“I recommended Bo for temporary transfer to the SNB’s Richmond, Virginia office as part of our inter-department cooperation.” Walter tapped on a few computer keys and settled back in his chair with a smile.
Richmond. Where some as-yet-to-be-seen doctor planned to whack open Lucky’s innards and help himself to an organ. “Does Bo know?”
“Not yet. I plan to discuss the matter with him later today.” Walter dropped his business attitude. “I also will remind him of our policies regarding domestic partnerships. He’s free to request a medical leave of absence to care for his partner.”
And Bo wouldn’t. Leave didn’t completely match salary, and they might be in over their heads financially in a few days. “I doubt he’ll take leave.”
“Which is why I’ve planned his reassignment. The third option would be for him to use up some of those vacation days he keeps racking up.” Walter leaned forward, elbows on the desk, and peered over the top of his bifocals. “Have the two of you discussed the matter?”
No. They hadn’t. Lucky’d been so stressed out about his own issues he’d neglected Bo. “No, sir.”
“Then I suggest you do. And you needn’t worry about anything here. Go. Help your father. Work can wait.”
“But—”
“No buts. In a way you’re still working. Saving a life. And if I were in your place, I’d want my wife by my side.” And pity the man who tried to keep Mrs. Smith from Walter’s bedside. The tiny Southern belle with the good manners would show her claws.
Words refused to come out of Lucky’s mouth, smart-assed or otherwise, and tickling began in the back of his throat. His eyes burned. Subject-change time. “When I see Bo, I’ll call him ‘the little woman.’”
Walter cracked a smile. “And probably be handed your head. After all, you trained him.” He paused for a moment, rose from behind his desk, and took the vacant chair next to Lucky. “If there’s anything you need, anything at all, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
What could he say? “Um… Thanks.” Time to leave the boss’s office before things turned too mushy.
Bo passed him in the hall and paused to give a tight smile. “Walter wants to see me.”
“Then don’t keep the man waiting.” Oh, to be a fly on the wall for the next ten minutes. Lucky went back to his cube. No Bo to talk to. Rett might do in a pinch. No sign of her either.
Well, time to make good on a few barbeque dinners. He strolled to the reception desk.
“Can I help you, Mr. Harrison?” Lisa glanced up from her typing.
“Nah, just stopped by to say howdy.” And because he didn’t want to be alone right now. Back home in North Carolina, she’d have caught three bugs by now with her wide-open mouth. Hey! Who knew he could shock people by being nice?
The guilty eyes and flushed cheeks made him round the reception desk and peer over her shoulder.
“Hell no. Tell me Keith isn’t still making you do his work for him. What did I tell you?” The no-account asswipe had a comeuppance heading his way. “Tell him to take his report and shove it—”
“Mr. Harrison!” Lisa’s eyes got big. “I can’t do that. Keith is a senior agent. I’m just a receptionist. He could get me fired for insubordination.”
“And I got promoted, so I rank higher than him. If anyone says anything, I’ll back you up. Anyone gives you grief, you tell ‘em I told you to.”
Lisa hung her head. “I don’t want to get into trouble.”
Okay, time for a better idea. “If he insists on others doing his work for him, why don’t I help too?” He wriggled his fingers in anup-upmotion.
She hesitated a moment before yielding her chair, leaving Keith’s report open on her computer.
Lucky sat down and tapped out a few words. Yeah, that’d work. After five minutes, he relinquished her chair. “Now remember, I outrank both you and Keith, so my words stay in, got that? No deleting.”
“Oh my!” She slapped a hand over her mouth, cutting off a giggle. “Are you sure about this?”
“Never been surer.” He swaggered back to his cube, whistling off-key a song about sexy tractors. Just wait until Walter Smith read Keith’s report.
Busy work took about ten minutes, and desk-cleaning took twenty. He didn’t want to come back to a bunch of science experiments growing in coffee cups.
If he came back.
After an hour Bo returned and took his place at his desk, saying nothing.
