THE BRAVO BOYS - SNAKE EATER [book three]

Chapter THIRTY THREE

Shelby Quinn

"You've been quiet, babe.. Wha'dup wit-chu?" Lincoln lopes over to where I sit, joining me on the white leather waiting area sofa, before he hands me a steaming paper cup of espresso.. Accepting his offering, I stare impatiently at the elevator doors, waiting for The Hacker to emerge from the offices above..

What's keeping him?
How long does data verification take, I wonder?

"Huh?" I tear my eyes away from the stagnant steel to refocus on the man beside me, doing my best to ignore the creeping suspicion that something is terribly wrong.. "Oh- uh- yeah- I'm fine.."

"You sure?" Lincoln narrows his sceptic mocha gaze, apparently seeing straight through my feigned attempt at casual calm.. "Cus' I know Cassidy's been giving you shit about your new friend and all.. But-" His warm hand extends to settle on my knee in reassurance.. "I think he seems like a decent dude.. I mean, he obviously cares about you.."

I can't deny the flush of pleasure Slater's assessment of Logan gives me, or the flutter of hope in my heart.. Maybe there really is something between us, something real.. "You think so?"

"Fo'sho!" He snorts, leaning back to sip his coffee, soft afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows and bouncing off his deeply bronzed cheeks.. "The guy couldn't take his eyes off you up there.. Not to mention all the hours he's putting in pro bono! It's obvious he's crushing hard.."

I want what Slater is saying to be true, and I know it certainly is for me, I've been crushing on Logan since I met the guy.. But part of me remains guarded and doubtful.. "I dunno, Linc.. Sometimes we get along but- we're just so different.. He's all anti-establishment, anarchy and ego.. And you know how I feel about structure and security.. The things that make sense to me just don't belong in his world.. I'm not so sure it could ever really work.."

"As far as bending the rules go, you know, sometimes things get a little murky.. What's right and what's legal, aren't always the same thing, babe.." Lincoln reasons, his argument not without merit yet entirely unconvincing.. "And sometimes being different is exactly what you need, Shelly.. I mean, look and me and Duke, we're nothing alike, but I wouldn't wanna live without him.."

I nibble nervously in the rim off my coffee cup as I consider his angle..

Do opposites really attract?

"That's different.." I counter with the flick of my wrist.. "You guys have your bromance.."

Lincoln leans forward, his features sharp with seriousness.. "We're more than that, Shelly.. We're partners- two halves of a whole.. He's my rock.. My compass.. My best friend... Cassidy would stand by me through a hurricane.. And he makes me a better man.."

"Yeah right.." I scoff an unsteady chortle of self doubt.. "I think you've got that the wrong way around, Linc.. You're by far the better half.."

"It might seem that way-" He shakes his head, an enlightened smile turning up the corners of his pouty lips.. "But he taught me loads of stuff I never knew was in me before we met; Like patience, forgiveness and empathy.. He's the reason a fine-ass woman like Hadley even looked twice at a brother like me.. When we're together, I'm who I wanna be and I know he's got my back no matter what.. I want that for you.."

"Yeah.. That does sound nice.." I sigh, suddenly envious of my friend and his unthinkably odd throuple relationship.. It's not that I want two partners like he has, rather, I want the honest connection that he, Duke and Hadley seem to share..

"So?" He muses gently, bumping his knee against mine..

"So what?" I frown, setting my cup down on the small glass side table..