Page 18 of Defenseless
“May I ask who’s calling?”
The woman huffed a laugh. “Sorry, I should have started with that. This is Olivia Rodriguez, from the high school. And a friend of Chad’s. You sent me an email yesterday about the Hedy Experience program.”
Sabina let out a relieved breath and moved toward her desk. “I did, and thank you for calling.”
“No, thank you for reaching out. Ryan Warwick told me a little bit about you. Never in my wildest imagination would I have thought I’d have access to such talent.”
“Um, thanks?” Sabina said, booting up her computer.
Olivia laughed again. “So, without turning this into any more of an awkward fangirl moment than it is, the answer to the question in your email is ‘yes.’ We are definitely looking for volunteers. I will take as much or as little time as you are willing to give.”
Sabina smiled. “Great. I have to tell you, I don’t have much, or really any, experience with kids, but I’m willing to learn.”
“That’s a great start. Do you want to stop by sometime in the next few days? I can show you the setup and we can go over my plans for the program?”
Sabina agreed and after setting an appointment for the next day, she hung up. Excitement coursed through her body at the possibility of using her skills to help the community. She still wasn’t sure about working with teenage girls, or any teenagers for that matter. But she loved her job, and she loved working with computers. If she could share that with even one interested student, then it would be worth it.
Her mind was conjuring images of a roomful of girls who were interested in technology but not sure whether they could make it a career when she thought of Ava. Sabina had no idea if Stella and Hunter would give her the green light to make the young woman an offer. Or if Ava would accept if she did. But she had no problem picturing the two of them at the front of the classroom together.
With a smile, she pulled up Ava’s information, drafted an email to Stella and Hunter, and shot it off.
She’d never know unless she tried.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Sabina stoodin her living room, looking out the picture window onto Main Street. Roger, her aloe, was perched happily on the frame, observing the same scene. Ethan hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d told her the town went all out for Halloween. Not a single store was bare. The decorations ranged from scarecrows to witches to hay bales with jack-o’-lanterns. Her favorite, though, was a mini Headless Horseman display.
A month had passed since that night at the Dirty Boom. That night that seemed to change so much. She was volunteering twice a week with the Hedy Experience, and Olivia was slowly becoming someone Sabina would consider a friend. And Chad continued to sweep her into his life on a near-daily basis. She didn’t agree every time he invited her to join in some activity or another, but she found herself saying yes more often than not. It was hard to resist the loud, boisterous, and loving Warwick clan.
The only drawback to the gatherings was that at least once during each, Chad would ask if she needed help and assure her that she could trust him. He didn’t understand it wasn’t him she didn’t trust. There were many nights she wanted to tell him this, but it was a discussion she couldn’t start. It would crack open a door she had no intention of opening.
The biggest change of all, though, was that the West Coast office of HICC was officially open. Stella, Hunter, and Mateo had flown out that morning and cut the figurative ribbon. Colton had six operatives—Ethan, Killian, Teague, Tucker, Ryder, and Eli—on the books and Sabina’s three hires rounded out their staff.
She smiled thinking of her team. Ava Jones had joined Leo and Collin in Mystery Lake a few weeks ago. When Sabina had called to feel her out, she’d been so enthusiastic about the opportunity that she’d flown up in her father’s helicopter that afternoon. She was now restoring a 1920s-built lakeside cabin she’d bought that same day.
Two teenagers burst from an alley across the street, drawing her attention. Their skateboards rumbled on the asphalt as their laughter echoed between the buildings. She followed their progress until they were out of sight, then shifted her attention to the display in front of the bookstore across the street. A dragon sat on a pile of books as it read a history of firefighting. She’d seen it dozens of times since the owners had installed it, but it never ceased to pull a laugh from her.
Her chuckle trailed off when her phone vibrated in her hand and she pulled her gaze from the dragon and glanced at the message.
Chad:Leaving in five minutes, be there in 15(ish)
She sent him a thumbs-up emoji although, in truth, she was less than thrilled about his picking her up. It wasn’t the celebration at the Dirty Boom she had reservations about. She was looking forward to spending some downtime with the whole team. But any time alone with Chad in an enclosed space did things to her body that left her feeling a little out of control. He elicited too many reactions—too many emotions—from her that it wasn’t a comfortable place to be.
She had no one to blame but herself, though. Sure, Stella and Hunter had been in the room when he’d offered her the ride. But it was Mateo who’d crumbled her defenses. He’d been climbing all over Chad as though he was a human jungle gym, and the pair had been more adorable than any man and toddler had the right to be. She hadn’t been able to deny him.
She sighed, thinking about how easy Chad was with Mateo. How easy he was with most everyone. It was one of the things that made him so good at what he did. His chameleon-like talents were something she both admired and didn’t understand. Give her a computer and she could work magic. Ask her to do anything else—like play softball, paint, sing, negotiate a contract, or babysit—and she struggled. She even had some trepidation about managing her new team, despite it being only three people.
With a sigh, she stepped away from the window and closed the curtain. At least the Boom was only eight blocks away. The ride wouldn’t be long enough for Chad to dig into her life.
Her phone vibrated again as she selected a pair of boots from her shoe rack. There was no way Chad had already arrived, and she frowned as she glanced at the screen. She didn’t recognize the number, but she knew the name.
Kara:It’s me. We need to talk
Sabina shoved her foot into a boot then braced herself against the wall as she responded.
Sabina:Phone or in person?
Kara:In person
