Page 80 of Nocere

"Well, if this lead pans out, you might have to consider the spotlight."

I shook my head and returned my attention to Stiles.

An hour later, the party disbanded into their law enforcement groups, and I returned to my office. Just as I made to drop into my desk chair, the thud of sauntering boots appeared in my doorway. Caroline entered, and helped herself to one of the chairs on the other side of the desk. She crossed her legs, and thumbed through her phone like we knew each other through the shared proximity of a college dorm. I lowered myself to my seat while watching her.

"Where's your partner?"

"Catching up with some of her old work friends," she said, then tucked her phone in her pocket. Her gaze met mine then and she smirked.

"So...what are you doing?" I swallowed down the nerves that made it to my throat.

"Samirah told me you agreed to scene with us," she said, revealing her motivation. "With limits."

I glanced to the open door then back to her. "We're at work…"

"No one else is here."

"Still. It's awkward."

"You're very shy, Rosie," she said, her expression softening a smidge. "And nervous."

I nodded and folded my arms over my middle. "You're making me nervous."

Before she could respond, my phone buzzed wildly on the desk. I picked it up to see Samirah's name on the screen. "It's Sam."

"Answer it, silly." Caroline smiled and leaned back in her chair.

"Hello?" I held the phone to my ear after accepting the call.

"Did you send me flowers, my sweet?" I could almost hear the smile in her sultry croon.

"Yes." My face burned immediately and I tried not to look at Caroline.

"Thank you, baby. They're beautiful," said Sam, with an air of whimsicality to her tone.

"You're welcome." My words came out on a whisper.

"My God, you're blushing so bad. What is she saying to you?" Caroline chuckled as she leaned her elbows on the desk.

"Who's that?" asked Sam right away.

"Caroline is here at work with me," I told her. "And teasing me because I'm turning red."

"Is she now?" Samirah's voice clipped at the end.

"Yes."

"Is she respecting you?" asked Sam.

"Yes, of course." My brow furrowed and I looked to Caroline.

"I'm making her nervous. Put it on speaker phone." Caroline nodded toward the phone.

I obliged and hit the speaker button. "It's on speaker," I warned Sam.

"What are you doing, Caroline?" asked Sam straightaway.

"Easy there, Sami. We're just talking. We were in a work meeting together." Caroline's demeanor cooled right away. Sam remained quiet until Caroline asked. "What's wrong?"

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