Page 8 of Guarded from Treachery

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” I assure her. “I can grab something later.”

Her forehead crinkles as she looks at me. “Matt. I’ve seen what you eat. Sad looking sandwiches?—”

“Hey, they’re not sad. Just… simple.”

“There’s nothing on them,” she teases. “Just bread and meat. That’s not a sandwich. You need cheese. Condiments. Lettuce. Tomatoes. All the good stuff.”

I made a mock-offended face at her. “I can’t believe you’re insulting my cooking.”

Lucy laughs, lighting up with it. “I’m not insulting your cooking. Just your barren refrigerator.” She pauses, her smile sobering. “I don’t mind making extra, Matt. Really. Unless you don’t want?—”

Crap. The last thing I want is to make Lucy feel bad. “No,” I reply quickly, “I’d love some. And you’re right. My fridgeisalmost empty.”

“Okay.” She brightens again. “Then I’ll make you a couple grilled cheeses and a big bowl of soup. Does half an hour sound good?”

“It sounds great, Luce.”

She beams at me. “Okay. I’ll let you get back to work. But I’ll come back with your food in a little bit.” With a cheery wave, she heads back down the hallway, calling over her shoulder, “See you soon!”

My smile lingers after Lucy leaves, an unavoidable side effect of her bubbly personality. I never would have imagined Xavier ending up with someone like her, but seeing them together, it makes perfect sense. She makes him softer. Happier. More content.

A pang of longing sneaks up unexpectedly.

Not for Lucy, no. She’s like a little sister to me. Just like Jade and Sarah—two more of my teammates’ partners—are. And I’m thrilled that Xavier, Niall, and Dante all found the perfect person for them.

So it’s not jealousy. It’s just… I think I wouldn’t mind finding my perfect person, too.

Barking out a laugh, I shake my head at myself. Fat chance of finding a woman when I rarely go out. And when I do, I’m more concerned with spending time with my friends. Not that I’m celibate; there have been a few casual hookups since I moved to Texas last year, but there hasn’t been anyone I even considered pursuing more seriously.

Assuming they’d even be interested, that is. I’m not exactly the smoothest when it comes to talking to women. I always end up saying something awkward or completely inappropriate for the conversation—like bringing up the video games I like to play in my free time, which is apparently not something a woman wants to hear from a forty-year-old man.

It’s not like that’sallI do. I have a job. I spend at least a couple hours a day working out and practicing on the firing range. And I spend time with my Blade and Arrow teammates and their partners, a group of people I consider not just friends, but family.

Maybe I should try that online dating Lucy keeps suggesting. The last time she brought it up, she said, “I just think you’re amazing, Matt. Any woman would be so lucky to be with you. But with your job, and traveling so much, I know it has to be hard to meet anyone. Maybe online dating could be another option?”

But the thought of a series of dates with virtual strangers, opening myself up for rejection… I’m not sure. And it’s not that I want to just meetanywoman. It just might be nice to find what Xavier has. What Niall and Dante have.

The opposite of what I grew up with.

My jaw clenches. Pain slivers through my teeth.

That’s ancient history.

Turning back to my computer screens, I push the unwelcome memories away and start working through the camera feeds again. Backyard—clear. Garage—same. The pond is sparkling as the afternoon sun hits it, with just the slightest ripples from the breeze moving past it. The little gazebo is silent and still, save for a squirrel scurrying along the railing.

As I move on to cameras outside the renovated barn, my phone chimes with the signature Blade and Arrow tone. A moment later, a message from Dante appears.

Hey. Just checking in. Everything good?

I grin as I type a quick response.

Of course. You’d know if it wasn’t.

Considering the amount of security we have here, I’m certain Dante would know if there was a problem just as quickly as me. But unlike me, he wouldn’t be on site to handle it, since he and Erik, another teammate, are currently in Santa Fe on a pro-bono case.

Three dots blink on the screen for a moment before Dante’s reply appears.

True. Still. I just want to be sure.

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