All Consuming (Brotherhood by Fire #3) -Jaci Burton Page 0,59
water.
“This watermelon salsa is to die for,” Becks said.
The guys didn’t speak. They were too busy shoveling food into their mouths. Which, Hannah supposed, was complimentary to the food.
“How’s things at the TRT?” Jackson asked Kal.
Kal shrugged. “About the same.”
“Those guys still giving you shit?”
“Yeah. I tried talking to them again.” He took a swallow of his beer.
“And?” Jackson asked.
“They seem to think that Dad had a part in giving me a leg up in getting my spot on the TRT.”
Jackson frowned. “That’s bullshit. The department never lets nepotism favor one candidate over another. It would be a violation of standards. You got in on merit and nothing else, same as when you got the job at Station 6. Dad was excluded in making the decision on your hire. Your assignment was the captain’s decision. Even Rafe and I weren’t included in that.”
“I know. We were all just lucky to be assigned to the same station.”
Hannah hadn’t heard any of this. “Someone on your team is giving you a hard time?”
Kal nodded. “Two guys have been riding me since I first started there. They criticize everything I do and think I don’t deserve to be on the TRT.”
“But his lieutenant thinks he’s doing a good job,” Jackson said, dipping a chip into the salsa and shoving it into his mouth. After he swallowed, he said, “So as long as his superior is okay with his performance . . .”
Hannah looked at him. “Then those guys have it out for you for other reasons. Jealousy, maybe?”
Kal shrugged. “I guess. I don’t really know. I’ve given up trying to figure it out.”
“Do you get along with the other members of your squad?” she asked.
“Yeah. We all get along great.”
“Then screw those guys,” she said, rubbing her hand along his forearm. “You’re good at your job, your boss knows you do it well and you have coworkers who think you do it well. No one else matters.”
He smiled at her, but she could tell it bothered him. “Thanks.”
She wished she could do or say something to take his pain away, but she knew better than anyone that conflicts with coworkers could only be solved with either time or replacement of said coworkers. And since that appeared unlikely to happen, all she could do was offer moral support.
She knew how hard Kal worked, knew how much he loved his job. It pissed her off that some people were making it harder for him to do the job he cared so much about.
After dinner they cleaned the dishes and the kitchen. Jackson and Becks were going to a late movie, so they said their goodbyes.
Hannah hugged Becks. “Thanks for the invite to dinner. I had fun.”
Becks squeezed her. “I’m so glad you came over. Let’s do this again.”
After they left, Hannah took Kal’s hand. “I’m sorry you’re having conflict at work.”
“Hey, don’t be. It’s not all the time. And I can handle it.”
“You shouldn’t have to. Those guys are dicks and need to get punched in the face.”
He laughed and pulled her against his warm body. “Yeah? And do you think you could take them?”
“They’d never see it coming. I’d lay them flat.”
“Okay,” he said, stepping back. “Show me what you’ve got.”
She arched a brow. “You don’t wanna mess with me. I really do know how to knock you on your ass.”
He gave her a benign, patronizing smile. That did it. She had planned to lie back, but now she was going to show him just what she could do.
“Come at me,” she said, turning her back to him.
“You sure about that?”
“I’m waiting.”
She tensed, waiting for him to strike. When he put his arms around her she stomped on his foot, the least amount of damage she could do.
“Ow, dammit!”
She pivoted and directed a palm strike, stopping just shy of his nose. He hadn’t expected it, and he reared back. She also caught the shocked look on his face.
“Really?” he asked.
She shrugged. “The next step would have been to break your nose. Still don’t think I have it in me to defend myself?”
“My damn foot hurts.”
“That’s the idea.”
“Okay, you took self-defense classes.”
She nodded. “Several. I wanted to be able to take care of myself.”
“I’d say you can do that just fine. Also, my foot still hurts.”
She looked down at his feet. He was wearing tennis shoes, and she hadn’t stomped with all her might. “You’ll live.”
“You’re mean.”
She laughed. “I can be. But you doubted my ability to defend myself.”