Fay's Six

CHAPTER2

Fay had to admit,if only to herself, that she was impressed by Walker’s home. His house, which he mentioned was a rental, was small, but not by her standards. It had three bedrooms, two full baths, a family room, which was open to the kitchen, and a big backyard, equipped with a fire pit and all.

It had to be twice the size of her apartment.

Which, at this point, she didn’t miss. Not when she had the breathtaking views Colorado had to offer.

“Here you go.” Walker handed her a glass filled with tequila and ice, though more alcohol than ice, and for that she could kiss the man.

Well, no. She wouldn’t be doing that, though she had to admit, Walker had that certain something sex appeal and every woman in Gunny’s Watering Hole turned their head and gave him the once-over.

Both when he entered and when he left.

He had that tall, dark, and handsome look, but sprinkled in was a little bit of that bad boy persona that almost every lady wanted to tame.

Well, not her.

Been there, done that.

“Thank you.” She made herself comfortable on his leather sofa, putting her feet on his coffee table, hoping he wasn’t going to be upset. While she didn’t want to be his girlfriend, fake or otherwise, she didn’t want to fight with him either.

She wanted this job.

No. She needed it.

“My pleasure,” he said.

She took a sip, prepared for the burn. “Holy shit. This stuff is the real deal.”

“It’s five hundred dollars a bottle.”

She nearly spit it out. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Nope.”

“Why the fuck are you wasting it on me?”

He shrugged. “I got it as a gift and I’ve been waiting for the right time. Now is as good as any.”

“I’m not going to complain.”

He joined her on the couch with a sigh. “I feel like we’re being tested, and honestly, it’s annoying. We proved we could work together back at Wind River.”

“That was a rescue mission. This is different.” She waved her hand in the air. “I’m not exactly sure what this is outside of looking for a missing kid, but we’re obviously being kept in the dark about something.”

“Jake wouldn’t do that.”

“Beck would if the mission called for it and maybe they both want to make sure we can work together under any circumstance.”

“This isn’t that big a deal.” He tapped his glass against hers. “I think we can both handle this one. But what happens when we have to devise a plan to say—oh, I don’t know—bust down a door and save someone before bullets start flying?”

She had to admit, that could be a problem. The last mission, someone else had been in the driver’s seat. Right now, they were support for Sparrow. But they both knew this was just the tip of the iceberg. However, she didn’t want to think about it, so she opted to stick with the craziness of the situation. “If I have to kiss you, trust me, there is going to be hell to pay.”

“I’m a good kisser. Really. I am.”

She burst out laughing.

“I can prove it,” he said with a wink.

“No. That’s okay. I’ll take your word for it.”

“You have no idea what you’re missing.” He leaned closer and puckered.

She gave his shoulder a shove. “Never going to happen.”

“I thought I’d never see you again, and here we are.” He took a long sip from his beverage before he set it on the coffee table. “Maybe we should look at the files and look into the parents.”

Fucking wonderful. Leave it to Walker to want to dive right in. Well, who was she to say no to that. Rolling to her side, she pulled her cell from her back pocket. “I contacted a buddy of mine from the FBI to see if they had anything at all on either parent. Let me see if he’s responded.”

“Random, weird, awkward question. But I think a necessary one,” Walker said. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

She blinked. “No. Why is that important?”

“Because of the situation we’ve been put in and I wouldn’t want to piss anyone off.”

“Fair enough. What about you?”

“No boyfriend.” He smiled wide. “No girlfriend either.” He tapped her wrist. “So, anything from your friend?”

“Oh,” she managed, slightly dumbfounded. “Not yet. He said he’d get back to me tomorrow when he’s in the office. He’s enroute coming back from assignment.”

“Who is this guy anyway?” Walker asked.

“His name is Tuck. I went to college with him. Good guy. He’s the IT guy for the Criminal Behavioral Unit in DC. It’s all very CSI.” She shifted to her side, taking another big gulp of tequila, letting the effects of the booze go right to her brain. Normally, she didn’t like to get even a little buzzed, but it had been a long day and if she were being completely honest, Walker had twisted her gut, sending her emotions into a spiral.

Before either one of them had retired their posts, they’d said some harsh words to one another.

And she’d taken his to heart.

Three people had died during her failed mission, and she had considered it a failure even though she’d managed to rescue Walker and three of his men.

That didn’t ease the sting of those that died. Their names would forever be engraved in her soul.