a desire to get to really know someone. Find out what makes them tick. Find out what makes them writhe underneath me, moaning and scratching their fingernails down my back.
“Hello, earth to Brady. Where the hell did you go just now?” Gwen bellows, breaking me from my thoughts. “Oh my God. You have a crush on her don’t you?”
I choke out a laugh at Gwen’s observation. If she only knew what I’d just been thinking, she’d probably smack me upside the head and call me a pervert.
“A crush? What are we, twelve?” I reply, avoiding the question.
“You do, don’t you?! You think she’s pretty and you want to kiss her! Oh my God, Layla Carlysle could be my sister-in-law!” Gwen squeals excitedly, clapping her hands together.
I rest my elbows on my desk and put my head in my hands, the makings of a headache coming on strong.
“You really need to get out more, you know that?” I complain, trying my hardest not to imagine what Layla’s lips would feel like against mine, what her tongue would feel like swirling through my mouth.
“I know. I spend way too much time with a six-year-old. It’s sad when even a proposition from that Austin guy sounds appealing,” Gwen says with an exaggerated sigh. “Speaking of getting out more, I recall Layla mentioning something about having me over for dinner. That would be a great way for me to get out of the house. It would also be a great way to watch you two together.” She wags her eyebrows.
“Oh hell no. There is no way I’m letting that happen if you’re going to act like a fool. And besides, all of this is pointless since she’s supposedly dating that Finn guy,” I tell her, trying to hide the irritation in my voice.
“Ooooooh, Finn Michaelson! I totally forgot about that. Oh my gosh, he is yummy. That man is sex on a stick. You’re totally right. What would she want with you when she’s got a fine specimen like that in her bed whenever she wants?” Gwen states nonchalantly.
“Oh give me a fucking break! There is nothing even remotely appealing about Finn. What the hell does she even see in him? He was in the Marines for Christ sakes. Everyone knows they’re a bunch of hot-headed Neanderthals. She looks at him like he’s some sort of God. Granted, he’s got some nice pecks and a good head of hair, but come on!” I ramble angrily.
Gwen stares at me with an open mouth and wide eyes, her arm coming up in front of her and her finger pointing straight at me.
“Sweet mother of God. I was kidding about you crushing on her, but I’m right. Oh my God, you are totally jealous of her bodyguard! Oh this is priceless!” Gwen starts laughing.
“This is a job, nothing else. Just like Mrs. Henderson last week was a job. I don’t mix business with pleasure. Ever,” I tell her firmly.
“Mrs. Henderson is ninety-two years old and thought her dog was stealing food out of her fridge. I would hope to God you would never mix that kind of business with pleasure. That’s just gross,” Gwen says with a grimace.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m doing the job I’m being paid to do. Distractions, even the hot, famous singer type, do not have room in my life. End of story,” I remind her, smacking my fingers on the keys of my computer angrily.
“Oh, I get it. So they must have changed the job description without letting me know. If I recall correctly, you were hired to look into a stalker, not the personal life of Miss Carlysle,” Gwen replies sarcastically.
She has me there. I'm definitely not being paid to find out why Eve is such a raging bitch to her daughter. In just a few short days, I'm starting to get too invested in the job with a woman I barely know. I'm letting my personal feelings and opinions get to me, just like in the Dominican. Just like the hostage negotiation.
“Mr. Franklin, just put the gun down and let your wife and daughter go. Whatever problems you’re having, there’s no need to put them in danger,” Eric, my partner, told the man standing just inside the doorway of the house he shared with his family.
Right now he had a semiautomatic weapon aimed on his wife of five years and their three-year-old daughter, who stood right next to him, with fear in their eyes and tears running down their cheeks.