Page 10 of Shifter For Hire (For Hire 2)

“Everyone will have their turn to test their agility. We will be looking at your performance doing sit-ups, pushups, the three hundred meter sprint, and the mile and a half run.”

After the instructions were given, Lachelle flinched when she spotted Gerard barreling down on her. She had to tilt her head back little by little as he drew closer. If she forgot how big this dude was from the other night, he brought it home loud and clear.

Her mouth dried when he stood over her—not from fear or intimidation but from awe. A skilled master molded Gerard’s form from a chunk of perfection.

Okay, you’re getting crazy, Lachelle. Calm down.

She licked her lips and set a hand on her hip. “What in the world are you doing here? I didn’t take you for a cop when you dropped down from nowhere on top of me.”

“Say what? He did what?” The guy who thought he would stake his claim on her protested. Both Lachelle and Gerard ignored him.

“I’m a police officer,” Gerard told her. He left the explanation simple, but somehow she found it suspicious. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Oh no you won’t.” She stood up straighter, and the top of her head might have reached his shoulder. “I don’t need you chauvinistic men in my face. I’m going to show you what I can do right now.”

She turned away to join the other instructor, but Gerard stepped in her path. “No. It’s too dangerous.”

“You better get out of my way! I have just as much right to be here as everyone else, including these other women.” She glared up at him. “Or are you saying no woman should be a police officer? If that’s what you’re saying, you’re going to get yourself in a lot of trouble, buddy.”

To her satisfaction, he reddened. Flashes of frustration flitted over his face.

Silver eyes.

They were the most amazing she had ever seen, so pale, almost translucent—or did she mean glow-y?

It doesn’t matter. He’s a jerk, and I love Skip.

“Hey, Gerard,” the other instructor called. “What are you doing, man? Let’s get started.”

Gerard looked at his partner and back at Lachelle. He struggled with how to block her from testing. The guy who had come on to her stepped between them and held up a hand. “Look, I think she’s too hot for this job, too, but this is some discrimination crap, and we don’t play like that. Got it? So why don’t you back off and do your job?”

“It’s not your business.” The surly giant looked at her defender like he was little more than a buzzing fly.

“I’m making it my business!”

The woman who volunteered to work with Gerard sauntered over. “I’m ready, Officer Gerard. Want to hold my feet while I do my sit-ups?”

“No.”

The woman reddened with embarrassment. Lachelle bit off a snort of laughter. She grabbed the arm of the guy defending her. “I’m Lachelle Waverly. What’s your name?”

He grinned, full of himself. “Deandre Jones.”

“Great. Deandre, how about being my partner? You can hold my feet while I do my sit-ups, and I’ll hold yours.” She looked at the big guy. “You can assess us like you’re supposed to, or I can go to your superior later. If somehow that doesn’t work, I’ll be glad to sell my sob story to the media along with video footage.”

By that time, every eye was on her and Gerard. No one said a word, including Gerard as she dropped down to the grass and began to count out her sit-ups. After five or six, she paused.

“I assume you’re timing me?” Her silken tone deepened the color in his handsome face. He fumbled with the stopwatch he pulled from his pocket and nodded for her to continue.

A short while later, she panted across the finishing point with a stitch in her side. After Gerard clicked the button on his stopwatch, the sour expression on his face told her she’d done well. She tossed him a triumphant look and sauntered back to the building where she had left her things.

The official results would arrive through the mail, but she knew she had done well. She couldn’t wait to get out to her car to blast the A/C and phone Janessa to tell her the good news.

The line rang a few times and went to voicemail, and she groaned in annoyance. “Hey, sis, give me a call. You won’t believe the good news. I’m so excited.”

A shadow blocked out some of the sun, and she looked up. Gerard was headed around the front of her car toward her door. He’d changed his clothes to a crisp white shirt and a pair of black slacks. The way he twitched a bit made her wonder if the material didn’t itch his skin.

A sharp wrap on her window made her roll her eyes and lower it for him. “May I help you?”

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