Free Affairs of Steak by Julie Hyzy Page A

haven’t
you?”
    Tom had never trusted me, despite the fact that I’d proved myself again and again. That was just one of the issues between us. I stared out at the moonlit trees and dark buildings as we flew down the deserted streets. By the time we made it to my apartment building, I’d finally managed to work my anger down to a manageable level. Enough to say good night without biting his head off, at least.
    He made the left turn that took us up the driveway to the front doors. “I’ll officially debrief you tomorrow. After all that’s happened today, it’s been decided to send an agent here in the morning to pick you up. What time do you want him here?”
    I didn’t even ask if that was necessary. Grabbing my purse, I readied myself to get out. “I’ll need to be in early. Have him here by four. Any idea who it will be?”
    “Probably—”
    I followed Tom’s gaze to find what had stopped him from finishing. A tall fellow leaned against the side of my building, in the shadows. He pushed himself from the wall and ambled over. All the anger I’d bottled up disappeared like magic. Like happy fizz bubbling up from a champagne bottle.
    Gav opened my door. “Hey,” he said, taking my hand to help me out, “you’ve had a rough day.”
    Now
that
was how to treat a woman who’d discovered a double murder.
    Tom leaned over. I couldn’t read his expression, but his tone was just this side of sneering. “I guess Agent Scorroco doesn’t need to show up here in the morning, does he?”
    Gav bent down to face him. “Orders haven’t changed. Please see to it that Ms. Paras is escorted to and from the White House tomorrow. And for as long as necessary.”
    Even in the scant light of the Mustang’s overhead dome, I could see Tom’s face color. “I just assumed…”
    “You have your orders. Good night, Agent MacKenzie.” As soon as Tom pulled away, Gav turned to me. “He thinks there’s something going on between us.”
    “Isn’t there?”
    “You know what I mean. We’re taking things slower than most people do these days.”
    With my long hours, Gav’s unpredictable schedule, and a few issues we’d yet to work out, slow was the only choice we had. Special Agent in Charge Leonard Gavin’s responsibilities kept him on call 24/7 and out of town much of that time. I glanced back at the road. “I just hope he doesn’t share his assumptions with anyone.”
    “He won’t. He’s a good man, Ollie.”
    “He is,” I agreed, “but I have my sights set on someone even better.”
    That got a smile out of him.
    “Got time to come up?” I asked. “Hungry?”
    “Can’t. As you can imagine, there’s too much hitting the fan tonight to take any personal time.”
    “But…you’re here.”
    “By the time I got your message you’d already been taken to the police station and we’d all been apprised of the situation. I volunteered to pick you up, but they said MacKenzie was already on his way.”
    “You came anyway?”
    “I wanted to see you.”
    My stomach somersaulted like a smitten teenager’s. I tilted my chin up. “I’m glad.”
    I waited a breathless moment, silently willing him to kiss me. Really kiss me. We’d been here before. So close. Maybe this time…
    But there was that look in his eyes again. The one that had become so familiar these past weeks. Another reason we were taking things slowly.
    “Ollie,” he said in a voice so gentle it sent shivers up my back, “if we’re going to have a relationship, we’re going to do it right. So it lasts.”
    “I know.”
    “Be patient with me.”
    “Always.”
    With a smile he said, “That’s my girl,” and kissed me on the cheek.

      CHAPTER 7      

    AS EXPECTED, THE WHITE HOUSE WAS CRAZY the next morning. Media trucks got as close as they could, a press briefing was scheduled for ten, and those reporters not lucky enough to be invited to attend were left to stand in the cold, waiting for word from their colleagues inside