Chapter 21
“How did I let you talk me into this?” Sandy groaned next to Allie in Carson’s backyard as they set the table with Greg’s girlfriend Zoe and Luke’s girlfriend Shay.
Allie had been introduced to Carson’s teammates, but since then, the men had gone off to surround Carson at the grill and left Allie and Sandy alone with the women.
They were nice, don’t get her wrong, but she still felt like an outsider despite how cordial the women had been.
“Because you love me and support me.”
“That I do. Any idea what they’re talking about over there?” Sandy pointed to the men with her chin.
Allie glanced over at the men who seemed to be talking intently. “No idea. Something work-related I’m sure.”
“Intense conversation for a post-it shortage.”
Allie had a feeling Carson was lying about the clerical work. Things about him just weren’t adding up. The secrecy was the biggest giveaway. He wouldn’t tell her where he worked or what he did other than paper pushing. Being a spy was still atop her suspect list.
It may sound crazy and far-fetched, but no other job made sense.
There were also his co-workers. Everyone was of similar height and build.
Most had visible scars they didn’t hide them like Carson did.
Greg had a prosthetic leg. All of them were injured in some way, yet they were all still very virile men.
Not clerical-looking men. Even the ones in her office that went to the gym regularly didn’t look like these men.
“Has Carson ever told you what he does for a living?”
“Clerical work.” Sandy shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. “Though I’ve never seen much paper pushing at his office. I mean, they have a conference table called the war table. Who does that? Why do you ask?”
War table? Odd name choice for someone who doesn’t do war planning anymore. “I was only curious. I’ve asked him about it, but he won’t say anything except that it’s on the other end of town. Not an intersection or anything about the place.”
“It’s on the east side of town. If you want, we can go sometime,” Sandy said casually as if she hadn’t just handed Allie the Holy Grail.
Allie worried her lip as she thought more about it. “It’s okay, San. I don’t want to show up at his work unannounced. That’s rude.” Maybe he didn’t want her to know where his work was for a reason. It wasn’t like she’d showed him where she worked.
“Allie, you’re dating the guy. Knowing where he works shouldn’t be a state secret. It’s not like we have to go up. I can just show you where it is.”
“Okay, next week, we’ll do that.”
“What are you two conspiring about over here?” Zoe asked as she came up behind them.
Allie jumped about a foot. She hadn’t heard the women come up behind her.
They had been busying themselves setting up the opposite end of the table, but now appeared done so had come to join them.
“Nothing, we’re just guessing what the men are talking about huddled up next to the grill like that. It seems intense.”
“They always look like that, even if they’re talking about the most mundane things like the weather. Or were you just gawking at them?”
“No, though they are looking fine.”
“That they are.” Shay sighed as she looked toward the group, no doubt at Luke. All the men were good-looking. She was surprised that so few of them were taken. Allie would have guessed they all had ladies lined up for them—well, except Jack. From what she’d heard, he was a regular Casanova.
“So they do this often?” Allie asked Shay.
“They do. At least now, I have Zoe to keep me company. I was definitely the odd woman out at first.”
“Shay, what is it you do?” Allie was curious to know more about her and how she’d met Luke.
“I work in real estate law, and yes, it’s as boring as it sounds.” Shay rolled her eyes as she laughed. “My dad wanted me in law.”
“What did you want to do?”
“Nursing like my mom.”
“Well, you’re taking care of people either way.”
“Leave it to my friend here to always see the rainbow in centaur shit,” Sandy said of her proudly as she wrapped an arm around Allie’s shoulders. “It’s what makes her great in landing deals for our company.”
“And leave it to Sandy to always say what she’s thinking.”
“You two have quite the friendship,” Zoe noted, her gaze darting back and forth between them.
“We’ve been best friends since we were roommates in college.”
“I’ve never had that,” Zoe said. “I was always traveling, so it was hard maintaining friends.”
“What did you used to do, Zoe?” Allie asked, curious to learn more about these women. If she was going to be part of their circle, she wanted to know more about them.
“Law enforcement. FBI.”
“Wow.” Allie never would have guessed. “How did you meet Greg then?” From what she’d gathered, they’d only recently gotten together. Like in the past few months.
Allie caught Shay giving Zoe a side-look. “A work collaboration,” Zoe finally said.
A work collaboration? Paper pusher and FBI?
What kind of work did Carson really do that he’d done a collaboration with the FBI?
“That’s cool you met that way,” Allie remarked as her mind whirled with all sorts of new information that she wasn’t sure how to process quite yet.
“What are you doing now? I assume you’re not with the bureau anymore. ”
“No, I’m in between jobs at the moment. I’m looking at the local police force, but we’ll see. I’ve been helping the guys in the office in the meantime until I figure out my next step.”
So all of these women had been to the office except her. Why was she being left out? “Well, the police force will be lucky to have you and your expertise.”
