by Autumn Reed
“Care to be more specific?” I asked, wondering if this was Knox’s way of asking me to go on a date with him.
“Nope.”
“Of course not.” I hopped in the car, and he closed the door behind me.
On the way to the Zenith training center, I wondered what Knox would choose for our first date. I couldn’t see him selecting something traditional like dinner and a movie, but I had no clue. Out of all my dates so far, Jackson’s aquarium adventure had been the most surprising.
I thought back to that afternoon, and several images flashed through my mind—his hands on my waist, a sea of colors swimming before us, the look in his eyes when he said he wanted me. For all his talk of chemistry and making his intentions clear, when it came to the end of the date, he gave me a polite goodnight hug.
Why hadn’t Jackson kissed me when it was so obvious he wanted to? I sensed his reluctance to leave; the way his eyes lingered on my face, my lips, had stayed with me since. Maybe he assumed I wasn’t ready or that it was too soon? Both of which were probably true.
I pulled into the parking garage and told myself to get my head in the game. After checking in at the front desk, I waited in the lobby, surprised when Patrick walked out to greet me. He looked tired, and I wondered why he was spending the time to escort me to training when he likely had more important duties to attend to.
“Good morning, Haley. How are you?”
“Good, thanks. Looking forward to getting started. Jackson’s e-mail was vague as to what I’d be doing today, so I hope I dressed appropriately.”
“You look very professional. If you end up doing any of the physical assessment today, we have a uniform for you. All trainees are required to wear them.”
He stopped in front of a door to swipe his keycard and open it for me. An attractive woman, who was probably a few years younger than Patrick, stood from a table. She wore a pencil skirt and matching blazer, her silky red hair twisted back into a bun.
“Haley, this is Diana Anderson,” Patrick said, and I shook hands with her. “She’s one of our Asset Coordinators. She works with trainees to determine their aptitude and areas of strength and weakness and coordinate schedules. She’s aware that you’re training to be a strategy specialist and should be able to answer any questions you have.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Haley. Welcome back to Zenith.”
“Thank you.”
Patrick excused himself, and Diana took a seat, gesturing for me to do the same.
“You’re not our typical trainee, but Patrick hasn’t taken a personal role in vetting a candidate since Liam Carlyle. From what he told me, you’re highly qualified and may be able to test out of a number of program prerequisites.”
“That’s an option?”
“Absolutely. We want to challenge our trainees, not bore them. Requiring you to sit through a beginner gun-handling class, for example, would be a waste of everyone’s time. Plus, Patrick told me you are very self-disciplined and excel at independent study. We want to work with your strengths and create a learning experience that gives you the best opportunity to succeed.
“I’d like to spend today gaining a better picture of your mental strengths. Tomorrow, we’ll focus on the physical aspects, so we can create your training plan. How does that sound?”
“Perfect.”
I couldn’t believe how perfect, in fact. For someone with no formal education, it was a relief to see that my unique background was not only welcomed but encouraged. I used to question the guys’ loyalty to Zenith, their passion for their jobs, but I was beginning to understand how they felt.
“Before we get started, I’d like to remind you that everything you say will remain in your confidential file. There are no wrong answers, and the more information you provide, the better I can assist you. You are always free to decline answering a question, but I would advise against it as much as possible.” She rifled through some papers. “It looks like Patrick already went through your background, so we’ll move on to skills and interests.”
I wondered what information Patrick provided about my background but didn’t want to open that can of worms. He knew the truth about my story, and I trusted him to disclose only what was necessary.
I nodded, slightly anxious as to what she would ask me.
Fortunately, the questions started out easy enough—highest level of education, language fluency, special skills and interests—basic job interview questions. After lunch, we progressed to behavioral and personality questions, some more general, while others were specifically targeted to my new position.
“In the past, how often were your library books overdue?”
The question seemed random, but I assumed it was to assess my responsibility, my ability to care for property that wasn’t my own.
“Never,” I answered confidently.
“Is that because you never checked out books or because you always turned them in on time?”
I laughed. “I checked out so many books the librarians knew me by name. I always turned them in on time.”
“As a strategy specialist, you will interact with different teams and personalities. They may not always follow your recommendations. What would you do in the event of a conflict with a team lead?”
Scott, the leader of Team Falcon, came to mind, as did Jackson. I weighed my answer, choosing my words carefully before speaking.
“I think it depends on the nature of the conflict. There’s a difference between a personality clash and a fundamental disagreement on strategy. In either case, I would speak to the team lead one-on-one to minimize disruption to the team and avoid undermining his or her authority.”
Although Diana never commented on my answers, I sensed she was pleased by my response. I lost count of how many questions she asked, and by the end of the afternoon, I was exhausted.
“Okay, I think that’s it,” Diana said, putting the cap on her pen. Throughout the day, she had written notes, but they were few and far between. I assumed that was intentional, an interviewing technique designed to encourage openness. “Great job today, Haley. We’ll pick back up tomorrow morning at eight. Here’s a uniform, and you should receive an e-mail this evening with instructions for accessing the online learning portal.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
A few minutes later, I sat behind the steering wheel, my eyes closed, when my phone chimed with an incoming text.
