Page 2 of Controlled Chaos

Chapter 2

Fillpot pulledme out of the line, took the coffee from the stranger’s hand, and held it out to me. “Let’s find a table.”

“Of course,” my mystery guy said. His brown eyes were the color of melted caramel on top of a sundae. He had a kind smile.

Why was he smiling? There was nothing to smile about.

I frowned as he led the way to a nearby table giving me a view of how nice his ass looked in his jeans. He was everything I knew he’d be from the muscles peeking out beneath the sleeve of his shirt and his piercing eyes. It was evident this guy didn’t miss a day at the gym. We were opposites in every way as I was the kind of girl who liked to snuggle and sleep in.

“How…” Words failed me.

With a grin, Fillpot rested his hand on my back and guided me across the room.

“After everything you’ve done for us, it was the least I could do,” Fillpot said, pulling out my chair. I slid into the seat, unable to take my gaze off the man in front of me.

My new mystery man was a beautiful heartache that could crush my soul. I swallowed hard around the lump forming in my throat. The only thing this man would get out of me was the wordno.

Fillpot remained standing. “Clara Bennett, may I introduce you to Porter Anderson.”

Fillpot clapped his hands together and rubbed his palms like a greedy child about to get a sweet treat. “Clara, if you change your mind, call me so we can make arrangements.”

I couldn’t answer him. My voice wasn’t working as I stared unabashedly at Porter. The name to go with the mysterious face that I’d seen as the catalyst to the beginning of the end for me.

“My work here is done.” Fillpot grinned mischievously and rested his hand on my shoulder, gently squeezing it before walking off.

“So, you work with the FBI?” Porter asked before taking a sip of his coffee.

I shook the shock from my brain and blinked to dispel the confusion and fog. “Yes, well, I did,” I answered, holding up a finger. I lifted the coffee to my lips and drank the entire thing even as it scalded my throat, the steaming hot brew cut through the fog of confusion to awaken my mind.

When I was done, he looked worried, as if I might be crazy. He held out a napkin, and I swiped it across my lips.

“Are you better now?” he asked.

“Much,” I said, clearing my throat. “I’m sorry, but how did Fillpot find you?” I didn’t even have a name to go with the face that I’d described.

“Oh, he didn’t tell you?” Porter asked, glancing toward the door that Fillpot had just walked out of. “I should have known he wouldn’t. It’s just like him not to dole out the details.”

Maybe my coffee hadn’t had enough shots of espresso.

“He married my sister. I’m his brother-in-law.” Porter took another sip of his coffee, watching me over the rim.

My mouth parted again. Here I thought I knew everything, or at least had gotten glimpses of the important stuff, and not once while working with Fillpot had I ever seen that he was married. Come to think of it, I never saw anything personal about the elusive agent.

Porter chuckled. “Let me guess. You didn’t even know he was married.”

I shook my head and cleared my throat even as I eyed Porter’s coffee, thinking about stealing it. “I had no clue.”

Porter shrugged. “It’s a family trait.”

“What is?” I asked.

“We can block everyone’s gifts. They just don’t work on us. My sister is better at it than me. She’s figured out a way to shield her family too.”

“You're gifted? How did I not see that coming?” I whispered.

“I’m not what you were expecting? It’s okay; it happens all the time.”

I rose and held up one finger. “Excuse me a minute.”

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