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“I’ve never had a cell phone,” I blurted out as I softly took it from his hand, turning it this way and that, to look at it.
Kace’s eyes filled with anger and his mouth pinched into a grim line, but I wasn’t exactly sure what for. However, he didn’t look angry with me and he controlled his emotions quickly.
“Well, now you do. I put the number for the office, all us guys, the ladies, and Landon’s number in there too.”
Wow, that was a lot of people. It was crazy to think I had that many numbers when up until weeks ago I had nobody to call. But I wouldn’t call them, that would be weird. And who knew if I would ever even figure out how to use the thing.
“You’re thinking too much. All the people whose numbers are in that phone would be fine if you needed to call or wanted to talk. Also, If you need me to show you the functions and how to use them, I can help you any time.”
How the heck did Kace always seem to know exactly what I was thinking? He was always offering to show me how to work the phone when he had been doing his damn finest to keep his distance.
Or so I thought.
“I don’t understand,” I whispered as I stared down at the device in my hand.
“You’re one of us,” he said in a sincere voice.
My gaze came back up to his and our eyes met in a crazy standoff that neither of us seemed to want to break. Then the bell above the door jingled as a client walked in, breaking our moment up.
Just before Kace walked off to let me deal with the person that walked in, he said, “And Teal, that phone can’t be traced to you at all.”
I was startled by his assessment and my need to know that tidbit of information, but I shouldn’t have been surprised by what he and the guys did. Besides being ex-military, knowing that helped me feel safer and a little giddy that I had something new for myself.
And Thad couldn’t take it away or do a damn thing about it.
ChapterSeven
KACE
When Alley walkedinto my office, I braced for impact.
The woman held nothing back and looked like she was on a mission. She was also baby-free, which worried me even more. The new mother hated handing over the baby if she didn’t have to. After her past, I could understand why. Yet, she showed up in my office, arms free of little Noelle, and approached my desk with a purpose that showed in every one of her strides.
“Looks like you had a little break in your day and I just hired you for your services,” she announced.
What in the world…
“My services?” I repeated her words with a raised eyebrow. “Does your husband know about this?”
Alley narrowed her eyes, but they glistened with humor and of course, the smartass, fired back as usual. She rarely missed a beat to get a jab in herself.
“You know darn good and well my husband takes care of me just fine in that department. If he heard you he’d kick your ass for that comment.” She laughed out loud and carried on. “It is your shooting skills I have inquired about.”
My mouth dropped open in shock. Alley wanted to learn to shoot?
“Shit, woman. Your husband is likely to kill me for letting you hold a gun. Besides, how did you obtain my services? And did you pay in advance?”
Now she practically was doubled over in a fit of laughter. When she slowed so she could speak again, Alley looked me in the eye.
“Shit no I didn’t pay. That was my bad having used the word hire. I simply was walking back out front when Gemma walked in and I heard Teal quietly telling her about you giving her the phone and she accidentally relayed the whole conversation. The look on her face when she exposed something she didn’t mean to say is obvious. So they are watching Noelle while you give me a shooting lesson and we talk.”
Without a backward glance, she turned and headed to the door as she said, “Get a move on, times a wastin’.” Then she vanished from my sight.
A knot formed in my stomach as I thought about why Alley would want to talk. She and I had a connection and I knew just as the guys had been letting me slink away from the past and not ask questions, she had been doing the same.
Something told me that wasn’t the case anymore.
Alley was going to push. I felt it. I’d been doing fairly well keeping my emotions under lock and key since I’d come to Portland to be with my friends. But Teal walked in and stirred the pot. Something I’m sure all my friends had noticed.
