Page 27 of Criminally Yours

“This is Luke, our tech guy,” Strike said, pointing at the team member who was younger and slighter than the others. Luke waved as he sat at the table. Bear popped two different types of eggs in front of him.

“He’s building bulk. He used to be a hacker who hid in dark rooms, but Bear’s training him to box,” Liss explained as Millie’s brown furrowed.

“That’s how Strike and Bear met,” she uttered.

“But Strike gave up because he’s weak and turned to rugby instead,” Bear teased.

Strike tipped his head and smirked. “I can beat your ass. Just name the day.”

Luke whispered to Liss, “What’s gotten into him? He’s smiling and joking.” Strike glared at Luke. “Never mind.”

“Do you still play rugby?” Millie enquired, her eyes brightwith wonder. “You were brilliant at it. No one ran the field like you.”

He pulled on the back of his neck as his cheeks warmed.

Luke’s jaw dropped as he gawked. Strike batted the techie’s interest away with a scowl before returning to stare at a woman whose beauty made him rasp as he explained, “I played a little in the army. They have leagues, and sometimes you can play against the Air Force and Navy. They were all scared of tackling me.”

“Because you’re so big,” Millie replied.

Liss giggled.

“Liss, are you trying to wind me up?” Strike grumbled.

“Strike, are you trying to pretend you’re not blushing?” Liss hit back.

Millie hid her grin behind her mug of coffee, but Strike raised his eyebrow at her.

“You’re acting weird, Strike,” Bear said while grabbing a fresh batch of crumpets from the toaster. “I can’t imagine why.”

“Introductions then,” Strike growled, wringing his hands. Bear tipped his head like he’d proved his point, and Strike’s gaze flitted toward Millie. He swallowed slowly as she stared at him with wide eyes and fluttering lashes. “The quiet one over there with the beard is Stal.”

“Morning.” Stal nodded. Strike glanced warily in his direction. There were dark rings around his eyes, and his lips were cracked. His shoulders were tight as he grabbed food and wolfed it.

“Stal spent his first ten years in Ireland on a horse farm and then moved to England with his family,” Liss said. “We call him cowboy to annoy him.”

Stal continued eating like none of this was happening around him.

“The grinning one playing with the dogs is Nails,” Strike said.

Millie turned to Liss. Strike rolled his eyes. “Aren’t my introductions good enough?”

“Liss is like me. She gives the information that matters. You barely give the headlines.”

Liss smiled smugly at Strike as she flicked her hair, making Millie laugh. He didn’t mind attitude from Liss if Millie’s laughter accompanied it. “Nails is my cousin’s brother-in-law or something like that. His sister is Lady Beatrice. Her husband’s next in line to the throne.”

“Hey, Millie. Nice to meet you,” Nails said as he shook her hand. His green eyes twinkled under the sunlight beaming through the windows. Strike normally didn’t care that Nails was the handsome, charming member of the team, with his tucked-in shirt and polished boots. “You can call me Cameron or Cam if you prefer.”

Millie’s cheeks pinked as she smiled.

“When you’ve finished, Nails,” Strike said between gritted teeth, “you’re sitting over there.”

Everyone but Strike chuckled as Cam winked at Millie before walking to a seat far away from her.

“Why do you all have such… interesting names?” Millie asked, occasionally glancing at Strike.

“You can say it. They’re weird,” Liss replied as the guys decimated the spread Bear had prepared.

Stal was already through most of his plate. He checked his watch while biting his lips. Stress poured off him, but without anyone else commenting, Strike second-guessed himself. Strike scratched his chin while glancing at Millie, who studied Stal with a wrinkled brow.