Ryder took my helmet from me to strap onto the bike before unstrapping my sports bag and carrying it for me, leading me through a back entrance to an elevator of an all-white building.
“Sy Clark shares this place with me,” Ryder explained briefly, pulling his keys out in the elevator when it stopped on the second floor. “You’ll like him. He’s a laid-back kind of guy. He’s the tech guy on my team.”
“How many on a team?” I asked more to keep my mind on the details and off of how masculine and sexy Ryder looked as he stood in the corner of the elevator, watching me.
“Usually three or four, depending on the situation, but Sy’s a permanent member. Tech guys usually are. You build trust over time. Everyone else gets rotated.”
Expecting to see some straight-laced, maybe even nerdy, FBI-looking individual, I couldn’t have been more surprised. Sy turned out to be more like a California beach native, with sun-streaked, shaggy blond hair and cute dimples in a bronzed, handsome face. He was lounging, comfortably shirtless, in surf trunks amid throw pillows on the couch, and he was playing video games on a huge, flat-screen TV. Very real-looking animated soldiers were engaging in urban warfare, with state-of-the-art surround sound that gave it just that extra “real” effect. I almost felt like I needed to take cover. It sounded like bullets were zinging over my head, which was unnerving.
“Hey, Ryder, hope that’s you, buddy,” Sy called over the sound of sporadic shooting. He’d obviously heard the door open and close, though he hadn’t looked away from his game as he nimbly worked buttons on a control pad. In a darker, deeper, more dangerous-sounding voice, he added, “Slimy motherfucker’s in the tree. Goddamn sniper’s already killed half my men...”
“Watch your language.” Ryder scowled, taking up a position in front of the screen.
“My language?” Sy was still trying to see around him, though his expression was perplexed.
“We’ve got company.” Ryder reached down and hit the power button on the TV and video-game console, plunging the room into sudden silence.
“Company?” Sy glanced over his shoulder questioningly. He saw me standing there, and after a split second of what seemed like surprised recognition, he looked over at Ryder, as though asking a silent question. Ryder seemed to give a barely perceptible nod. Sy quickly stood. The entire exchange happened in only a few short seconds, and was that a devilish look that briefly crossed his face? They were definitely doing some kind of silent man speak that I wasn’t supposed to understand, which made my brow knit. I didn’t have time to think more on it as Sy approached and turned on the full force of his charm. I have to say, I liked his energy immediately.
“The beast arrived with beauty.” He smiled winsomely, his dimples deepening boyishly. “Nice to meet you.” His bright gray eyes couldn’t help doing one of those purely male inventories of my daisy dukes and tank top. They warmed appreciatively during his quick scan, though he was definitely putting out more of a friendly, brotherly vibe than an interested-male vibe.
“I hope you’re not suggesting I’m a beast.” I offered a friendly smile.
Sy gave a quick bark of laughter. “Hardly. Brains and beauty. She’s a keeper, Ryder.” He winked, taking my hand in a warm clasp between his own.
“Sy, this is Taylor. She needs to stay with us for a while.” Ryder’s voice held a tinge of impatience. He crossed his arms, emphasizing his muscular biceps and broad chest, which were outlined by his T-shirt. Though he appeared to be leaning casually against the built-in entertainment unit, his gaze was razor sharp, watching us.