Page 11 of Caged

“I can.” She smiled.

“Morning Jay,” Beth said as she joined my mom behind the counter. “Doug said you’ve got, and I quote, ‘mad skills on the mat’.” She laughed.

“Thanks, Beth. I’ll be sure to remind him of that later,” I teased. Beth wasn’t just the store manager, she was Ma’s best friend, and Doug’sfiancée.

Ma came around the counter to hug me goodbye. Her head barely reached my chin so I couldn’t miss the new grays in her wavy, dark brown hair. Hair I’d inherited from her. Jamie and Madi inherited her expressive hazel eyes.

“Behave today, okay?”

I laughed. “Of course.”With any luck I’ll be sent on an assignment while the dust settles.

As expected, the coffee and treats were a hit. And lucky for me, Ma included half a dozen blueberry muffins because everyone wanted one.

“The new guy gets it,” AJ said, getting the keys to one of the company cars from Meg, and grabbing a muffin before leaving. He had an executive protection gig babysitting an actor’s pre-teen daughter all week. I didn’t envy him that detail.

New guy gets the coffee was SSI’s version of hazing. It started with AJ, because Jack wanted to welcome his friend with a little good-natured ribbing. He decided daily trips to Ma’s coffee shop was the way to go.

“Thanks, Jay.” Doug said before leaving to meet with a person of interest in the case he was working.

The front door opened, prompting Meg to stand and greet the guest.

“You must be Mr. Darling. If you’d like to have a seat, John will be right with you.”

That was my cue. I grabbed Maxwell’s coffee and headed for my office. I was behind on paperwork, and today was as good a day as any to catch up.

“Thank you,” Maxwell said, without looking up, when I set her coffee, cream no sugar, on the corner of her desk.

“You’re welcome.”

I hadn’t gotten far when an alert from Meg popped up summoning Maxwell and I to the small meeting room upstairs.

We didn’t speak as we closed our laptops and grabbed our coffees.

“After you,” I said, letting her walk out first.

“Now you want to be a gentleman?” she asked. I could practically hear her beautiful blue eyes rolling even though they didn’t move.

“If you can’t take the heat…” I left the rest of the quote unsaid just to irritate her.

“What, can’t remember the rest?” she asked. Her smarter-than-thou tone grated on every last nerve.

“Get out of the kitchen.” I huffed out the rest. I made eye contact before adding, “Or in your case, the gym.”

Her cheeks turned pink as she glared at me. I couldn’t help but notice the freckles dotting her nose stood out more when she blushed.

No, she’s not blushing; she’s turning red from anger. I had to give her credit, as pissed as she was, she didn’t rise to the occasion. She ran her hand over her hair, making sure her fiery red hair was in place, and walked away.

I followed as she marched up the stairs to the conference room.

It’s going to be a long day.

At the door, she tugged her suit blazer to remove any wrinkles,and smoothed down her skirt. Always the perfectionist.

Not wanting to look like a slob, I tucked my SSI polo tighter into my steel grey khakis.

We ignored each other from opposite sides of the table as we waited for my father.

When the door opened, he wasn’t alone.