HAYDEN (Dragon Security Book 5) by Glenna Sinclair

bullpen—the wide, open room where the girls who monitored the security systems we installed worked at their computers—and pulled up a blank document to write out my report on last night’s sting. I found myself having trouble concentrating, though, because I was sitting in clear view of Sam’s desk and Sam wasn’t there. I could count on one hand how many times she wasn’t there.
    Where had she gone? And what did that damn note mean?
    I was halfway through the report when she finally breezed in, dressed as usual in a long, black skirt, a white blouse, and a delicate pink sweater. She blew right past me, as if I weren’t there, marching to Megan’s office. I sat back, straining to hear what they were saying, but all I caught was Sam saying she was back and Megan asking how it’d gone. Then Sam went into Megan’s office and closed the door.
    “Better finish that report, brother,” Dominic said, throwing a balled up piece of paper at the back of my head.
    “Knock it off,” I said, tossing it back at him. “We’re not in preschool.”
    I got up and strode off down the long hall past Sam’s desk, slipping into the small room we used as a break room. I poured myself a cup of strong coffee, taking my time stirring a little cream and sugar into it.
    “I thought manly men took their coffee black.”
    Sam moved up beside me, pushing against me as she reached for the coffee pot.
    “Where were you this morning?”
    She shrugged. “I had a meeting.”
    “I thought you’d be there when I woke.”
    Her blush was deep enough that I could almost feel heat coming off of it. “Did you find my note?”
    “Yeah. But I have no idea what it means.”
    She glanced up at me. “Last night was—”
    “Fantastic.”
    She nodded, her eyes bright before they fell to the floor. “But it can’t happen again.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because…”
    She picked up her mug and started to walk around me. I stepped back into her path, blocking her way to the door.
    “That’s not a good enough answer.”
    “We work together, Hayden.”
    “So?”
    “And I…I just, I can’t.”
    “Why?”
    She looked up at me and I swear there were tears in her eyes before she blinked. She stepped back a little, putting more space between us.
    “Dragon Security is important to me, Hayden. I can’t screw it up.”
    She walked a wide circle around me so that I couldn’t touch her before she left the room. I just watched her go, a ball of emotion growing in my chest until I had to let it out somehow. I slammed my fist on the corner of the counter, watching my coffee cup jump and spill half its contents.
    What was it about that woman that I never knew what to say or do when I was around her?
     
     
    “You look like you need a drink,” Vincent said, shoving a beer across the bar at me.
    “Thanks.”
    “I thought you guys had a successful sting yesterday.”
    “We did,” Dominic helpfully announced. “But he’s been going around like he got his pecker caught in his zipper all day.”
    Vincent paled a little at that image.
    I shook my head. “I think I’ve been in a great mood.”
    “Yeah, if moping around and nursing bruised knuckles is a great mood.” Dominic gestured toward my hands. “How’d that happen, anyway?”
    I looked down at my hands. “That Rita chick got a little too frisky. Had to put her in her place.”
    “Sure.” Dominic laughed. “I saw that footage already. She was pretty ripe, but looked like she left fairly easily.”
    “Have you gone over yesterday’s footage?”
    “Most of it.”
    I lifted the beer and took a healthy gulp. I could feel Dominic watching me.
    “Anything on it I won’t want to see?”
    I shrugged. “You turned them off after you left the van, right?”
    “No. Not till I got back to the office.”
    I glanced at him. He frowned, but he didn’t say anything.
    “Are we here to drink, or what?” Vincent suddenly asked. “I could be home with Quinn and Olivia right now.”
    “What is it