When Day Breaks

Eden gave her a serene smile and picked an invisible piece of lint from her shirt. “He’s too easy and it’s so much fun to see him all riled up. He’s too cute.”

Skylar choked on her laughter. “Cute? I have to say I’ve heard Swa

Skylar then cocked her head to the side. “You really dig him, don’t you? I mean, it’s not an act with you. You truly like him.”

Eden flushed.

“I’m not saying that to make you uncomfortable or put you on the spot,” Skylar hastened to say. “It’s just that not many people look beyond his appearance to get to know the real man underneath. He has a huge heart, as I’m sure you know by now. I think it’s really cool that you’re so accepting of him. All of him. You look very good together.”

“He’s a very special man,” Eden said quietly.

“On that we agree,” Skylar responded.

They looked up to see Swa

He slung the suit on its hanger over his shoulder. Then he shot both women a glare. “Let’s go see how the other guys fared since they didn’t have you two tormenting them and making them go through half a dozen suits. I bet they chose the first one they picked out.”

Skylar snickered and Eden lifted an eyebrow. “Oh, how little you know. I sicced the very nice saleslady on those three and told her my specifications. I can assure you that she made certain they didn’t just grab and run. You were the lucky one, having me and Sky being the only witnesses to your pain.”

“Poor bastards,” Swa

“Quit being a baby,” Eden scoffed. “Let’s take your suit to the saleslady and then we’ll outfit Skylar. I can’t wait to get my hands on her. She’s going to look amazing before I’m finished with her!”

With an exaggerated, indulgent sigh, Swa

Eden clapped her hands, rubbing them together in anticipation, just as the other team members joined them. “Now for Skylar.”

Skylar’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’m being dressed by a supermodel. How many women can say that? I’m going to look fabulous! Man, I haven’t looked forward to a swanky gig like this like ever. But I’m already fantasizing about a to-die-for dress, some kick-ass total fuck-me shoes and being made up by an honest-to-God professional makeup artist. And I get to hang out with Eden Sinclair! I can’t believe I’m getting paid for this.”

“Whoa, sweetcakes,” Edge growled. “Remember the job you’re being paid to do. Am I going to have to put you on a leash for the night? If we’re having to watch out for you, our attention will be split between you and Eden, and that’s not what we’re being paid to do.”

Skylar put her nose in the air and sniffed, sending him a glare. “Party pooper. Can’t a girl have some fun?”

Eden threaded her arm through Skylar’s and herded her toward the designer dress section, where the saleslady was already hanging up several selections for Skylar to try on.

“We girls will have fun,” Eden said emphatically. “We’ll just stick together and have fun. If we’re in the same spot, then their attention will never be divided, right?”

Skylar sent her an admiring look. “I like the way you think. It’s diabolical and pure genius. I love that you have an evil streak.”

Eden gri

Eden caught the wince on Joe’s face as they caught up to her and Skylar and the color that rose into his cheeks and also the scowl that lit up Swa

She and Skylar both bit into their lips to keep from reacting. Skylar’s eyes sparkled with amusement and her expression was one of anticipation as well as a mischievous streak that for some reason her teammates weren’t quite aware of. Or didn’t seem to be, anyway. Eden wasn’t familiar enough with the team dynamics to know what exactly they thought or knew about Skylar.

Figures, though, that they likely didn’t know. Men were thick. They probably saw her as one of the guys. Safer that way. But Eden knew to her bones that Skylar wasn’t just a kick-ass operative for a badass organization. She’d seen enough of her to know she enjoyed pushing the right buttons and yanking the chains of all her teammates without them even likely knowing they were being had.

That kind of wit was a trait Eden thoroughly enjoyed in other people but especially in Skylar, because it suited her to a T. If anything, she likely kept her guy teammates on their toes, which amused Eden all the more.

For a moment, Eden had a wistful thought of what it would be like if she and Skylar could be friends. Real friends. Without the job issue at stake. If she had anything to do with it, she pla

“How long will this take anyway?” Joe queried, glancing at his watch. “We’re down to an hour twenty until lunch break is over, and I’m starving.”

Eden stifled her laughter over the almost whiny tone reflected in Joe’s question. As she’d guessed, the shopping trip had been a form of torture for them, but on the other hand, seeing four exceedingly handsome men decked out in fine evening wear? She might have to carry around a handkerchief all night to wipe the drool from her mouth.

She’d be the envy of every woman there, having the undivided attention of the KGI team. No one had to know they were her security team, after all. And then she almost laughed. Talk about fodder for the tabloids. She could see the headline now.

Supermodel Eden Sinclair on a night out with her male harem.

Hey, a girl could dream, right?

That was one tabloid she might actually read and frame any of the good photos that came of the flurry of picture taking.

“There’s a café between here and the studio. They serve awesome croissants and to-die-for coffee,” Eden offered. “We should have plenty of time to grab something. I’m going to wait for di

“Croissants?” Edge asked, his nose wrinkling skeptically. “Do they have anything a bit more substantial?”

She could see the same question in the other male members of the team and chuckled.

“Of course. You can get all sorts of baked goods. Sandwiches on fresh bread. A croissant with pretty much whatever you want on it. It really is good food. They have a pretty substantial menu, but you may want to send at least one of you ahead to order, because since it’s lunchtime, and it’s a favorite with the locals, it’s likely going to be busy.”

Swa

She felt like some kind of pampered, privileged, important member of royalty. Far more important than what she was in actuality. But she wouldn’t lie, even to herself, and say she wasn’t enjoying the extra attention and the fact that they were all so attentive—and determined to keep her safe at all costs.