“Sure thing, kiddo,” I say with a smile, waiting for him to precede me out the door. He moves around to get into the passenger side of my little Hyundai crossover. “I’ll be home around four-thirty or so. Make sure your homework is done, then we’ll hit the park for about an hour before dinner. Sound good?”
“Sounds like you’re the best, Mom,” he replies. Again, I’m hit with a sweeping wave of love for my child that is so deep, I wonder how in the hell I deserve the right to call myself his mother.
?
I head up to the fourth floor of the Jameson Force Security offices, which houses a communal kitchen and living area. Joslyn had sent a text to the entire staff to say she had homemade cinnamon rolls for everyone. Since I was so busy rushing around, I forgot to eat breakfast.
There are only two people in the kitchen area… Kynan McGrath, our esteemed leader, and his secretary, Anna Tate.
Actually, secretary isn’t quite the word I’d use for Anna. She came to work for Kynan under horrible circumstances. Jimmy, her husband, was killed a little over three months ago on a hostage rescue mission gone wrong. Anna had been pregnant with their first child at the time.
What started out as her hanging around headquarters wanting information and answers slowly turned into her taking over some of the duties Joslyn performed for Kynan. Little stuff at first… like picking up dry cleaning or putting postage on the outgoing mail. Joslyn has her own career as a famous singer and actress, which she’s had on the back burner, and it seemed like the right time to get someone in to help Kynan in an administrative capacity.
After little Avery was born a month after Jimmy’s death, Anna took time off to spend time with her daughter. She’s originally from the Pittsburgh area and has a supportive family, but when it came time to figure out her life, she’d decided she wanted to do more at Jameson.
In a blink, her maternity leave was over. Since that time, Anna had managed Kynan’s schedule while providing him whatever support he needed.
“Hey, Anna,” I say brightly as I round the counter on a mission to reach the pan of rolls on the stove.
“Hey, Bebe,” she replies softly, not even bothering to glance up from the iPad she’s currently studying as Kynan peeks over her shoulder.
“Hi, Bebe,” Kynan drawls in an exaggerated manner, pointing out I’ve yet to acknowledge the man who signs my paychecks.
I grin, roll in hand, then move to the coffee pot. “What’s up, boss man?”
Kynan winks before pointing over Anna’s shoulder to her iPad. “That’s the one I want.”
“Really?” she asks, her nose wrinkling. Clearly, their tastes don’t match on whatever it is.
“Really,” he replies sternly. He backs away from her, then heads to the elevator, clearly a man with places to be. “And I don’t pay you to question my choices, just to carry out my wishes.”
Anna snaps off a smart salute. “Aye-aye, El Capitan.”
“Smart-ass,” he replies affectionately before disappearing into the elevator.
“What’s he buying?” I ask. Already chewing the bite I couldn’t resist taking, I move over to a stool at the counter to finish eating and to enjoy another cup of coffee before I start my workday.
“A briefcase,” she replies, tapping her stylus to the screen. “And he chose the most hideous design, too.”
Chuckling, I consider getting up from my perch to see the damage, but then I’m sidetracked by the sound of a door opening and closing.
The fourth floor, in addition to housing the kitchen and living areas, also has five personal apartments for any employees that are looking for a housing perk. The only ones currently taking advantage are Cage Murdock and Merrit Gables, both of whom relocated here from the Vegas office. It’s Cage who appears in the kitchen from the hallway.
“Morning,” he says tersely, heading for the coffee pot. Anna and I offer greetings back.
“What’s on your agenda this week?” I ask.
Cage tenses slightly, his gaze moving over to Anna as he answers. “Heading to Al Hasakah tomorrow, so I’m packing today.”
Anna doesn’t even lift her head, which says this isn’t news to her. Cage flicks his gaze to me. “We have a lead.”
Finally, Anna gives a wan smile at Cage as she rises from the stool, tucking her iPad under her arm. “You’ll be careful?”
“Always,” he assures her, his voice almost reverent.
Speculatively, I watch Anna move over to Cage. He bends readily to accept her hug. It’s a tight one, Anna squeezing around his neck as he pats her on the back.
When she releases him, she turns to me. “See you around, Bebe.”
“Later,” I say.
Cage is at the kitchen island, halfway through one of three cinnamon rolls he piled on his plate. When Anna disappears into the elevator, I pointedly study him. He must feel the weight of my gaze because he finally looks my way. “What?”