Luke nodded. “Good. You deserve to be happy. Even if itdoesdistract you from your work.” He grinned before stepping out.
How the hell did he know how distracted Jesse was? He looked back at his computer screen. Then his gaze quickly shifted to his cell.
Jeez, he had zero self-discipline. None.
He lifted his phone to text her.
Jesse: Are you okay?
Her response was instant.
Aspen: Depends what you mean by okay… I’ve spent the last hour on the phone with Callie and now I’m staring at a laptop screen.
Jesse: And here I was hoping the distraction had been thoughts of me.
Aspen: Even if it was you, I’d never tell.
Jesse: Why not?
Aspen: Your ego doesn’t need the stroking.
Jesse: What if I told you that you’re distracting me from my work?
Aspen: I wouldn’t be surprised. I’m quite the distraction.
His lips twitched.
Jesse: I’m going to try and do some work now.
Aspen: Try all you want, you won’t get me out of your head.
This time he laughed out loud. She was joking, but fuck, she was right.
He turned back to his computer for the fiftieth damn time. He had to get this report written before his shift finished.
Ten minutes passed, and he was finally getting into it when his work phone rang.
Goddammit.
He lifted the phone. “Jesse speaking.”
“Jesse, it’s Claudia.” Wind blew over the line.
He frowned. “Where are you?”
“Outside by the power box. The power went out at our desks while Margot and I were working. I thought I’d check it out, butI can’t get the power box door open. Can you come give it a go? I’m assuming it’s just a fuse or a tripped switch or something.”
He rose. “Margot’s still inside?”
“Yeah. She’s at her desk.”
Good. As long as someone was still in here with Aspen. He sent a quick message to Margot, asking her to watch Aspen, then moved outside. On the side of the building, near the back, he spotted Claudia standing near the power box, flashlight in hand.
She glanced at him. “I don’t know what’s going on…it’s like it’s stuck or something.”
He stopped beside her and tugged at the metal door. Jesus, it really was stuck.
He pulled harder, but again it didn’t budge. He grabbed a pocketknife from his back pocket and slid it into the small gap between the door and the box. It took a few twists and some prying, but the door finally opened.
