“Great, see you then.” They all hung up, but Ezio was not surprised when his phone immediately rang. It was Ash.
“Yeah?”
“You just fooling around with her?”
“Jesus, Asher, that’s kind of personal, isn’t it?”
“Nope, it’s not. She’s Eden’s best friend. That means she’s under my protection. She was basically dumped at the altar almost a year ago. Eden says she’s not, but I think that underneath Poker Playing Polly, she’s still fragile and I don’t want you just fucking with her.”
Ezio took a deep breath. He was new to this team. Asher had only known him for roughly nine months, so he didn’t know him. This was fair. Didn’t mean it didn’t piss him the fuck off. But it was fair.
“Asher, I might be Italian, but unlike the rest of my family I really don’t wear my heart on my sleeve. I take my time and use my head in situations like these. Samantha’s admitted where she’s at right now. So, I plan to take things slow with her. I want to make sure we’re both on the same page before we jump into anything that leaves either of us hurt. So, to answer your question, if this moves forward, I would be just as invested as she is. But that’s as much psychobabble bullshit you’re getting out of me. Are we clear?”
Asher gave out a big laugh and Ezio cringed. “Oh, we’re clear as glass, my friend. Clear as fucking glass.”
“Asshole.” Ezio hung up the phone.
“Guys, I still don’t know why you brought my drafting table here.” Samantha stood in Ezio’s house and looked at all of her stuff taking up a quarter of his living room.
“This took us less than an hour to do,” Leo said for the third time. “Ezio doesn’t mind, so why should you worry about it?”
She turned to look at Ezio. “But I’m invading your space.”
He shrugged. “Samantha, you could be here for a week. You need this for your work. This is no big deal at all.”
She put her hands on her hips and looked from one determined male to the other. Then she realized she would get nowhere. “Fine. In that case…” she walked over to Leo and gave him a big hug. “Thank you, Leo.”
She could feel Ezio behind her and his tension was mounting. She released Leo and turned to Ezio and put her arms around his neck. “And thank you soooo much, Ezio. I couldn’t think of anyone better to be staying with.” As soon as she said those words, it was like she unlocked something inside him, because he immediately relaxed and grinned.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” He dipped down and gave her a light kiss.
Yep, he was definitely staking his territory, and she liked it.
“Samantha,” Leo started.
She turned around to look at him, but Ezio kept his arm permanently planted around her waist.
“Yes?”
“My brother said that Sy is the most experienced detective on the Vice squad. So, you’re good with him. Sy’s been working to nail this floating poker game for months, so with your help, he’s going to take it down.”
“Was somebody hurt?” She asked.
“Martin didn’t get into that with me, but my guess is yes. Otherwise, Sy wouldn’t have such a hard-on for this case. So, you have to be really careful, and you can’t take any foolish chances. If you can telecommute for a week, that would be great.”
She wanted to play with the end of her braid, she was that nervous, but she stopped herself. Next, she’d want to suck her thumb!
She looked up at Ezio.
“Hell, woman don’t think it would be any skin off my nose. I’m hardly at home as it is, Max has stepped up the training, so knock yourself out.”
“Are you sure you’re not just saying that?”
“I’m positive.”
“He’s telling the truth. Even when we’re not overseas, we show up to work and get our asses kicked on a regular basis,” Leo grinned.
“Then why aren’t you there now?”
“We asked for the morning off,” Ezio explained. “Both of us have accrued plenty of PTO.”
She frowned.
“Personal Time Off,” he explained.
“Okay. Then I’ll ask for telecommuting. I’m not going to explain this situation, but Toni’s one of the architects, she should be able to smooth the way.”
“She owes you, too,” Ezio said with a bite to his voice.
Samantha stroked his arm where it was resting at her waist, trying to soothe him.
“Okay, I’m out of here,” Leo grinned. “I’ll see you two lovebirds some other time.”
Swans, Samantha found herself thinking to herself.
“So, what do you want for dinner tonight?” Ezio asked Samantha. He looked at her, and despite her chipper demeanor, he could see the bruising under her eyes and how pale she was. She looked done-in. Who could blame her?
“I can cook,” she smiled up at him.
“Why don’t you let me take care of that.”
“No, I insist. You did all the heavy lifting with moving my things.”
“Honey, this didn’t even work up a sweat; you should see what our lieutenant puts us through on an easy day of physical training.” But before she could object again, he suggested ordering in. “I’ve got plenty of menus to choose from.”
“Okay, let me see them.”
She jumped on the Chinese food one. “I’ll agree, just so long as you promise not to eat cold Chinese food for breakfast, is it a deal?” Ezio asked.
She grinned. “It’s an easy deal. I really liked the smoothie.”
By the time the food arrived Samantha was sitting in the corner of his couch, looking through a pile of magazines, halfway asleep. He needed to coax her into bed as quickly as possible, just not his bed.
“This place is great.
