Scarlet smiled.
Tate blew out a long sigh and braced his hands on his knees. “Thank god.”
“I didn’t feel this accomplished when I wiped out that North Korean money laundering operation.” Roman braced a hand on Tate’s back.
Tate turned his head. “I’m sorry, when you did what?”
Roman gave him a bland look.
“Thank you.” Scarlet’s words made them look up. She’d pulled her headset down to hang around her neck. “Normally I would do this setup, but I’m playing catch-up with all the confirmations and timeline stuff I wasn’t able to do yesterday.”
It wasn’t the first time she’d said that, and they simply nodded. Roman started to hum Baby Shark, and Tate elbowed him in the stomach. Roman groaned, but he was smiling.
“Alright, general, what else do you need?” Tate had given up hope of escape. “We are yours to command.”
Scarlet’s lips twitched. “Well, I do need someone to taste test the signature cocktails.”
Tate and Roman both raised their hands.
She laughed. “Come with me. I brought in a mixologist from New York for this, and he just got here.”
“Fancy,” Roman said. “But, if you need us to do something else...”
Roman looked at Tate, frowning slightly. Tate nodded in understanding.
“You agreed to take a nap. You were up almost all night. We’re not letting you exhaust yourself,” Tate said.
Scarlet paused and arched a brow. “Letting me?”
Tate cleared his throat. “I’m a henchman. I will haul you up to my room and tie you to the bed if I need to.”
“...to make sure you get some rest,” Roman said mildly, but his gaze skittered down Scarlet’s body.
“Right, that.” Tate nodded.
Scarlet’s lips twitched. “Let’s have some drinks, and then, if you’re still willing—and I know neither of you signed up for this—I could use some more help. If we hurry, there will be time for a nap, since guests won’t start arriving until 8:30 p.m., with the ceremony at 10:00 p.m.”
“Have you eaten today?” Tate asked, and then looked at Roman. “Either of you?”
“Drinks...and some food,” Scarlet amended. “But I can only give this break twenty-five minutes, max.”
“Make it thirty, and Tate will threaten people into working faster,” Roman said.
“Why am I the one threatening?” Tate crossed his arms as he said it.
Roman arched a brow, letting the look answer his question.
Tate glanced down, chuckling at his badass Marine stance. “Got it.”
Scarlet smiled, and some of the tension drained from his shoulders. “You know what? We make a good team.”
Tate looked around at them, the three of them. “Yeah...we do.”
They made a really good team.
They’d make an even better trinity.
Chapter Nine
Nantucket, Two Days Later
Scarlet bounced on her toes—partly due to the cold January wind whipping from the water and partly because she was excited—as Roman slipped the key into the door of their cottage. Tate stood beside her, carrying his duffel and her suitcase.
Selene, Oscar, and Luca had surprised them the morning after the wedding with an all-expenses paid week at this waterfront cottage in Nantucket.
She wished she could have been there when Oscar finally realized that yes, he was getting married. It probably would have been ridiculously romantic. But that had happened during the official binding ceremony at headquarters. She’d made sure they got into the limo in time to make the ceremony and greeted the happy throuple when they returned to the hotel just before eight. She never got emotional when she was working, but the way Oscar, Selene, and Luca had looked at each other had been enough to make her throat tight with happy tears.
They’d still looked like they were floating the next morning when they tracked her, Roman, and Tate down in Roman’s room. Luca said it was their way of apologizing for the stun gun/Baby Shark torture, while Selene and Oscar insisted it was the least they could do to thank them for organizing such a beautiful wedding. The party had been elegant and, more importantly, fun.
Scarlet had to admit that as far as apologies and thank-you gifts went, this luxurious, romantic cottage overlooking the sea certainly fit the bill. After the whirlwind of the past few weeks, it was lovely to be able to have an opportunity to unwind, and Scarlet had come to realize there was no one on the planet she’d rather spend time with more than Roman and Tate.
While she’d promised herself to simply let go and enjoy this week, every time she thought about saying goodbye to them next Monday morning, her stomach clenched and her chest tightened.
Roman swung the door open and gestured for her to enter first. He and Tate followed as the three of them walked in and soaked up the beauty of the place. It was an open floor plan, the kitchen, dining room, and living room, all one big area. One entire wall was sliding glass doors and windows that led to a large deck overlooking the harbor. Scarlet could imagine the three of them sitting out there on the cushioned rocking chairs, bundled up in blankets and watching the sunrise as they drank their morning coffee.
The living room was furnished with a plush white couch and love seat as well as an oversized brown leather recliner. There was a large bearskin rug lying on the floor in front of a gas fireplace. She’d double-check later and make sure it was faux.
Tate slid close to her and placed his arm around her waist when he noticed what she was looking at. “We’re definitely breaking that in later tonight.”
Roman chuckled. “Selene suggested that the first thing we do upon arriving was to make a list of all the sexual positions we wanted to try. She insists that will ensure we have no regrets later when we return home and realize we forgot something particularly kinky and fun.”
“I caught a glimpse of your cousin’s list with