Jackson: How did your first day go?
Me: Good, I think.
Jackson: I’m sure you did great. Liam and I had to fly to Dallas, so we won’t make it to Taco Tuesday after all.
Me: What’s in Dallas?
Jackson: Ask Knox.
Me: He better not give me some lame answer, like cowboy boots.
Jackson: He won’t, I promise.
Me: Did you get abducted by aliens en route?
Jackson: They don’t exist. Would you like to go surfing next Monday?
I laughed at his abrupt change of subject, still stunned that he even responded to my aliens comment. In the past, Jackson’s texts had been rare and limited to business. He really must be trying to turn a new page.
Me: You’re taking off work? Now I’m convinced you’ve been abducted by aliens.
Jackson: We have Abagnale prep in the morning that I want you to attend, but there should be time for surfing in the afternoon.
Me: What about my training schedule?
Jackson: It’s already been cleared with Diana. Are you afraid of a little cold water?
Me: Of course not. Don’t forget the wetsuit.
Jackson: I won’t.
Since it was mid-afternoon, I didn’t have to face much traffic and breezed home. A few hours, and a trip to the grocery store later, I stood at the kitchen counter laying out the items for tacos.
“Honey, I’m home,” Theo sang out as he entered the loft and placed a soft kiss on my cheek.
I smiled. “Are Knox and Chase with you?”
“They should be home so
on. Chase needed to drop by his gran’s house, and Knox volunteered to go with him. I’m going to change, and then I’ll help you.”
I was washing the produce, admiring the vibrant colors of the bell peppers and the freshness of the tomatoes, when I felt a pair of hands slip around my waist. I started at the unexpected touch. Apart from my first morning back at the loft when Chase kissed me, it was rare for any of the guys to initiate affection beyond a kiss on the cheek or a hug. Remembering that we were home alone, I softened, allowing myself to sink back into Theo’s arms.
“Did you have a good day?” he asked, moving my hair to the side to place a kiss on my neck.
“Mhmm.”
“Do you have any extra limes?” He withdrew his hands, and I immediately missed the contact.
“There’s a bag in the fridge.”
Theo prepared a pitcher of margaritas while I chopped the vegetables and rubbed the meat with taco seasoning. I placed the flour, baking powder, salt, and olive oil on the counter.
“Cookies?” he asked hopefully.
“Tortillas.”
“No way. Do not tease me like that, Haley.” He pointed his finger at me.
“Well, I’ve never made homemade tortillas, but they look easy enough.”
“Only you would say that.”
“Only Haley would say what?” Knox’s voice boomed down the hall. I hadn’t even heard him and Chase come in but smiled when I saw them, their blond hair and broad shoulders calling to me like a beacon.
“That making tortillas from scratch is easy,” Theo answered.
“I’m sure she can handle it,” Knox said with confidence.
“And, if not, I bought some as a backup.”
It wasn’t long before we all sat down to dinner, our plates piled high with tacos. I had to admit, I was pleased with how the tortillas turned out. What was lost in time and convenience was more than made up for by the freshness and fluffy texture.
“You’ve ruined me,” Theo said. “I don’t know if I can go back to store-bought.”
“Always so dramatic." I laughed and noticed Knox roll his eyes playfully.
“He’s right, though. These tortillas are delicious,” Chase interjected. “How did it go today?”
“Answering so many questions was tiring, but I liked Diana. She thinks there are a several components I could easily test out of. My timing isn’t ideal, since the current training cycle is already in progress, but I’ll be able to access most substantive materials through the online portal.”
“I can help you with any of the strategy components. I aced those,” Chase said, and I was surprised to hear him brag about himself, even mildly.
“I’ve noticed you excel at defensive maneuvers, but we should work on your offense,” Knox added.
“Thanks, I’ll take all the help I can get.”
The guys launched into stories of their days as trainees, and it was nice to finally talk freely with them about this part of their lives. They made it sound so fun and easy, but if today was any indication, I knew it was going to be a challenging program. After Theo told a story about a guy they called “Tex,” who ended up failing out of the program, it reminded me of my earlier conversation with Jackson. When Chase and Theo got up to clear the dishes, I decided to ask Knox about it.
“Why did Jax and Liam fly to Dallas?”
He leaned back in his chair. “Remember the intruder you helped Theo take down last December?”
I nodded, recalling that night all too well. I still wondered what had become of him.
“We discovered it was part of a larger plan, one that had been underway for months. After a security breach of one of the senior staff members in Dallas, Patrick enlisted our help as a secret task force to root out the corruption within Zenith. Since then, we shadow different teams under the pretense that Team Jaguar needs mentoring during our probationary period.”
“Probationary period?”
“When one or more members leaves a team permanently, there are . . . consequences.”
“Oh.” He was referring to Ethan. “I bet you guys just love that cover story.”
Knox grimaced. “It’s not ideal, but it works well enough.”
“Did you ever figure out what the San Jose intruder wanted?”
