Gifted Connections 4

“You boys should play us something,” Megan insisted as she stirred something in a pot.

“Sing too, please,” Jemmy requested looking up from her camera.

“I doubt they know anything I know,” Gavin demurred.

“That’s the amazing thing about the internet,” Will stated with a smile. “Name a song, and we can look it up.” He lifted Ella up onto his lap and brought his phone out.

Gavin knew he had no more excuses, so he thought for a moment. “How about What Hurts the Most by Rascal Flatts?” he said with a slight smirk.

I giggled to myself because Will was a lover of music, but Country wasn’t one of his favorites, not by a mile.

Will smiled as if he knew that was Gavin’s intentions. He pulled out his phone and found the arrangement on the internet. “Let’s do it,” Will relented.

“I got it too,” Jace chuckled softly as he placed his phone on the counter so he could see it better.

As the first notes rang out I was lulled by the sound of the music into a deep sleep.

Chapter 7

“You look beautiful,” Troy breathed as he walked into the room.

I looked over my shoulder and smiled at him. “Thanks. Can you help me put this on?” I held a delicate gold necklace and bracelet out to him.

I had to catch my breath as I saw him for the first time in his tuxedo. It fit him perfectly, and the stark black and white looked terrific on him. “You look dashing.” I smiled at him as he stepped forward to take my jewelry from me.

“We’ll look great together.” He gave me one of his panty-melting smiles.

I still couldn’t believe we were in California. It felt like the last few days had flown by. I had a two-day stint in bed during Christmas break. We had flown out here and then spent the previous two days shopping and getting more appropriate clothing for the sixty-degree weather that California was having.

The men had gotten fitted for the tuxedos yesterday, and I had gone off on my own to get the dress I was currently wearing. I had a little help from the sales lady, but I was happy with our choice in the end. The gown was deep emerald green in a Grecian style, leaving my arms bare. A gold trim separated the bodice from the full-length skirt. When I walked, it revealed a slit on my right side that went clear up to my thighs.

The hotel we were staying in had a spa, and the guys sent me down there earlier in the morning to get a full body massage, facial, pedicure. The hair stylist had straightened my hair and then put beach waves in it. Little gold clips pinned my hair off the sides of my face. I had felt like a pampered princess all day, and now I looked like it.

“I’m glad I picked the long straw,” Troy stated with a smug smile as he caressed my bare shoulders.

The guys had drawn straws to determine who was going to be my date for this young socialite’s party. The other guys would mingle and blend into the rest of the party. Lucky for us, Anna Black was young and single, as were several of her guests, so the guys wouldn’t stick out too much.

“Somehow I think you rigged it,” I said impishly as I picked up my clutch.

There was a knock on my door, and Troy went to go answer it as I slipped on my gold strappy heels. He laughed at me, and I knew that somehow, he had.

“Hey, boss man,” Leo said jovially as he stepped into the room. He let out a loud whistle when he saw me. “Damn girl, you look hot.”

I laughed. There was a time, a brief one, that I hadn’t liked Troy’s, right-hand man. I thought he had betrayed us before I found out Paul and his team were only trying to recruit us into his business. Hanging out with him and the other five guys that were part of this job had changed my opinion. They were all outgoing, funny individuals, and I had grown to like them all.

“Leo,” Troy said in a warning growl.

“Thanks, Leo,” I said with a laugh.

“Can I help you put your piece on?” Leo stepped forward with a Kimber 380.

It was small enough to attach to my leg, just in case we did run into the trouble. Now that I didn’t have the use of my gifts, I was thankful for the training I had received at the base. I had been there for nearly two months and had learned so much. I wasn’t as good as a shot as Troy, Remy, or Dawn, but I could hold my own.

“Touch her, and you’ll die,” Troy growled out as the man approached with the thigh holster.

Leo laughed. “I have never seen you so possessive of a girl.”

Troy gave him a poin