When Day Breaks (KGI #9)(46)
Author: Maya Banks

“Whoa, sweetcakes,” Edge growled. “Remember the job you’re being paid to do. Am I going to have to put you on a leash for the night? If we’re having to watch out for you, our attention will be split between you and Eden, and that’s not what we’re being paid to do.”

Skylar put her nose in the air and sniffed, sending him a glare. “Party pooper. Can’t a girl have some fun?”

Eden threaded her arm through Skylar’s and herded her toward the designer dress section, where the saleslady was already hanging up several selections for Skylar to try on.

“We girls will have fun,” Eden said emphatically. “We’ll just stick together and have fun. If we’re in the same spot, then their attention will never be divided, right?”

Skylar sent her an admiring look. “I like the way you think. It’s diabolical and pure genius. I love that you have an evil streak.”

Eden grinned. “They need to be kept on their toes anyway, right? Since all this is to them is a glorified babysitting job.”

Eden caught the wince on Joe’s face as they caught up to her and Skylar and the color that rose into his cheeks and also the scowl that lit up Swanny’s face as they both realized she’d obviously overheard Joe’s assessment of their current “mission.”

She and Skylar both bit into their lips to keep from reacting. Skylar’s eyes sparkled with amusement and her expression was one of anticipation as well as a mischievous streak that for some reason her teammates weren’t quite aware of. Or didn’t seem to be, anyway. Eden wasn’t familiar enough with the team dynamics to know what exactly they thought or knew about Skylar.

Figures, though, that they likely didn’t know. Men were thick. They probably saw her as one of the guys. Safer that way. But Eden knew to her bones that Skylar wasn’t just a kick-ass operative for a badass organization. She’d seen enough of her to know she enjoyed pushing the right buttons and yanking the chains of all her teammates without them even likely knowing they were being had.

That kind of wit was a trait Eden thoroughly enjoyed in other people but especially in Skylar, because it suited her to a T. If anything, she likely kept her guy teammates on their toes, which amused Eden all the more.

For a moment, Eden had a wistful thought of what it would be like if she and Skylar could be friends. Real friends. Without the job issue at stake. If she had anything to do with it, she planned to keep up with Skylar once the danger was over and KGI was off to its next mission. Her thoughts drifted to Swanny, her mood instantly diminishing. She slammed the door quickly on that train of thought. It did her no good to become upset over what was to come when she had beautiful days ahead of her. No matter how short the time span was. She fully intended to savor every moment she had with Swanny and suffer no regrets whatsoever when it came time to say good-bye. Well, except the regret of saying good-bye.

“How long will this take anyway?” Joe queried, glancing at his watch. “We’re down to an hour twenty until lunch break is over, and I’m starving.”

Eden stifled her laughter over the almost whiny tone reflected in Joe’s question. As she’d guessed, the shopping trip had been a form of torture for them, but on the other hand, seeing four exceedingly handsome men decked out in fine evening wear? She might have to carry around a handkerchief all night to wipe the drool from her mouth.

She’d be the envy of every woman there, having the undivided attention of the KGI team. No one had to know they were her security team, after all. And then she almost laughed. Talk about fodder for the tabloids. She could see the headline now.

Supermodel Eden Sinclair on a night out with her male harem.

Hey, a girl could dream, right?

That was one tabloid she might actually read and frame any of the good photos that came of the flurry of picture taking.

“There’s a café between here and the studio. They serve awesome croissants and to-die-for coffee,” Eden offered. “We should have plenty of time to grab something. I’m going to wait for dinner and divine room service, but you guys can get what you like.”

“Croissants?” Edge asked, his nose wrinkling skeptically. “Do they have anything a bit more substantial?”

She could see the same question in the other male members of the team and chuckled.

“Of course. You can get all sorts of baked goods. Sandwiches on fresh bread. A croissant with pretty much whatever you want on it. It really is good food. They have a pretty substantial menu, but you may want to send at least one of you ahead to order, because since it’s lunchtime, and it’s a favorite with the locals, it’s likely going to be busy.”

Swanny frowned at that, and Eden could see the battle he waged over leaving her even one man down from her protection squad, as she’d grown to think of them. Or rather protection army.

She felt like some kind of pampered, privileged, important member of royalty. Far more important than what she was in actuality. But she wouldn’t lie, even to herself, and say she wasn’t enjoying the extra attention and the fact that they were all so attentive—and determined to keep her safe at all costs.

“I think it’s safe to say that I’ll make it back with only four of you,” Eden said dryly. “Joe could go place the order, since he and Skylar both were taking lead. That still gives you a tight perimeter around me. I doubt any of you want to starve because Skylar and I are dress shopping.”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Edge said hopefully. His stomach rumbled, obviously voicing its agreement.

Joe looked chagrined that he’d somehow drawn the short straw on being the pack mule for the food.

“Hell, I don’t even speak the language,” Joe muttered.

“It’s not that hard to point at what you want and hold up the number of fingers to indicate quantity,” Eden said in amusement. “Besides, the citizens of non-English-speaking European countries speak better English than we do. I’ve never had a problem here.”

“Okay, fine, I’ll go,” Joe grumbled. “But no bitching if you don’t like what I pick out.”

“Just none of that froufrou shit,” Nathan said. “Try to make it edible, at least. At this point, I think I’d eat just about anything anyway.”

“Is there a place you can just get a burger and fries?” Edge asked hopefully. “Or a good steak?”

“Save it for dinner tonight. I don’t know if you’ve had the room service steak, but it’s pretty darn good,” Eden replied. “We shouldn’t go overly long today. We got ahead by putting in a full day’s work yesterday. That’s the way this director works. He pushes hard the first day. Tests the waters, so to speak, so he can plan the rest of the filming time accordingly. Since everything went off without a hitch yesterday, he’ll relax from here on out. Unless we hit a snag, and well, if that happens, all bets are off and we’ll be in the studio until the wee hours of the morning if necessary.”