CHAPTER TWO
Celine stared at the man across the room from her. It was the usual morning meeting and they’d just been informed of the SEALs temporary assignment with them. It wasn’t unusual but the temporary help rarely looked like him.
“Stop staring at him,” said Priscilla. “You’re making me uncomfortable. I can only imagine how you’re making him feel.”
“He’s fucking hot,” she smirked. “I know we can’t do anything while we’re working together but I’m going to damn sure do something when his assignment is over with.”
“Let it go, Celine,” said her friend. “You go through these guys like toilet paper and it’s not funny anymore. They all think you’re sincere and we both know you’re not. From what I’ve heard, this guy is different. Nice. Decent.”
“Don’t be such a Debbie-downer. He looks like he’s had more than his fair share of women and I’m going to bet he dumped more than a few. I just want a few good nights with him until I get bored and then we’ll be fine.”
Priscilla just shook her head at her friend, wondering why someone hadn’t said something to her sooner. The rules were very clear. No fraternization with co-workers. If you were caught dating, there were consequences to be paid. Priscilla loved her work too much to get caught up in a scandal.
Besides, her father had been a decorated agent and she didn’t want to tarnish his legacy. She lifted her head to look at River Jordan once again. She could feel the blush creep up her chest to her neck and then face as he stared back. It was a hard stare. Not a smile. Not a gaze. Just a hard stare.
In spite of her attempts to slow Celine down, the woman was more intent than ever to get her hands on the SEAL. Priscilla honestly couldn’t blame her. He was beautiful. Not just handsome. Not just well-built. He was absolutely beautiful. Like the images of angels you see in books.
But Priscilla knew that he’d soon be gone and Celine would have her talons in him.
It would be several long weeks of trying to find out what was happening to young women on the campuses of North Carolina universities.
Every time she fed him information he needed, he was kind and grateful.
But she also noticed that Celine wasn’t giving him timely information which only made her angrier with the woman.
When they were working together, he was patient, considerate, gentlemanly, and all business. It pissed Celine off, which made Priscilla like him all the more.
No surprise, the extremely handsome River Jordan was the man who figured it all out in North Carolina.
She watched him walk into their director’s office and close the door.
“I guess he’s leaving,” said Priscilla. Celine smirked at her and nodded.
“See, he’s cute isn’t he?”
“Yes, he’s cute. But he’s also a SEAL based on the west coast. There’s no future with a man like that.”
“I don’t want a future,” said Celine. “I just want a hot night or two, maybe a whole weekend. We’ll see.”
“Celine…”
“Wait. Here he comes.”
“Are you sure we can’t lure you away from the SEALs permanently, River?” asked the deputy director.
“I’m sure, sir. I was happy to help with Vasily and that situation but I belong with my brothers and the teams. Besides, my family has a long line of SEALs. I’d hate to be the one to break the tradition.”
“I’m well aware of your family,” smirked the deputy director. “In fact, I think your father punched me in the nose once.”
“Oh, shit,” muttered River rolling his eyes to the heavens.
Deputy Director Todd Greene was a good agent and an even better boss but being punched in the face by a Jordan wasn’t anything to sneeze at or walk away from.
“No, no,” laughed Greene. “I deserved it. I think I told him he appeared to be part of a human cloning experiment gone wrong making him and his brother look action figure dolls.”
“Oh, shit,” said River again.
“Yes, not my finest hour. I was much younger then and I have apologized to him. I’m grateful he accepted my apology.” They both laughed, nodding at one another. “Well, you are welcome on my team any time. Good luck, Jordan.”
“Thank you, sir. You too.”
He left the deputy directors office and headed to his temporary desk to grab his things. As he passed another desk, he said nothing, just giving a small smile to the woman who was staring at him.
“You’re leaving,” she said.
“I am. This was always a temporary assignment. I belong on the teams and that’s what I’m heading back to.”
“So, you’re no longer with the bureau.”
“I was never technically with the bureau. I was on loan, like a library book,” he grinned.
“Well,” she said standing to face him. She stepped closer, hoping to avoid anyone hearing what she had to say. “Since you’re no longer loaned to the bureau, and we don’t work together, maybe you’d like to have dinner with me. Tonight. At my apartment.”
River looked up at her and smiled, nodding.
“Celine, I cannot think of anything that I would like more. Text me your address and what time to be there.” She nodded, turning to go back to work, then turned and faced him again.
“By the way, River. This isn’t a booty call. There will not be any sex and if that’s a problem for you, tell me now.” She liked to play the innocent, no sex on a first date type but it was all an act.
“Not a problem at all, Celine. Not a problem at all.”
Priscilla just shook her head as he walked past her desk. Suddenly he turned and reached out a hand.
“It’s been great working with you, Priscilla. You’re a terrific agent,” he said smiling at her. She wondered if he was making fun of her but reached out and shook his hand.
“Thank you,” she said quietly. He looked at Celine, who was staring at the two, still connected at their hands.
“I don’t suppose you’ll be at Celine’s tonight?” he asked.
“Me?” she frowned. “N-no. I mean, she invited you.”
“I know,” he said nodding at her. “I just always see the two of you together so I didn’t know if maybe you lived together or hung out after work. Maybe we could have coffee before I leave town.”
“Are you serious?” frowned Celine. River looked at the woman and realized what a colossal mistake he’d made.
“Celine, I’m sorry. I thought it was just a farewell dinner. I didn’t mean anything by it,” he said awkwardly squirming. She wanted to explode. She wanted to scream at him but instead just nodded.
“No. No, you’re right. It’s just a farewell dinner and of course Priscilla is invited. She’s my best friend.” Priscilla stared at her, then back at River.
“What do you say, Priscilla?”
“I-I guess so.”
“I’m going to head on home,” said Celine. “I’ll get dinner going and you guys get there around six-thirty.”
River may not have noticed it but Priscilla did. Celine stormed off, angry at them both. He looked at his watch and smiled at her.
“Well, it’s almost five. How about we have that coffee now and we can ride together to Celine’s?”
“Oh. Oh, yeah,” she said. “Sure.” River flashed that sexy, steamy smile at her and she nearly crumbled into a ball of mush.
“Great. Let’s go.”