Defending Everly (Mountain Mercenaries #5)(45)

“And of course, my teammates,” Ball said, helping her push back her emotions by moving on with the introductions. “You met most of them already and have talked to some on the phone briefly, but in case you forgot, this is Gray. He knocked up Allye.”

Everyone chuckled, and Everly appreciated the reduction in tension.

“And this is Ro. He likes to pretend he’s American, but you can tell by his accent that he’s a Brit through and through.”

“Sod off,” Ro said with a smirk. “I’ve lived here in heathen territory long enough that I can call Sam my uncle too.”

“Sam?” Everly asked, looking up at Ball.

“Uncle Sam?” he teased.

“Oh! Duh,” Everly said with a smile. “Hi, Ro. It’s nice to meet you again.”

“And this is Arrow, and Black,” Ball said, reintroducing the next two men. Then he turned to the only man not standing with a woman. “Ev, meet Meat. Meat, Everly.”

She had the same thought she’d had upon first meeting him—he didn’t look anything like what she thought the team’s resident computer expert should look like. He was probably around six feet tall, with brown hair and eyes that seemed to switch from gray to stormy blue, then back to gray. He was lean, but with very broad shoulders. He reminded Everly of some of the swimmers she saw in the Olympics.

“What? Don’t tell me—I don’t look like a computer nerd, do I?” Meat asked.

Everly shrugged and gave him a small smile of apology. “Nope. But honestly, I think it’s probably good that you don’t look like Charlie Eppes, from that old TV show Numb3rs, or Spencer Reid from Criminal Minds. I’d never believe that you were former Delta Force, if that was the case. No offense.”

Everyone was silent for a second, and Everly thought maybe she’d put her foot in it. Not everyone got her humor.

But then they all burst into laughter. Meat reached forward and gave her a bear hug. Everly almost dropped her can of Coke, but managed to keep hold of it, even when Meat bent her backward dramatically.

“Cut it out,” Ball groused.

Everyone laughed harder, Everly included.

When Meat brought her upright, he looked briefly into her eyes—and Everly saw a glimpse of something she hadn’t expected to see.

Sadness.

What this amazing man had to be sad about, she had no idea. But the emotion was gone almost as soon as she recognized it.

“It’s good to meet you. I’ve read so many of your texts and messages to your sister over the last few weeks, I feel as if I know you.”

Everly rolled her eyes.

“And I’m considering how much trouble I’ll get into if I try to blackmail an officer of the law by threatening to let all her cop buddies know how much she loves the Backstreet Boys.”

Everly moved without thought. She shoved her Coke at Ball and launched herself at Meat. He laughed and easily deflected her half-hearted attempt to take him to the floor. They playfully grappled for a second, with the women cheering her on, until she ended up with her back to Meat’s chest, his arms successfully securing her so she couldn’t escape his hold.

He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.”

She didn’t have time to respond before Ball smacked Meat on the back of the head. “Get your own girl. Leave mine alone.”

Meat grinned and released her. Everly let Ball grab hold of her hand and pull her into his embrace. She rested against him and turned to the girls. “I heard the Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block are touring together. Anyone want to go with me to see them?”

All four of the women immediately yelled, “Yes!” at the same time.

Everly stuck her tongue out at Meat. “It’s a requirement to love the Backstreet Boys. It’s a girl thing, you wouldn’t understand.”

“That’s it,” Chloe declared. “We’re keeping her.” Then she came over to Ball and pulled Everly out of his arms. “Go talk amongst yourselves. We’re taking Everly.” She tried to pull her away, but Ball didn’t let go.

Everly felt his finger rub over her ring, then he leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “If they want you to lead a raid on one of the local chocolate shops, don’t let them talk you into it.”

She smiled. “I won’t.”

“Good.” Then he slowly let go of her hand, his fingers trailing along her palm for as long as possible before they lost contact.

Chloe pulled her over to a table against a wall while the guys leaned against one of the nearby pool tables.

“Is Elise truly okay?” Morgan asked once they were settled.

Everly nodded. “I think so, but it’s hard to tell. I’ve got her seeing a psychologist every other day to talk about what happened. She doesn’t really talk to me much about it, though, which I hate.”

“She doesn’t want to worry you,” Allye said. “The people you love the most are the ones you try the hardest to keep your shit from touching.”

Everly thought about that. It was true. “She’s been talking to Ball about some things, though. About how she thought this Rob person really loved her for who she was. That he didn’t care about the fact she was deaf. It just sucks so hard that ‘Rob’ was some psycho who was using her vulnerabilities against her.”