Page 15 of Always Been Mine

“Lame. What is up?”

“Look, Bee, I don’t want to make an assessment of someone based on one meeting.”

“Lie. You were formerly CIA, Nate. Rapid assessments are your forte.”

“He’s our client. I shouldn’t let it affect me.”

“What are you talking about?”

Nate squirmed uncomfortably. “I think he likes me . . . uh . . . that way.”

Beatrice burst out laughing. “Oh, God, how could I be so blind in all this? Well, I don’t ever get any sexual vibes from him except his cheesy smile. How come I’m the one getting a dinner invitation?”

“Search me,” Nate shrugged. “He’s a client. I’ll deal.”

Beatrice walked beside Nate and tucked her arm into his. “We need to find you a nice girl.”

“Leave me alone, Bee. You’re the one who needs to get her ducks in a row.”

Beatrice harrumphed.

“I wasn’t going to say anything, but you better not consider taking him back.”

Who was Nate talking about? Gabe or Eric? Had Doug mentioned something to him?

“Uh, who?” Beatrice hedged.

Nate rolled his eyes. “Who else? Eric Stone.” Ever the astute observer though, his eyes narrowed. “Why? What aren’t you telling me?”

“Don’t say anything to Travis yet, okay?”

Nate nodded.

“His SEAL buddy, Gabriel Sullivan, is back in town.”

Nate silently cursed. “You better not consider taking him back either. Is he bothering you? Do you want me to put someone on you?”

“I can handle myself, Nate,” Beatrice snapped.

“He’s bothering you.” Her friend’s brown eyes grew cold. “That fucker. You wanna stay with me for the weekend?”

Beatrice sighed. This was so sad. Before her was the perfect male specimen: tall, a physique that belonged on the cover of a sports magazine, a smile that wouldn’t creep women out, but most likely make their panties drop, and she was friends with the man.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Nate asked warily.

“Like what?”

“Like I was a bug you crushed under your shoe.”

Beatrice shook her head in amusement. “I’m just pissed that all the reliable men in my life are not relationship material. First there’s Doug. Gainfully employed. I don’t know what the hell I’d do without him. He cares for me, loves me, but he’s gay. Then, there’s you. Women drool all over you, and yet you do nothing for me.”

“Wow. Thanks,” Nate said sarcastically, but his eyes glinted merrily. “You’re sexy as hell, too, Bee. I see men look at you and it pisses me off.”

Beatrice raised a brow.

“Because it’s like they’re ogling my little sister,” Nate chuckled and caught her head under his arm and ground his fist on the crown of her head.

Beatrice squealed and kidney punched him. Nate grunted, but continued chuckling.

---