Ramsey Security (Ramsey Security #1-3)(53)

"I didn't love you. Not romantically. I didn't love you then, and I don't now."

"Maybe we didn't really try."

"I didn't have to try with Darla."

When Minka's expression shifts, I think she might puke. "You're in love with her?" she balks.

"I don't know. Maybe. This thing with Darla isn't like anything I've felt before."

"You're falling in love?" she spits out, frowning darkly.

"I'm sorry to break your tender heart, but life is all about the disappointments."

Minka flips me off. "I can't believe you're in love."

"I can't believe you thought that lame move would work."

"I could want you back."

"Of course, you could. I'm me."

Narrowing her eyes, Minka reaches for her sandwich. "I was faking."

"Whatever you have to tell yourself, princess. Just don't go Glenn Close on me. I'd hate to drown and then shoot you."

"Like you could."

Smiling, I shrug at her certainty. "I'll let you think you could win. It's the least I can do after rejecting your sexy proposal."

"I was faking."

"Why would you do that again?"

"To test you. I wanted to see if this Darla thing is for real."

"Why would you care either way?"

"Uh, you're my best friend, you f*cking turd."

"I'm overwhelmed by the friendship. It's hitting me in waves."

"That's the Thai I ate last night."

We both laugh before falling into silence while she finishes her sandwich. I check the cameras stationed around the building, spotting no one suspicious. In my gut, I sense trouble brewing. Almost as if I feel someone's eyes on us.

"I need to kill Locke," I mutter.

"You will. We're tracking down all his residences, friends, and associates. We have his business info, and Rafael has someone working on hacking into the main office's computers. Locke can't hide for long."

Scratching at the scar on my neck, I can't settle down. "At this point, he's frustrated his guys end up dead. He'll hit the building soon."

"I would."

"Nothing happens to Darla," I say in a hard voice.

"Settle down, big guy. We're pros. When Locke's f*ckers come, we'll deal with them. If you let your heart rule your head, you'll f*ck up. Stop being a love sick puppy and think like a damn contractor."

"Stop taking out your heartbreak on me. Although you have a point about me staying frosty. I just hate being locked down in an apartment. It's making me slow and stale."

"Always the same. We get a job with recon, and you go all squirrelly while we wait."

"And you pig out on carbs."

"I still look good," she says, wiping crumbs from her shirt.

"You've looked better."

We glare at each other before shrugging off the crankiness. Minka leans closer to the monitor, having spotted something. We both look at the people and cars passing by outside the building. Whatever Minka saw, she decides isn't a threat.

"You've considered how badly this Darla thing can end, right?"

"What are you bitching about now?"

"I'm being helpful."

Rolling my eyes, I gesture for her to continue.

"Darla is in a bad spot, and she's attached to you. Soon Locke will be dead, and she'll be free. Then maybe she won't be so attracted to you anymore. You're her rebound guy except in this case you're the guy who helps her transition from a pervert to a nice man like Vernon."

"She doesn't want a guy like Vernon. Who would?"

"Her sister does, and Shelley is just as Barbie doll hot as Darla. You'd be smart not to underestimate the allure of a man with a big bank account."

"So you're saying once I kill Locke and make life better for Darla that she'll dump me for a dork with a trust fund. Yeah, I should totally dump her first."

"That's not what I'm saying."

"You're really jealous of her, aren't you? Poor, Minka."

"Snotball."

"Only you could make that insult scary."

Minka grins. "I like Darla, and I want her to work out. I've always feared you'd end up with someone like your sister-in-law. You know, because of your mommy issues. Now I have no real issues with Heather. She's a fine woman, but her constant happiness would make me homicidal. So if you ended up with someone like her, I'd have to avoid you two, and we'd stop being friends."

"But Darla passes your test?"

"Yes, and not because she's quiet a lot. The other night before you got whipped and couldn't leave her side, Darla and I were sitting on the couch talking about ballpark hot dogs. Don't ask why but she gets really lively when debating appropriate wiener toppings."

"Darla likes you too. She thinks you're a super sexy badass. Ah, to be young and foolish."

Minka thinks about flipping me off, but her finger never fully extends. "I hope she wants you because you're her Ken doll, not because you're the first single man to exist around her after Locke."