Page 26 of Beck and Call

"Hello, Mr. Anderson."

He went through and closed my outer door. "Do you have something going on with my best friend?"

"Excuse me?" I rose from my chair. Perhaps I was likely to quit before the end of the day after all.

"You heard me. Is this why you turned down my offer to move in with me last night?"

"That wasn't an offer, it was a demand."

"I told you I would push your comfort level, and I also told you to stop running from me."

"Let's put a pin in this crazy and go back to the insanity that I've got something going with your best friend. What the hell are you talking about?"

"I'd like an answer to that as well," Colter spoke from the doorway, causing me to jump.

"You have a reputation. Women throw themselves at you," Beckett said dismissively.

"So he isn't to blame, because in this scenario I threw myself at him? Look how little we know each other, and you wonder why I wasn't thrilled you moved me out of my apartment without my knowledge?"

Colter dropped his head back, rolled it, and glared at Beckett. "Please tell me you weren't that stupid."

Beckett looked back at him over his shoulder. "It wasn't stupid. You didn't see the place she was living in. It was totally unacceptable. Besides, it makes–"

"Logistical sense for us to live together. You know with commuting to work and all," I finished.

"Exactly." Beckett looked confused. I'd have thought it was adorable if I weren't so pissed off at him.

"He said all of that?" Colter asked me.

"Yeah. It was romantic. I'm still swooning," I replied sarcastically.

"I can see that. Maybe I should have Sabrina take you to a spa after lunch. I don't think lunch is going to be enough to keep you from quitting."

"What are you talking about?" Beckett demanded.

"I'm your best friend, so I'm going to forgive you for thinking I'd hit on a woman you were involved with, but only this once, and only because I wasn't aware you were seeing your assistant. Also, we are going to have words about all the ethics issues you dating your employee creates. But please tell me you didn't ask a woman to move in with you after you made her homeless."

"I didn't make her homeless. I made it clear she had a home."

Colter looked at me, sympathy and something that looked like begging written across his features. "Where are you staying?"

"With my best friend. She had an extra room and has been asking me to move in for a while," I replied.

"And is this an acceptably safe living arrangement?" he asked Beckett.

He looked away and exhaled before answering Colter. "I suppose. Jana Easton does live in an apartment complex with reasonable security and safety features."

"Jana Easton? Marjorie's daughter?" he asked, astounded.

"Yes, although I don't think she likes to be referred to that way," I answered.

"Surely you can't have any issues with this arrangement. Evie here gets the space she needs to get to know you if she's still open to that, and you can be assured she's safe," Colter reasoned.

"Evie," Beckett implored. "Can we grab lunch and talk?"

"Sabrina already asked me."

"How about we take both of our assistants to a nice lunch?" Colter offered.

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