Chloe

The door opened and out walked three grim faces.

“I need coffee Chloe then I have to shoot off.” Ryder smiled, but he looked troubled. I knew he was worried, he wasn’t usually an open book, but the tension was pouring off him. I got up and walked over to the kitchen, Caleb went to Lea and I saw her frown before he kissed her head and disappeared out the door.

“So much for the fun day he promised.” she muttered.

“I’ll treat you to breakfast. I didn’t get to eat a lot this morning and I’m starving.” I blushed when I remembered why.

David chuckled like he’d read my thoughts. I glared at him. Pouring coffee into a take-out cup, I passed it to Ryder, seeing his grin did not help my embarrassment; neither did the clap on the back he gave David.

“I’ll let you know what I find out.” Ryder told David.

“Don’t forget to check in.” David ordered him.

Ryder saluted him and nodded. “Bye girls.”

We both chorused bye, both of us staring at his behind before looking at each other with a grin. He was just too gorgeous. David caught my eye and my grin dropped. He didn’t look amused, in fact, he looked furious.

“I’m only human.” I blurted out.

“Oh, boy,” This came from Lea. “I’ll take a rain check on breakfast Chloe.”

“Tell Caleb you’re going home and he’ll give you a lift.” David ordered her without taking his eyes from mine.

“I’ll be fine, I can walk.”

David shook his head. “Go tell him or I will.”

“Am I in danger?” She exclaimed.

“No, but I don’t want to risk you leaving here alone right now.”

She sighed. “Ok. Chloe, call me.”  She headed to the door, but turned back. “Good luck.” She grinned and closed the door.

Why would I need luck? One look at David and I remembered. “I’m sorry.” I tried to look innocent.

“For what?” he asked as he stalked towards me.

I felt trapped, I couldn’t move. “For staring at Ryder’s behind?” I said uncertain because he was shaking his head before I’d even finished speaking.

“Try again?”

I looked behind me and realised the light on the intercom was still green. Shit, busted. I bit my lip, not sure, if I should try to deny it. The look on his face, the anger in his eyes made my decision for me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realise it was on at first and when you started to speak I was curious.”

“The whole point of you leaving the room was so you didn’t know anything. Did Lea hear?”

I looked down at my shoes. “She was in the toilet.”

“How much did you hear?”

“Not a lot.”

“Which means you heard most of it, I’m guessing?”

“Yes.”

He sighed loudly. “Chloe, I’m so mad right now I could spank you. Nothing that was said in that room leaves this office. Do you understand?”

I nodded quickly not wanting to upset him more.

“Good.”

“Will Ryder be ok?”

“He’ll be fine; he can take care of himself just like we all can.”

“You’re right. I just worry.”

“About Ryder?”

“About you all. Working here, I see the cases, most are easy surveillance cases but I have a feeling they are only the ones you let me see. The dangerous ones you keep to yourselves, you do the paperwork yourselves, don’t you?”

“Most of them have no paperwork baby.”

“Oh.” I didn’t ask why they didn’t. He wouldn’t answer me and I wasn’t even sure I wanted to know.

“I have some calls to make. Do you want to wait for me? I can take you home and come back if not.”

“What would you rather I do?”

“Stay here. I won’t be long and then we can go for lunch somewhere.”

“That sounds good.”

“Great. Stay in here. Do not touch the intercom. I’ll know if you do and your punishment won’t be pretty.”

I nearly said that he hadn’t noticed last time, but I didn’t want to poke the bear. “I promise I won’t touch it.” I said solemnly.

“That’s my girl.” He kissed the side of my head and made his way back to his office closing the door behind him. I pressed the intercom button turning the light red. I settled in to my chair and prepared for a long wait, and then I remembered I had a paperback in my drawer. Pulling it out, I lifted my feet to rest on the edge of my desk and got comfortable. Reading was my favourite thing, no matter what was going on in my life I could always lose myself in a good book. Opening the first page, I started to read.