excitement I can take for one
night.”
Brad gave their status as
he moved forward. He was angry with himself for the reaction he
felt seeing Alicia in Carl’s arms. It was jealously pure and simple
and he had no right to feel it. He couldn’t afford to lose his
head.
“ I’ll make
sure she gets back,” Carl said, swallowing the rest of his drink.
“You can’t be on duty twenty-four hours.”
“ My
responsibilities don’t end until a member of the team is in place.”
The harsh tone pricked along Alicia’s nerves, but she knew he was
right.
“ It’s true,
honey. He has a job to do. But I appreciate the offer.”
“ Okay, I get
it. He’s the real action hero and I’m just a guy who likes wearing
the suit.”
“ Come on,
Carl, don’t over-egg the pudding. We both know you’d much rather
stay for another drink.”
“ Well, maybe
just one.” He searched the room and found what he was looking for.
“JEN!” he shouted across the bar. When she turned, he was wiggling
his glass along with his eyebrows.
Alicia shook her head,
pleased that there were no hard feelings. “See you tomorrow, bright
and early.”
She waved to the group as
she followed Brad out.
There was a buggy waiting
for them when they got outside. “Good evening, gentlemen,” Alicia
said as they climbed aboard.
“ Evening,
Miss Gladstone.”
She’d expected Brad to
fill the ensuing silence, but when he didn’t she let it settle
around her. It wasn’t unpleasant.
The cool breeze blew
through her hair, making Brad’s stomach clench when he caught the
scent of her – dangerously sweet. It was a long ride back to the
trailer. The close proximity was not helping him bank his desires.
If anything he felt a clawing panic. It was a relief when they
arrived.
“ I’d like to
do a walk through before I go off shift,” Brad said, following her
to the door. In truth it was the last thing he wanted to do. He was
afraid of being alone with her.
Alicia waved him in ahead
of her, a little irked at his tone.
It took him less than a
minute to check she was secure. They stood facing each to her,
Alicia with her back to the door and Brad itching to be on the
other side of it.
“ Well,
everything seems to be in order. I’ll be back on duty at 0600. Have
a pleasant evening.” He took a step towards her but she didn’t move
aside.
“ You’re
kidding, right?”
He narrowed his eyes,
annoyed that she was preventing him from putting a little distance
between them. “I don’t understand.”
“ I thought
we’d moved past the formality. Have I done something
wrong?”
“ I’m just
trying to find some even ground. It’s difficult to strike a balance
because you insist on dragging me into your world.”
“ You’re
already in it. Is there somewhere in your code that states we can’t
be friends?”
“ You have
enough friends. Why is it so important for everyone to like
you?”
“ Are you
saying you don’t like me? Is that what the problem is?”
Brad cursed her for
pushing him. He wanted to pick her up just so he could clear an
escape route. “You know the answer to that. It’s the exact
opposite.” That was all he would say. He wasn’t going to spell it
out for her. He was in enough trouble.
“ And that
compromises you in some way.” She took a step forward, ignoring the
wall of chest to look up into his eyes. “You’re shutting yourself
off from feeling because you’re attracted to me?”
“ I’m not a
robot. It’s not that easy.” It was getting harder, having her so
close.
“ It feels
like it.”
He wasn’t sure if it was
the challenge in her voice or because of her proximity. He acted
before he could stop himself.
Alicia waited in
anticipation. She knew he was going to kiss her. She could see it
even if he couldn’t. When their lips met, she felt a slither of
panic run up her spine. Not because she was afraid of him, but
because of what he made her feel.
She couldn’t think. Her
mind was empty of
night.”
Brad gave their status as
he moved forward. He was angry with himself for the reaction he
felt seeing Alicia in Carl’s arms. It was jealously pure and simple
and he had no right to feel it. He couldn’t afford to lose his
head.
“ I’ll make
sure she gets back,” Carl said, swallowing the rest of his drink.
“You can’t be on duty twenty-four hours.”
“ My
responsibilities don’t end until a member of the team is in place.”
The harsh tone pricked along Alicia’s nerves, but she knew he was
right.
“ It’s true,
honey. He has a job to do. But I appreciate the offer.”
“ Okay, I get
it. He’s the real action hero and I’m just a guy who likes wearing
the suit.”
“ Come on,
Carl, don’t over-egg the pudding. We both know you’d much rather
stay for another drink.”
“ Well, maybe
just one.” He searched the room and found what he was looking for.
“JEN!” he shouted across the bar. When she turned, he was wiggling
his glass along with his eyebrows.
Alicia shook her head,
pleased that there were no hard feelings. “See you tomorrow, bright
and early.”
She waved to the group as
she followed Brad out.
There was a buggy waiting
for them when they got outside. “Good evening, gentlemen,” Alicia
said as they climbed aboard.
“ Evening,
Miss Gladstone.”
She’d expected Brad to
fill the ensuing silence, but when he didn’t she let it settle
around her. It wasn’t unpleasant.
The cool breeze blew
through her hair, making Brad’s stomach clench when he caught the
scent of her – dangerously sweet. It was a long ride back to the
trailer. The close proximity was not helping him bank his desires.
If anything he felt a clawing panic. It was a relief when they
arrived.
“ I’d like to
do a walk through before I go off shift,” Brad said, following her
to the door. In truth it was the last thing he wanted to do. He was
afraid of being alone with her.
Alicia waved him in ahead
of her, a little irked at his tone.
It took him less than a
minute to check she was secure. They stood facing each to her,
Alicia with her back to the door and Brad itching to be on the
other side of it.
“ Well,
everything seems to be in order. I’ll be back on duty at 0600. Have
a pleasant evening.” He took a step towards her but she didn’t move
aside.
“ You’re
kidding, right?”
He narrowed his eyes,
annoyed that she was preventing him from putting a little distance
between them. “I don’t understand.”
“ I thought
we’d moved past the formality. Have I done something
wrong?”
“ I’m just
trying to find some even ground. It’s difficult to strike a balance
because you insist on dragging me into your world.”
“ You’re
already in it. Is there somewhere in your code that states we can’t
be friends?”
“ You have
enough friends. Why is it so important for everyone to like
you?”
“ Are you
saying you don’t like me? Is that what the problem is?”
Brad cursed her for
pushing him. He wanted to pick her up just so he could clear an
escape route. “You know the answer to that. It’s the exact
opposite.” That was all he would say. He wasn’t going to spell it
out for her. He was in enough trouble.
“ And that
compromises you in some way.” She took a step forward, ignoring the
wall of chest to look up into his eyes. “You’re shutting yourself
off from feeling because you’re attracted to me?”
“ I’m not a
robot. It’s not that easy.” It was getting harder, having her so
close.
“ It feels
like it.”
He wasn’t sure if it was
the challenge in her voice or because of her proximity. He acted
before he could stop himself.
Alicia waited in
anticipation. She knew he was going to kiss her. She could see it
even if he couldn’t. When their lips met, she felt a slither of
panic run up her spine. Not because she was afraid of him, but
because of what he made her feel.
She couldn’t think. Her
mind was empty of
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