He leans in for a hug, and I give him one back. I can practically feel the glacial stare Captain bores into my back, but I ignore it. I release Patrick, and he walks into the coffee shop, waving to someone inside.
"Who was that?" The question feels accusatory, like I'm in trouble. I can see the jealousy on Captain's face. His jaw is locked as he waits for my answer.
"Just an old friend I haven't seen since I was a kid." I take a sip of my latte and walk the rest of the way to work thinking about Patrick. Captain must sense where my mind has gone because he doesn't ask me any more questions. I'm sure he'll do his own digging once we get to our office, but until then he stays silent.
Patrick knew about my situation with my mom and dad, so I'm sure he'll have questions. I don't know that I'm ready to go down that path again, but it might be good to talk to someone who already knows about my past. Telling Captain everything isn't going to be easy, and maybe I don't have to. This could be a way for me to work through what I want without the pity I know Captain will give me. Patrick and I grew up the same, so I'm not worried about him feeling sorry for me. We both had it bad back then, and something about sharing that darkness seems familiar.
We walk into the building and scan our badges, and I make my way to my desk and set down my things.
I feel Captain's eyes on me, watching my every move. He's got questions of his own, but I'm not ready for them. The one thought that keeps running through my mind is that I felt more when Ryan looked at me than when Patrick had me in his arms.
Chapter Nine
Paige
JORDAN RAISES A dark eyebrow at me from over the top of his many monitors. I look away and scan the room to see if anyone else noticed. Captain is staring intently at his computer, which he's been doing since we got to the office. I'd bet you anything he's running a search on Patrick. I would roll my eyes, but it's something I'd do, too, if I was him. His job is to keep Miles safe, and part of that is knowing everything about everyone around Miles. But a deeper part of me hopes that it's jealousy making him do it. At work, Captain always does everything by the rules, and to think he's breaking protocol and looking something up to check on me makes something warm inside me. I love the idea that I can make him do things he shouldn't be doing. That he'd break the rules just for me.
Clearly, Jordan has noticed me staring and is wondering what the hell I want. Jordan doesn't like to be stared at, but he's the only person I know who can get me what I want. Well, at least get it to me the fastest, and I'm not sure he'll help me. If I know anything about men, it's that they love a good damsel in distress, especially men in this line of work. It's what they do for a living. Protect people.
I'm supposed to be reading about a new company Miles wants to take over. I'm in charge of learning all the ins and outs about it and who it might piss off if the buy goes through, but all I'm doing is waiting for the right time to get Jordan alone. I tried to gather information on my father on my own, but there wasn't much. I need to be able to track him, find out more about what he's doing and where he's living. What I will do with this information, I don't know, but I need something, anything. I need to be more prepared for him.
I cast my eyes toward the door, and Jordan's forehead crinkles. The scar that runs from his temple down his cheek pulls tight. I've always wondered how he got it. He isn't like the rest of the men here in Security. Sure, he holds his own, but he's normally behind a computer screen, so that scar and how he got it have always piqued my interest. I'd get it if it was McCoy, Grant or Sheppard. They all spent years in the services, and I know Sheppard even used to run a SWAT team. Scars on them add up, but not on Jordan. In fact, I don't know much about Jordan at all. The others like to talk. Him, not so much.
Not waiting to see if he'll follow, I stand up. Captain looks up at me, and I answer before he can even ask.
"Ladies' room."
"Maybe if you laid off all the Red Bull … " Grant says, and I ignore him. They're always giving me shit about it, but they drink my weight in coffee.
"I could use a drink," Jordan mutters, standing up.
"Grant, you don't want to see me without my Red Bull," I tease in return as I leave the room, Jordan not far behind. I don't worry when I grab ahold of him and pull him into the ladies' room. I'm the only woman on the security team, and Security takes up the whole floor. We don't need the space, but only we are allowed on this floor, so I know Jordan and I won't be interrupted. He comes easily and sports a bored look on his face. Almost like he wants to get this over with. Probably wants me to stop staring at him, thinking I'm looking at the scar he tries to hide behind his hair. He sometimes lets it hang over that side of his face on purpose.