Zoe covered her mouth as she laughed. “Sorry, I don’t mean to make fun of you, but it has never been my experience that police appreciate federal law coming in and telling them how they could improve, but I appreciate your sentiment.”
“Sure.” Allie didn’t know what else to say to that.
“Sorry about Zoe,” Shay commented with a wan smile.
“She doesn’t always have a filter and says the first thing that comes to mind.
She really didn’t mean to come across as rude, Allie.
I think you’re right though. The police force could use her expertise.
” She leaned forward to whisper, “But knowing her, she won’t share and will take all the credit. ”
“It’s true,” Zoe replied unapologetically.
“Welcome to the group, Allie. I haven’t known Carson long, but he seems much happier since you came into his life.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You doing okay?” Carson asked, coming up to them. He wore aviator sunglasses and a grey muscle shirt with tan khakis. He leaned over to kiss Allie on the lips.
A genuine smile crossed her face. “We’re great. How’s everything at the grill? You all seemed in a pretty intense pow-wow.”
“Work stuff.” His famous excuse and non-answer.
Allie had let it go, hoping he would tell her in his own time, but now they had been dating for a little bit and were intimate.
That should give her some leeway to know more about him.
At the very least, where he worked. A name of a company.
Something. Sandy knew more about Carson’s work life than she did.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. Things are a little stressful right now, but we’ll get through it. We always do. Do you need a refill on your drink?” His chin tilted toward her beer which was still mostly full.
“No, I’m good.”
“Hey, Carson, so you invite us over for Allie to meet your friends only for you to sneak off and talk about work? Leave the womenfolk to fend for ourselves.”
Allie groaned, closing her eyes. Leave it to abrasive Sandy to just plunge headfirst into situations.
The woman had no filter and usually said the first thing that came to mind.
Allie loved her for it, but there were also times she could kill Sandy for it.
“Sandy didn’t mean for it to come out like that.
” Allie gave Sandy a side-eye. “What she meant was, thank you for inviting us over. It’s great meeting everyone. ”
“And will you all be huddled up in a corner all night talking shop or will women be included in conversations anytime soon?”
Allie took a pull of her beer, second guessing her choice of inviting Sandy today. “I’m sorry, Carson.”
“There’s no apology for Sandy.” Carson chuckled as he wrapped his arm around her waist. “You act as if I didn’t grow up with this woman.”
True, she did forget that sometimes. She’d just been apologizing for Sandy for so many years, she’d forgotten he’d known her longer and better. Well enough to know where he worked. Ugh, that really was starting to bug her.
“Hey, I resent that, and I’m not sorry. You invited Allie to meet your friends and right after introductions, you snuck off.”
“Snuck off? We were standing right over there.” He pointed toward the grill that Barry was now manning. The other guys had broken off and were headed their way except for Jack. He stayed behind with Barry. That was probably a smart choice. Sandy seemed in a bloodthirsty mood.
“And what was so important that you were all talking about and leaving us out?” Sandy asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I’m sorry we’ve been neglectful, Sandy,” Luke said.
“At least one of you Neanderthals know you were.” She lifted her face toward the sky looking miffed.
“Sandy is hangry,” Allie explained. She was grumblier when she was hungry.
“Well, food should be ready any minute. Though with Barry minding the grill, things might get overcooked.”
“Hey, I heard that,” Barry yelled out. “Burgers are coming off of the grill now, and they are going to be perfect.”
Carson held his hand up with his beer in it in surrender. “They’ll be charred,” Carson whispered in Allie’s ear.
“If he’s going to burn the burgers, why did you leave him in charge?”
“So, I could hang out with you.”
“So, you want me to starve so you could hang out with me?” she asked with a grin, so he knew she was joking.
“We have plenty of food even if he manages to burn them. Besides, there’s always dessert,” he replied, wagging his eyebrows suggestively. Allie heard Sandy spit out her beer and start coughing. “Sandy, you okay?” Carson glanced over Allie’s shoulder at her in concern.
“She’s fine,” Allie answered for Sandy, schooling her features. The last thing she needed was for Carson to know she had told Sandy about the chocolate cake. Since that date, Sandy hadn’t asked for more details, but the constant look of bliss on her face was evident.
“Wrong pipe,” Sandy wheezed, her eyes watering as she cleared her throat.
“Food’s ready,” Barry announced, saving Allie from further embarrassment.
They all congregated around the large patio table.
They must do this often because without a word, people took their seats.
Carson guided Allie to her spot and placed Sandy on the other side of her.
Jack started passing around platters of side dishes while Barry carried over the plate full of burgers.
They looked dark but not charred like Carson had said they would be.
“Told you, I wouldn’t burn them,” Barry stated, puffing out his chest in pride.
“There’s a first time for everything.”
Everyone laughed around the table. And Allie watched them all. They seemed like such a close group. Everyone ribbed each other. Even the women teased the men.