Page 59 of Deadly Threat
“You’re starstruck by those muscles.”
She giggled. How long had it been since she’d done that? “Theyarepretty nice.”
They shared a laugh. A loud sawing noise started up on Amber’s end. “I’ll see you tonight.” She spoke over the grating sound. “I’m headed to a meeting with the city council. This may be a first—I’m actually looking forward to it.”
“Constance is meeting us afterwards at South of the Border.” Mia’s mouth watered just thinking about the delicious food. It was so great to be out in the world again, not afraid of, well, anything. “I’m dying for a chimichanga.”
“I can’t wait. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Mia’s pulse stuttered when she spotted a man sitting at her table. His right leg was in a cast, and a pair of crutches were propped against the wall. His expression reminded her of a thunderstorm, as he pecked away at his laptop.
The compound fracture had required surgery. Once the cast could be removed, he would need a lot of therapy. He’d been quite a bear over his injury, disappointed he wouldn’t participate in the triathlon, but repeatedly insisting it was worth it to save her. She’d heard from Sam and Josie that he was making his brothers miserable, calling the office constantly, and trying to run the business from his hospital bed.
But he was the best thing she’d ever seen, all those muscles and that big brain of his combined together and sitting in her chair.
It was kind of cute that Ladybug and Malachi looked like twins with their bandaged limbs. She was just thankful that everyone was alive, and while he kept telling her he was in this for the long haul, she had to keep pinching herself. He was her dream.
She sauntered over, glaring down at him. “You’re in my seat.”
He glanced up, and the storm cloud broke, turning into a giant sunshine of a smile. “You’re late.”
Ladybug wagged her tail like crazy. “You’re supposed to be in the hospital.”
Malachi petted the dog under the chin. “I had to get out of there.” He took the bag from her, placing it on the table. “They were driving me crazy.”
She set the dog on the floor, and she went to her usual spot, climbing over Malachi’s straight leg. “Did the doctor release you?”
His gaze went to his screen, avoiding hers. “Caleb snuck me out.”
Of course he did. “And brought you here instead of taking you home? You should at least have your feet up.”
“Mann finally filled out the personality quiz. To tell the truth, I’m scared after seeing the results. I can’t tell if he’s joking with these answers or if he’s really as crazy as he makes himself sound. I only have a twenty-four hour extension to get this done and turned in with the rest of my report. Can you believe it? Professor Jones is a hardass.”
She sat and removed the books from her bag. “Did you actually ask for a longer extension? After everything that’s happened, I’m sure he would oblige.”
He pretended to study the screen. “I needed to get out of that damn hospital and back to some semblance of normal. Joe and Caleb have been harassing me about being an invalid, and I’m going to have to bribe Josie or Sam to fill out all that god-awful paperwork the Feds want done. This was the best excuse I could find to get away from all that.”
She leaned forward and caught his eye. “Malachi, it’s fine for you to take time and stay home, rest up. You could work there.”
He peeked at her over the lid. “The view is better here.”
She felt her cheeks heat. “Do you need help with your report?”
“If I say yes, will you come sit on my lap?”
She waggled a finger at him. “I’m not sitting on you, but I will help you if you truly need it. If I let you stay here, you do things my way, understood?”
He bowed his head, but she could see the smile teasing his lips. “Okay, okay, I agree to you turning the tables on me.”
“Good.” She liked ordering him around. She opened her laptop. “Wanna go to a meeting tonight?”
He studied her. “Do you need one?”
“We all do, and I’m bringing Amber.”
“I’m in, if you want me to go.”
