Page 19 of Shockproof

“Nah,” casually slips out of me as he shuts the door behind him with all of us inside. “I don’t drink at the office.”

“Really?” Harvey asks, genuine intrigue planting itself on his face. “Never?”

Slater grips my hand tighter upon my answering. “Nope.”

“And why not?” His hands find their way to his pants pockets. “It’s not against protocol for certain positions.” A small head bounce is slid between statements. “It’s actually expected and at other times encouraged.”

“I think it’s time to switch departments,” Blu good naturedly goads and rests his back against the blockade.

“Much like not being able to whip up dessert around evaluating data, I can’t exactly sip a glass of Torrez and type out a coherent explanation for why an operative with a pattern of authoritative issues isn’t the best fit for an assignment that requires him to infiltrate an operation by playing a subservient role.”

“Youdon’tsipTorrez,” my boyfriend jovially argues. “You take shots of it.Every. Time.”

“Okay, but Icouldsip it.”

“Can’t.”

“Can.”

“Fine then. Won’t.”

“Exactly.” I smugly smirk. “Won’tandcan’t are too very different things, Cowboy.”

“And Torrez is…?” Our boss cautiously asks.

“Tequila,” we reply in tandem.

“Ah,” Harvey slowly nods his comprehension, “I should’ve known after our bad tequila conversation earlier.”

“There’s no such thing as bad tequila,” Slater swiftly states in such a way I can’t help but smile. “Onlycheaptequila.”

See.

Meant for each other.

Harvey presses his lips tightly together, briefly meets my gaze, and delivers me a small shrug as if wordlessly echoing the silent statement I just made.

Maybe it’s easy for him to see that now.

Hell, maybe it’s easier for me too.

The individual we are all responsible for answering to redirects his focus to the man who is gently stroking my thumb with his. “Status report?”

“Each of the floors previously mentioned have been swept and are secure. Pairs are still in position at all of the entry and exit points.”

“Excellent.”

“Yi’s condition is stable with no surgery required; however, he has to wear a brace for what the doctor is predictin’ to be months and is advised to be severely medicated to withstand the amount of pain he’s currently going through. His wife arrived about twenty minutes ago and should be able to take him home in the next couple of hours accordin’ to Medical.”

“I’ll stop by there next,” Harvey professionally declares. “I’ll extend my condolences to the situation, express our gratitude for his service, and inform them that all medical expenses are covered by the company as well as three months of his temporary leave under the hazard pay clause.”

“Six,” Slater smoothly corrects from beside me.

There’s no reluctance for our boss to scoff. “Pardon?”

“It’ssixmonths for those that are injured durin’ an active assignment.”

“Which he wasn’t.”

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