Page 55 of Her Intense Protector

“Yes?”

“My brother said that Sy is the most experienced detective on the Vice squad. So, you’re good with him. Sy’s been working to nail this floating poker game for months, so with your help, he’s going to take it down.”

“Was somebody hurt?” She asked.

“Martin didn’t get into that with me, but my guess is yes. Otherwise, Sy wouldn’t have such a hard-on for this case. So, you have to be really careful, and you can’t take any foolish chances. If you can telecommute for a week, that would be great.”

She wanted to play with the end of her braid, she was that nervous, but she stopped herself. Next, she’d want to suck her thumb!

She looked up at Ezio.

“Hell, woman don’t think it would be any skin off my nose. I’m hardly at home as it is, Max has stepped up the training, so knock yourself out.”

“Are you sure you’re not just saying that?”

“I’m positive.”

“He’s telling the truth. Even when we’re not overseas, we show up to work and get our asses kicked on a regular basis,” Leo grinned.

“Then why aren’t you there now?”

“We asked for the morning off,” Ezio explained. “Both of us have accrued plenty of PTO.”

She frowned.

“Personal Time Off,” he explained.

“Okay. Then I’ll ask for telecommuting. I’m not going to explain this situation, but Toni’s one of the architects, she should be able to smooth the way.”

“She owes you, too,” Ezio said with a bite to his voice.

Samantha stroked his arm where it was resting at her waist, trying to soothe him.

“Okay, I’m out of here,” Leo grinned. “I’ll see you two lovebirds some other time.”

Swans, Samantha found herself thinking to herself.

* * *

“So, what do you want for dinner tonight?” Ezio asked Samantha. He looked at her, and despite her chipper demeanor, he could see the bruising under her eyes and how pale she was. She looked done-in. Who could blame her?

“I can cook,” she smiled up at him.

“Why don’t you let me take care of that.”

“No, I insist. You did all the heavy lifting with moving my things.”

“Honey, this didn’t even work up a sweat; you should see what our lieutenant puts us through on an easy day of physical training.” But before she could object again, he suggested ordering in. “I’ve got plenty of menus to choose from.”

“Okay, let me see them.”

She jumped on the Chinese food one. “I’ll agree, just so long as you promise not to eat cold Chinese food for breakfast, is it a deal?” Ezio asked.

She grinned. “It’s an easy deal. I really liked the smoothie.”

By the time the food arrived Samantha was sitting in the corner of his couch, looking through a pile of magazines, halfway asleep. He needed to coax her into bed as quickly as possible, just not his bed.

“This place is great. Thank you for thinking of this, Ezio, I love it.” They sat next to one another on the floor propped up against the sofa. She used her chopsticks to spear another piece of honey chicken.