“Jackson recovered a thumb drive containing Zenith assignment records. When Patrick analyzed the files, he discovered they had been altered, but he still has no idea why those particular records were selected or who was involved. As far as we can tell, there’s no obvious correlation—different teams from different offices and different types of missions.”
“Why a secret task force? Aren’t there safeguards in place for such a situation?”
Knox raised an eyebrow. “Yes, but an internal investigation yielded nothing. Patrick remained suspicious, so he asked us to look into it discreetly.”
“So, what now?”
“We watch and wait. Eventually, they’ll fuck up and do something stupid.”
Chase handed me a bowl of ice cream with cookies.
“Thanks,” I said, noticing the way his hand lightly grazed mine.
Theo returned to the table with a bowl for him and Knox, and the conversation turned to lighter matters.
“So, brother, when are you taking Haley out?” Theo asked abruptly.
“Theo,” Knox growled in warning.
“What?” He shrugged. “It’s a legitimate question.”
Chase stared down his dessert with an intensity equivalent of a laser beam. Knox ate his in silent protest while I closed my eyes and wished I could disappear. Why did Theo continually feel the need to force this issue? We all lived together, for crying out loud. If I looked up the definition of awkward, this would be it.
“Everyone else has taken her out or set up a date except you,” Theo continued unwisely.
Not wanting the situation to escalate, I gave Theo an annoyed look. “Not that it’s any of your business, but we’re going out on Saturday. Satisfied?”
His eyes held a note of apology, but he still threw Knox a smug grin. “Yes.”
“Great.” I handed him my empty bowl and stood. “I’m pretty sure it’s your turn to clean the kitchen,” I said before striding down the hall toward my bedroom.
Theo needed to butt out of my relationships with Jackson, Chase, Liam, and Knox. It was none of his business, and I couldn’t understand why he wanted to know. Had the guys deemed him the dating police—electing him to ensure that everyone was being treated fairly under these completely unfair circumstances? Or, was this just his way of dealing with an uncomfortable situation?
Beyond My Imagination
I rested my elbows on the counter, watching Knox while he rinsed his cereal bowl in the sink. When he leaned over to place it in the dishwasher, his T-shirt rode up, showing off his taut backside. That view was entirely too good to pass up.
I’d always been aware that the Bennett brothers were crazy hot, but since arriving back in Santa Cruz, my senses were on high alert. Almost like I finally allowed myself to really look at my roommates now that I was going out with them. Add Chase into the mix, and I was living every girl’s fantasy. I tried to imagine what it would be like if Liam and Jackson moved in, but the thought alone was enough to make my head explode.
Before I could get caught ogling, I tapped my fingers on the counter. “Will you please give me a hint about what we’re doing today?”
Knox straightened, then searched for his coffee mug and took a long drink before answering. He was such a grouch in the morning.
“Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Bring a light jacket, sunglasses, and camera.”
“I guess that’s a hint.”
He smirked. “That’s all you’re getting, so take it or leave it.”
“I’ll take it.”
“That’s what I thought.”
I turned toward my bedroom, calling over my shoulder, “See you at eleven?”
“Can’t wait.”
I spent the
next couple of hours doing homework, but my mind kept drifting back to my upcoming date with Knox. It was the last of my “first dates,” and I felt excited and a little relieved. Although they’d gone well so far, the minor emergency during Chase’s notwithstanding, there was a certain amount of pressure for the first date to be special. I was ready to be past all that.
Then again, maybe I wasn’t. Every date I went on was one step closer to being forced to choose. How long could I drag out my indecision? One month? Six?
No, waiting that long would only make things worse. It already felt like an impossible choice. After six months of being in a relationship with all five of them, walking away from four would devastate me.
Did I make a mistake by starting this crazy thing to begin with? After all my hesitation, I’d decided to come home almost on a whim. A momentary lapse in judgment when I’d convinced myself that it would all be okay.
I flopped down on my bed and smashed a pillow over my face. More than anything, I needed to talk to my best friend. But, I couldn’t bring myself to tell Jess about the mess I’d gotten myself into. This one time, I had no idea how she would react. And, part of me was afraid she would try to talk me out of continuing the relationships. I couldn’t let anyone influence me at this stage. Not even Jess.
Shaking off my gloomy thoughts, I focused on getting ready. Thinking back to my very first encounter with Knox, I couldn’t help but smile. What’s your plan, Haley? Under his gruff tone, his exasperation had been obvious. And, he’d made a valid point. I was in the middle of the woods with an injured ankle, freezing my butt off. Not exactly my finest moment.
If someone had told me back then that I would be going on a date with him almost a year later, I would have laughed. Of course, that was before I’d learned that beneath his rough exterior was a teddy bear. Not that he would appreciate the comparison.
Deciding not to wait on him to fetch me from my bedroom, I went to his and knocked. “Ready yet?” I called.
Knox opened the door with a fake glower. “Impatient much?”
“Yep. Oh, and I don’t have a camera. Will my iPhone work?”
He picked up a lightweight backpack. “Got it covered.”
