The Recruit(70)

‘I mean, what’s not to like about Ryan, hunky saviour and all,’ Anna added.

‘Yeah, he is pretty cool.’ If only Anna really knew what Ryan was capable of.

‘That’s an understatement. So are you off to The Ring? Mum’s picking me up to take me to dance lessons! Dance lessons. Can you believe it? I mean how hard can it be? Don’t you just wrap your arms around a guy and shuffle from side-to-side?’

Jaz laughed as Anna did this dorkie side step move, her hair flicking about around her shoulders. ‘Maybe your mum is right; dance lessons might be good for you.’

Anna hit Jaz in the arm. ‘Bugger off.’ A horn sounded from the parking area. ‘Oh that’s Mum. Better go, don’t wanna be late as I might find some hunky dance teacher.’

‘Good luck with that,’ Jaz laughed as she waved goodbye.

When she turned onto the main road, Jaz started towards Ryan’s house. She had a vague memory of which area to go and was sure she’d find it when she got to the familiar streets. She pulled her hoodie out of her bag and put it on as the clouds had come over, threatening with rain.

Her legs were covered in goose pimples but she began to jog and knew she’d warm up soon enough. She just hoped Ryan was at home. She needed to see him.

An hour later she’d found his place, the only one in the street with a large fence hiding the whole yard and house. Jaz could remember waiting for the big roller door to open the night of the attack.

A few showers had passed overhead and Jaz was feeling a little cold and damp. What was worse was another dark cloud bearing rain was headed her way. After a quick glance up the street, Jaz scaled the Colorbond fence and fell into the garden on the other side. Lucky there were no rose bushes, instead she landed on a daisy bush and was now pulling yellow petals from her hair. Crap.

With quiet steps, she went to his side door and knocked on it. No answer. She turned and looked into his empty garage. No car. Bummer, she’d have to wait. Jaz sat down on the cement, circled her arms around her cold knees and rested her head against them. Her hair was wet around her face from where her hoodie didn’t cover. Jaz tucked a strand back behind her ear as her mind began firing off questions.

What was she going to ask him? Did you not like the kiss? No, she wanted to ask him about the agency, not the kiss. Would she meet this James guy? The sound of a car and the roller door screeching relieved her from her inner torment as she stood up and waited.

A few minutes later Ryan walked up to the door with a big paper bag in his hands.

‘Jaz!’ he said, spotting her over the top of his bag full of groceries.

Jaz felt like laughing, for some reason she’d never pictured Ryan shopping for groceries. He seemed too macho for such a menial job.

‘Hi.’

‘Don’t tell me you still remembered how to get here, after being here only once, in the dark, after an assault?’ He shook his head in disbelief.

Jaz shrugged it off. ‘I like to know where I’m going. I hope you don’t mind, I just needed to talk…you know.’

His eyes melted with warmth as he smiled. ‘I know…I got your coded text. Nice one, by the way.’ Ryan struggled to get his keys from his pocket without spilling his groceries.

‘You need a hand?’ asked Jaz.

Ryan held out his keys. ‘Sure, it’s the square key. Thanks, Jaz.’

She opened the door and let Ryan through before following him to the kitchen. He quickly put away his shopping under her watchful gaze then folded up the paper bag and stored it in his pantry, before touching Jaz’s arm lightly. ‘Come and sit, we’ll talk.’

He led her to the couch before heading off to the direction of his room.

‘Here you look cold. Put this on, at least it’s dry,’ he said throwing her a black jacket.

Jaz pulled off her wet hoodie, struggling with her numb fingers, then wrapped herself in Ryan’s jacket. Her shivering stopped at once. ‘Thanks.’ She put her wet hoodie on the table.

‘You didn’t bring my other jumper back by any chance?’

‘Sorry, I haven’t washed it yet,’ she said with a sly grin.

‘I bet,’ he said sarcastically, picking her bluff.

Ryan picked up a brown folder from a table and sat down a bit closer to Jaz, their legs just about touching.

‘What’s in that?’ she asked, the curiosity getting the better of her.

‘This is something I talked about with James. If you decide to join us, this would be something we would like you to be involved with.’

Jaz looked into her lap, her hands clasped together tightly. ‘Can I see it or do I have to pledge my loyalty first?’