Page 92 of The Marine

CHAPTER TWENTY

AIDAN

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Irip off my tie asI walk into the BHS conference room and take in the team. It’s a stark contrast to the suited up meeting I just left.

Ryder has his feet up on the table and is wearing a pair of blue jeans and a short-sleeved black BHS polo shirt.

I walk past and knock his feet off the table.

He glances at me and puts them back up.

Josh is half naked.

“Can you please get dressed in your office before coming to a meeting?” I frown. “No one wants to see your fat ass.”

Ignoring me, Josh pulls on a light blue T-shirt, picks up a bottle of water, chugs it down, and stares at me blankly.

Then he says, “Aidan has his period, everyone.”

“Oh, fuck off.” I toss my necktie onto the table and shrug off my jacket. “Someone has to be the professional one around here.”

“Can you do it more quietly?” Ryder mutters and lifts his eyes, smirking at me.

“Don’t make me kill you the day before your wedding.”

“Like you could take on a Delta.”

Every opportunity he gets, Ryder reminds us he was a member of the mysterious Delta Force team, which technically doesn’t exist. At least as far as the US government is concerned.

Josh and I both snort.

Thomas walks in and interrupts what could have broken out into an all-out inter-military battle in our office.

Not the first one.

I’m tired, grumpy, and want to get home to Briar. The lack of sleep and all the questions running around in my head have me on edge and impatient.

Penny follows Thomas in and asks, “Do you need me?”

“I don’t think so,” Josh says. “We’re just going over the final details of the wedding security tomorrow.”

“Got your dress, Penny?” Ryder smiles over at her.

“Yes. The day after you invited me. I’m so excited.” She claps her hands together. “I do want to get my hair done, though. I forgot to book.”

“Take the rest of the day off.” Josh tells her. “There’s only another hour left on the clock.”

“I was leaving now, anyway.”

“Of course you were.” I mutter grumpily.

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