Free Second Chances (Athena Group Novel Book 1) by C.W. Stokes

and she was going to relish in delivering it. She shut her console and locked up her office as she left to go upstairs.

    Chapter Eleven
     
    The moment she walked in four faces were anxiously waiting for her. She groaned and knew that she was in trouble when she saw the dessert on the table. There was going to be some major discussions. “I know this can’t be good.” She mumbled.
    “Alright hand me a plate!” She demanded as she sat down picking up her fork to scoop a bite full of scrumptious chocolate she stopped as they all looked at her with huge grins on their faces. It was a conspiracy.
    Tabby jumped up, “You have some explaining to do missy! Your summer fling was with Special Agent Maxwell Taylor?” She couldn’t help but laugh. Tabby was hard to resist when she was in this mood. Being the youngest of the group, she was so full of life and the shortest of them all. She reminded her of a brown headed Tinker Bell.
    Many nights they sat here discussing cases and problems with TAG while devouring some kind of delicious dessert that Liz would make. Tonight’s dessert was her favorite, turtle cheesecake. How could you go wrong with caramel, chocolate chips and pecans? Looking at her plate, she remembered how it seemed to be the best way for them to solve some of their most difficult problems. Which seemed to work, but it was also good for soothing stresses and heart aches as well.
    Taking a bite of the cheesecake a moan slipped from her lips. This was almost as good as the orgasms that Max had given her. If you could die by dessert, this would be the way to go. She looked up, and all eyes were on her.  Her face started getting warm and flushed having been caught in her thoughts. Each one of them knew what she was thinking.
    “Ok Shelby, spill it!” Jo demanded.
    “Or what? You’ll run me over?” She snapped.
    “Oh, one time, one time I run over someone and you never let me live it down.” Jo threw her hands up in the air and turned to her plate. Jo was the zippy one of the group and ran fast and furious. She loved to race cars and had the record to prove it. If you were brave enough to get in a car with her, you were in for a ride you would never forget.
    “Just keep Mini away from me.” Oh she knew that Jo wasn’t fond of the way they all would call her car “Mini”. Despite the fact it was a Mini Cooper they couldn’t help, but rib her for it.
    Tabby started tapping on the table, “Hello! Earth to Shelby, we’re waiting.” 
    Sitting her plate down on the table, she looked at each face noticing that Alex was being awfully quiet.  She was the sensible woman of the group, with the exception of Liz of course. Liz was all four of them rolled into one.
    Shelby drew in a deep breath and began at the beginning. She knew if she didn’t give them the juicy story, she would never get to enjoy her cheesecake.
    “You’re telling me that he knew who you were in Mexico?” Liz demanded.
    “Apparently, that’s what he insinuated earlier.” Shelby shrugged.
    “Your summer fling is now residing under the same roof? You go girl!” Jo smirked whooping at the top of her lungs. She ignored her and looked at Alex.
    Shelby slid over next to Alex, “Are you alright? You are really quiet this evening.”
    Alex just smiled. “Yes, everything’s fine. You know me always in control. I’m just a little tired this part of the case is really complex and trying.”
    Shelby didn’t believe her. Alex was always in control, but there was something about her that wasn’t quite right. She had just come in from Las Vegas where she had been working on another part of the Hawk case. She thought that she had seen a reaction from Alex when the agents had been introduced earlier. John had been in town all this time, and Max had been in Mexico so that left Ross McCade. Hmmm, she’d have to ask Liz about it later. If it were serious, Alex would confide in Liz. 
    “Shelby, we need to talk about the virus.” Liz brought