Page 43 of Gray

“Me, too,” Ryland agreed.

Beside her, Gray shifted uneasily, his body language speaking loud and clear. He didn’t want to return to South America yet. But, she could also feel his conflict. His desire for vengeance. “As much as I want that, he’ll be ready for us,” Gray warned. “We need to catch him off guard. Wait for him to leave the safety of his compound.”

“Agreed,” Braxton said.

“The Merciers are going to be next to impossible to track down,” Zane commented. “I think it was an unlucky coincidence Demon ran into them.”

“They slipped up,” Braxton stated.

“Their deadly reputation is well-earned,” Gray said dryly, nodding to his bandaged arm. “They’re going to be a challenge to not only find, but also eliminate.”

“How’s the knife wound?” Inda asked.

“Fine.” His gaze slid to Aubrey. “Aubrey took good care of me.”

The way he said that last sentence, the way his voice dropped, made Aubrey blush to her roots. She couldn’t help but notice the smirks from his teammates, and she did her best to remain nonplussed and professional. “Which reminds me, I want to examine the wound and change your dressings soon.”

“Yes, Nurse St. Clair.” Heat filled Gray’s amber eyes and Aubrey swallowed hard. He kept getting deeper under her skin and she really, really liked him there.

“Okay, we’re done here,” Braxton announced. “As soon as Banshee hits on something, we’ll regroup and go from there. In the meantime, rest up.”

As the team began to disperse, Gray turned to Aubrey. “Would you like to get some brunch in town?”

“Bring us some food back, will ya?” Saint called, stepping out the back sliding glass door, a cigarette already in his mouth. “And don’t leave it behind in some chick’s hotel room this time!”

“Yeah, I’m starving,” Ryland growled and scooped Harper up, tossing her over his shoulder. She squealed as he marched straight out the door and back to their bungalow.

Braxton rolled his eyes and Inda chuckled. “I’m surprised he hasn’t knocked her up yet. Those two are insatiable.”

“Fact,” Zane added with a crooked grin. “Anyone want to make a friendly wager?”

“Ooh, you’re on, Banshee!” Inda rubbed her hands together. “I say Harper has a bun in the oven by the fall.”

“Fall? By the end of the month,” Zane predicted, crossing his arms.

“I’ll take that bet. Pharaoh, are you getting in on this? Saint? Demon? How much are you willing to wager, boys? Because I’m ready to take your money.”

“Fifty bucks,” Saint called from the doorway, exhaling a plume of smoke.

“Loosen the coin purse, Grandpa,” Inda taunted. “A hundred bucks minimum.”

“Okay, high roller. You wanna play, let’s play. Double or nothing—if you can also predict when Pharaoh relaxes enough to find himself a little sumthin’-sumthin’.”

“Fuck off, Saint,” Pharaoh responded lazily. “I already told you, I could have a wife back home.”

They all snorted with laughter.

“I’m in,” Zane declared. “Demon?”

“Yeah, sure, whatever,” Gray grumbled, getting up and heading for the door. He was clearly not interested in Ryland and Harper’s fertility or Braxton’s lack of a love life, and Aubrey smothered a laugh as she waved goodbye and followed him.

???

The beachside cafe was hopping, and Gray and Aubrey sat at a corner table, looking over the menu. A small steel drum band was playing a tune that conjured images of tropical drinks and the Caribbean. Across from him, Aubrey was tapping her fingers to the rhythm, swaying slightly. He studied her over the menu’s edge, unable to look away or stop thinking about their night together.

Everything he knew about her was incredible, and Gray had the overwhelming urge to get to know more. Every single detail. All of her likes and dislikes. What made her happy and angry and excited. He wanted to soak up every last detail, and then he wanted to make sure she was taken care of. Spoiled, actually. A woman like Aubrey deserved to be spoiled, he decided. Well and often.

“What do you want?” Gray asked.

---