Hamish

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“MORNING, SUNSHINE.”

Hamish lifted his head from his desk to pin Lily with a glare. He’d woken up at the office after his night out and gone for a run before returning just in time for her to intrude on his morning. “Have I threatened to fire you yet this week?”

“Did someone miss their morning wank?” Lily placed one of the two coffee cups she held in front of him before dropping into the chair across from his own. “Did you sleep here?”

Hamish dragged his fingers through his slightly greasy blond hair. He desperately needed a shower and a few paracetamol—and a nap wouldn’t hurt. The coffee would have to do him for now. “Vinnie texted me on my way home to come by the office after I left the club last night; I might’ve brought a few pints to have with him.”

“That explains why I found him underneath his desk snoring like a busted engine and cuddled up to an empty bottle.” Lily propped her feet up on his desk. “I thought you two stopped overindulging after that time in London when you were in your twenties.”

“Lils.” Hamish had tried to block out the memory of getting so wasted that their clothes, wallets, and even socks had been nicked off them. Lily had rescued both of them before their commanding officer had found out. “What happened to being sworn to secrecy? Hadn’t we decided to chalk that up to youthful enthusiasm and stupidity?”

“Stupidity being the keyword. Okay, okay.” She sipped her coffee, her green eyes alight with pure amusement. “So, Earp tells me you met someone last night.”

Hamish made a mental note to kill his business partner. Wyatt “Earp” Hardy was a former Navy SEAL who co-owned Hardy & Ross: Security & Protection, better known as HRSP with him. They offered risk assessments for businesses and individuals, along with security for non-profits. It had made their transition from active duty military to civilian life easier to handle.

“Hamster?”

He blinked at Lily as she snapped her fingers at him. “What?”

“Meeting someone? Last night? Bar fights? How much did you drink last night?” She smirked at him over the edge of her coffee cup. “I can’t believe I missed all the excitement.”

“If I give you a raise will you go away?”

Lily saluted him with her coffee. “Did you kiss him?”

“No comment.”

“That’s a yes.”

Hamish reached an arm out to knock her boots off his desk. “Why don’t you go yell at Vinnie? I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”

Watching her leave, Hamish had to chuckle when he heard loud arguing several minutes later. Lily Wilson and Vincent Smith had grown up across the street from one another. He’d met them on their first day of military service. The trio had been fast friends ever since.

When Hamish made the decision to retire, Lily and Vinnie hadn’t been far behind. Their loyalty had touched him. He’d also called them blooming morons for throwing away their careers.

Slightly more than six years later, Hamish believed they’d all made a wise decision. The company had flourished; their expertise had been in high demand. Pride filled him, knowing they’d built it together out of nothing.

Wyatt had brought his own group with him, three men who had served with him as Navy SEALs: Trace “Breach” Tifft, Cole “Voodoo” Willis, and Adam “Scorch” Wallach. American soldiers loved their nicknames. Not that we’re any better.

“Oi, Hamster, go shower,” Lily yelled while walking by his office door. “Like, now, before you stench up the entire room.”

Hamish gave a sniff to his underarm and immediately regretted it. “Bloody hell, I smell like Vinnie’s socks.”

Thanking all the saints that they’d had the foresight to build showers in the loo facilities of their office, Hamish grabbed the bag of clothes he kept in his locker. Maybe his headache would fade after he drowned himself under hot water for an hour.

When Hamish had started searching for the perfect place for their office, he’d stumbled on a fantastic deal for a warehouse in one of the old wharfs in Cardiff. They’d put more money into renovations than they had in purchasing the building. The upgrades had more than paid for themselves in allowing them to function better.

Thirty minutes in the shower cleared away the remnants of his hangover. Hamish could still taste Akash on his lips, even after a rather vigorous brushing of his teeth. He couldn’t shake the ghost of their kiss from his memory.

“Hey, Hamster, word around the office is you met someone last night. What’s it been? Twenty years since your last date? Did you remember how it works?” Nye leant against one of the rows of lockers while Hamish finished dressing. “Need a tutorial? Bet I could find you one online.”

Rolling his eyes, Hamish chose to ignore the idiot and continued lacing up his trainers. Nye had been the last to join their Marine unit, and the first to leave it after losing both his left arm and leg in an explosion. He’d been one of the first people to join the company when they started it; he’d grown tired of, in his own words, “sitting at home on my arse doing sod all.”

“Well?” Nye used his prosthetic leg to block Hamish’s escape route.

Hamish folded his arms across his chest with his jaw set stubbornly. He had no intentions of nattering on about his brief moment with Akash. “Go bother Lils.”

“And lose another limb? Not a sodding chance.” Nye grinned at him—disgusting morning person that he was. “If you see Akash again, tell him his sister owes me a date.”

“How the—”

“His little sister volunteers with the same group I do once a month. She’s a sweetheart. Shanti’s her name. Beautiful girl.” Nye kicked his foot against the floor. “On second thought, maybe don’t tell her only brother I’m dating his youngest sibling.”

Hamish grabbed a towel to rub through his still dripping hair. “Nye? Go away.”

Nye gave another grin. “Why don’t you stop by his bakery this morning? Our noon meeting isn’t going to happen, since it’s already eleven and none of us is awake enough for it. Go grab us something to nosh on—and maybe kiss the baker.”

“Nye.”

“I’m going, I’m going.” Nye paused on his way out the door. “I’ll tell the others the meeting will start late since you’re getting food.”

Hamish balled up the damp towel and flung it in the laughing idiot’s direction. “Tosser.”

Hamish put on a rumpled T-shirt from his bag, then ripped it off immediately and tossed it back inside. He’d grab one of the dress shirts hanging up in his office instead. None of them had eaten breakfast; pastries would be delicious. Might as well make a good impression if he had to go out.

I am hungry.

It’s not too obvious if I show up the morning after, is it?

A memory of dark eyes sparkling in the dim interior lighting of the vehicle flashed into his mind. Hamish glanced up at his own reflection in the mirror. He had to admit to himself that Akash had definitely caught his attention.

Correction.

I’m fucking starving.

“Oi. Hamish?”

Hamish paused in the middle of changing his shirt. “Yeah?”

“Emergency call from that one client.”

Shit.

It’s always something. Akash’ll have to wait.