Page 45 of Operation: Sharp Angel

Briana laughed. Becca didn’t argued that she was staring. “You have it bad for that boy,” she said in a barely audible whisper.

Becca chose to pretend she didn’t hear her, and she got back to her reps, forcing herself to pull her eyes from Carter. Yeah, she kind of did have a crush on Carter, but she wouldn’t admit that to Briana or anyone else. And watching him lift weights was quite a sight. The more she saw him and learned about him, the more attracted to him she became. That, she would admit to herself.

After the two women finished their workouts, they showered and cleaned up in the lady’s locker room. When they exited back into the gym area, Tessman waited nearby for Becca. He, too, had cleaned up. He was freshly showered and re-dressed.

“Becca, let’s head back up to the rec room. There was one more thing I wanted to look at in your bins,” he said to the two ladies.

Briana murmured something suggestive in Becca’s ear and flashed her a grin. “I’m heading home. I’ll be in touch with you both after the client contacts me after eight. See you both tomorrow.”

They both bid her goodbye. Becca trying not to blush at Briana’s interpretation of Carter’s statement. She hoped Carter didn’t hear Briana.

They rode the elevator back to the fifth floor.

“That’s a great gym,” Becca said.

“Did you enjoy the show?” he asked with a coy grin.

Becca detected flirting in his tone. She thought for a second about how to respond to that. She could play dumb and ask what he meant. Or she could deny it and insist that she wasn’t watching him. Instead, she decided to encourage him. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I did.” She chuckled. “I guess I’m busted. But you’re probably used to it.”

He didn’t like her calling him out on that. Yes, he was used to female interest, and he rarely struck out when trying to get female companionship. But he didn’t want her to think badly of him, which he was sure she would. He shrugged. “Naw, not used to it. Not that I’ve noticed, unlike your staring,” he teased.

Becca immediately picked up on his joking tone as well as his dodging of her statement. Carter Tessman was attractive and there was no doubt in Becca’s mind that women always paid attention to him, and he noticed it alright. “As I said, busted.”

The elevator door slid open, and they exited. Angel was just leaving Shepherd’s office. “Good timing,” she said. “Shepherd needed to see you for a second, Becca. He’s free, go on in.”

Her nervous gaze went momentarily to Carter before she stepped to Shepherd’s open door.

Shepherd stood at his desk. He glanced up. “Come,” he said, waving her in.

She walked up to his desk. “Angel said you needed to see me?”

“Yes, since you’ll be working for the agency, even in a limited capacity, I have a shortened employment contract for you to sign.” He lifted a folder from his desk and handed it to her. “Could you please read it and sign it now? You can use myconference table. That way, if you have any questions, we can get them out of the way now. You’ll be provided with a copy for your records. I’ll have Angel email it to you.”

Becca flipped open the file folder. It was a short, one-page document. She almost asked if it was necessary, but she’d already learned that Colonel Sam Shepherd was a stickler for details and order, a military man to his core. She nodded and took a seat at the table. She read every word of the agreement, just as she had the NDA.

There was only one section that she found odd. And that was their medical and psychological oversight regulations. Apparently, there was a team mental health professional and regular visits with him were mandatory, beginning with the inception of the employment relationship. This man, Dr. Joe Lassiter, could bar her from working if he didn’t find her mentally fit just as one of their team medics could deem a team member medically unfit for duty.

Her work for the agency would be limited, this one client, so she decided to just go ahead and sign it. Then she replaced it in the folder and handed it back to Colonel Shepherd. “There you go,” she said.

Shepherd flipped the folder open and viewed the signature. “Thank you. Joe is actually free right now to see you. Have Tessman escort you to his office. I understand you will confer with Woods this evening after she talks with the client so that you can draw up the divorce papers with any special terms she wants.”

Becca was taken aback. She’d go see this psychologist right now? “Um, yes. I have the framework already created. It won’t take too long to add what she may need to it.”

Shepherd took hold of one of his business cards from the holder on his desk. “When it’s done, please email it to me.”

She took the card and saw his email address on the card with what she recognized as the main phone number to the agency. “I will, thank you, Colonel Shepherd.”

“Becca, just Shepherd is fine,” he said. “And please close the door on your way out.”

She smiled a forced grin, nodded, and then left the office. Carter waited nearby. She was happy she wouldn’t have to go looking for him. “Colonel Shepherd just had me sign a shortened version of an employment contract,” she said quietly, pointing back over her shoulder.

“I’m not surprised,” he said.

“And I’m supposed to have you escort me to see Dr. Joe. I don’t recall his last name.”

“Lassiter. I was wondering if he was going to enforce that protocol. Yeah, we all see Joe on occasion, sooner if a mission goes sideways.”

“Sideways, like last night?” she asked.

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