Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Flexing his bruised hand at his side, Cole did a double take at the sight of Sven Larsen as he started to cross the open first floor. The big guy was in early. Cole nodded at the would-be Viking in greeting as he headed toward the metal stairs leading to the second-floor offices.
Sven nodded as he slid on a boxing glove. The blond bodyguard was clearly in to get an early morning workout while it was still quiet. Most of the guys complained about early mornings, but Sven was like him—he found the silence soothing.
Cole hit the second floor, pausing to peek into Rowe’s office only to find it empty. He strode down the hall to the big office he shared with the other two members of his team. Gidget sat sideways at her station, which faced the east wall, dressed in her usual long skirt, this time paired with a pretty, pink sweater that reminded him of the flowers he’d seen on the way to work. Spring was definitely in the May air, and she looked dressed for it. She’d grown her blonde hair out recently and had it in a high ponytail.
A big grin spread across her pink lips as she swung her chair around. “How did the date go last night?”
“About how you’d expect. Her husband showed up and we got him threatening her, so all’s good.” Cole walked to his desk and shrugged out of his black, leather jacket. It was still cool in the mornings. He draped it over the back of his chair and sat.
“But how did the date go, Cole?” She waggled her blonde eyebrows.
“You know it wasn’t a real one, right?”
“Closest to the real thing you’ve had in a while.”
He rolled his eyes. “Like you can talk. When’s the last time you went out?”
She tapped her chin with one finger, her grin widening. “I went on a date last week, in fact. I didn’t say anything, because I had a feeling it wouldn’t work out and it didn’t. The guy ordered for me without even asking what I wanted.” She rolled her eyes and gave a little groan. Cole shook his head, unable to believe there were men out there who still thought that was a smart move. “I bailed on that one fast.”
Yeah, there was no way Gidget would put up with something like that. The woman was fiercely independent. Hell, he was surprised she put up with the nickname Rowe had given her years ago, thanks to her perpetually perky, upbeat attitude. Her real name was Jennifer Eccleston, but everyone called her Gidget, and she actually seemed to like it.
“How’d you get set up with him?” He logged into his computer, then straightened up some papers. He kept his desk neat unlike Quinn and Gidget, whose workspaces were covered in mugs, knickknacks, office toys, and random bits of paperwork.
“Mutual friend. Maybe ex-friend now.” She chuckled and picked up a massive blue mug that smelled of coffee. She and Quinn mainlined the stuff. Not that he had room to talk, he put away a lot of coffee himself. “So, no sparks between you and what’s her name?”
“Monique, and no. It was just a job.”
“You could use a real night out. Have a good time.” She winked. “Get laid.”
He scratched his jaw and shrugged. He was too busy to meet anyone new and was fine with his right hand. It was time to get this conversation off his so-called love life and on to work-safe topics. “You make any headway on the husband’s background?”
Her expression smoothed out, then turned downward into a frown. “He’s bad news. Big-time. Rap sheet…and some other stuff. He’s not someone you want to mess with. It sucks that you got drawn into this.”
“Part of the job. Did you tell Rowe all this?”
She nodded. “I caught him as he headed to Rialto last night.”
That could be the problem he’d brought up. Cole looked at his bruised knuckles, remembering the expression on the guy’s face before he’d hit him. Pissed didn’t begin to describe it. So, he was probably livid now.
Brushing aside the small knot of worry in his gut, he turned to his computer. “Well, the police should have him now. He plainly threatened her, and we got it all on video. It should be okay now.”
“I hope so,” was all she said, her chair squeaking as she turned around and put her mug on her desk.
He was about to put on his headphones for some music when Rowe’s red head popped around the doorway. “Cole, I need you in my office.”
Cole set the headphones down and stood. He followed his boss and settled in the chair in front of the desk.
Surprisingly, Rowe’s area was one of the hot spots for the entire building. His large office with the big, comfortable black leather couch tended to become a random crossroads or meeting place. All throughout the day, people popped in and out to ask Rowe questions, bring him updates, or share a joke. And Rowe welcomed every last one of them, regardless of what they did at the company.