Page 1 of Room Seventeen

1

Carlisle

The elevator door chimes, and my pulse thumps in my throat as Mike, our mailman, walks in with today’s mail. On top of the pile in his hand are three heavy, elegant, and expensive looking envelopes I know all too well—arriving today, just as I planned.

“Hey, Mike.” I smile, trying to appear as casual as possible even though my heart is racing like a jackrabbit.

“Hey, Carlisle. How’s my favorite executive assistant today?” He leans his hip against my desk and places the office mail in my inbox without a second thought. If he only knew what was in the envelopes, he might not be so casual, or look at me with innocent eyes.

“I’m doing good. How about you? How’s the weather today?”

He shrugs. “Not too hot, not too cold. The perfect day to walk the neighborhood.”

“That’s good.” I duck my head and glance in the direction of my two bosses, who sit in their individual offices not twenty feet from my desk. They have glass walls that can be darkened with a touch of a button, but when they’re not in a teleconference or other meeting, they have their doors wide open. All day long, I sneak glances at them through their open doors and clear glass walls, which suit me perfectly. All day long, I’m within earshot, ready to fulfill their every need. That’s my job, but it’s also my pleasure, since I love them more than I should—not that they’ll ever know that.

I’ve noticed they often focus their attention on my desk whenever Mike drops off the mail. I guess it’s an after-effect of all their years ofspytraining. They are constantly on alert and aware of everyone who comes in and out of our office. Honestly, I’m not exactly sure what they did in the military—something to do with intelligence and physiological operations, or PsyOps, as I’ve heard them call it. I guess that’s why they are the best in the business, handling discrete client problems quickly and efficiently.

I’ve been here six months and in love with my bosses for five. All three of my bosses. For five months.

Three bosses’ times five months equals fifteen months of longing, as far as I’m concerned. Triple the pleasure? Hell, it’s more like triple the agony while I pine for something I can never have. At least, not the way I want it.

“When are you going to let me take you out?”

“What?” My head snaps up, my eyes instantly searching Mike’s face for a smirk or sarcastic tilt to his lips, because he has to be joking.

“Dinner. You and me.” He motions between us, a sweet and sincere smile on his admittedly handsome face. He’s been a flirt since the day I got hired, but I didn’t think we were approaching date territory, and I’m at a loss as to how to let him down easy. If I wasn’t harboring a huge crush on three totally unattainable men who have rarely given me a second glance, I might be interested.

Unfortunately for Mike…

“I’m not sure what to say.”

His smile falls, and he raps his knuckles on my desk. “That sounds like a no.”

“I’m flattered, but I’m kind of seeing someone, and I’m not really the kind of girl who dates two guys at the same time.”

Three guys, maybe. Well, three specific guys, definitely, two of whom I feel staring at me and Mike right now. Then I hear, rather than see, Garrett push away from his desk, his footsteps heavier than normal.

Mike and I turn our heads at the same time Xander growls, “Garrett, get in here.”

Garrett’s lips are thin, his eyes narrowed on Mike, hands clenched at his sides before he spins on his heel and attempts to slam the door shut behind him—only these glass doors don’t slam shut, otherwise we’d have broken glass in here at least once a week.

For glass walls, their offices are almost soundproof, but there’s no mistaking Garrett’s anger as his arms flail at his sides. Xander, on the other hand, remains calm, although his body is rigid in his chair. He stabs his forefinger into his desk, his face tight as he makes his point—whatever that point might be. Whatever he says must get through to Garrett, because his shoulders slump, and he drops down into the chair.

“What’s that about?” Mike turns his gaze back to me, his brow knit into a tight crease.

“I don’t know.” I smile and shrug, trying to play it off. My bosses are all 100% alpha with different protective sheens polishing their otherwise gruff exteriors. Darian is pure business all the time, and any kind of softness from him is rare and fleeting. Xander is a big, quiet man whose shrewd assessing gaze makes you want to shrivel up into a tiny ball if he sends it your way. Garrett’s personable—damn near jovial with strangers—but he also has a short fuse, and angry Garrett is a bit scary. He’s definitely the most passionate of the group.

Mmmm. Passionate.

Xander’s door opens with a hiss, the tiny vacuum broken as the seal between the door and glass panel parts.

Garrett stands there, his face blank of expression. “Are we ready for our two o’clock, Car?”

“Yes, Garrett.”

“Great.” He returns to his office, his eyes barely skimming over me and Mike.

“I guess that’s my cue to get back to work.” Mike straightens and pulls his mail bag back on his shoulder. “If things don’t work out with that guy, my offer stands.”

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