Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
“I’m telling you, she hates my guts.”
Knox laughed. “What did you do to her?”
Luke threw one hand in the air. “Why do you assume it’s my fault? She literally walked through the door, sized me up, and then unloaded on me. She asked for my credentials, Knox. Who is this woman?”
Knox took a swig of beer and tipped his head. “Well, she did get a call from a killer just a few days ago. Maybe she’s still on edge, wants to make sure you’re legit. Can’t blame her for that.”
Luke nodded reluctantly. It was true, although personally, he still thought the woman’s reaction was uncalled for. It was literally the last thing he’d expected.
As soon as she’d walked into the lobby, something had shifted.
It sounded cheesy, but the sight of Hannah had been like a sucker punch to the gut.
He’d recognized her immediately from the clip he’d watched the other night, only then she’d been in jeans and a hooded sweatshirt.
In person she was even more gorgeous, even in the ill-fitting suit meant to downplay what were surely mouth-watering curves beneath the bulky material.
She’d stopped in her tracks, and he was sure she’d felt it too—whatever it was.
Lust, definitely. Something else, though, too.
Her steel-gray eyes were devoid of makeup and he’d felt her gaze brush over his skin as surely as if she’d touched me.
But before he’d really even had a chance to introduce himself, she’d lit into him with a vengeance.
And now he was stuck working with her every day.
Not that it would be a problem. The woman really wasn’t even his type.
Beautiful, yes, but too buttoned up. She hid behind drab, dark clothes that hung shapelessly from her body and hair that’d been pulled ruthlessly away from her face in a style that reminded him of a nun—a very beautiful nun, but the kind who rapped knuckles for the pure enjoyment of it. Maybe that was half the appeal, though.
The woman was naturally beautiful with her coffee-colored hair and sharp gray eyes that sliced through him, missing nothing. For some reason, though, she was dead set against him.
He set his beer on the bar. “Pretty sure I felt my manhood shrivel up out of self-preservation.”
Knox scoffed. “How bad can she be? I saw her on the news after the murder. She seemed okay.”
“Just don’t be surprised if you get a complaint from her,” Luke warned. “To say we got off on the wrong foot is an understatement.”
Knox sighed as he rolled the beer bottle between his hands.
“If it’s that bad, I’ll try to find someone else.
I want our first jobs to go as smoothly as possible, so it’s best if we can avoid any altercations.
Jaxon will be stateside soon, but he has some things to settle before he can come down here.
“I leave for D.C. on Monday, but I should be back by Thursday, Friday at the latest. If you can make it through this week without killing each other, I’ll take over when I get back. I’ll try to drum up another job for you in the meantime.”
Luke dipped his chin. “Appreciate it.”
It was probably better that way, even if he already regretted not being able to see her. Didn’t matter that she seemed to hate him, the little spitfire turned him on something fierce.
“The workers installed the carpet today, so the furniture is scheduled to be delivered next week. Wanna stop by on your way home, pick out your office?”
Knox’s words snapped Luke back to reality. “You giving me preferential treatment?”
Knox snorted. “I shouldn’t since I have to take over for you, watching your pretty little doctor.”
Something akin to jealousy snaked through him. “Just wait ‘til she tears you a new one.”
Knox laughed. “Maybe she just needs a real man to settle her down a bit.”
“Come on.” Irrational anger surged to the surface and Luke dropped his feet to the floor. “Let’s go check out my new office.”
Throwing an extra couple bucks down on the bar, he nodded to the bartender dressed in a too-tight shirt and cut-off shorts, her long, lean legs enhanced by the fringed cowboy boots she wore.
The woman winked, and he shot her a lazy smile.
Worst case, looked like the pretty little bartender would be more than happy to share his bed.
Why, then, couldn’t he stop thinking about the prickly little doctor?
Maybe because she was the first woman in a long time—maybe ever, honestly—who hadn’t fallen into his arms. He wasn’t vain by a long shot, but he was a decent-looking guy.
If nothing else, women loved a man in uniform, and he’d enjoyed a fair share of the bunnies who’d hung out in the bars around base.
But Dr. Whitmore was the furthest thing from a groupie. She was obviously smart and driven, and she didn’t put up with anything—especially from a man she didn’t know from Adam.
