Page 34 of Black Bay Enforcer
“Hey.”
Katherine breathed a sigh of relief at hearing Kong’s voice and settled back into her chair, already feeling better. “Hey.”
“Sorry I missed breakfast.”
Katherine smiled. “Duty calls.”
“We could do lunch together if you want?”
A little thrill went through her. “I’d love to.”
“I’ll see you then.”
“See you then.”
Katherine was still smiling when she hung up the phone. Lunch with Kong. In a moment of whimsy, she pushed off with her feet so her desk chair spun in a leisurely circle.
“Why are you smiling?” ORION asked.
This was new. The AI never asked her questions, and certainly never anything of a personal nature. “I’m happy.”
“Yes. I understand the expression denotes happiness. I’m asking why you are happy now, Miss Knox, when you clearly were not happy before the phone call.”
Oh, wow. How should she explain that? “Um… someone I like just asked me to meet them for lunch and I’m happy about the invitation.”
“A male someone?”
Hesitantly, Katherine offered, “Yes.” She wasn’t sure what to think about this new chatty ORION.
“Romantic interest then. The incoming call log indicates it was Kong Davies. He is a worthy specimen for reproduction. You should continue the pursuit.”
She was so surprised by that bald statement, that Katherine choked on her own spit and started coughing.
“Do you require a medic?”
Still coughing, Katherine shook her head and waved off the offer. She’d be fine in a minute. Maybe. But holy crap. Just a few days ago she’d wished ORION was more personable but this was a complete one-eighty. Definitely a case of be careful what you wish for.
Katherine was practically skipping as she went to meet Kong for lunch. There’d be no kissing since they’d be in public, but that was okay. She just liked being with him. And a good thing too, since there was barely even a chance for conversation. Their table was packed, everyone talking over each other, and all too soon her lunch hour, and her time with Kong, was over. A point that was highlighted when Kong looked at his watch – a chunky, tactical-looking thing in dark green that probably had all the bells and whistles.
She expected him to say he’d walk her back, but instead, he grinned wickedly and asked, “Do you want to see something funny?”
Katherine nodded eagerly. She could be a little late.
Outside the mess hall, he looked at his watch again. “We’ll have to hurry.” His eyes skated down her cream-colored sweater set and calf-length khaki skirt before settling on her sensible black pumps.
The next thing Katherine knew, she was off her feet. Not swept romantically into Kong’s arms, but tucked under his arm like a football as he took off across the central green, her legs flopping embarrassingly behind her as she clutched at him for dear life. It was a jarring ride, the scenery blurring past her and Katherine went a little lightheaded, her recently eaten lunch making a bid to come back up.
“Kong!”
Thank heavens he stopped. Still, she stumbled drunkenly when he set her on her feet but his big hands were there to keep her from falling on her face. She swallowed hard in an attempt to keep things down. “What the hell, Kong! I almost puked on you.”
Kong shot her a sheepish look of apology. “Sorry, but I didn’t want to miss this.”
Katherine looked around at the buildings she saw every day. There was nothing special going on. Nothing out of the ordinary. “Miss what?”
“Wait for it.” With a snicker, Kong consulted his watch again. “In three… two… one.”
General Davies came out the door and marched briskly to his Jeep. Jumping in, he turned it on. The windshield wipers started flapping like crazy as music blared from the speakers.
