Fay's Six

“Because Lee gets the job done. And it’s not my place to bad-mouth others. Besides, they’re smart men and they are doing their due diligence in a way I’ve never seen.”

“What do you mean?”

“Usually they hire you based on the word of the people you’ve worked with in the past. They obviously aren’t doing that with Lee.” Walker held up his hand. “Before you get your panties in a wad, the only reason you girls are being tested out is because Beck is opening up a new branch under the Brotherhood Protectors name. Nothing more. Nothing less.”

“I know that,” Fay said. “But you were Lee’s superior. You should have told them what you just told me.”

“Lee was never a bad sailor and what they needed to know, I told them,” Walker said. “The reality is Lee is either going to take one look at you and the rest of Beck’s girls and say fuck this job. It’s not worth it. Or he’s going to try to get in your head and make you look bad. That’s what I don’t want to happen and that’s why he’s got to believe you and I are an item. He’ll back off if he does.”

“I don’t need you fighting my battles.” She glared, mentally shooting daggers between his eyes.

“It’s not just for you. I believe in what Beck is doing.” He waved the box of frozen treats. “Are you hungry?”

There was no point in continuing the conversation. She would go along with the plan, and they had work to do. “Starving,” she said. “We should go through the files. I made some notes.”

“Screw this.” He tossed the box back in the freezer. “Let’s go to Gunny’s for breakfast. People can see us, and then we can go to the basement of the lodge and do a little work before heading to the casino.”

“Sounds like a plan, but what about Lee?” Not that she cared, but since he was coming in, she wanted to be prepared.

“I’ll have him meet us at the casino for a drink.” Walker squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t worry about Lee. He’s here to interview for a job. He’s not our problem.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Then why all the talk about not blowing our cover and shit when it came to Lee? What was that all about?”

Walker winked. “I just wanted to kiss you.” He strolled past her and disappeared up the staircase, leaving her standing there with her jaw wide open. She didn’t believe him. Not really. He’d been too intense when it came to Lee and his concerns of Lee’s reaction to her presence.

But it was one hell of a kiss.