They headed out of the bar and turned east toward the industrial section of town. Knox’s voice cut through the silence. “So, what’s the real story?”
Luke knew exactly what he was asking, but he played dumb. “What story?”
“With the broad. I’ve seen you with women, so what’s different about this one?”
“I told you, she hates me.”
“Nah.” Knox shook his head. “There’s more to the story. Why do you want out so bad?”
“She bit my head off before I even introduced myself.” Luke shrugged.
“You give her that stupid smile?”
Luke lifted a brow. “What smile?”
“That same asinine smile you just gave the bartender. The one that has women falling over themselves to get to you.”
Was it that obvious?
Knox took his silence as agreement, and he shook his head.
“I’m going to guess that’s a yes. She’s smart, right?
” He didn’t give Luke a chance to respond.
“She’s probably used to fighting her way to the top, and there’s nothing worse than being undermined by some guy who thinks he’s better than everyone else. ”
Luke opened his mouth to protest, but Knox held up a hand. “You have sisters, don’t you?”
At Luke’s nod, Knox continued. “Just like with Vivi—I want the best for her, someone who will always be around when she needs him.”
“I’m putting down some roots here. Not like we’ll be overseas anymore.” Luke’s words came out terse, more combative than he’d originally intended, but he couldn’t stem the need to defend himself.
“No,” he agreed, “but we’ll always follow the job, whenever and wherever we’re needed. It’s what we do. Dr. Whitmore strikes me as the type of woman who needs stability. Do us both a favor and cut her loose before anyone gets hurt.”
Easier said than done. There was something about her that drew him in.
Despite their encounter yesterday, she intrigued me.
Maybe he had a point. Did he want a relationship?
he’d spent the past dozen years chasing the newest adrenaline rush, not bothering to form any kind of real attachment.
He did his own thing, came and went as he pleased.
But now it all seemed a little… shallow.
He thought of his parents, now going on their thirty-eighth wedding anniversary.
Things hadn’t been perfect growing up, but he’d always admired them.
They’d made it through plenty of tough times with him and his two sisters, and they were probably more in love with each other now than they were thirty years ago.
Someday he wanted to do the same—find a nice girl to settle down with, someone who could put up with his crazy family.
Knox slipped the key into the lock and pushed open the door. Instead of mildew, the scent of fresh paint and new carpet assaulted his nose.
Luke glanced around the newly renovated lobby. “Which office is yours?”
Knox pointed down the hallway. “Last one on the left.”
He peered into each office as he passed before pausing at the end. “Mind if I take the one across the hall?” He flipped on the light and strode toward the center of the room. A single office chair sat to one side, a cardboard box propped on the seat.
Knox smirked. “I guessed well.” He gestured to the box. “Cards for you and new shirts.”
Luke lifted an eyebrow. “Shirts?”
“Marketing.”
Luke pulled the polo from the box and studied the thick color-blocking stripe across the chest and shoulders. “There’s no way I’m wearing this.”
Knox rolled his eyes. “What’s wrong with it? Our colors are blue and black.”
“That is purple. And I’m not wearing it.”
“You will if I say you will.”
Luke glared at his friend. “I really hate you sometimes. You know that, right?”
“Yep.” A grin spread over Knox’s face. “The color’s terrible, isn’t it? It doesn’t look anything like the color in the catalogue.”
Luke scowled. “That color should be illegal.”
Knox laughed. “Just wear it once or twice, that’s all I ask. You can go back to your regular suits or TDUs or whatever the rest of the time.”
“Am I the only one who gets this kind of preferential treatment, or will the other guys have the same pleasure?”
Knox shrugged and smiled. “I prefer to think of it as hazing.”
Luke shook his head with a resigned sigh and slung the offensive article over his shoulder as he strode toward the door. “Ass.”
Knox grinned. “Takes one to know one.”
With a shake of his head, Luke headed outside and climbed into his truck.
He drummed his thumbs on the wheel as he drove home, his mind turning once more to Dr. Whitmore.
He couldn’t begin to understand why her reticence bothered him so much.
There was just something deep in those gray eyes that pulled at him, telling him there was far more to her than met the eye.
He sighed. Or maybe she really was as cold as she seemed. Either way, he’d just have to put her out of his mind and treat her like the job she was. Four weeks and he’d be free of the Ice Queen.