Page 18 of All At Once

“May we sit with you?” The young woman holding a protein bowl in one hand and a bottle of water in the other hovered at the edge of the table. Her blonde hair, in a slicked back ponytail draped over one shoulder, gleamed against her black suit jacket. Caitlin flicked a glance over her ID, clipped to her lapel.

Everly. Tick’s rookie whose name he couldn’t remember.

Behind her, with perfectly groomed short hair and an impeccable suit and tie, a young man with sharply hewn features that made him almost model-pretty waited, his clear blue eyes honed in on Merchant’s face.

And that was Ransome, the other rookie, and with that bearing, he was former military for sure. He stood like a Marine, and she’d been surrounded by them — her brother, Cary, Chet, George.

A hint of frustration at being interrupted tightened Merchant’s eyes before her features smoothed into a professional smile. “Of course.”

Ransome waited for Everly to sit across from Merchant, then folded into the chair facing Caitlin.

“Agents Ransome and Everly.” Merchant tilted her head toward them, then indicated Caitlin. “Dr. Falconetti, my favorite analyst.”

With a slight smile of amusement, because Merchant might be her third favorite agent, after Calvert and Beech, Caitlin nodded at the agents. “A pleasure.”

Everly murmured a likewise, and Ransome dipped his chin, a sharp movement so like Chet that her smile widened. “Dr. Falconetti.”

She lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “No doctor, please. Falconetti is fine.”

While they unpacked their food and Merchant folded her notes away, Caitlin studied them. “So you were at Quantico together?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Sprinkling pepper over the tomatoes on his club sandwich, Ransome shot a sidelong glance at Everly. “Same study group.”

“He’s the reason I succeeded with grappling and takedown training.” The tightening around Everly’s lips belied her gratitude. She didn’t like not being capable at anything. Didn’t like needing help.

Well, that emotion was familiar.

“And Calvert’s your SSA.”

Ransome nodded again, sandwich at his mouth.

“Yes.” Everly’s expression shifted to a soft, smug smile. Caitlin tilted her chin.

Wonderful.

“Forgot the mustard.” Ransome levered out of his chair, striding to the condiment station. From the corner of her eye, Caitlin caught a glimpse of Tick accompanying Sealy through the door, their heads bent in deep conversation.

“So I have a question.” Everly leaned forward, a conspiratorial air about her stance. “Calvert. How married is he?”

Merchant stiffened.

Caitlin arched a brow. “Excuse me?”

With crisp movements, Everly tossed the contents of her protein bowl. “Look, I’m not a relationship girl. Older men, guys in their thirties, they usually know what they’re doing. And a married man who’s down for no-strings stress relief? That’s my type, and that man is stressed.”

Mouth so tight her full lips disappeared, Merchant leaned back, spine pressed to her chair. Mingled amusement and annoyance caught Caitlin’s breath in her throat.

Holy Mother. She was serious.

“He’s your supervisor.” She straightened her shoulders to a Woodfield posture Sister Mary Louise would approve of and fixed the woman across from her with a cool look. “You’re thinking of risking a competitive career you worked extremely hard for and have barely begun.”

Irritation flashed in Everly’s blue eyes, a small laugh falling from her lips, brimming with the arrogance of youth. Or maybe just arrogance, the awful kind Aviles carried.

Calvert’s arrogance? He’d earned every delicious bit of it, even as it sparked both annoyance and desire within her.

“Even better.” Everly waved her fork in a circle. “He has a lot to lose, too, so I don’t have to worry he’ll out us. It’s not like I want an affair. Once, maybe twice at most.”

The absolute audacity. Caitlin flexed her fingers in her lap. Next to her, Merchant’s lips parted, her breath audible.