He looked like he was going to touch her hand but changed his mind. ‘I can tell you about it.’
‘Well I’m listening, so lay it all on,’ she said to hide the growing heat in her cheeks. Did he realise just how much she wanted him to reach out and touch her, even to hold her and whisper everything will be alright? But their relationship wasn’t like that. With a sigh she added, ‘What have you got?’
Ryan fiddled with the folder. ‘We are after information about a certain guy who we think is involved with a company which we believe is a front for drug running. This guy has a son who is around your age. We’d need you to strike up a friendship with him and learn as much as possible about his father.’
‘What kind of friendship?’ she asked.
Ryan looked at the floor. ‘Whatever one gets you the most information.’
‘Oh.’
‘Jaz, you wouldn’t have to do anything you weren’t comfortable with. You don’t have to endanger yourself. We wouldn’t expect you to…’ Ryan trailed away.
Jaz laughed. ‘I’ve never seen you so lost for words, Ryan.’ She wanted to touch his face where the red blush crawled up his cheeks.
‘You know what I mean, Jaz.’ His eyes caught hers.
Ryan reached over towards her hair. Jaz waited to feel the pressure of his hand against her head and was disappointed when he pulled it away with a yellow petal between his fingers. He raised his eyebrow curiously.
‘Your fence is high.’
He smiled and this time reached for her hand and held it tightly as the warmth spread through her fingers. ‘I know it’s a lot to take in Jaz. But we’d still love to have you at MTG. I can see you’ll make one of our best agents, but I can’t force you either. It has to be your choice. James said to bring you into the agency. He’s keen to meet this young firecracker I found.’ He winked.
‘Will I still see much of you if I don’t join?’ she asked quietly.
She felt his thumb rub against her hand and it sent tiny shivers all over her skin, and it wasn’t from being cold.
‘I’d try and drop into The Ring and say ‘hi’ when I’m around. Maybe even to try to convince you to join still. I’d like to keep sparring with you, and besides you’re still one up, as I seem to recall,’ he said. He pulled his hand away and cleared his throat. ‘You do remember that everything we say is not to be repeated.’
‘Yeah I know,’ she sighed. ‘But what about Pax? Can I talk to him about this stuff? Will he talk me out of joining?’
Ryan scratched his head. ‘I don’t know, Jaz. You can talk with Pax, but right now I’m not his favourite person. He loves you and doesn’t want you in harm’s way. Maybe you shouldn’t join us. It’s all a bit of a worry and I don’t really know what’s best for you, Jaz. I think only you can decide that.’
Damn, why was nothing ever easy. Jaz bit her bottom lip as the thoughts ran through her head.
‘I have a work case on the weekend, so we’d like your answer before then if that’s possible. The board are chasing an answer, as they don’t like people running around with too much detail…if you know what I mean. And they want to find someone for this job,’ he said lifting the folder. ‘We have some young guys who could do the job.’
Jaz had the feeling that they thought she would be better for it. Maybe a girl was less of a caution and she could get into his house faster and be trusted if she was his girlfriend.
‘I have gone over more with you than I probably should,’ he added as he glanced away. ‘But I want you to know what you could be getting yourself into.’
‘Yeah, that’s cool. I understand. So this case, are you leaving?’ Would she see him again?
‘Yes, Saturday will be my last day.’ His eyes watched her and for a moment, he looked sad. ‘Don’t you have your ball on?’
‘That we do. Gonna swing by?’ she asked almost hopeful. Going to the ball didn’t seem as exciting if she couldn’t see Ryan.
‘I can do that, my flight leaves around midnight.’
‘Flight? To where?’ Ryan gave her a funny look. ‘Yeah I know, you could tell me but then you’d have to kill me.’ Jaz glanced at the folder again. ‘When can I meet James?’
‘I could set that up for you tomorrow if you like?’
Ryan’s eyes were so deep with warmth she felt like she would get lost in them. ‘Thanks, I’d like that a lot. At the moment it just doesn’t seem real.’
‘I get that. You only have me to go off, and Pax, I guess, but it is hard to believe. How about I swing by and pick you up after school?’