Page 10 of The Flame of Carson (Blackout Security Inc. #3)

She rose from her chair as he sat the flower and mug on her desk.

She walked to him and slid her arms around him, his own arms enclosing her, sheltering her.

Her head resting against his chest. “I don't want to fight about this.

I know I should have told you about it when this all started, but since there hasn't been physical contact, I didn't see the point. I told Walt that if he does manage to locate my email here, I would go to those friends of Krista and Danny’s at the FBI, I also promised him I would tell you.”

She felt her chin being lifted and looked into the brown eyes of her lover, her friend, her man. “I get it. So, we'll wait. Okay?” Gage said.

“Okay.” she nodded.

“But, if he does reach out to you here, I'm going with you to meet with Fortner and Harker. Then we'll go to Blackout and tell Ethan. Deal?” he stated.

“Deal,” she agreed.

She sighed when he leaned down and kissed her tenderly. Her hands slid up his back and sank into his hair as a whimper escaped her. Gage's hand slid down her back, over her hips, then cupping her ass, lifting her off her feet.

“Gage.”

“Yes?”

“Make love to me. Please...”

That was all she needed to say, and he was carrying her out of the office, across the hall and back into the guest room. The sound of the door being kicked shut was her last coherent thought before Gage's lips were once more devouring hers.

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G age sat on Stacey's sofa watching some action movie. Stacey was laying on her back, her head resting on his thigh as she flipped through one of the dozens of manuscripts from the pile on her coffee table. He felt...content. Happy. Something he hadn't felt with a woman in a long time.

“Ugh, everyone thinks they're a writer these days.” Stacey grumbled, tossing the manuscript into the reject pile.

“What was wrong with that one?” he chuckled.

“Well, the thing was SUPPOSED to be a romantic suspense, but it read like a bad knock off of Law-and-Order episode mixed with bad porn. The spelling was atrocious, the punctuation nonexistent, and the flow of the story itself was all over the place.” she stated, reaching for another.

“Damn, your harsh woman.” he laughed.

“It's a harsh business,” she shrugged, reading the query letter attached.

Shaking his head, Gage leaned down and kissed her quickly before returning to his movie. Without looking at her he spoke again, “So why aren't you a writer? I mean you seem to know about this stuff.”

He glanced down when he felt her shaking and saw she was laughing.

“Trust me, you don't want me to write. I barely squeaked by in school and college when it came to writing shit.

Now, picking it apart and making corrections, I'm good at writing.

..yeah don't think so. And if you don't believe me, ask Krista.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

Stacey sat up and looked at him with a smile, “About a year after I signed Kris as a client me, her and Jer had gone out and had a bit too much to drink, she challenged me and Jer to a writing contest. When she read mine, she just told me not to quit my day job. I suck at writing, well, the type that she does anyway. Besides, where else am I going to get paid to read the next potential best seller?”

With a wink, she shifted back so her head rested on his thigh once more. Shaking his head, Gage returned to the movie while now absently stroking his hand over her hair. Yet despite how content he appeared; his mind was still turning over the information she had dumped on him that morning.

‘ Perhaps, I should call up Walt and see what else he can offer me.

After all, the more information I have, the better I can help her, right?

Especially if he does discover that she is here in Austin.

Yes, that's what I'll do. I'll call Walt up in the morning. after I drive her to work,’ he thought.

“Hey babe?”

“Hmmm?” she replied without looking away from the manuscript.

“I was serious about taking you to work tomorrow. Now, before you get huffy, just hear me out. I was going to tell you I wanted to drive you to work tomorrow even before you told me about this asshole. I'm still coming to grips with the fact that you're actually here.”

“You really want to do that? Drive me to work?” she questioned.

“Yes,”

“What about lunch? And what if I'm working late? Huh?”

“As for lunch I could pick you up and take you out, or bring you lunch if you're working. As for after, well I can pick you up or if you're stuck working late I could hang in your office or something.”

Stacey sat the manuscript aside and climbed into his lap. She reached up, cupping his face and kissed him sweetly. “You would really do that for me?”

