He raised both hands, palms-out in defense, and grinned.
The elevator stopped at the cafeteria again and Bentley was still there, smoldering.
Cappie glared at him. It didn’t help. He got on the elevator and pressed the down button.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Cappie asked him.
“On a job interview,” he said gruffly. “Maybe they need an extra veterinarian where you’re applying.”
“Does this mean that you’re not marrying me?” Rourke wailed in mock misery.
Bentley gaped. “You’re marrying him?” he exclaimed.
“I am not marrying anybody!” Cappie muttered.
Bentley shifted restlessly. “You could marry me,” he said without looking at her. “I’m established in a profession and I don’t carry a gun,” he added, looking pointedly at the butt of Rourke’s big .45 auto nestled under his armpit.
“So am I, established in a profession,” Rourke argued. “And knowing how to use a gun isn’t a bad thing.”
“Diplomats don’t think so,” Chet muttered.
“That’s only until other people start shooting at them, and you save their butts,” Rourke told him.
Chet brightened. “I hadn’t thought of it like that.”
“Come on,” Cappie groaned when the elevator stopped. “I swear, I feel like I’m leading a parade!”
“Anybody got a trombone?” Rourke asked the people waiting around the elevator.
Cappie caught his arm and dragged him along with her.
* * *
They took a cab to the veterinarian’s office. The car was full. The men were having a conversation about video games, but they left Cappie behind when they mentioned innovations they’d found on the Internet, about how to do impossible things with the equipment in the Halo series.
“Using grenades to blow a Scorpion up onto a mountain?” she exclaimed.
“Hey, whatever works,” Rourke argued.
“Yeah, but you have to shoot your buddies to get enough grenades,” Chet said. “That’s not ethical.”
“This, from a guy who lifted a policeman’s riot gun right out of the trunk of his car!” Rourke said.
“I never lifted it, I borrowed it! Anyway, everybody was shooting rifles or shotguns and I only had a .45,” he scoffed.
“Everybody else’s was bigger than his,” Rourke translated with an angelic pose.
Chet hit his arm. “Stop that!”
“See why he can’t get a job with diplomats?” Rourke quipped, holding his arm in mock pain.
“I’m amazed that either of you can get a job,” Cappie commented. “You really need to work on your social skills.”
“I’m trying to, but you won’t marry me,” Rourke grumbled.
“Of course she won’t, she’s marrying me,” Bentley said smugly.
“I am not!” Cappie exclaimed.
