Nori's Delta (Delta Team Three #1) - Lori Ryan Page 0,13

the hotel and moved that way.

Jangles and Zip fell in behind them while Merlin and Duff peeled off and went into one of the doors on the outside of the hotel.

As they crossed the parking lot of the hotel, an orange kitten wound its way through Heath’s legs before scampering off to a dumpster on the side of the lot. There were two black kittens and a gray and white striped one all eyeing the group, but hanging back as though they didn’t have the guts the orange one had.

“No pets on this trip, Woof,” Zip said with a laugh.

Heath grinned and shrugged in a surprisingly sheepish gesture.

“Woof?” Eleanor asked.

“It’s what we call Heath,” Zip said. “Woof, because he finds pets everywhere he goes. They love him. Cats, dogs, pigs. Hell, he even made friends with a camel who ended up following behind him making gaga eyes at him for half our mission one time.”

Jangles made kissy sounds. “She was in looooove with our pretty boy.”

Eleanor was surprised to see Heath laugh at that. In high school, when people called him pretty boy, he’d always smile on the outside but she’d seen the tightness in his face when others hadn’t and knew it bothered him. He had been sensitive to people who thought he was nothing more than a dumb jock.

With these guys, his laughter was genuine. He didn’t seem to mind the taunting or the label.

When they’d settled into a booth and ordered food, Eleanor looked at Jangles and Zip. She was still on edge and sitting with Heath Davis so close to her their arms were touching wasn’t helping any.

“So, Jangles and Zip can’t be your real names. If he’s Woof because of the animals that fall for him, where did Jangles and Zip come from?”

Zip smiled and answered first. “Someday I’ll show you my scar. Zips right up my leg, big and ugly.”

Heath growled. “You’ll keep your damned scar to yourself.”

That only made Zip laugh and put his hands up in mock surrender.

Eleanor looked at Jangles.

“Name’s Beau and since I can’t sing worth a damn, these yahoos thought they’d call me Jangles.”

Eleanor grinned at them. “And Merlin and Duff?”

They all shook their heads. “They’ll have to tell you their stories,” Heath said.

The server came with plates of food then and Eleanor forgot all hope of conversation as she ate. The scent of the spices and roasted meats filled her nose and made her mouth water.

She couldn’t remember being this hungry in a long time. She’d ordered one meal while each of the men had ordered two entrees and a few sides. She almost wished she had too after the waiter delivered the kebaps and warm soft breads.

It was only when she finally looked up from her own meal moments later that she saw the men were eating faster than she was.

“Chew, boys. It’s not meant to hit your stomach in solid form.”

Heath laughed. “You’re one to talk. I remember you pulling the dainty little bird act when we were in high school.” He raised his voice to a falsetto. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly eat more than three pieces of lettuce. I’m much too delicate and dainty for that.”

Eleanor drew back her arm and elbowed him in the side. He only laughed, covering the spot with his good hand as though she’d done anything more than tickle him. She was sure she hadn’t. She wanted to reach out and feel his bicep, properly tempted by what she knew would be nothing but rock-hard muscle, but she didn’t dare.

Jangles looked between Heath and her. “So you two dated in high school, Heath says. Was it serious? Is he the one who got away?” Jangles angled his head as he grilled her and Eleanor wished he’d go back to his food.

She felt heat flush her cheeks and she hoped she didn’t look as red as she felt. This wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have. Not with anyone. Any thoughts of their dating inevitably led to thinking about how it all ended. How she’d ruined everything for the man sitting next to her.

God, she didn’t want to go there.

Heath cleared his throat. “We dated for a bit in our senior year.”

She didn’t know if she imagined the way Heath stiffened next to her.

She didn’t really want to be talking about this. She’d always been so far out of Heath’s league. He was gorgeous in school and she’d been an awkward brainiac. The truth was, when he first started hitting on