“There are things you can do for that.” His jaw flexes after he speaks. Is it that hard to make small talk with me? Am I irritating him?
“Yeah, some people have told me yoga and running would help. I’ll pass on the running, and yoga never seems to work for me.”
“Wasn’t talking about yoga or running.” I place my mug back down on the counter.
“I’m all ears. I’m up for any suggestions or tips that you may have. I’d be willing to try just about anything.”
“Yeah, Gabe, what else can knock a girl out for a few hours? What would leave her so tired that she doesn’t even have the energy to think?” Laura comes strolling into the room. They both are fully dressed, and it reminds me that this is a job for them. They’ve been up all night and are likely ready to go home. “Damn, did he make you coffee? He never makes me coffee.”
Gabe is now glaring at Laura. She smirks back. Wait, are they flirting? My eyes bounce between them, and I try to think back on their comments to each other. They could be together and hiding it to be professional. Laura openly smiles at him, and it irritates me. I know it shouldn’t, but I can’t seem to help it.
“Thank you for the coffee,” I say before rushing off back to my room to hide before I make a fool of myself. It isn’t until I’m in my room do I remember I left my coffee on the counter. I drop my head back on the closed door. There goes my plan on not making myself look like a fool.
Chapter 6
Gabe
“I thought you were going to keep your dick in check,” Laura murmurs over a freshly poured cup of coffee that I made so that she can’t use that complaint against me.
My nostrils flare, and I turn back to washing the cup that Catriona left behind instead of telling my partner to keep her nose out of my business. So my cock is hard. I didn’t do anything about it, even though I wanted to. Yeah, I know the suggestion to work off her excess energy and help her sleep wasn’t right, but it popped out, much like my erection.
“If you don’t think you can handle yourself—”
“I’m fine,” I bite out. No one is working this case but me. It’s shitty enough that I’ve got to share Catriona with Fred and Hydro. The only way I’m going to be able to make it through the day is knowing that I’ll be back before the sun sets.
“Oh crap,” Laura says.
I immediately go for my gun. “What is it?”
She holds her phone up. “Hydro is sick. Says he must’ve caught the flu from his daughter because he’s been puking all night. He hoped it would be a twenty-four-hour thing but he’s still got a high fever this morning.”
I tuck my gun away and pretend relief isn’t pouring through every inch of my six foot five inch frame. “No way he can come. I’ll give the office a call,” I volunteer, but I know there’s no replacement. Cord took a big team with him to protect the singer, drilling the squad down to almost nothing. “And tell Hydro to go see a doctor. We can’t be short-handed.”
But it doesn’t matter if we are. I’ve stayed up for days at a time in the desert waiting for a shot, waiting for orders, just waiting in general. Here, at least, I have a nice bed, access to food, and a shower. Laura, Fred, and I can handle it, but I need to at least make a show of getting another body here.
“Sure thing, boss.”
Laura makes her call to Hydro while I call in to headquarters where I’m predictably told that there’s no one available but we could pull someone from the local police, if necessary. “No thanks.”
Local police are nothing more than a deterrent. They’re badly trained and often haven’t shot their gun since the police academy. Despite all their military hand-me-downs, the only thing they’re good for is writing traffic tickets.
“Hydro’s going in for some IV fluids along with vitamin D and C shots. He should be good to go in a couple of days. Have any luck with headquarters?” Laura asks.
“Everyone with enough training for this job is off with Cord. There are a few new recruits, but I don’t want them here.”
Laura nods. She knows I’m right. “How do you want to handle this?”
“I’ll move in and do a twenty-four-hour shift while you and Fred spell me for a few hours of shut-eye.”
Laura’s lips tighten, but she knows this is our best solution. “You’re the boss,” she says.
“You best be off then and get some sleep so you’re alert enough for both of us tonight.”
She dumps her coffee out and picks up her jacket. “Do you want me to tell Catriona?”