Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
The next morning . . .
Janie stood alone in Echo Team’s conference room, taking in the breathtaking view.
Most people she’d seen walking around the historic city did so with their faces buried in their phones.
But looking at the D.C. skyline with the morning sun shining over the imposing structure of the Washington Monument, she couldn’t imagine ever tiring of such an incredible sight.
“The others are almost here.”
Her lungs froze at the sound of the deep, rumbly voice. Janie had to work to keep from outwardly reacting. It wouldn’t help her cause to reveal how insanely attracted she was to the leader of the team. For all she knew, Emmett Shaw was married with six kids.
You’d know everything about him if you’d given Devon a call.
“I don’t know how you and your team will ever get any work done in here.” Janie ignored the annoying voice in her head. “I think I could stand here like this all day and never get bored.”
Emmett rounded the table’s edge. Coming to a stop next to where she stood, he slid his hands into the pockets of his black dress slacks with a slow exhale.
“That’s because you didn’t grow up here.” He looked through the pristine glass in front of them.
Janie glanced over at him as he stared out over the city. Emmett Shaw was seriously the sexiest man she’d ever met. All tall, dark, and deliciously handsome.
That stoic demeanor of his was a bonus.
For some odd reason, she found his broody temperament appealing. And he looked as good in dress pants as he had in his jeans.
Yeah, there’s no way a guy like him is single.
She cleared the sudden dryness from her throat. “I take it you did?”
“Right over there.” Emmett’s handsome head motioned toward the landscape to their left. “Just east of the river.”
“So you probably don’t even notice all of this anymore.”
“Not as much as I should.”
The admission took her by surprise, though she wasn’t exactly sure why.
“In case I forget to say it, thank you, again,” Janie offered. “For last night and for agreeing to let me come back today to plead my case to your team.”
“This isn’t about you pleading your case.” His intense stare turned her way.
Janie’s heart thumped hard against the inside of her ribs when their gazes became locked.
“If not for that, then why am I here?” She frowned.
“I thought my team would get a clearer picture of the situation if they heard everything from you, first-hand.”
She considered this before responding with an unheated, “You think I have a better chance of your team agreeing to take me on as a client because I’m a woman who’s desperate for help.”
Surprise flashed across Emmett’s otherwise sullen gaze. “It wasn’t intended to be an insult.”
“It’s okay.” Janie’s lips curved into an upward turn. “No offense taken. You’re going for the sympathy vote.” A slight shrug. “It’s smart. And probably what I would have done, if I were in your shoes.”
Those dark brows of his turned inward with an almost confused—and definitely adorable— expression. “I thought I’d made you mad.”
“Mad that you’re using my perceived vulnerability to help me get what I want?
” She huffed out a breath. “No, Emmett. I’m not mad.
You want to paint me as the emotional female to get your team on board?
Fine. I’ll say whatever it is you think they need to hear.
Because this isn’t about me, Emmett. It’s about Amy Weaver. ”
“What I want,” Emmett began, “is for you to tell them the truth.” His sharp features and strong jaw appeared to relax.
“Go through everything, start to finish, just like you did with me last night. When you’re finished, I’ll ask you to leave the room so we can discuss everything as a team.
Once we’re done, I’ll come back out to let you know our answer. ”
She didn’t hesitate to agree. “Hopefully it doesn’t take long for your people to decide.”
Because time was ticking for Amy Weaver. The young intern who’s fear-filled eyes had begun to haunt Janie’s dreams. And she knew peaceful sleep wouldn’t visit her again until she figured out what really happened.
“Mornin’, boss! I come bearing gifts.”
The jovial voice pulled her focus from Emmett’s intense stare to the smiling blonde who’d just entered the room. Close to Janie’s own five-six frame, she had long, straight, sandy-blonde hair, brown eyes, and a smile so friendly it instantly put Janie at ease.
In the woman’s hands were two carefully balanced, disposable drink trays with three lidded to-go cups snuggled securely within each one.
Emmett’s brow furrowed. “You do know we have a fresh supply of coffee in the break room, right?”
“Yeah, about that.” The blonde placed the trays onto the conference room table before lifting her focus back to him.
“I made a pot when I was here the other night, putting my office together. And I’m sorry to say, but that stuff you bought?
” Her head shook from side to side. “That, my friend, is not coffee.”
Janie smirked, looking over to see Emmett’s reaction. As expected, his strong features had fallen into a deep scowl.
