesitation in her movement, he realized.Holt was a gruff, harsh man.She seemed to be holding her own, but in that moment, Boone noticed a slight pause in her speech.
She recovered quickly, and they continued down the hall, the woman waltzing right out of his life.Pity.He could’ve gotten on board with her joining the morning’s briefing.He wondered who she was and if he’d see her again.It’d be a damn shame if he didn’t.
The door snicked shut behind them as they moved into the lobby, a clear indication of her departure, and Boone’s head snapped back to his teammates.Xaden had noticed his interest, a smirk on his face, but he was uncharacteristically quiet.“Let’s roll, boys,” he finally said, standing up from his desk.“We’ve got a briefing to get to.Welcome aboard, Boone.”
