‘Nuh uh, Iris saw it too, didn’t you Iris? How grumpy is Mr untouchable usually? Have you ever seen the man speak nicely to anyone? The man has stay away from me tattooed on his ass.’
I glance at the receptionist who is biting on her nail nervously, obviously uncomfortable to be asked to talk about her boss even if it is by her other bosses.
‘Don’t answer them Iris’ I tell her kindly before turning back to the boys, ‘and you too, please keep your ideas to yourselves.’
Heading toward the door I yank it open just as Callen’s voice reaches me.
‘Soooooo, are we invited to dinner tonight?’ he asks me.
‘No’ I growl back, ‘you have your own house to eat at.’
‘Yeah, and we don’t have the tall, dark and broody look of Caleb Hawthorne’ Gage adds in amusement.
Rolling my eyes, I don’t look back, stepping through the door and allowing it to swing shut behind me.
Caleb’s POV
I take a seat back behind my desk, prising open the lid of the container to find a carefully packed lunch inside. A smile tilts up my lips as I carefully place the cover back on and place it to the side, ready for later.
Reaching for the phone on my desk, I cradle it under my chin as I flick through some business cards, pulling out the one for our local garage. While I’m stopped, I might as well sort out my truck which is still outside with that damn flat tyre. I could have changed it but I’d have to get the other one replaced anyway so might as well just get our mechanic to sort it out for me.
‘Lo’ comes a rough voice on the other end.
‘Mac? It’s Caleb Hawthorne, you got anyone who can come replace a tyre for me?’ I ask.
Mac coughs down the speaker, the old man must smoke sixty a day and won’t listen to anyone who tells him to quit. ‘I’m booked up till two but I can send Rich over after he finishes with the Corolla?’
I breathe a sigh of relief, ‘thanks Mac, that would be great’ I reply eagerly, ‘I think I must have run over a nail or something, it’s flat as a pancake.’
Mac huffs, ‘surprised your fancy car doesn’t have run-on flats’ he mutters, making me chuckle. Mac is old school and hates all the new technology in cars nowadays.
‘Yeah I know’ I reply, ‘Gage’s truck is a tank and my SUV is a heap of crap.’
The old man laughs hoarsely, ‘you said it, not me’ he mumbles, ‘Rich will be by later, and he’ll come up when he’s done.’
I thank the man before hanging up, happy that at least one job on my to-do list is complete.
I return to my work only to be interrupted for a second time twenty minutes later.
Rubbing my eyes with my thumb and forefinger, I swallow down my anger, instead calling out, ‘yes?’
Iris opens the door, stepping inside as a tall, well-built man who is obviously of military background steps in behind her. He’s dressed in dark jeans and a hoodie that he keeps the hood up on, the shadow covering most of his face from my curious gaze.
‘Mr Hawtho . . uh Cale . . um, sir?’ Iris stammers, unsure how to address me in front of a visitor. ‘This is Mark Hallick, he has an interview with you at Ten O’Clock?’
I glance down at the clock on my computer, nine forty five, the guy is early, I like that.
‘Of course’ I reply standing up and holding out my hand to the dark haired man who strides toward me, taking my hand in his and shaking it firmly as the light falls across his face, thick scars are thrown into sharp relief and obviously feeling my gaze, he drops my hands and turns his head slightly, hiding his face again.
He has an unobtrusive edge to him, even while his eyes are darting around the room, taking in his surroundings, checking every corner and hiding spot that could be in the room with us. Yeah, I like this guy, he may make you think he’s easy going, but this guy is still on guard at all times, he doesn’t trust anyone and is always checking for danger and exits.
Behind him, Iris quietly shuts the door and I wave toward one of the seats opposite me as I retake my own.
‘So, Mr Hallick’ I start, ‘I’m Caleb.’
‘Call me Hallick’ the man grunts, ‘everyone calls me that, don’t need none of that formal sh*t.’
I nod, ‘Hallick’ I repeat, ‘so you’re looking for a job in security? Callan tells me you served with him and my brother, that you were a damn good soldier and a damn fine shot.’
Hallick grunts again, with a one shoulder lift, ‘I did my job’ he replies, ‘killed who had to be killed, saved who had to be saved.’
I nod, ‘so why do you want to work here?’ I ask.
Another shoulder shrug, ‘Ratchet said you needed help so here I am.’
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.