Hard Justice(41)

For a brand-new relationship, she figured that was a pretty good start.



MAKING IT TO the Body Armor Agency with two minutes to spare, Justice strode through the foyer and headed for the elevator. Right before he stepped inside the car, Miles joined him.

"Hey, Justice." Miles did a double-take and asked, "What'd you do to yourself?"

"Nothing." Self-conscious, Justice ran a hand over his clean-shaven jaw. "What are you doing here?"

"Got an appointment with Ms. Silver."

"No shit."

Miles grinned. "No shit."

"Huh." The doors closed and belatedly, Justice remembered to push the button for the right floor. "So, what's up?"

"Don't make a big deal of it, Justice. I'm just checking it out."

Slowly, Justice grinned. "You're joining us, aren't you?"

"I don't know yet."

At first, the idea of Miles getting on board seemed great. Then he rethought it. "You're on a winning streak. Why would you want to leave-"

The doors opened a floor early and Leese stepped in. Like Miles, he showed his surprise at Justice's spiffed-up appearance. "Is this Fallon's doing?"

"It's a shave, all right? No big deal."

"And a haircut. When was the last time I saw you without the shitty hair?"

"Go screw yourself."

Grinning, Leese shifted his gaze to Miles. "What's up?"

"He's joining us," Justice offered.

"I didn't say that," Miles corrected, looking harassed. "Only that I'm checking it out."

Leese frowned. "But you're on a winning streak."

"That's what I told him." Justice was relieved to have their attention diverted. "Now that I think about it, though, he mentioned last night at Cannon's that he was interested. I thought he was joking."

Leese gave him a speculative gaze.

"I've been considering it, that's all." Miles shrugged. "Ms. Silver has a terrific pitch."

"She does," Leese agreed. "And I'd be the first to say it's a good gig. But it's not fighting."

Pinching the air, Justice said, "Maybe just a little fighting."

The elevator dinged as they reached the floor for Sahara's office. Probably to escape the inquisition, Miles quickly stepped out.

Bounding after him, Justice said, "Hey, I have to talk to her first." He had no idea how Sahara might react, if she'd raise hell with him or whether or not he might even be out of a job. The unknown sucked, so he wanted to get it over with.

"I have an appointment," Miles countered. "So get in line."

"I work here, damn it!"

Grinning, Leese followed them. "I think I'll just go along to watch."

Both Miles and Justice scowled at him.

Sahara's door stood open, which, when it came to his classy boss, was as good as an invitation. Justice slid in front of Miles and, after a perfunctory knock on the frame, sauntered in.

Miles crowded in behind him.

Leese leaned in the doorway, arms folded.

Justice did not want an audience for what he had to do. "Sahara-"

At the same time, Miles said, "Ms. Silver-"

With one finger raised in the air, Sahara quieted them both.

She sat behind her massive desk listening to her agenda from her personal assistant, Enoch, while making notes on her calendar. As usual, Enoch had already delivered coffee and pastries.

Sahara took her time, changing a few appointments, adding in a few others and organizing the calls she had to make. All in all she did a fine job of ignoring the men, not even looking up at them.         

     



 

After she'd finished and Enoch headed out for his own office, she glanced up-and her eyes flared. "Justice!"

Grousing, he said, "It's just a shave and a haircut. I was past due, that's all."

"Well, my word." Looking from one of them to the other, Sahara clasped a manicured hand to her heart. "You gentlemen make a nice visual first thing in the morning. It's like an advertisement for testosterone." She fanned her face. "I must think about a billboard with the three of you on it to represent the agency."

"I don't work here," Miles said.

"Yet. But I'll win you over."

With a shake of his head, Leese said, "You're bordering on sexual harassment."

Sahara laughed and left her seat to circle to the front of her desk. Per her usual preference, she hoisted her rump onto the edge and got comfortable. "I'm serious. We could bring in all sorts of new clientele."

"Too expensive," Leese said. "Most people seeing the billboard wouldn't be able to afford your exorbitant pricing."

She shrugged a delicate shoulder. "You get what you pay for."

