Page 107 of Commander in Briefs

“What’s with the monkey suit?”

Tim’s distinctive voice has me opening my eyes as he flops down beside me and kicks his leg over the armrest, undeterred by my presence on the sofa. He’s in his workout clothes and still dripping sweat—obviously a shower was too much to ask this late in the evening.

“You watching this?” he questions, his broken dialect not too hard for me to understand.

Before I can answer, he scrolls through the channels, not giving a fuck if I’m watching this awful nature show or not. I’m not. Clearly.

I mumble a “no,” but then realize he can’t see my mouth so I clarify with a shake of my head. “No, go ahead, man.”

He doesn’t acknowledge me or my response, only scrolling until he finds an UFC fight and settles in against the cushions. I don’t know Tim very well. He keeps to himself mostly and rarely speaks, especially to me.

And apparently, that’s not changed, which is fine by me. I don’t care to make small talk any more than I have to tonight. Once again, my eyes to drift shut, picking up where I left off in counting down the days until the end of the season. Seventy-five, in case you’re curious. Seventy-five more games until I can be with Ans for three straight, uninterrupted months.

“So, the monkey suit?” Tim interrupts my thoughts. “Where you going?”

“Oh, I uh, have this charity gala tonight for the All-Stars.”

The gala and the game are being held in Atlanta this year and although I would like nothing more than to have Ans alone in another state, I’m glad to be able to sleep in my own bed. Well, it’s Ans’, but whatever, you know what I mean.

I dread these events like I dread going to a family BBQ hosted by my mother. Don’t get me wrong, I’m honored to be voted into the All-Star game for the third year in a row but these damn ass-kissing events suck major balls.

If the gala wasn’t part of the All-Star game’s contract, I certainly would not go. Taking Anniston usually livens it up a bit but I could still find something better to do on a Monday night than attend a butt-kissing convention.

Tim nods. “Commander going with you?”

I huff out a breath. “Yep. If she will ever get her ass down here,” I yell the last bit toward the stairs, hoping to encourage Anniston to hurry the hell up so we can get this over with.

Cade walks out of his office and cuts me an annoyed look. Between me, him, and Hayes, we were able to come up with a security schedule for Ans. We haven’t clued her in of our plans for twenty-four-hour shifts since I doubt she will be on board with the idea. She’s a stubborn woman and even though she won’t admit it to me, Lou scared her. Her mascara smears on my pillowcase prove it.

Shoes clomp down the stairs.

“Theo, I have my good Spanx on tonight so I think I have the room to stop by Taco Bell and grab something to eat. You know how all the food sucks at these uppity charity events and I don’t want to be drinking on an empty stomach.” Anniston comes into view, pausing on the landing to put in her earring. Her blonde tresses are swept up on top of her head with soft curls dangling around her perfect, sun-kissed face. Her makeup is minimal, just the way I like it. The dress hugs her perfect body. It’s navy blue—no—black. My eyes follow how the dress loops around her neck, and trail down her body where the fabric is cut short and flares at her thighs. She is utterly breathtaking.

A throat clears beside me and I look up to meet her eyes, obviously caught red-handed checking her out. She has an annoyed look on her face which closely mirrors Cade’s. I’m not sure how that makes me feel.

“Wipe that stupid smile off your face, Theo. Don’t be a weirdo tonight,” she scolds and descends the stairs.

“What stupid smile?” I ask, feigning ignorance.

She rolls her eyes but pauses, tilting her head to the side, listening to something apparently none of us have noticed. With an annoyed huff, she stomps back up the stairs and bangs on a bedroom door.

“Hayes! If she isn’t screaming louder than that you aren’t doing something right. You have bathroom duty in the morning at five a.m. for sneaking a girl in here. Make it worth it!”

Cade and I both snicker as Hayes returns in a loud military cadence, “Oohrah, Commander.”

Anniston descends the stairs once again, this time with an amused look on her face. She quickly masks it when she sees Tim. She looks to Cade. “Hold the fort down while I’m gone and make sure to see the girl out safely.”

He nods silently and offers his hand for her to take the last step down. “May I speak freely, Commander?”

She rolls her eyes. “Yes, Major. You may.”

“You look exquisite this evening.”

She smiles and kisses him on the cheek. “Thanks, Gorgeous. I’ll see you later.”

I offer my elbow, because I guess I have to be a gentleman as well if Cade is going to show me up. She takes it without argument and snags her purse off the stool as she passes.

As we near the car, Bailey, our driver for the night, steps out to open the back door to the black limo the team rented for this event.

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