Page 35 of Rugged Fox

Nolen was a great guy. He always had a smile for everyone, and I'm sure he and Lucien would get along great.

"Debatable. The kid is cool, but I have no idea if I can match Lyla's level of energy. I know you guys say I have a lot, but that woman puts me to shame."

Laughter burst out of my mouth without my permission and relaxed all the muscles I didn't realize had tensed up due to my nerves. I was barely a minute away from Kati's house and felt so much lighter than I had when I was getting ready. I owed my friend for that.

"I see your truck. Be there in a second."

I ended the call and let my newfound calm take over. I didn't do dates, so it wasn't much of a surprise that I needed one of my friends to ground me.

Nolen was out of his vehicle before I completely stopped and parked. I met him where he leaned against the hood and glanced around the neighborhood.

"It's kinda eerie knowing how many people are watching us right now and not a single one is a threat."

"I'm not sure I would say none of them are a threat. There's one out there, just hard to pick out the difference when so many people are watching."

In our line of work, we learned pretty quickly to listen to our instincts. One of those was when to know when someone was watching you, a talent that came in handy when a threat was focused on you. Not so great when everyone on the block was nosy and watched every move you made. It was making our job harder than it needed to be.

"A lot of people rave about small-town living. Aaron was no different, but I have to admit, it's a little creepy. I'm used to the anonymity that city life afforded me."

"What city life is that? You've spent the last twenty-five-plus years traveling the world same as me. Half the time we were in the desert or on base. What city life could you possibly be referring to?"

Nolen chuckled. He crossed one foot over the other and gave me his standard lopsided smile. The same one he wore nearly every hour of the day, even in the middle of shit hitting the fan.

"You know damn well I was born and raised in New York City. You can take the man out of the city but you can't take the city out of the man. Even after all these years, the blaring of horns and shouting of residents is music to my ears. This much quiet is freaky. Not sure how people live like this."

I playfully punched my friend on the shoulder. "Better get used to it. Pretty sure this is your life from here on out."

The light turning off in Kati's bedroom was my cue that I needed to get my ass moving. If she was done getting ready, then I needed to knock before she had time to freak out. With any luck, Lyla had reminded Kati why this was a good idea. It helped to have someone in my corner.

I barely had my foot on the landing before the door swung open. Standing there with one hand on the door, and a smirk on his face, was none other than Lucien.

"Glad to know you can be on time."

I glanced down at my watch. It was six fifty. I wasn't just on time. I was ten minutes early. I figured it was better to stand outside Kati's house and have someone to talk to than to sit around my house alone where I had time to overthink what I was about to do.

"I'm a man who prefers to keep my word."

"I don't need to know that." Lucien cringed. "Not after what I heard you say to my mom last night."

I don't think I've ever blushed in my nearly fifty years, but here I was; if I looked in the mirror, my face would be as red as a tomato because it just dawned on me that every dirty thing I said to Kati was overheard by her teenage son.

"Lucien, stop embarrassing Easton and let him in." Lyla stepped up behind the boy and smacked the back of his head. I'm pretty sure Lucien mumbled something about crazy aunts but he slipped away before I could fully let the words sink in.

"Well, don't you clean up nice? And good choice with the shirt. The green really makes your eyes pop."

"Uhh, thanks?" I looked down at my outfit.

I wanted to believe that her comment was sincere but the sparkle in her eyes, and the way she was holding back a laugh, made me wonder if I was on the outside of some joke.

"Come on in. Our girl is ready and too much time alone will result in her finding some reason to change her mind. She needs this. You need this. I need this for her. I'm getting sexual deprivation by association.”

"Lyla!" Kati hissed from a different part of the house.

I looked around but didn't see her at first. Then like a fantasy come to life, Kati stepped out of the bathroom and stole my breath. She was the vision of perfection in a sundress just a few shades darker than my shirt. Her brown hair cascaded down around her shoulders in beautiful waves and framed her face. Kati had gone the route of minimal makeup, just enough to make her eyes shine brightly and a shimmer on her lips that I couldn't wait to lick off.

"Beautiful." The word came out on an exhale as I moved closer. When I was close enough that I could take her hands in mine, I leaned forward so that my lips brushed against the shell of her ear. "Absolutely breathtaking."

I stepped back and watched her green eyes darken with lust. It sent a thrill right through me to know I had the same effect on her that she had on me.

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