Page 34 of Covert Affections (Shadow Agents/PSI-Ops #5)

“You’re sure you’re fine with long hours and kind of crap pay?” Charley blurted, her tone steady but still holding a trace of something Lindy couldn’t quite pin down.

Jesse’s grin came quickly, his confidence settling back into the space like he belonged there. “I am.”

Bill groaned, and Lindy blinked at him. “Don’t fall for his dimples, Chuck. Pretty sure Bundy had them too.”

“Will you be needing room and board too?” asked Charley, seemingly unfazed by Bill’s remarks.

“It’s included. Mind you, the living quarters aren’t glamorous or anything.

The place used to be a working ranch with a full bunkhouse, but I turned half of that bunkhouse into my animal clinic.

There is space for three, possibly four men. It will be tight but doable.”

Lindy watched Jesse closely, fascinated by the way his expression shifted—arrogant and completely unfazed as he gave a mocking smile toward Bill before turning that same relaxed confidence on Charley.

“Room and board would be appreciated,” he said. “The bunkhouse sounds perfect.”

Lindy could practically feel Bill bristle beside her.

“Ain’t no way I’m closing my eyes near him,” Bill said fast.

Charley let out a sigh that said she was already over this conversation. “Then I don’t think this will work out.”

Gus moaned low and long. It seemed to vibrate in the air, full of judgment.

Bill looked like he’d swallowed a lemon. “Fine. I’ll do it, but I ain’t gonna like it. And if he touches my girlie mags, all bets are off. They’re vintage, and it’s getting hard to find ones where the women are o-naturale.”

Lindy barely contained her laugh. “You mean au naturel?”

Bill scratched his chin, seeming to think harder about it all. “That mean their girlie bits are their girlie bits without any changing them?”

She couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up. “Yes.”

“Yep. That’s what I mean.” Bill beamed as he stared directly at Lindy. “Pity you’re spoken for. You got a great set of…”

Jesse elbowed the little man hard.

Bill launched into what Lindy was pretty sure was supposed to be a boxer pose but it looked more like something from a cartoon than threatening. “Bring it, Kitty-Scat.”

Wanting to diffuse any possible squabble, Lindy lifted a hand. “Uh, I’m not spoken for.”

“Sure, you’re not, Lindy-Lou,” said Bill, lowering his fists immediately.

“Okay, Jesse,” said Charley, looking like she was doing her best not to react to any of it. “I can get you directions to the rescue.”

“I know where it is,” Jesse replied, his voice so even and low it made something stir in Lindy’s stomach, calling to her darkness.

“Okay then. I’ve got two vet stops to make before heading back to the rescue, so I can meet you there later tonight,” said Charley.

“Perfect, said Jesse.

Lindy's breath caught as Jesse gave Charley a long, deliberate once-over before sauntering toward the door. Right before he stepped through it, he glanced back—and smiled. It wasn’t just a smile. It was a full-on panty-melting, knee-weakening, smile.

She threw the back of her hand against her forehead and tilted back partially in a dramatic fashion. “Wow.”

“He’s about as far from wow as you can get,” muttered Bill with a grunt.

Charley’s gaze dropped to the table. “Weird.”

“What’s that?” asked Lindy as she set about picking up the remaining scorecards. “I’m going to hang on to these and some of the resumes.”

Charley gave Lindy a pointed look before snatching the scorecards from her hands and taking them directly to the trashcan. She had the nerve to dump them all in in a dramatic manner.

Lindy stuck her bottom lip out. “You’re no fun!”

Charley checked her watch. “I need to get going.”

Bill perked. “Cool. We’re gonna do some doctoring.”

“We are?” questioned Charley, confusion coating her brow.

“You are,” corrected Bill, suddenly sheepish. “Me and Gus will just be along for the ride.”

She chuckled. “All right, William.”

Bill did a combo-cheek scratch and burp. “Normally, I don’t like people calling me anything but Bill. For you, Chuck-Wagon, I’ll make an exception.”

Lindy drifted toward Gus, who was currently standing so close to the dartboard his nose might actually be touching it. “Uh, is he okay?”

“Who, Gus?” asked Bill with a shrug. “He’s pouting. I kind of told him you’d give us something to eat.”

“My cook should already be here. Not sure why he’s not.

If you want, I can toss together some lunch meat sandwiches for you both.

” The words were barely out of Lindy’s mouth when she found herself being engulfed in a sudden, overzealous bear hug from Bill.

His face was boob-height on her and Lindy was fairly sure the hug had less to do with being thankful for food and more to do with her breasts.

Charley peeled him away fast, shooting him a look. “Really?”

Bill laughed. “You know what they say. Crap a demon.”

Lindy paused, trying to parse that one.

“What?” Charley asked before her brows lifted. “Wait, do you mean carpe diem ?”

Bill squinted back, considering it. “Nah. I don’t think that’s it. Pretty sure the saying is about shitting demons.”

Lindy headed off toward the kitchen, Charley’s laughter following behind her.

She assembled sandwiches in record time.

She bagged everything and headed back out into the bar area.

She handed one of the bags to Bill and had the strangest urge to call him Sweet Cheeks as she did. She resisted. “Food is in this one.”

Bill smiled wide. “You’re the best, Lindy-Lou.”

Lindy thrust the other bag out toward Charley.

“Tell me that it’s more cupcakes since someone stole my other one,” said Charley, glancing in Bill’s direction.

He whistled and started inspecting the ceiling like it was fascinating.

Charley chuckled.

“Nope,” said Lindy with a mischievous grin. “It’s not more cupcakes. I found a super sale on men’s gray sweatpants, so I stocked up for us. There are a bunch of them in here.”

“Men’s sweatpants?” asked Charley. “What would I want with those?”

Bill raised his hand as if they were in school. “Uh, Doc Chuck, ain’t you ever seen that hash thing on the internet about men in gray sweatpants? I have. I get willy-envy every time I watch the videos. Not as bad as when I watch the guys in masks or the men on motorcycles. But I digress.”

Charley blinked several times. “I have no idea what he’s talking about.”

“It’s because you’re kind of tech-stunted,” said Lindy with a nod. “If it’s not tech for saving animals, you don’t bother learning or paying attention to it.”

Charley nodded like she knew it was true.

“And he means hashtag when he says hash,” added Lindy.

Bill patted his vest and grinned like he had a secret. “Speaking of hash.”

Gus turned in circles and grunted.

Bill sighed. “Fine. I won’t talk about it. Can we go now? It’s going to storm soon, and I’d rather not be stuck out in it.”

Charley shook her head. “I have a feeling that things are about to get very interesting at the rescue.”

Bill laughed. “You don’t know the half of it, Chuck-Wagon.”