“Of course he’ll have my name. So will you.”
I cautiously raised my head and looked down at my hand to make sure he hadn’t slipped an engagement ring onto my finger while I was napping. With as sneaky as he’d been about redecorating this place, I wouldn’t have been too surprised. But there wasn’t anything different to see, which meant he’d skipped a step. I lifted my hand up and wagged my fingers at him. “I think you forgot something—like a ring and a question I haven’t answered yet.”
“If you’re feeling good enough to be sassy with me, then I guess you’re up to a quick trip to the office.”
“What kind of an answer is that?” I grumbled to myself as he gripped my hand and pulled me off the couch.
“The only kind you’re getting for now.” He led me through the kitchen and out to the garage.
“If I weren’t pregnant, I’d kick your bossy ass.”
“I do love when you call me boss, in whatever form you use.” He helped me get settled into the passenger seat of his car. “But if you weren’t pregnant, I’d let you try.”
“I wouldn’t be trying; I’d be doing.”
“You hold onto that thought for the next ten or so months, and then you can challenge me as much as you want,” he chuckled. “At least until I knock you up again.”
“You’re a cocky son of a bitch. I’ll give you that.”
“You’ve got that backwards, baby. I’m giving you my cock.”
Startled laughter burst past my lips, and I shook my head at his antics. He was impossible, even more so now that he knew I was pregnant. I should have expected what he did when we walked into the Gray Security offices, but the pregnancy news had me off my usual stride.
“I need everybody out here!” he boomed as we walked through the glass doors. Poor Jessa almost fell out of her chair in surprise, while her grandmother merely laughed. Margaret had been back for about a week, but her efforts to train her granddaughter had been useless so far because Jessa was too intimidated by the guys to relax enough to learn what needed to be done.
About a half dozen people flowed out of offices and the gym to wander in our direction with questioning looks on their faces. Once they were all standing in front of us, Xander flung his arm over my shoulder and pulled me into his side.
“I know the gossip mill has been running full force since Calista started here. I haven’t put a stop to it”—he gave me a tight squeeze as he looked at me apologetically—“because I didn’t give a damn who knew about us. Calista wanted you all to judge her for her abilities and not her connection to me, but I think she’s more than proven herself around here. Even if she hadn’t, it would be tough shit because the news we received today means her role here is changing effective immediately.”
“Oh, shit,” I mumbled, knowing exactly where he was going with this. It wasn’t a sky writer, but it sure as hell was just about as effective as one when it came to spreading the word about us.
“Changing how?” Chad, a guy who’d made it clear he thought I wasn’t qualified to provide personal protection to Ewan, asked. I hadn’t bothered Xander about it because it was my battle to fight, but I had a feeling that was going to change with this announcement.
“Calista is pregnant. With my baby,” he added as if it wasn’t already obvious to everyone in the room. “And she’s going to take a backseat on cases from now on, lending her expertise in other ways.”
“What other ways?” Chad’s gaze darted between the two of us as he realized the shit he’d pulled with me might have put his job at risk, but that didn’t stop him from speaking up.
“She’s my second in command from here on out. If I’m not available, you go to her.”
“She’s done a decent job with the McKendry case, but that doesn’t mean she’s qualified to lead us.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Xander scoffed. “I told you guys she was former CIA when I hired her. She has the qualifications and then some.”
“As what? An analyst or something.”
My spine straightened at that. It wasn’t that I had anything against analysts, but I’d busted my ass in the CIA and saw more action than this guy ever had. I’d more than proven myself.
“She was not a fucking analyst,” Xander growled. “None of you have seen her official file. But, I’ve seen the un-redacted version of her record, and trust me, she’s more capable than any of you.”
“You’ve what?” I gasped, as a mixture of shock and relief hit me. It didn’t make sense, considering the clearance level of most of my missions. It shouldn’t even be a possibility, but I found myself filled with hope anyway. If what he was saying was true, then it meant he wanted me even though he knew about my past with the CIA.