gage check-in
and read the funnies over pancakes."
Beth seemed to consider the offer, then said, "Sure. I haven't eaten yet,
either. Give me a minute to check my messages," and headed for her desk.
Cade parked his rump on the corner of somebody's desk and sipped his coffee
as he snarfed another donut and waited for her. Beth's hands were trembling a
little, he noted. Well, he'd reassure her that he wouldn't tell anyone. That was
about all he could do, really.
When she stood up again, Beth made a production of searching her purse and
the top of her desk, then went to Cade and said, "I need to get something from
my room on the way," before she led the way to the door.
Cade topped off his coffee and snagged another couple of donuts before
following her. Both donuts and the coffee were gone before he caught up with her
a few doors down the corridor. He used his jeans to dust the sugar off his hand
and followed her into her room.
As soon as the door had closed, Beth spun to face him and asked in an angry
tone, "What the hell did you tell Mandi about last night? About us?"
Shrugging, Cade said, "Nothing. She was already in bed when I got back to
the room. She was gone when I woke up this morning. We haven't talked at all
since just before I gave you that 9mm ammo last night."
Obviously not convinced, Beth said, "When she came into the ops room a while
ago, she had to wait for John. She chose to do her waiting by my desk, Ed."
With a chuckle, he said, "Well gee, ma'am, that does sound pretty ominous.
You were probably the only other woman in the room, Beth, and..."
"She just sat there and stared at me," Beth interrupted, "Just sat there and
stared at me for about five full seconds before she gave me one of those fakey
smiles and said 'Good morning, Beth. Did you sleep well?'"
Again shrugging, Cade said, "I didn't tell her a damned thing, Beth. I swear
it."
As she again studied his face for signs of perjury, Cade asked, "Um... and
did you? Sleep well, I mean?"
Beth's eyes narrowed to gunsight slits. She growlingly snapped, "Yes, as a
matter of fact, I did."
Grinning, Cade asked, "Was it because you were dead tired or because you had
a great time?" As she opened her mouth to respond in what looked like a snappy
manner, Cade raised a finger and prompted, "Honest answer only, please."
Smoldering a bit, Beth sighed and answered in a rather grudging tone, "