Chapter 12
James Hyatt
“That’s the fifth time you’ve checked your watch since we stepped off the plane.”
I furrowed my brow and glanced back at Beckett in the back seat. “Are you obsessed with me?”
He smirked.
The other two in the back seat—wet-behind-the-ears, freshly graduated junior operators—Quinn and Kelley, didn’t bother hiding their amusement.
They’d only had the decency to do that back when they’d been lowly recruits and they’d feared my glare.
Because everyone fucking knew, don’t mess with Operator Hyatt.
Now, though? Fuck it. My supposed buddies had promised the kids one too many times that I was harmless.
I faced forward again and side-eyed Blue. That damn kid was smirking as well. But he wisely kept his mouth shut and continued driving.
I should’ve taken a damn Uber. Or chosen one of the other cars. We’d been picked up in three cars, and I should’ve gone with Riggs and Emerson.
“Admit it, man,” Beckett said. “The rumors are true. You met someone.”
The fuck was this, gossip hour? When his relationship with Leighton had become public, I hadn’t piled on questions or bothered them.
I pulled out my phone and sent Kiera a quick message.
5 mins to HQ. Can’t fucking wait to see you.
On the flipside, the talk about me would fizzle soon. Yeah, yeah, Hyatt was doing the unthinkable—he was actually seeing someone.
Someone fucking amazing.
That woman already had me by the balls. It was insane.
I’d told her she was welcome to stop by Hillcroft when we returned, not really believing it was something she’d prioritize.
But it was the closest we got to having some form of celebration for new operators when they came back from Ecuador.
Some would have family waiting to congratulate them.
The cafeteria would have cake. Quinlan would come down and shake the new operators’ hands.
And then it was back to work. Back to regular programming.
Kiera had said she’d be there, though. In fact, she’d said hell yes. Just to see me.
Slowly but surely, she was showing me she fit in.
She wasn’t one of those operator wives who’d wait at home.
She wanted to know me—all of me—and she wanted to understand.
She clearly got along with Doc, and she’d made a friend too.
I’d heard she and Operator Wilde had met up for coffee a couple times.
My phone buzzed with Kiera’s response.
There are like twenty people in the lobby. To avoid the risk of getting lost in the crowd, (I swear that’s the only reason), I think it’s best I run straight into your arms. Please catch me. ;)
I was quick to type back.
I’ll always catch you, hellcat. Come at me.
Blue cleared his throat next to me. “You might wanna check that grin if you wanna be discreet, sir.”
I shot him a scowl.
“What was that?” Beckett leaned forward between the front seats. “Did Hyatt say something? You let me know if he does, Blue.”
I glared at the fucker. “What happened to you, man? When did you stop minding your fuckin’ business?”
Something flashed in his eyes, and he shrugged and scratched his jaw. “You weren’t very good at minding your business when I tripped after Hell Week. All you rat bastards wanted to spread that shit around.”
“Oh, dip,” Kelley chuckled.
For the— I let out a laugh. “That was different.”
“How?” Beckett pressed.
“Because it was fucking hilarious!” Come on, after being a dick all week, during every drill, saying he was superior and the rest of us should go through recruit training again, he’d tripped on his damn shadow or something and smashed his hamburger against our car.
I was still laughing about it. Best case of karma.
“He kinda has a point, Bo.” Quinn sounded like he was trying to suppress his own laughter.
“The fuck he does,” Beckett grumbled, sitting back again. “Let me just say, revenge will be sweet.”
I snorted and glanced out the window. We were almost there. Across the overpass, last exit, then Hobbs Circle, with Hillcroft coming into view.
“I’ll drop you in front of the plaza,” Blue said. “While you knock yourself out on whatever cake they got from Costco, Doc and I are getting Yaya’s honey rolls.”
Beckett cared. I didn’t. I wasn’t much for sweets, unless it was churros or Kiera’s pancakes.
“Kid, if you wanna make me jealous, go with cashews or a jar of cornichons,” I drawled.
I’d had a hankering for the latter since yesterday, and it was possible I’d asked Kiera to get me a jar for tonight.
“What the fuck are cornichons?” Quinn asked.
“Divine, is what they are,” I muttered, checking the sideview mirror. I didn’t know if it was Riggs or Emerson behind us. Probably Riggs.
