Ben nodded, watching the cruiser pull away. Morrison stared out the window, his face a mask of impotent rage.
“Think that’s the end of it?” Shane asked, brushing dust off his cargos.
“For Shelly? Let’s hope so,” Ben said.
“I’ll make sure of it,” George said. He looked around at the band of brothers. “You boys have a nice evening.”
Ben turned to Shane. “I owe you lunch, brother.”
Shane scoffed. “For this? I know you’d do the same for me.”
I swear it to you upon my honor.
“Not just for this. And I think you know it.”
Ben walkedinto the Watchdog reception area at noon the next day and found Jodie at the front desk.
“Hey, Ben! What brings you here?” she asked with a bright smile.
“Just here to take Shane out to lunch. I owe him.”
“Oh, if you’re going out for burgers, bring me back some fries?” She batted her eyes at him.
Ben felt himself start to blush. It didn’t matter what woman it was. Didn’t matter if she was serious or kidding. Didn’t matterhow long he’d known her. He lacked the confidence his brothers had around women.
“Sure,” Ben said. “I’d be happy to.”
“Great! I think Shane’s in his office. If not, he’s out with Alex and the dogs. Go on back.” She made a gesture like she was sweeping him further into the building.
Ben nodded. “Thanks, Jodie.”
Shane had offered to meet him at a restaurant in Lyons, but Ben wanted to check in on Shelly and make sure she was all right. At least, that’s what he told himself as he started down the hall. The offices could be a bit of a warren, and he wasn’t exactly sure where Shane’s office was, but he’d find him. If not, he could ask. The place was full of people he knew. Most of them friends, some just acquaintances.
And one very special lady.
Charlie King.
Just thinking her name did something wonderful to his belly. And, he had to admit, a place just south of his belly.
Charlie wasn’t only the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen—though she absolutely was that, with her intense eyes that could pin a man at fifty yards and that smile that made his knees weak on the rare occasions she aimed it his way. Just watching her put Shelly at ease the night before warmed his heart.
But it was more than that. Charlie wastalented. Brilliant, really. Fierce when she needed to be. She could clear a room faster than most of his Ranger buddies and moved with a lethal grace that was somehow both terrifying and mesmerizing to watch. She was someone he’d want at his back in a gunfight without hesitation.
Hell, she’djusthad his back in a gunfight at Echo Ridge Ski Lodge. When bullets were flying and the world had gone to hell, Charlie had been steady as a rock, professional and deadly and absolutely fearless. Watching her intelligent face as she took inthe plan Gina laid out. Seeing her in action during the firefight—grace and power and bravery. She had to be the bravest woman he’d ever met?—
A sudden, unexpected sound stopped him.
Wait—is that Charlie…screaming?
Ben took off at a run down the hall. Where was she? What was going on? Something had to be seriously wrong. He’d never heard her scream. Had Morrison somehow breached Watchdog?
He turned the corner.
And there she was, standing in the middle of a cubicle maze. For some reason, he could see all the way down to her waist over a cubicle wall.
Wait. Charlie’s tall but notthattall,he thought.What’s going on?
She was in profile, looking down at something below her, with an expression of absolute terror on her face.
