Calculated Risk (Blackbridge Security 5)

My heart warms when she doesn’t hesitate to tangle her fingers with mine when I reach for her. Who knew something as casual as holding her hand would make my heart race and my cock thicken?

I’m making a statement walking into the office with her like this. I’m declaring something before I even have all the answers, and I pray as we climb onto the elevator that I don’t end up eating crow.

“Pam, this is Hayden Prescott. Hayden, Pam. She runs the office, and we wouldn’t survive without her.”

Pam offers my girl a quick smile, but then the phone rings, and she gets back to work.

“Know that Brooks flirts with anything that breathes,” I mutter to her as we head toward the breakroom. “And don’t be fooled by Finnegan’s accent.”

“Okay,” she says with a slight chuckle. “Is it British? I totally have a thing for British accents.”

I look down at her, smiling at the teasing glint in her eyes. “Flynn is the one with a British accent. Finnegan is Irish.”

“You’re safe then,” she says.

“Good to know.” I give her fingers a little squeeze as we enter the room. Conversation stops when we step inside. “Don’t any of you assholes actually work around here?”

Ignacio looks up, smiling, and it makes me realize I haven’t seen him in a while. I give him a little nod, a way of telling him we need to catch up and a lot has happened in the last two months. He nods back in understanding.

“Everyone, this is Hayden Prescott. Hayden,” I sweep my arm out to indicate all the smiling assholes in the room, “this is everyone.”

“What this idiot means,” Brooks says as he stands from the sofa and crosses the room, “is I’m Brooks Morgan.”

I barely stifle a growl when he bends down and tries to kiss the back of her hand. I don’t know if it’s for my benefit, but she yanks her hand back before his lips can meet her skin.

“Would you stop?” Jude snaps, popping his hand against the back of Brooks’s head. But then he gets close to signing his own death warrant when he steps up to Hayden and wraps his arms around her. “How are you doing?”

She lets this happen, and I smile when she gives him a few awkward pats on the back, her eyes looking in my direction filled with questions.

“I’m good,” she answers when Jude takes a step back.

“Hayden!” Wren yells from across the room because of course he has to be the center of attention.

Hayden screeches, ducking low when Puff Daddy flies out of Wren’s office, swooping low toward her before landing on the back of one of the couches.

“Hey, baby,” he squawks, his wings spreading wide to show himself off.

“Stop,” Kit says, swatting at the bird.

“Listen here fucker,” Puff says as he spins around to face Kit. “I’ll eat your fucking eyes. I swear I will!”

Kit shakes his head before looking at Hayden. “I’m Kit. This asshole is Puff Daddy.”

“I can introduce myself,” the bird says. “Come here, pretty lady. Let Daddy get a look at you.”

A wide grin spreads across her face, and once again the damn bird is able to charm someone of the fairer sex.

“This explains so much,” she whispers as she continues to watch the strutting bird. “After what I heard last night, I thought Wren had a weird—”

“I fucking told you about keeping it down,” I hiss at Wren, having a pretty good clue what Hayden heard coming from their apartment last night.

“Sorry,” Wren mutters.

“What happened to his—” She points as if she doesn’t want to offend the bird.

“Hey, lady! I’m right here. Ask me to my beak!”

Most people would take a step back at the aggression the dumb bird is showing, or they would laugh awkwardly and defer to Wren, but Hayden takes a step closer. “It’s nice to meet you, Puff Daddy. What happened to your tail feathers?”

“Just what that damn bird needs,” Flynn mutters as he walks into the room. “A captive audience.”

“You noticed?” Puff says, holding his wing over his eyes as if he’s embarrassed. “I’ve been attacked. Give me a hug. It helps with the trauma.”

Hayden opens her hands, walking closer, and I manage to grab her before she gets too close. “He’ll bite your nipple. It’s a trick.”

Her hands immediately go to her chest, making all the guys in the room laugh. Her cheeks turn bright red as she looks up at me.

“Cockblock!” Puff screams. “Come on, baby. Just a little nibble. I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

The damn bird starts opening and closing his mouth making sucking noises.

“Wren,” Deacon snaps as he enters the room. “Get that bird out of the breakroom. We’ve talked about this.”

“Fucking tyrant!” the bird yells, but he flies back to Wren’s office on his own.

“At least he didn’t shit on you this time,” Flynn tells our boss. “Hi, I’m Flynn Coleman.”