“Like, extra crunchy baby pickles,” Kelley supplied. “I’ve seen Operator Riggs down an entire jar for lunch. I’ve never been so sexually confused in my life.”
I coughed a laugh. Beckett cracked up too.
“What was the confusing part?” Quinn chuckled.
“I considered trying out women,” Kelley replied frankly. “I mean, Riggs is clearly the hottest man alive, but those pickles looked fucking disgusting.”
I smirked and shook my head.
For the record, I was the hottest man alive, according to Kiera.
“We can’t all be the hottest man alive,” Beckett noted. “Leighton’s assured me it’s me.”
The heated debate that immediately ensued between Kelley, Quinn, and Blue was easy to tune out because we were officially back at HQ. The second Blue pulled in, I opened the door and got out.
Emerson, Danny, and three of the graduates were almost at the doors.
I’d grab my bag later.
I stalked toward the entrance, cursing the reflective glass of the building.
A safety measure, of course, but I wanted to see Kiera.
And get a look at the families. I knew junior Quinn had a senior Quinn or several here.
The new operator was the nephew. I’d worked extensively with Darius over the years, a fair amount with Ryan too.
Operator Kelley probably had family present too.
Some were more open with their parents and siblings than others.
I’d sure as hell never had family set foot in there.
My folks knew somewhat what I did for a living, but the details would just make Ma worry.
Some twenty people, Kiera had reported.
I was gonna shut them all out.
Something fluttered and tightened in my chest as I reached the revolving door, and I could finally see inside.
The reunions had started. Sure enough, Darius was here, and he’d brought his hubby.
They were waiting for the nephew. But in the meantime, they were talking to Emerson and Danny.
Ortiz had family here. A big family. Operator Kelley had returned from Europe and was presumably waiting for his kid brother, who was right behind me.
One of them better choose an alias, ’cause we’d had this issue when Beckett and his big brother had worked together.
Where are you, hellcat?
I was through.
“Pilot!” Kiera’s voice echoed above the din, and I spotted her scurrying from the back with a big smile on her face.
The fucking relief. Jesus Christ. Tension faded in my shoulders, nerves knotted in my stomach, and Beckett should see the grin on my mug, because that was unlike me.
I met up with her halfway without my even making the decision, and then she jumped into my arms as she’d promised, arms locked around my neck, legs wrapped around my hips. God-fucking-damn. I hugged her tightly and buried my face against her neck.
“You’re finally home.”
I’m finally home.
“You smell so damn good.” I kissed my way up to her jaw, then got her lips. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too—so, so much.” She pressed herself impossibly close and kissed me deeply.
Just like that, the world disappeared. The greetings and congratulations faded. The movement ceased.
“And I’ll have you for five weeks now?” she asked to make sure.
“Mm, but the next gig is just three days.” I helped her back to the floor but kept her close. Across the street, where our bed waited, had never felt so far away.
“Then your six-month training program—close by,” she said.
I nodded and cupped her face in my hands. “Correct.” I was gonna train drone pilots, and I was actually looking forward to it. “You’re not getting rid of me.”
She smiled into the next kiss, and I shivered as I felt her fingertips along the back of my neck.
“Good,” she whispered, “because I have plans for us. Starting tonight. Wanna hear?”
The lust in her voice probably wasn’t a good idea for me, but fuck it. Let’s hear it. I grabbed her by her hips and pulled her flush to me.
“As long as it involves us getting rid of our clothes,” I murmured.
“That’s number one and four on the agenda,” she said.
“First, a shower and some serious stress relief. I’ll assist you in there, of course.
Second, a big juicy steak with a baked potato and absolutely no garnish.
And while we eat—in comfy clothes—we get cracking on a new puzzle.
A thousand pieces—and you know what’s on it?
Six sudoku designs. So once the puzzle is complete, we have the sudokus to solve too. ”
I didn’t know what made my head spin more, the fact that she was the most perfect woman alive, or the mind-numbing task of sorting those puzzle pieces. Because what were we looking at here, white background and black numbers?
“And then…we go to bed.” She trailed her fingers up my chest. “I think you know what happens there.”
I smirked faintly. “Well, you told me about the blue rubbers you bought, so I assume we’re living out some weird Smurf fetish you have.”
She started laughing and immediately slapped a hand over her mouth when she realized how easily sound echoed in the lobby.
