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"Team members don't spy on conversations."
"Yes, sir.” She lowered her head slightly feeling a warm heat touch her cheeks. Her behavior was disgraceful. She had not done anything like that ever, and this was her first day on the job. Not a good way to make a good impression.
"Something else you are going to have to learn is to stick up for yourself, Denise. I am afraid you aren't going to find any knights in shining armor here to protect you. In fact you may well find the complete opposite with me. Behaving badly will get you disciplined.” He turned on his heel and left her standing there staring at his back, mouth agape. That kind of open threat should have left her chilled, why then did she feel a thrill race through her blood?
Chapter Two
Very few lights were still on in the sleek, modern FBI office building. Denise worked late into the night typing up her reports on the day. Her eyes were tired and she could hardly see straight when her boss came into her office. Victor looked damned good at any hour. His jacket was off and his white starched shirt conformed to his chiseled chest, suggesting at the thick muscles that lay just below the thin material. He may have spent the majority of his time behind a desk, but his body was in shape, and as ready for action as any other agent on the force.
Absolutely confident and self-assured he was the embodiment of an alpha male. Why couldn't she ever find a man like that? With her own nature being so bold, she never got any men that were anything but inhibited, reserved and quiet. Not that she would ever act on anything with her boss. He was her boss, for heaven's sake. It was bad enough to think about dating a coworker, but her boss?
It was just unprofessional, and Denise never did anything so unprofessional and stupid as that. It was also bad the way they started things off. He made it perfectly clear, that he had no feelings for her when he said he had no intention of being her knight in shining armor.
"Hey, Victor,” she said casually, greeting him warmly. She may have felt wary of him, but she didn't have to show that nervousness to him. That earlier conversation had put her on edge.
"Hey yourself.” His voice was deep and sultry; Denise couldn't help blushing at her thoughts when she heard his sexy voice answer hers. He smiled when she blushed, and she quickly lowered her eyes to the reports she had been working on.
Damn! How did he do that to her with just his voice?
It shouldn't make her feel this way being so close to him. It's not like she was some blushing schoolgirl. She was around enough testosterone every day that anything feminine in her should be completely numb to its effects.
"Good job today on the Brock Hall case."
"Thanks. I just wish I could do more.” Denise looked up at him to find his eyes had not left her face, boldly staring into hers. His arms folded over his chest comfortably in a dominating and authoritarian position. It was no wonder he was in a position of power. His body language showed how collected and composed he was, even under pressure.
"Any word on finding the man yet?” she asked.
"No, but there are search teams combing the area now. I am sure it won't be long before we catch up with him."
"Well, no one is going to find him in the dark."
"Probably not and you aren't going to do any good for anyone tomorrow without any sleep."
"Ha—That is part of the academy's training. Sleep Deprivation 101. I can go a couple of days without sleep. Sleep is for wimps."
He chuckled at that comment. “No one works well without sleep. You get tired eventually and you make more mistakes. You are not helping anyone when you don't take care of yourself. I don't even think I have seen you take a lunch break today."
"That is because I haven't."
"You haven't eaten all day?” He shook his head at her like a parent disappointed at a child. “That is it. Pack up your reports so I can take you to dinner."
"But—” Her mouth opened and closed like a fish as she just stared at him incredulously.
"No buts, that's an order. I expect you to be packed up and ready to go in five minutes. Its ten o'clock at night, Denise. And after dinner, I expect you to go home and get some sleep.” His dictatorial tone didn't leave much room for argument, and from the way he left abruptly, he didn't expect her to disagree. Hell, it didn't give her the chance to disagree. She was both excited and irritated with the man. It was awfully presumptuous of him to just assume that she would go to dinner with him.
Denise's stomach fluttered with nervous butterflies. Dinner could mean so many things, it gave her hope for more and yet, she really didn't think he had any interest in her. No man that strong and that powerfully male was ever attracted to her. She assured herself this was just on a friend level. It could not possibly be anything else.
Oh well, even if it meant nothing else, Victor meant well. The way he was looking after her like this, said he was a caring and considerate friend as well as a boss, even if he would never admit it. It would be nice to have a friend in the office for once.
* * * *
Just a few other couples dotted the tables in the small dining room of Red's Barbeque. They sat down and the waitress took their order for their drinks and their food.
"Is the food any good here?” Denise asked Victor politely.
"Best in town."
"Well thanks for inviting me out, Victor. I probably wouldn't have bothered eating if you had not done this."
"Everyone needs to eat. It so happens that I have not had a chance to eat anything since this morning either. It's been one crazy day."
"No argument there."
When Denise asked the question she was just trying to make conversation and break the awkward silence. “So when did you first decide to work in this line of work, Victor?"
The waitress came back and set the drinks on the table. Denise took a long sip, knowing the soda would help boost her blood sugar and perk her spirits up. It really had been a long, exhausting day.
She was immediately jerked back to her present by Victor's disarming smile.
"I think initially it was because of what I saw on TV. You know, the old Dragnet shows and Starsky and Hutch."
"I remember those shows, my dad loved that show,” she responded.
"I hope you aren't making fun of my age,” he chided playfully.
"No. Not at all."
"Good. Because I am not that old."
"Oh yeah? Just how old are you?"
"Thirty-eight."
"I'm twenty-eight.” That made him ten years older than her, Denise wasn't the youngest agent, but she was young for the field. “Have you been working for the FBI long?"
"I spent six years in the military police and went straight to work for the FBI after I got out of the military. It seemed a logical choice. I already knew the work and had the training. It was just a matter of getting through the Academy and I have been through boot camp, so I knew there wasn't anything they could throw at me that I couldn't handle."
"So you were an MP guy, huh? How long did it take you to realize that law enforcement wasn't all the glamour and explosions and chasing bad guys you see on TV?"
He smiled at that comment. “Not long, but I love my job and I wouldn't trade it for the world. It's not everyday you feel great about what you are doing, and there are days that are slower than others, but I don't think I could get as much job satisfaction anywhere else. Or doing anything else."
Denise felt the same way. It was too bad he was her boss. She would have attempted to flirt with him if she had met him on the street. He was good looking, sweet and loved the same type of work she did for the same reasons. Exactly the type of man she had always wanted. A man like Victor would settle for nothing less than complete control and domination in the bedroom. “I feel exactly the same way, Victor."
The waitress arrived with their food and Denise dug in, she had not realized how hungry she was. She had allowed herself to forget her basic needs, worrying about that little girl. But with the delicious aroma of the barbeque ribs and mashed pot
atoes in front of her, her mouth was watering in anticipation. The first bite was heaven and melted into her mouth.