“I’ve had some of it, too, and it tasted perfectly fine to me.”
The other woman pulled one of the lidded cups free from its tray and marched it over to where Emmett still stood.
“That’s because you’ve probably never experienced the good stuff.
” She handed him the cup. Turning her eyes Janie’s way, she held out the same hand and said, “Hi. I’m Gwen. You must be Janie.”
“I am.” She matched the woman’s firm grip.
“In case you’re wondering about my place on the team, I’m the one who blows things up.” Her smile grew. “Oh, and I have something for you, too.”
She did?
Janie was still processing the comment about blowing stuff up when the jovial woman hurried away. Gwen was back in a flash with another cup in her hand and the same girl-next-door smile spread across her pretty face.
“I thought you could probably use one of these this morning.”
“Oh. Thanks.” Janie took the beverage with an appreciative smile.
The first sip she took was one of polite caution, having no way of knowing what the other woman had ordered on her behalf. As the hot, deliciously sweet brew rolled across her tastebuds, Janie was surprised when she realized it was her morning favorite.
“This is my exact order.” She eyed Gwen suspiciously. “How did you—”
“Lucky guess.” The other woman shrugged before spinning on her heels and strolling back around the table.
Something told Janie it was more than luck, but she chose to let that one go.
“Ah, yes! The good stuff.” A man in his thirties appeared in the doorway.
Tall. Fit. Short, brown hair. A boyish grin and a set of big, blue eyes.
Wearing an ear-to-ear smile, he set the tablet in his hands down onto the table and said, “If you weren’t my teammate, Winslow, I might be tempted to fall in love.”
“In your dreams, Savage.” Gwen handed him one of the remaining drinks.
“You’re a godsend.” He closed his eyes, inhaled a deep whiff of the steaming brew, and took a healthy sip. A quick swallow later, his blue gaze returned, immediately going to Emmett’s next. “No offense, but your coffee sucks. Hard.”
With a deep clearing of his throat, Emmett ignored the comment and turned her way. “Blake Savage meet Janie Reynolds. She’s the reporter who’s interested in becoming our client.”
Blake’s round eyes blinked, almost as if he’d just realized she was there as his focus shifted to her with an unapologetic jut of his scruff-covered chin. “Good to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Janie responded with a smile.
“Blake’s the team’s technical analyst,” Emmett explained.
Something about the look Gwen and Blake shared made Janie wonder if that’s how she knew the exact way she liked her coffee. If he was the team’s computer guy, it wasn’t a stretch to think he could figure out what kind of coffee she typically ordered.
Devon could find something like that if she wanted to.
The thought was interrupted by the arrival of the remaining Echo Team members. Janie’s focus went to the doorway as two men made their way into the spacious conference room.
The first was a tall man with light brown hair and a matching, trimmed beard. His gray-blue eyes held a glimmer of playfulness, much like Blake’s when he’d teased Emmett about his poor taste in coffee.
“Janie, this is Draven Brown,” Emmett introduced him to her.
Draven’s large hand engulfed hers as they shook. “Nice to meet you, Janie.”
“You, too.”
“Draven’s our resident pilot and weapons specialist,” Gwen explained before rolling out one of several wheeled chairs positioned around the table.
They had their own pilot? That was—
“Impressive.”
“I think so.” The man winked before taking a seat two spots down from Gwen.
Janie snickered beneath her breath while Emmett blew exhaled beside her.
“Brown has also solidified his place as the class clown,” he grumbled.
She nearly laughed out loud because his obvious irritation was even funnier than Draven’s playful attitude.
“There he is.” Draven lifted his cup toward the last member to join them. “The man who knows how to save our asses if we’re dumb enough to take a bullet.”
“Maybe.” The tall man with dark, wavy hair and the bluest eyes picked up the only remaining cup on the table. “All depends on where the bullet hits your body.” He shrugged. “Not much I can do with a shot to the head.”
Janie tried to hide her wince from the mental image the man’s words had created. From the look on Emmett’s rugged face, she hadn’t done a very good job.
“Janie meet Lucas Mercer. He’s Echo Team’s medic.”
“Hi.” She gave the final member of the team a nod.
“Hey.” Lucas smiled on his way to one of the chairs across from where Gwen and Draven sat.
Janie followed Emmett’s lead, choosing the seat next to his, which happened to be at the front of the table. When they were all settled in, Emmett looked at her before starting the meeting.