Bristling, Justice took a step forward. "Enough nonsense, already. I have to talk to you."

Very slowly, she turned her head and skewered him with her blue-eyed gaze. "Oh, I'm not sure that you do, Justice. You see, Rebecca Rothschild Wade called me bright and early this morning."

Justice tucked in his chin. "It isn't even nine o'clock yet."

"She said she wanted to beat you to any self-castigation."

He had no idea what she meant. With suspicion, he said, "That sounds nasty."

"You know what's nasty? Being awakened at 6:00 a.m. by a client."

Justice wasn't sure what to say about that. He tried, "Sorry?" and knew by Sahara's withering look that it hadn't helped.

Turning back to Miles, she smiled. "I like order, you all know that. So, Justice, take a seat while I talk with your friend."

"What?" He knew Sahara could be unpredictable. A great boss, but he didn't understand this current mood of hers. "Why does he go first?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Because I said so."

Well, hell. He could feel Miles and Leese staring at him and he felt like a kid being sent to the corner. "Fine, no biggie." Refusing to look cowed, he folded his arms and planted his feet. "At least tell me if I'm fired."

A mean smile curled her glossy lips. "Now Justice, do you honestly think I'd let you off that easy?"

"Um..."

"Not a chance."

Huh. Okay, so at least he still had his job. Holding up his hands in a conciliatory gesture, he moved to the sofa and sat down to wait. Already he felt better. If Sahara had to vent, fine. He'd take it. He didn't mind being bitched out. He did like the job, though, and really didn't want to have to start over somewhere else.

For Fallon, he would have. But staying at Body Armor suited him.

After a deep, calming breath, Sahara released him from her stare. "Leese, this involves you, so please come inside."

Now Leese and Miles both looked uneasy, too. Good. Misery loved company. Justice smirked at them when they edged farther inside.

"Please, gentlemen, get comfortable."

"What's up with the gentlemen stuff?" Leese asked.

She rolled her eyes. "I'm wooing Miles so I'm trying to be more solicitous."

Justice grunted. She hadn't been solicitous to him.

"Wooing me?" Miles asked. "I'm just here-"

"He's only curious," Leese said, mocking their friend.

Sahara pretended to cast a line toward Miles, then slowly reeled it in. "I've got you hooked and we both know it. Don't fight me too hard, okay? Justice has taken all my patience for the day."

Appearing more uncomfortable by the moment, Miles rolled a shoulder. "Honestly, the way he's over there quaking in his boots, I'm thinking about running the other way."

"I'm not quaking!"

Laughing, Sahara said, "No, he's not. The big lug knows I value his role in the agency."         

     



 

She did? Justice tried to hide his surprise. Sure, Sahara always made him feel important, and he knew she trusted him. But he also understood how important the agency was to her. She'd inherited it from her brother after his murder and she'd do just about anything to keep it as successful as possible.

That meant keeping the reputation golden.

Him hooking up with a client could cause real damage, so he'd have understood if she'd raged at him.

Under the circumstances, a few killing looks weren't so bad.

For the next twenty minutes, Justice had to sit there while Sahara extolled Body Armor, doing her best to win over Miles. He still didn't understand why Miles would even be interested, but he saw for himself how his friend asked enough questions to cover all the bases.

Sahara elaborated on the necessary requirements, the training regimen, the possible scenarios and the perks of working for the agency.

When she wound down, Leese asked, "Why am I here?"

"I want you to show Miles around the building. Not just the places he's seen while visiting one of you, but everything shut off to the general public, like where he could exercise and practice shooting and-"

"Got it," Leese said.

"If he takes the job, you'll be training him." She cast another dark look at Justice. "This one is going to be busy for a while."

Miles started laughing. "I get the feeling this is like a big family instead of a boss and employees."

"Don't," Justice said. "She can be very boss-like when it suits her."

"Yes," Sahara agreed. "I can." She crossed her legs and studied Miles. "But it's also true that a certain familiarity is necessary given the nature of the job. There could be times when, depending on what the client wants, you work around the clock."