“Really?” She mock-pouted. “Now you’re just ruining all my fun.”
He pointed a finger in her direction. “Behave. Just do as you’re told and things will be fine.”
“Sir, yes, Sir.” She barely refrained from saluting him and that was only because the look in his eyes suggested he was anything but amused. She swallowed heavily. “I’ll leave it in my bag.”
“See that you do.”
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, what the hell have I gotten myself into?” she muttered to herself as he left.
***
Cady flung herself onto the sofa in the two-bedroom apartment. This place was really nice, far nicer than the apartment she’d had when she’d lived in Baton Rouge. God, she was exhausted. Three weeks she’d been working at Black-Gray and she’d spent most of that time in the gym with Jaron or the firing range with Tiny.
Her skills were a bit rusty, but they were returning. However, she was more unfit than she’d realized, months of poor nutrition had really done a number on her.
It would be so easy to give up and run back to her old, safe life and a number of times she’d found herself poised to do just that. But when she’d thought it through she’d been disgusted with herself. She was tired of running from things.
Still, she didn’t feel settled. This place wasn’t hers. She had yet to really earn the pay checks that had been deposited in her bank account; all she’d done was create work for everyone else. When she wasn’t with Tiny or Jaron, she was answering phones and filing papers. Not exactly what she’d imagined, but she could understand why Gray didn’t want her doing anything more yet. She’d be a liability out in the field until she was up to speed.
Surprisingly, she found herself liking the other guys at Black-Gray. Tiny didn’t say much, but that suited her fine, she wasn’t into chitchat and Jaron more than made up for Tiny’s silence. Josh and Curt were friendly guys and even Connor sent her the occasional wave when he looked up from his computer.
The only person who she hadn’t had much to do with was Hunter. Sure, he, Josh, and Connor had been away on a job for the first week she’d been here, but even after they’d gotten back he’d said barely two words to her. She got the feeling that he was avoiding her.
She rubbed her eyes as she yawned. Jaron had pushed her hard today and she was spent. But she knew she’d feel even worse if she didn’t get up and into a bath.
Cady laughed quietly to herself as she moved slowly into the bathroom. She felt like she’d aged a hundred years. She wouldn’t be capable of swatting a fly in the condition she was in.
Bending over, she put the plug in the bathtub and turned on the water. A knock on her front door had her groaning. Turning, she shuffled her way to the door, looking out the peephole. Her heart stopped for one agonizing moment. She forced herself to take a deep breath as she leaned her forehead against the wooden door.
What the hell was he doing here?
The door rattled as he knocked again. Christ, he wasn’t going to go away, was he? Much as she wished she could hide, she knew that was cowardly and Cady was sick of letting fear rule her actions.
She undid the two bolts and turned the key, opening the door. At least this place had plenty of security. Not only did the door have more locks and bolts that Fort Knox, but there was a security system and panic buttons in each of the rooms.
Hunter scowled as she pulled the door open. “You didn’t ask who it was.”
Cady rolled her eyes. “I looked in the peephole and saw you.”
“There could have been someone out of eyesight holding a gun on me.”
“Right, because that happens every day. How would asking who it was even help?”
“I’d have found some way to warn you.”
She leaned against the doorway. “What are you doing here, Hunter?”
He held up a white bag. “I brought dinner. Chinese.” He moved forward and she had no choice but to step aside and let him in. After all, he did own the place.
Plus the Chinese he’d brought smelled really good.
“You know most people call first before they come over.”
“That would have given you a chance to say no,” he replied. “Have you got water running?” He placed the bag on the table in the small dining area.
“Oh shit, the bathtub,” she said, moving into the bathroom as quick as she could.
Luckily, the tub was quite deep and was only three quarters full by the t