braced on the arm, a frown of concentration on his face as he studied the computer monitor. A five o’clock shadow graced his jaw and a wave of his dark hair fell against his forehead, making me want to comb it back into place. With my fingers.
Yes, definitely tired. Usually I was able to keep thoughts of Parker at bay, but last night had been rough and today had been long. I was sure he was tired, too, and I knew from experience that he wouldn’t leave until I was finished. That was always nice. I didn’t know if he waited because he thought if I was working, he should be, too, or if he just did it unconsciously.
A sudden loud noise outside the office made me drop the scanner. My wide eyes flew to Parker’s.
“What was that?” I asked. I glanced at the clock on his desk. It was after eleven and I’d thought Parker and I were the only ones left in the building, or at least on this floor.
Parker was up out of his chair before I’d finished asking my question. In seconds, he was hauling me none-too-gently to my feet and pulling me toward the closet.
“Get in,” he said, not giving me a choice in the matter as he pushed me into the dark cupboard.
“What are you doing?” I squeaked, stunned even as I instinctively obeyed him and shrank back into the corner.
Parker reached above me to the top shelf and pulled something down that fit in his hand. In another moment, I saw it was a gun. He racked the slide on top and the sound made me jump.
“That was a gunshot,” he said. “Something’s going on and after what Ryker said this morning, I’m not taking any chances.” He pointed at me. “Stay. Here. Don’t come out until I come for you, understand?”
I jerked a quick nod, unable to speak. Without another word, Parker closed the door, shutting me firmly inside the closet.
Chapter Three
I stood in the dark, my back pressed against the wall of the closet, Parker’s shirts and suit jackets hanging on either side of me. It smelled overwhelmingly of him in here, which only sent my panic ratcheting higher.
A gunshot, he’d said. Why in the world would someone be shooting a gun in the building? At this hour? Certainly not for any good reason, obviously.
All these years I’d put things in this closet and I’d never known he kept a gun up there. It was too high for me to reach and I wouldn’t have thought to pry anyway. Had it been there all this time?
All these questions and more swirled through my mind as I worried about what was going on outside the closet door. What if Parker got ambushed? What if they shot him? He could be lying somewhere even now, hurt and bleeding, while I was hiding in the closet waiting for him.
Another gunshot startled me. Then another. My breathing sounded harsh in the tight closet, and I clenched my hands into fists as I fought the urge to leave my hiding place.
Parker had told me to wait, not to come out until he came for me, so as hard as it was, I waited. It felt like forever, each minute creeping by with agonizing slowness. With each moment that Parker didn’t appear, my fear increased, until I was nearly hyperventilating. The closet didn’t have enough air and tears stung my eyes as my imagination painted vivid pictures of an injured Parker. A sheet of cold sweat covered my skin as I strained my ears to catch any faint noise.
The door suddenly swung open, startling me. Parker stood there, and without even thinking, I threw myself into his arms.
“Thank God, you’re okay,” I mumbled against his chest, swallowing down a sob of relief. Adrenaline and fear made my knees feel weak and I clung to Parker, my arms holding tightly around his neck.
He’d instinctively wrapped an arm around my waist and I sensed his hesitation before sliding the other arm around me, too. I knew this was inappropriate, but I couldn’t make myself let go. Not yet.
“It’s all right,” he murmured, the words rumbling in his chest. “I’m fine.”
Embarrassment began to creep in now that the panic and fear were starting to fade and I became acutely aware that every inch of me was pressed against my boss. If I could’ve ignored that last part, maybe I could’ve enjoyed it, but common sense kicked in.