“I don’t think you’re a jerk, controlling or otherwise, and I’m always careful.”
“I’m serious, Sorcha. I know Luke’s your partner, but there’s something about him…every alarm in my brain rattles whenever he comes near. It’s like he’s evil or something. And yes, I know how stupid that sounds, but please keep your guard up.”
If he only knew how close to the truth he was.
“I’ll be careful. Promise.”
Rory pulled up to the front of their office. “Okay. See you on Saturday.”
“Absolutely.” She got out of the car and watched as he drove off.
Another weird day at Infernal Affairs. And it made her wonder how many other women got asked out at a crime scene. Now there was a stat she wasn’t about to Google. Either way, the answer would depress her.
Sighing, she headed to the street-level door that opened into the IA garden where her office was located.
She still didn’t know what had upset Luke. But then she didn’t really know him either.
Maybe the nice Luke had been the fake one. Maybe the defensive asshole she’d just left was his normal state.
Like Bert.
“Get out of my head!” She opened the door to the courtyard to find Christian there with a shocked look on his face.
“You okay?” he asked.
Heat covered her cheeks as she realized he’d heard her angry outburst. Maybe I do have Tourette’s…which gave her a whole new level of respect for those who dealt with it. Thankfully, she could control hers.
Most of the time.
“Channeling an asshole. Curse of being a medium.”
Chris nodded. “Understood. As you saw yesterday, I spontaneously spout idiocy in public. Usually in response to the asshole who stalks me. Respect.” He headed for the door she’d just walked through.
Sorcha watched him go. She didn’t know why, but she really liked Chris.
Well, all her coworkers so far. They were a good bunch of people…and imp. Helly was in a class by herself.
She had no idea how to classify Luke. Especially today, but maybe he wasn’t so much like Bert as he was having a bad day. She had to stop looking at everyone through the Bert lens.
“I won’t let you win.” She repeated her mantra as she crossed the yard and went into her office. She would exorcise that demon if it was the last thing she did.
Opening the door, her breath caught as she again saw what Luke had freely given her. Bert had never been so thoughtful. When he gave, it was in order to get something he wanted. Nothing had ever been done “just because.”
Not everyone who had a single asshole moment was a permanent asshole like Bert. She was going to force herself to remember that.
Dropping her crossbody bag and tablet in the white chair beside her door, she went to her desk and sat down. Sorcha let out a welcomed sigh at how comfortable her chair was. Perfect lumbar. Just enough cushion that it felt like a cloud. “I forgive you, Luke.”
This really had been a thoughtful gesture on his part.
She leaned back and pulled the remote from her desk so that she could turn on her smart board and play with it.
“Hey! Stop that! You’re elbowing me!” A loud hiss rang out.
“Brush your teeth if you’re going to do that.”
“You’re stepping on me!”
Each voice belonged to someone different. Some male. Some female. All of them with a guttural growl that sounded otherworldly.
