"There are four properties that initially caught our attention. The first of them is located in the southwest sector of the downtown area. While the pricing is competitive, our analysis of the area shows there isn't a customer base to make the venture successful unless we bring other businesses in with us." Danielle hit each talking point on the slides as she stood in front of the panel. Justin watched with pride as she sized up the assets her teams had located for the next possible location. He wasn't sure about expanding again. Quite frankly, he had other interests that seemed to fog the clear vision for the future he used to have. Danielle continued to present her findings. Justin already knew which building she’d settled on and why. The meeting today was to get the rest of the team's input. He had people who were exceptional at their job, and he wasn't going to mess with the process, although he agreed with Dani's assessment.

"Are there any questions?" Dani flicked the presentation off and started fielding questions.

Justin followed along but focused on Danielle more than the questions heading her way. It had been like that since he'd seen her on Gordon Dam. His heart hadn't settled into the same old dull thud. His mind hadn't gone off in pursuit of the next grand adventure because he knew what it would be. He was climbing Everest with Dani, and they were suit jumping down the slope. They'd been doing research about the camp levels, the guides, and requirements to make an expedition up the mountainside. The climatology and topography were also details they were taking into consideration. When they weren't planning the event, they were training. Justin shifted in his seat. Danielle was the last number of a combination on a mechanism he'd been trying to crack for as long as he could remember. With her, he was...Justin glanced out the window. With her, he was complete. That sounded sappy as fuck, but it was true. He didn't feel the itch to fill every waking moment with movement. He could be at peace. Justin glanced at the faces sitting around the conference table. They were fully engaged in the question and answer phase of the briefing. Did they have any idea the monumental shift that had occurred within him? Could they see the feelings he had for Danielle? Did he care if they could? The answer to the last question was a resounding no. She calmed the turbulence inside him. She vanquished the incessant thrum of restlessness that used to entomb him. She was his oasis, the thing that let him rest and, yes, he loved her.

He'd admitted that fact to himself over a week ago, although he hadn't told Danielle. It was way too soon in their relationship to lay the "L" word out there. Or at least, that's what he assumed. Who knew? He was winging his way through this relationship anyway. They'd been back from Australia now for three weeks, twenty-one days of being more than the friends they had been, and twenty-one nights of sex better than he'd ever imagined. He shifted in his seat when his body reacted to the memories that flashed through his mind's eye. He caught Danielle's eyes as she swept the room when she spoke. Her voice faltered for a moment, and a light blush rose to her cheeks before she continued on with the briefing.

Max let himself into the conference room, redirecting Justin's attention from Danielle. He carried a now familiar packet of paperwork. There was little doubt the bound and sealed envelope was from his brother Jason, at Guardian. His gut sank as he took the sealed envelope and placed it beside his tablet. Max exited as quickly as he'd entered. His eyes moved from his assistant to the woman at the front of the conference table. For the first time since Gabriel had bailed him out of jail all those years ago, he was not looking forward to another assignment. He pulled himself out of his thoughts when Danielle started to sum up the meeting.

"So we agree we will pursue the Bowman building if we can validate the zoning requirements and local laws are within our tolerance."

Justin watched as everyone's head went north and south. He stood and dismissed the gathering. "Thank you for your time. We have a finance meeting at three, for those of you who will be attending, there are spreadsheets that I want updated. I need a cost ratio breakdown on the quarterly reports." He picked up his tablet and the sealed envelope while waiting for the room to clear.

"Hey, you," Danielle spoke to him as the last person left. "You looked distracted today."

"Only by you." Justin bent down and pressed a quick kiss against her soft lips.

"Stop that. Remember our agreement, no kissing at work. We've proven we can't trust ourselves to behave."

Justin barked out a laugh. More than once the first week they were back, Max had nearly caught them in a compromising position. The no kissing mandate sucked, but it was needed.

"Are we on for lunch?" Justin put his hand on her back as they walked out of the conference room.

"I have a meeting, remember?" She bumped into him with her shoulder.

"I do, but I was hoping you'd forgotten." He stopped outside his office. Danielle paused before going on to her section at the other side of the building.

"You'll have to live with the fact that my boss is a slave driver." She winked at him and walked away and damned if he didn't blatantly watch her every step as she walked away. The tight skirt and high heels showcased her athletic body. He was so fucking relieved he had the right to watch her without trying to be discreet. She turned the corner and moved out of his sight before he headed into his office.

On his way past Max's desk, he stopped. "I'm not to be disturbed, by anyone for any reason, unless Ms. Grant calls or comes by. If that happens, buzz me first. I have some personal business that needs my attention."

"Yes, sir." Max acknowledged his words as he typed with one hand and held his messages out to him with the other. As always, the multi-tasking miracles Max could perform were impressive. "What would I do without you, Max?"

The man blinked his eyes up at the question. "Good God, sir, I hope you never have to find out."

Justin laughed and tapped the envelope on Max's desk. "Me, too."

He closed his door and locked it behind him. Once at his desk, he hit the remote to make his glass walls opaque. He took off his jacket, loosened his tie and opened the envelope. Madrid. He glanced at the blueprints and schematics. Damn, what a challenge. The familiar electric energy started to arc under his skin. This assignment wasn't as time sensitive as some of the ones that had been handed to him previously. He glanced at his calendar. He needed time blocked off to prepare. He examined the blueprints of the high rise and the location of the safe. The type and manufacturer were new to him. He needed more information. He took out the sheet of paper included in the courier’s packet and started making notes. Guardian usually provided him with all the information he needed, but there were a few instances where he required specific facts, measurements or intelligence. This was one of those times. He used the chemically treated paper and the specialized pen included in the packet. After he listed his concerns and questions, he would contact Guardian's courier and send a sealed packet back to Jason. If someone intercepted the communication, they'd have to figure out how to see what was on the paper without ruining it. It was probably overkill, but Jason insisted on the requirement.

Justin spread the blueprints out over his desk and stood up so he could see the entire floor. He scanned the information, pausing to take in the nuances of the security system. Whoever installed it knew what they were doing. His lips lifted in a sneer. Challenge accepted.

A tap at his door pulled him away from the documents and notes. He glanced at the clock on his wall in surprise. He'd spent four hours working the new assignment. "I'll be right there, Max."

He was going to be late for his financial meeting. Damn it, he hated being late, but he wasn't going to rush putting the packet together and possibly miss something. Justin folded the blueprints, made another note on his sheet and placed all of the documentation he'd received into his old-fashioned safe located under the faux leather mat that protected the floor under his desk chair. He'd made a few personal modifications to the safe. It could be cracked, but it would take someone with exceptional skill, and they’d have to find it first. He closed and locked the safe. It took a minute to replace the floor mat and chair. Justin grabbed his suit jacket and slipped it on, fixing his tie and adjusting his sleeves before he placed his questions in the provided courier envelope and sealed it. A quick text to the service would have someone here to pick it up within fifteen minutes. Justin carried the sealed pouch out to Max and handed it off. "The courier will be here within fifteen minutes. From your hands to his."

"Of course, sir." Max took the envelope with one hand while he handed Justin the paperwork he needed for his three o'clock meeting.

"Remind me to give you a raise." Justin spun on his heel as he spoke.

"You already did, sir, but I'll remind you again around bonus time." Max's laughter chased him down the hall to his meeting.