Page 59 of Being Bold
Thank you, baby Jesus.
“I’m fine, Henry.” She forced a smile. “Just a little under the weather still.” She swiped her badge and passed through the turnstile. Giving the security guard a small wave, she headed for the stairs.
Miraculously, she made it to her desk without passing out. As if the office were stuck in a time warp, she found Stuart hunched over the keyboard, squinting at the computer screen. She tapped him on the shoulder, and he jumped.
“Selene?” His eyes bugged out behind his glasses. “I thought you quit.”
“Oh, huh. Nope, I’ve just been sick the last few days.” She coughed for good measure. “Feeling mostly over it now,” she croaked like her throat might still be scratchy.
Stu gave her a wide berth, clearly afraid she’d infect him. “Okay, well, I’ll move out of your way. ’Night.”
She sat down slowly and blew out a breath.
“Great job, ocean-eyes. Now open your email and go about your work like everything’s normal.”
She smiled a little at Bo’s soothing tone in her ear, trying to convince herself everythingwasnormal. If only her heart rate would get the hint. She caught a familiar laugh and murmured, “Yumi’s incoming.”
“You know I can hear you, right?” The smirk in her friend’s comment nearly made Selene roll her eyes.
Her system was in overdrive. The wire connecting her brain to her mouth had come loose. She was so nervous she was going to screw something up, she’d forgotten Yumi had a comms device as well. The CIA agent acted as her bodyguard since she was the only one who could be in the office without arousing suspicion, but she’d given TOP access to the building’s security cameras.
When Yumi appeared at her desk with a cup of coffee, as if nothing had occurred to interrupt their usual routine, Selene told herself to relax. So far, it wasn’t working.
“Here you go, champ.”
Selene made a face as she accepted the mug Yumi held out for her. “Champ?”
Her friend’s nose scrunched. “Yeah, that wasn’t my best.” She leaned closer and whispered, “Yours is decaf by the way.”
Because she was jittery enough without more stimulants. All she could do was nod.
Yumi smiled and asked, “Are you feeling better? You still look a little green.”
Her teasing had the desired effect. Selene scowled. “You know, I’m not one hundred percent. You might want to keep your distance.”
“Nah, I’ve been vaccinated.” The crazy woman winked at her.
Selene couldn’t help the laugh that burst from her lips. Or maybe it was just a nervous puff of air. This was absurd. Shedidn’t want Yumi to leave, but if this was going to look normal, she had to let her go.
She leaned away from her friend and shook her head. “No, you should probably go. I’d hate it if I got you sick, too.”
“Okay, drippy, but text me later.”
Self-conscious, Selene swiped at her nose. “My nose isn’t dripping!” she called after Yumi, who chuckled. The sound faded too soon.
She was alone now. But not really. She had Bo in her ear, and she took comfort in that. Especially after her monumental screwup this morning. Now she rolled her eyes—at herself.
She was an idiot, but in her defense, she hadn’t been firing on all cylinders getting woken up like thatandbefore coffee. She’d gotten nervous and blurted out that stupid comment about sleeping like the dead. Now he’d pulled away from her again. Last night had been special, and instead of building on it, she’d ruined it.
Gah!
“You’re an idiot, Selene,” she muttered to herself.
“You okay, ocean-eyes?” Bo’s voice in her ear made her jump.
Shit!She shouldn’t have said that aloud.
“Yep, fine. Super,” she managed while internally yelling at herself,Shut up!Her shaky voice wasn’t going to convince anyone she had things under control.
