Page 3 of The B-Team

“Not going to happen. But I might put them in a book.” If his budding career as a writer ever took off.

While people settled in their seats and the noise level lowered, the owners of Benson Security stood at the front of the room—Lake Benson, former SAS officer and company founder and by Callum McKay, also former SAS. There was also a very pregnant Rachel Ford-Talbot, aka Satan’s sister standing beside them.

Ryan leaned in to whisper to Elle, “Why’s Rachel up there? She sold her interest in Benson Security.”

“Lake asked her to reinvest months ago, when he opened the US office.”

“That woman needs to make up her mind. She’s in, she’s out, she’s in again. I’ve lost track of how many times she’s resigned or sold up her interest in the company.”

“Three.” Elle leaned against the table beside him. “But she never really left. Much like someotherpeople I could mention.”

“Hey, I still do the odd job for Benson Security. Rachel’s the CEO of her family’s company and was born with half a dozen silver spoons in her mouth. She’s got no reason to hang around here.”

“And yet, here she is.”

“I blame her husband. If he’d just taken on a full-time role at Rachel’s company, she’d have lost interest in the rest of us. But no, he has to split his time between here and there. This is all his fault.” He glared at the back of Michael “Harvard” Carter’s shaven head.

Harvard must have sensed Ryan’s evil eye because he turned in his seat and grinned straight at him, his smile a beacon of amusement against his ebony skin.

Elle gasped. “How does he do that?”

“Spy crap.” Ryan stared at Harvard while pointing at Rachel. He mouthed, “You’re to blame.”

Damn man looked amused. “You’re welcome,” he mouthed back before turning away.

“Can’t be spy skills,” Elle said. “David was CIA as well, and he doesn’t sense when someone’s staring at him.”

Ryan pitied her wide-eyed ignorance of her husband’s covert skills.

“Really?” He stared pointedly at the back of David’s head, where he sat two seats over from Harvard. The man turned and raised an eyebrow in question.

Elle was visibly gobsmacked.

“I rest my case.” Ryan reached for another pastry, only to find they were gone, and all that was left was the banana. He shrugged and peeled it. Food was food.

“I’m going to make him teach me how to do that,” Elle vowed.

“Shut up in the back,” Callum shouted. “Ryan, you aren’t even employed by us anymore. Behave or leave.”

“You can’t kick me out,” Ryan called back. “I’m family.”

“This isn’t a family,” the big Scot growled. “It’s a business.”

“There’s no need to pretend, Callum,” Ryan said. “You’re among friends. Everybody knows I’m your favorite.”

There were shouts of agreement and quite a lot of laughter before Lake cleared his throat, and the room went instantly silent.

“I wish I could bottle whatever makes Lake Benson Lake Benson,” Elle whispered. “I’d make a fortune in the fragrance industry.Eau de Lake—commanding, understated, sexy, and manly.” She shivered.

“Gross,” Ryan muttered.

“It’s good to see you all here,” Lake said in his crisp English accent. “Together, the people in this room and those working jobs for us right now have made Benson Security a respected name internationally. I handpicked each and every one of you, and I’m proud to have you on board.”

“You didn’t pick me,” Megan Raast said loudly. “I had to beg to become a security specialist.”

“Yes,” Ryan added. “And thanks for foisting her on the London office while she trained.”

Lake looked like he wanted to smile but couldn’t quite remember how.