Page 31 of End Game

Kayla glanced down the long conference room table and checked the clock above her office manager, Luke Handler’s, head.

It was 12:42.

She’d picked this vantage point specifically so Guard Dog Phin wouldn’t get suspicious if he caught her time-checking once too often.

A kaleidoscope of butterflies took flight in her stomach. A phenomenon that didn’t happen to her much anymore. She’d survived so many skirmishes during her stint as a lobbyist that she’d gained a hard-earned confidence that allowed her to tackle almost any problem head-on.

Her anxiety hadn’t bloomed out of fear but guilt. Guilt for what she must do. And to whom.

As if waiting for this exact moment, a stomach growled.

Kayla smiled at the woman sitting to her right.

Natalie Bryant, the firm’s attorney and Kayla’s BFF since college, placed a hand over her middle. “Sorry, I didn’t get a chance to eat breakfast.”

Kayla fought to keep her polite smile from turning into a knowing grin. Natalie had a new man in her life. Her normally buttoned-up, never late for an appointment employee had been acting and looking a bit disheveled of late.

Not in an I’m-in-over-my-head-stressful way, but in an I-can’t keep-my hands-off-you-let’s-do-it-one-more-time-before-work way.

She noted one side of the attorney’s shirt collar was outside of her navy suit jacket, while the other side was still tucked neatly inside, and her normally smooth updo had several half-escaped strands in the back. Yeah, she’d been thoroughly pleasured before starting time.

Kayla couldn’t have been happier for her friend. Like Kayla’s, Natalie’s love life was nonexistent, save for the random bed partner she’d pick up at after-hours cocktail parties. Exciting for a time, but nowadays, Kayla longed for something more meaningful, something more intimate than a one-night stand. She knew Natalie felt the same.

“I’m sure your stomach isn’t the only one feeding on itself right now.” Kayla gathered her phone and laptop. “I think that does it for now.” Her gaze touched on each of her team members for confirmation. One by one, they nodded their agreement.

“Is anyone going out for a bite to eat?” She made sure her attention didn’t linger on her office manager.

“I am,” Luke said on cue. “I have a taste for a Reuben from Bailey’s deli.” He stood. “Want me to grab you something?”

“I’d love their strawberry spinach salad. Easy on the feta.”

“You got it.”

“Thank you, Luke. I’m going to be tied up in video conferences for the rest of the afternoon.”

“No problem. Any other takers?”

“Since I kept y’all so late,” Kayla said, “lunch is on the firm.”

As expected, everyone chimed in with their order, including Phin.

“I’ll call it in.” Luke turned to Phin. “Wanna get some fresh air? I could use some help carrying everything back.” He gave the youngest Blackwell a smirk. “Or has Romeo gone to fat now that he’s off the market?”

Maddy Carmichael had swept the handsome charmer off his proverbial feet. Something many a gorgeous lady had tried and failed to do.

From day one, Phin and Luke, who were barely a year apart in age, had hit it off. Every team meeting seemed to be a competition on whose verbal slam would elicit the biggest reaction.

Luke’s comment dislodged a chorus of whistles and anticipatory wide-eyed stares.

Phin didn’t disappoint. “Juliet keeps Romeo far too busy for him to go to fat.”

Kayla laughed as she made her way to the door. “Got your company credit card?”

Grinning, Luke gave Phin a good-hearted shove to the back of his shoulder. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Try to behave yourselves at the deli. I don’t want to lose access to my favorite salad.”

She was nearly out of the room when Phin called her name. A question in his tone.

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