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“Uhm I am looking for information on my father when he enlisted.” I mean it is not exactly a lie.
“Ah You want the third floor. Here, take this visitor's pass.'' He hands me a pass to put on my shirt and shows me the elevators. I take a deep breath reminding myself I came all this way to learn something, anything about who I am.
The door opens and I walk out onto the quiet floor. There seems to be no one around but one man behind a desk. “Good afternoon. What can I help you with today?” he asks. My mind short circuits and all I can think about is ice melting all over him. He's so freaking hot. “Miss?” Shoot.
“Uh yes.” I clear my throat. “Sorry. I was wondering if I could get a list of all the enlistees from this date with this date of birth.” I write it down on a piece of paper.
“I’m sorry no can do,” he says with a certainty I find annoying.
“Well, I know it might be a lot of names but surely you can simply print it off.” I mean come on man do your job. Hot or not earn your keep. Is what I want to say but of course, I don’t.
“I could print it off if I want to commit a crime, which for no reason at all I certainly don’t.” He smirks and I realize what he is saying.
“Oh my gosh. It never occurred to me that it might be illegal.” Defeat hits me instantly and without apology. Finished before I started. I don’t realize I am wiping my face until he hands me a tissue.
“Come on now, don’t do that. I’m sorry. Why do you need confidential information like that?” I think the important question is why do I want to tell this man all of my business?
CHAPTERTWO
OLIVER
“Come on now, don’t do that. I’m sorry. Why do you need confidential information like that?” I ask, still unable to get over my shock at seeing this beautiful goddess standing in front of me. I hate that I made this girl cry. I’ve been working here about a week, and no one has come to this floor. I’ve sat at this desk watching reruns of Law and Order on my phone. I might as well be at home. The boredom is worse here. I’m used to being out there, doing things. Desk jobs were never in the cards for me. After the Army, my next logical career choice was a police officer, but that’s out now.
“Um…” she hedges, sniffling. Fuck, I want to wrap her up in my arms and never let her go. I want to wipe her tears and tell her that everything is going to be okay.
“I’m Hardy. Oliver Hardy.” I extend my hand over the counter. I honestly can’t remember the last time I used my first name when introducing myself to anyone. It’s been years since I’ve been with a woman and in the Army no one called me Oliver.
“January Conway.” She takes my hand; shakes it and I feel something that I can’t explain, and it doesn’t stop when she takes her hand away. She holds it close to her chest and smiles softly.
It’s in this moment that I know I’ll break any number of rules for this girl.
“So why do need the information?” I ask again. The decision to break the law for her was easily made, but I’d not be myself if I didn’t at least question it. For some reason, the thought of helping this girl and making her smile makes my heart expand in my chest.
“I don’t know who my dad is. I basically have a scavenger hunt ahead of me and I thought this would be a good place to start, but I was apparently wrong about that. I’ll just get out of your way.”
“No, wait. I’ll help you, Miss Conway,” I tell her, reaching out and placing my hand on hers. There’s that feeling again. I need more of this feeling. I can’t explain it.
“January, please. How can you help me without compromising your job?” she asks. Fuck this job, I think offering her what I think of as my most charming smile.
“Let me see the information you do have on your father.”
She hands over the papers that she has. A quick glance tells me the pertinent information I need to do this. The search parameters are going to yield tons of results. Enlisted in early 1999 from Texas. A few quick punches of keys on the keyboard and a list populates. I quickly print the list. One hundred and forty pages of male names and current whereabouts. At least if I help her, I can make sure that this information doesn’t get into the wrong hands. I can’t think about national security right now. Not when January is standing in front of me helpless. She looks so lost. I would do anything to make that look go away.
“I’ll help you on one condition,” I say holding up the giant stack of papers in my hand.
“What?” she asks, wearily, raising an eyebrow at me.
“Let me help you,” I say, meaning every word of what it.
“What?” she breathes.
“Let me go with you. I can keep you safe and two people going through these lists are better than one.”
She just stares at me, her eyes wide with sudden fear. It’s then that I realize what this must look like to her.
Yes, I want her, but I want her to be safe more. I can’t, in good conscience, give her this list to go through on her own.
CHAPTERTHREE
