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Drake swallowed some orange juice and pointed at the door with his fork. “He’s taking the hallway shift right now.”
“The hallway shift?”
“Yeah, one of us usually stays in the hallway to monitor the situation outside. Make sure no one’s trying to break in or sneak into the room next door. Watch the main entrance. That sort of thing.”
“Gotcha. Did he get any food?”
“Nah, said he’ll eat later. I ordered him a to-go burrito.” He gestured to a paper bag sitting on the side of the table.
Jade took another bite of her pancakes. She hated that Ryker waited out there while everyone else ate.
“How does he take his coffee?” she asked.
“He’ll drink whatever he can get, but toss a couple of creamers and some sugar in there and he’ll love you forever,” he said with a wink.
“Thanks, Drake. You’re a gem.” She winked back, took another bite of her pancakes, then stood.
She picked up the to-go bag, then crossed the room to the standard-hotel-Keurig and loaded in a Starbucks pod. She stuck a disposable cup under the nozzle and hit the brew button. While it heated, she poured some creamer into the cup and added a couple packets of sugar. She watched the coffee pour into the cup, and when it finished she stirred it with a swizzle stick.
“Be back soon, guys,” she said.
As she carried the breakfast bag and the coffee toward the room door, she heard Drake radio to Ryker that she was on the way to him. Silence for a moment, then a “10-4.” The hallway must be clear.
Ryker waited for her when she opened the door and poked her head out. “What are you doing out here?”
“I come bearing breakfast.” She stepped out into the hallway and let the door swing shut behind her.
“I appreciate that. But it’s safer for you inside the room.”
“I didn’t want your food to get cold.”
She held the coffee out toward him. He accepted it, his warm fingers brushing over hers as he took the cup.
“Thank you. Now get back inside.”
“I can’t,” she said.
“Why not?”
“Well, for one, I still have your breakfast in my hand, Mr. Blue Eyes. For two, the door shut and I don’t have a key.”
A smile touched the corner of his mouth.
He took the bag from her and held it in the same hand as his coffee. His other hand pulled a keycard from his pocket, which he used to unlock the door. The green light flashed, showing it unlocked.
“Both problems solved,” he said.
She turned the handle and cracked the door open.
“Thanks for breakfast, Jade. Much appreciated,” he said.
She smiled at him. “You’re welcome. If the coffee’s wrong, blame Drake. If it was right, that was all me.”
He chuckled. “Sounds accurate.” He lifted the cup to his lips and held her eyes as he took a sip. He swallowed then said, “Fuckin’ perfect.”
Jade suspected he wasn’t just talking about the coffee when his eyes flicked down her body.
She grinned.
