Chapter Eight

I went downstairs for roll call. "Boss" Les said as I walked in the room. A hush fell. It was business as usual.

I went back to my office and thought about Montero. I needed to give him an update from last night. A little zing of electricity went through me at the prospect of seeing him.

I pushed it away and thought about Les. Last night had been incredible, but I wasn't sure I wanted it to happen again. Given our current living arrangements, I was concerned it would be awkward. Would Les just assume we would be sleeping together now? Ugh, I really was good at ignoring all the red flags and forging ahead with stupidity.

I was thinking about whacking my head on the desk, when I heard a knock at the door. Les was standing in the doorway. "Boss you got a minute?" he asked.

I nodded. He came in, closed the door and sat down.

"Steph, as much as we both needed last night, I know it was probably a one-time thing. Some things don't change. You're not a girl that does casual sex and I'm not a guy you're ever going to love." I saw a flash of sorrow, or maybe it was regret, cross his face. I started to interrupt, but he held up his hand.

"I know you love me" he said "but you and I both know you will never love me like that. Don't get me wrong, I'm up" he stopped and waggled his eyebrows for emphasis "for whatever you want, any time you want it, but I'm not going to expect it. You are my friend. You are my family. Nothing will ever change that."

"When did you get to be the adult" I smiled. I had tears in my eyes.

"I have my moments" he shrugged. "Besides there is the Montero factor to consider."

My face flamed red. "What do you mean the Montero factor" I said waving my hand dismissively and trying to sound casual.

Les laughed. "Come on Steph. I saw how the two of you looked at each other. If it got any hotter the damn sidewalk would have combusted."

I didn't ask how he had seen that. I knew RangeMan was wired for sound and sight everywhere.

"That's crazy" I said. "I don't have a thing for Montero. He is just a business associate." It was clear I was trying to convince myself more than Les.

"Riiiight, and I'm the Easter Bunny" Les said. "Steph, Montero is a good man. I think it is great. You deserve to be happy."

"You do?"

"I do." Les walked around and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. A quick kiss that lingered and turned hot with a lot of tongue in about two seconds flat.

When we parted his eyes were dilated black and I was panting. I rested my head on his forehead. "I'm not so sure this was a one and done" I whispered.

"I have to go get Tank before he stages a prison break or before I take you bent over this desk" Les said and left.

I thought the bent over the desk idea had merit.

I looked over at the clock. It was barely 7 AM, but I knew Montero would be up. I dialed his number. He answered on the first ring.

"Plum, what a nice way to start the day" he greeted me.

I smiled. "I have some news."

"Want to meet at our place in half an hour?" he asked.

"Yes." My voice sounded all breathy.

I could feel him smiling through the phone. "I'll see you in a few" and he hung up.

I stood-up and looked down. I was in all RangeMan black again today. I definitely had the queen of the damned thing in full swing. I groaned. I wish I'd worn something else and made a mental note to buy some clothes that looked like a normal person might actually wear them. Fake it til you make it I thought.

I did a mental head slap and told myself to stop. What was wrong with me. Who cared what Montero thought? The last time I saw the man he'd dumped me at the door and ran like his hair was on fire. The man was not interested. The do not touch vibe couldn't have been any clearer. That was just me being an idiot, or sex deprived or both. Of course, none of that rationalization stopped me from putting on some tinted lip gloss and a few swipes of mascara before I left.

I grabbed my windbreaker and headed out. I stopped at the Starbucks and got two hot chocolates. I rationalized that I got one for him, only because it would be rude if I didn't.

I hoofed it to the Lincoln Memorial. Montero was waiting for me. He was bathed in the early morning light. I stumbled a little. The man was magnificent and looking at him stole my breath. I had to will my legs to keep going.

I pasted what I hoped was a friendly greeting on my face. Montero closed the distance to me.

"I need to be clear about something. I need to clarify about last night… I owe an apology, or an explanation, I … oh hell never mind" he said and reached a hand behind my neck and pulled me to him and kissed me. The kiss was soft and gentle. A tentative exploration. When I responded, he kissed me again and it became serious and demanding with lots of tongue.

The cups of hot chocolate dropped unnoticed out of my hands and made a little plopping noise when they hit the ground. I wrapped my arms around his neck and drank him in. He tasted like coffee and peppermint. He smelled spicy with just a hint of musk, and that made me moan. Damn could that man kiss.

We stood in the morning sunlight making out in front of the Lincoln Memorial like a couple of teenagers. When we pulled away, we were both breathing hard.

"Wow" I breathed "This is going to be complicated." My hand went up involuntarily and touched my lips. They were slightly swollen.

"Yeah" he said "It is probably a bad idea."

"Good thing I'm not prone to good judgement or common sense" I said.

"I like that about you Plum" he said and kissed me again.

Finally, he pulled away from me and took my hand. We walked down the National Mall and took a seat on a bench near the reflecting pool.

"So now that is clarified" he grinned "what do you have to tell me."

I told him about the attempted hit on Ruiz last night and what Ruiz had said about Vega having an FBI mole. His eyes were dark and his mouth was set in a grim line while he listened.

"Do you think the government will still make a deal with Vega?" I asked. "He did just try to assassinate a government witness."

Montero considered it a minute. "Yeah, I think they will just look the other way. Too much is riding on finding the mole."

"Do you think the mole will try and kill Vega?" I asked?

"Vega was smart by going through Kincaid. The FBI isn't involved so I doubt the mole knows, and I doubt Vega would kill the mole. Without the mole Vega doesn't have much to bargain with" he replied.

I chewed on that for a minute. Our best bet was still to watch Vega and see if he would lead us to the mole. If we could take the mole out, Vega would no longer be untouchable. Vega could be prosecuted. Failing that the other cartel leaders would take him out, and that would work just fine too I figured. Dead or in a cage I didn't care. I just didn't want the bastard living on a ranch in Montana.

Montero looked at me and cupped my chin. "I'm really glad you are OK" he said. He brushed a kiss across my lips and we stood up to leave.

"I have shift with Kincaid tonight to watch Vega" I told him. "Some guy named Reyes."

Montero nodded. "Reyes will pick you up at RangeMan."

I nodded and turned to leave.

Montero called to me "Hey Plum."

I turned around. He was grinning at me "you owe me a hot chocolate."

I grinned back and left.

I was stilling grinning like and idiot when I got back to RangeMan. I looked up and Les was grinning at me. He came over so no one else could hear and winked at me. "It went that good with Montero?"

I tried to stifle my grin but gave up it. The smile on my face just kept rebounding. "You're a wise man Lester Santos" I said.

"I'm really glad. You deserve to be happy again" he said. He gave my arm a squeeze and ambled off. I looked after him. Les was right. What happened between us had been awesome and just what we both needed at the time, but it did need to be a one and done. Continuing to sleep with Les wasn't fair to either of us.

Sleeping with Montero that was a whole different dilemma. I could easily get sucked into the depths of those blue eyes. I wasn't even sure it was something I was ready for but I knew after this morning that is exactly where we were headed.

I touched my lip again and felt heat swirl through me at the memory. I was definitely in trouble.