Gage smiled, “I would. Stace, somewhere over the last almost two years, you've gotten in deep babe. Like I said, I enjoy our time together and now that you're really here I want to enjoy it more.”

“You're not going to turn into one of those smothering, sappy guys on me are you, Carson? If so, I'll have to kick your ass. I hate that.” she warned.

Gage threw back his head and laughed while holding her a little tighter. “No. Yes, these last two days I've been a bit sappy, but after tomorrow I promise I'll be back to my old self. So, will you indulge me babe? Let me take you to work and pick you up. Hell, lunch is optional.”

“Fine,” she sighed playfully. “But after tomorrow I want my old Gage Carson back. Deal?”

“Deal, though I will warn you, I can get a bit sappy for things like your birthday or maybe Valentines Day since this upcoming year we won't be apart.” He warned.

“I think I can live with that. By the way, I loved the flowers you sent me on Valentines Day and for my birthday. Course, I loved the SKYPE chat we had on my birthday better.” she teased.

Gage kissed her then as his mind replayed the night of her birthday back in March. He had sent her a dozen daffodils along with a box of her favorite chocolate from her favorite shop in midtown. Course she had thanked him that evening via SKYPE with a little striptease and virtual sex session.

“That night was pretty fun. Maybe we could do it again now that you're here,” he suggested, releasing her.

“Now why would we do that when we live like ten minutes from each other?”

“Exactly. Could be a hot form of foreplay,” he grinned wiggling his eyebrows.

“God, you are such a perv,” she giggled, moving back to her previous position, and picking up the manuscript again.

“That wasn't a no,” he pointed out.

Her only response was a snort, but she couldn't stop her smile.

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S tacey sighed as she leaned back in her new chair.

So far, her first day of work was running smoothly.

It was nearly noon and already she had met all her staff, was caught up on current projects and had answered nearly three dozen emails.

When a knock sounded, she looked up as her assistant, Judith, walked in.

“These just arrived for you Ms. Carlin.” Judith announced, holding up the beautiful bouquet of Calla Lilies.

Stacey smiled, “They're beautiful. Was there a card or note? And didn't I already tell you to just call me Stacey when it's just us?”

Judith grinned, “Sorry, Stacey. As for a note...”

“I figured I'd accompany them in person.” Krista announced, waltzing into the room.

Stacey laughed standing from her chair and took the flowers from Judith. “What the hell are you doing here? Shouldn't you be working on your book?”

“Hey, I needed a break.” Krista argued waving to Judith as she walked further into the office, closing the door behind her. “Besides, I had to see the new office. This is going to be so much better for meetings.”

“Ain't that the truth,” Stacey agreed as she returned to her seat and Krista dropped into one of the chairs in front of the desk. “So, how is the new book coming?”

“It's coming along. I just finished the chapter where the antagonist is introduced. He made a spectacular entrance by throwing a brick through the heroine's bedroom window as she and the hero were about to get it on.”

Stacey snorted, “Good lord woman, talk about a cock block from hell.”

Krista giggled, “It was actually Ethan's idea.”

Stacey simply shook her head and reached for her coffee. “I don't even want to know.”

“Speaking of heroes, how was your weekend with Gage?”

“It was great. I missed him so much Kris, it was like a part of me was missing you know.”

Krista nodded. “Yes, I know what you mean girl.” She then got quiet and began nibbling her bottom lip, “Um, is everything okay back in New York?”

Stacey sat up a little straighter. “Yeah, why?” Krista rubbed the back of her neck; a gesture Stacey knew meant the woman was nervous. “Spit it out Krista, why do you ask?”

“Fine. I swung by Blackout this morning to take Ethan a file he left at home. As I passed Gage's office, I overheard him talking to Walt and he sounded pissed, Gage I mean. I only heard him saying that Walt should have told him something, then I was passed the door and didn't hear anything else.”

Stacey shoved out of her chair and moved to her window. “God damn it. He couldn't just let it go.”

“Stace, what's going on?” Krista pushed.

“Damn it, I didn't want you to know. Not after what happened with Ingram...”

“Stacey Carlin you better start talking. Now.”