I grinned and dipped down to kiss her cheek. “Hey, I’m not kink-shaming. We’ll Smurf it up for a while, and then we can circle back to my new breeding fantasy in a bit.”
She choked on the next laugh, and she peered up at me with a mix of stunned surprise and sizzling heat. Oh, she liked the sound of that, didn’t she?
“Um, b-breeding fantasy?”
“Yeah…” I brushed my lips along her jaw. “That’s when I fuck you into next week and keep your tight little pussy full of my come.”
At least, that was what I’d thought of each time I’d rubbed one out in the shower in Ecuador.
“Jesus, James,” she exhaled. “Uh, when can we get out of here?”
The sooner, the better, considering I caught movement in my periphery. Fucking Beckett. He was heading over, and he wasn’t alone. Maybe if Kiera and I looked busy, he’d back off.
“I just need to grab my usual gear from my locker,” I said.
Watch, personal phone, wallet—the shit I didn’t travel with for work.
Then I sighed, ’cause Beckett couldn’t take a hint.
He came to a stop right next to us, so I had no choice but to tilt my head his way.
“What,” I asked flatly. Somehow, he’d roped Coach, Danny, and Darius into this too. “Seriously, Quinn?”
Darius furrowed his brow. “I don’t know what’s happenin’. Beckett asked me to come over.”
Beckett shot him a look. “Because it looks better if we’re a unit.”
For chrissakes. “Get over it, man. So you lost your burger when you tripped on a pebble—”
“It was a grenade launcher,” he bullshitted.
“That seems unsafe and unlikely during Hell Week,” Danny noted.
“Especially at a gas station once the training was over and they were headed home,” Coach added.
“Shut the fuck up, both of you,” Beckett told them.
“Yeah, I’m out.” Darius cleared his throat and clapped Beckett on the shoulder. “Once you’re done flushin’ the rest of your dignity down the toilet, we’ll go grab a burger with the new operator. I can carry yours if you want.”
I felt my shoulders shake with laughter as he walked off, and Danny and Coach didn’t hold back for shit. Their laughter echoed more than Kiera’s ever could.
Beckett’s jaw ticked with tension, but he tried to hide his annoyance behind a smile that he sent Kiera.
“Anyway. You’re clearly new here, and given that Hyatt’s never brought anyone over to HQ, I can only presume you’re special and that this is serious. I’m Beckett, by the way.” He extended a hand.
I narrowed my eyes.
Kiera smiled back. “Nice to meet you, Beckett. I’m Kiera. And I hope I’m special.”
“Be real careful now, Beckett.” I scratched my nose.
His smile widened. “When you’re ready to hear funny stories about Hyatt, we have a fuck-ton of memories to share with you.”
That was it. I had limits. I took a step toward him and leveled him with a serious look. “Once she’s locked down properly. You don’t tell her a fucking thing until she has my name. Are we clear?”
“Hoo boy.” Coach lifted his brows in surprise.
Danny let out a whistle. “Damn, Hyatt.”
Beckett smirked and straightened so we were face-to-face. “Why? Are you worried something will send her running? Speaking of runs… That time in Somalia…”
I scowled. “I was sick, dammit.”
“I agree,” he laughed.
I flicked Kiera a glance. “I had malaria. Okay?”
She let out a soft laugh and hugged my arm. “You don’t have to worry, baby. Remember, I’m a nurse. I’ve seen it all.”
Damn right. I mean, wait. I still had my reputation to uphold—
“But you know…? We should get together,” Kiera said to Beckett. “I’d love to get to know more of Hyatt’s coworkers. And I make a mean steak sandwich—perfect for both happy hour and a game. Wings and beer are included, of course.”
I shut my mouth, annoyed at the opportunity she’d given Beckett to fuck with me, and…fucking amazed. She wasn’t even going to try to pull me away from the family I had at Hillcroft. She was joining it.
These past few weeks, I’d wondered if the feelings developing and stirring and growing…if it was me falling in love or something. And yeah, it fucking was. She was it.
“Count me in,” Beckett replied. “Leighton and I are free this weekend.”
“Fantastic. What about you?” Kiera faced Danny and Coach.
Danny took it in stride and smiled. “Absolutely. Em and I will be there.”
So this was happening? We were having people over for dinner?
I…
That’d never happened before. I’d never done that. What did I have to do? How did these things work?