My mind raced as I thought about what my house currently looked like. I would never allow myself to feel embarrassed about how far I had come, but worry crept along my spine anyway. I was proud of my little house, but what would Victor think?
Realizing that Vic was staring at me, waiting for a reply, I blurted, “Sure! I would love that. We can make a day of it?” I try to muster up as much enthusiasm as I could. My acting skills must have been on point for once, because Victor clapped and bounced on the balls of his feet, before throwing his arms around me, pulling me into a bear hug.
Blowing him a kiss, I turned and started walking in the other direction, toward my house. Slowing my steps, I came to a stop just outside Shadow Force Tactical. My heart warmed at the thought that this might be my workplace for the foreseeable future. A throat cleared behind me, causing my heart rate to skyrocket.
Slowly turning around, I came face-to-face with Zeus. Okay, I know he was not really Zeus, but this man was as hot as could be. “Are you lost, Little one?” the deep baritone voice questioned. The cat must have caught my tongue because, for some reason, no words came out of my mouth. All trains of thought left me as I stood there staring into his warm, milk-chocolate-colored eyes.
Giving myself a mental smack, I finally opened my mouth, murmuring, “No, Sir. Not lost, I don’t think.”
“You think or know?”
“Uh, know?”
The chuckle he let out sent a shiver down my spine. “That still sounded like a question.” He had me there, but it wasn’t like it was my fault that my brain had decided to take a hike at that moment. “Nope, no question. I know for certain that I’m not lost.”
I guess my statement was convincing enough because he stopped asking. “Anyway, uh, let me get out of your way,” I quickly spat out, side-stepping around him.
“What’s your name, Little girl?”
“Rebekah Simpson, but all my friends call me Bekah. Not that I think we are friends, we just met. So I’m not really sure why I just said that.” Embarrassment bloomed across my cheeks. I was an idiot on my best days, and apparently, today wasn’t one of those days.
“Rebekah, pretty name for a pretty lady.”
My blush deepened for another reason. The way this man could make panties melt off saints, I didn’t stand a chance. “Uh, well, like I said, I should go. Nice meeting you, Mr...…”
“Sinclair. Beau Sinclair.”
I gave a small wave and turned, rushing down the street as fast as I could without looking like I was trying to flee a crime scene with the police on my heels. My night couldn’t have ended in a worse way. How was I ever going to show my face on Monday?
CHAPTER 5
Rebekah wasn’tanything like I expected her to be. I watched her sprint down the sidewalk as if her feet were on fire. Now I had a pretty face to put to the name that’s been rattling around in my mind since I asked her to come in for an interview on Monday. Those beautiful brown eyes and curly brown hair that she had pulled back into a braid. And her curves never ended; she was delicious in all the right places.
Shaking my head, I cleared those thoughts out of my brain. I shouldn’t be thinking about an employee like that, no matter how adorable I thought she was.You, I chanted as I headed inside the building.
“I see you met Rebekah.” I glanced up as Josh walked out of the kitchen with a glass of milk in his hand. Scrunching my nose at his drink choice, I rolled my eyes. How he could drink milk at any point during the day, I’d never understand. He was the only reason we kept several gallons of it in the fridge.
“I did. She was standing outside, looking up at the building.”
Josh nodded. “Yeah, I was watching from inside, trying to figure out what she was up to.”
“I don’t think she was doing anything but admiring it. Who knows, I do know that I scared her a little when I spoke to her. I didn’t mean to startle her.”
“For someone who’s as big a giant as you are, it is mind-blowing how quietly you move.”
Josh had a point; I wasn’t a small fella. Standing at six-foot-four, I was always a foot taller than most around me. I was definitely taller than a certain pretty girl who had been outside my building a few minutes ago.
Giving myself a mental smack for that thought, I turned back to Josh. “Have you looked in the mirror lately, dude? You are taller than I am, and you move just as quietly, if not quieter at times.” Josh chuckled at my statement, knowing I was correct. His old squadron didn’t call him Ghost for shits and giggles.
After a brief walk down the hallway, I entered my office and gathered up the paperwork that I needed to work on this evening.
When I pulledmy truck into the driveway, movement from across the street caught my eye. I couldn’t even hide my shock when I noticed that my new neighbor was the same girl who had been standing outside my office building.
The pity I felt for the poor soul who bought the house doubled. Rebekah now owned that dump, and I didn’t like it one bit. My Little girl shouldn’t be living in a house that needed to be torn down years ago.
Whoa, where did that thought come from? Rebekah is not a Little, and she’s definitely not my Little.I had no idea why my brain decided to lay claim on her, but in no way, shape,or form did I plan on getting involved with Rebekah beyond a professional relationship.
Not only did I not know whether she was a Little or not, but she was also potentially my employee. That would cross so many lines, none of which I could afford to do. Better to lose those thoughts now.
