Free Knock Out (A Reynolds Security Novel) by Melissa Hale Page B

heels?”
    “ Right now you do.” Colby laughed, the rest of the room chuckled. She flipped him off and they laughed harder.
    “ Damn, too bad you didn’t kick him with one of those things. That woulda hurt like a bitch.”  That even got a smile out of Lou.
    They heard the hotel key card in the lock and they all looked to the door. Ethan strode through and grinned.
    “I understand congratulations are in order. Guess you guys are overachievers. Couldn’t just pass the test you had to go for the extra credit too.”
    “ Be all you can be.” Sam said from his spot on the wall.
    “ Ack I am a Marine.”
    “ Alright Semper fi then.” Sam amended and Ethan chuckled.
    “ So did the company pass the test?”
    “ I assume so. Whether or not we keep this guy as a client depends on whether or not Jace tears him limb from limb.” Ethan laughed again but now he had Lou’s attention.
    “ He did seem a little… peeved.” Colby said.
    “ That is putting it mildly. He was beyond pissed. Don’t let that easy going southern gentleman veneer fool you. Underneath he’s still as bad ass as they come.”  Some of the other men started asking questions about the situation but Lou wasn’t paying attention. She was trying to reconcile the man she had spent so many hours with, with the term bad ass. He was strong yes, as big as a linebacker and as solid as a tank. But bad ass? She hadn’t seen that. No she had seen a man who pulled his punches despite the fact that she never pulled hers. A man who always held her door and picked up the check. A man who danced like Fred Astaire and looked twice as good. No she couldn’t consider him a bad ass but damn if she didn’t pick a helleva time to figure out her crush had turned into a full blown infatuation.
    Everyone in the room began to rise from their various lounging positions and she realized she had missed something important. Ethan handed note pads to her and each of the men that had been in the restroom with her. Everyone else left.
    “Gentlemen just an account of what happened with the suspect. Ms. Santiago I’m afraid your account is going to have to start at your first interaction with Viktor Castillo.” Lou sighed and nodded. She took her pad over to the table and sat down. She began to write not looking up until she heard the door open again. This time it was Jace.
    Jace looked tired as he took the chair on the opposite side of the table from her. She looked back at the pad she was writing on but discreetly watched him through her lowered lashes. He reached up and untied his bowtie and pulled it off.
    "You want these?" Sam held up the pad he'd been writing on.
    "Yeah. I want to apologize on behalf of our idiot client. This was... Well it was total bull shit." Jace's voice was low and gravelly it made the hair on her arms stand and her stomach quiver. Each man handed him their pad. "You guys can head out. If Ethan didn't tell you, you have Monday off. I'll see you on Tuesday." The other two men nodded and left. Colby stayed.
    "I'll wait and see the lady home." He said when Jace shot him an inquiring look.
    "That's alright I can see the lady home."
    "I brought her I should make sure she gets home." Colby insisted. Jace's eyes narrowed and Lou could see he wasn't going to let it go. While it was sort of flattering it was also really annoying.
    "Excuse me. The lady is a big girl that is more than capable of seeing herself home." They both looked at her and then back at each other neither backing down. She knew she would have to intervene.
    "Colby, I have like maybe twenty more minutes. I'll be fine." He looked at her and glanced at Jace again.
    "If you ’re sure..."
    "I am." Colby relented and left leaving them in the suite, alone. She realized this was the most alone they had ever been. The idea sent a thrill straight through her. The idea that there was a bed in the next room both thrilled her and made her palms sweat. She hadn't been with anyone since that awful night.