Chapter 8

Amira's phone alarm blared.

"Good God! It's morning already?" she said as she drew a hand to her head. It was pounding to the point she thought it'd fall off just from touching her temples. She quickly silenced her alarm and flung the sheets off her legs. "Why do I feel like crap? And what happened last night?"

As she stepped into the shower, bits and pieces of the night before ran through her mind as the water beaded on her skin. She'd placed her hand on Richard's thigh and then practically gave him a hand job while they were talking on the barstools. She sucked in a breath as she cupped her mouth.

"Oh, crap! How could I have come onto him like that? He must hate me!"

She closed her eyes and let the water bead up on her skin, hoping all of her embarrassment would fall into the drain. Of course, she knew she wouldn't have such luck. She sucked in a breath to calm herself.

Thank goodness yesterday was my last day. At least I don't have to face him as my boss after all that.

But I will need to work with him as a partner, now.

* * *

Amira arrived at Stan's office with the intention of preparing for Gregor's arrival. She took a seat at one of the empty desks and buried herself in her notepad, jotting down important details of the former king's itinerary and some of the weak points Richard had noticed last night at the bar that she remembered him mentioning before she placed a hand on his junk.

Amira managed her composure until Richard entered the office and stepped up to her desk.

"Can I get you a coffee this morning?"

She dropped her pen and let out a gasp. "Oh! Sorry!"

She grabbed it at the same time Richard did. His thumb brushed the back of her hand as they picked it up simultaneously. He gave her a cocky grin, his eyes never leaving hers, as he rubbed gentle circles into her flesh. Heat rushed through her arm and straight to her core.

Of course he couldn't keep his hands to himself. Why had she ever thought things could stay professional between them?

"Thanks," she said to him as she yanked her hand away from him.

She quickly busied herself, jotting down more notes.

"So, coffee?" he asked again.

"No, I'm fine," she answered. Finally, she looked back up at him.

His eyes dropped from hers.

Fuck! He's pissed.

But seriously, didn't he understand they had a job to do? They didn't have time for inappropriate workplace behavior.

The same flashes from the night before rushed through her mind once more, and heat streamed down her neck and cheeks as she remembered telling him she wanted him. Or was that a dream? Because ever since she'd met him, she was having some pretty inappropriate dreams about her boss. She instantly wanted to pull her hair out of the tight bun she had it in and unbutton the first two buttons on her blouse, but she was still in the office.

"Amira, are you all right? Can I get you some water? You look flushed."

Amira played with the collar of her button-down blouse. It seemed to constrict her with each breath she took. All she wanted to do was hide until Gregor showed up.

"Just a little warm," she answered. "I think I'll hit the cafeteria for some iced tea. The crisp morning air might do me some good."

Amira went to stand but was met with his outstretched hand containing an opened water bottle.

"Amira, please talk to me. What's wrong?"

She swiped the bottle away from Richard and took two unladylike pulls from it before she met his eyes. They were brown pools of milky chocolate goodness, and she couldn't help but melt at the sweetness she saw behind his gaze.

"Nothing's wrong." Her voice was almost a whisper.

He placed a hand on the back of his neck and rubbed it. She remembered him doing this during the interview and figured it was a nervous habit.

"You just seem… distracted."

"Of course I'm distracted. I have a big assignment, and I also have to think about the fact that Zagan escaped from prison," she snapped at him, and he took a step back, looking surprised at her change in tone. She took a breath and calmly explained, "I just want to make sure I'm ready, that's all. The former king will be here soon."

"All right. Let me know when he arrives." He gave her a sharp nod, though his eyes seemed doubtful about her explanation. Even so, he turned and left Stan's office.

She let out a huge breath when he was gone. Had he wanted to talk about what happened the night before? Did he regret anything—especially when she touched his junk? And was last night just as fuzzy for him to remember as it was for her?

She wanted to know the answers, but she also didn't think it was the best time to think about it. She needed to focus on the job.

And definitely not allow what happened last night to happen again. If she couldn't control herself, Stan might kick her off the Gregor detail. She didn't want that to happen. She also didn't want to offend Richard or give him the wrong idea. She liked him and could even see herself dating the man, but she'd be damned if he stood in the way of her promotion. He'd have to understand that whatever they had going on between them had to be casual until after the assignment was over.

"Ready for your assignment?" Stan's eyes were set ablaze as he appeared at Amira's side, rubbing his hands together.

Amira swallowed hard before she answered. She gave him a thumbs-up. It was the best she could do because she was worried her voice would crack.

"Is Dick coming?" Stan asked.

Amira coughed out of reflex. Did Stan know what she did last night to Richard? Pretty sure it was an inappropriate sexual assault in the workplace since he was her boss. Well, former boss. Was it written all over her face?

"I'm right here, Stan," Richard said, appearing in Stan's more private part of his office. He stood firm between where Amira was and where Stan was. "And I told you before—stop calling me Dick!"

Richard's cheeks were sporting the most gorgeous shade of red. Did that mean that he was also thinking about what happened last night? And more importantly? Did that mean he liked it?

He wasn't alone. Next to him was King Gregor. Amira recognized him from the photos in the mission brief.

"Stan! It's so good to see you!" the man called out.

Stan and Gregor shook hands. "It's good to see you, too. But where's your guard?"

"I brought an old friend with me," Gregor said while smiling and stepping into the office, a pint-sized Harriet Hopper walking in behind him.

"Stan! It's good to see you," Harriet greeted. "I hope you don't mind, but I knew the best route to get here. My father-in-law is completely safe."

"You always were a great FUC agent, Harriet. How is King Lear? And Carol?"

"They're both good. SHIT is on their mind, of course, but the rest of the Scooby Gang is there helping them out."

"Well, this assignment just got a lot easier," Stan said with a smile. "You know Richard, right?"

"Of course!" Harriet beamed at him. "Good to see you again."

"You too, your Royal Highness… Harriet," Richard said.

Harriet waved a hand. "It's just Harriet. I don't do the formalities when I'm on the job."

"I'm Amira," she said, standing from the desk to properly introduce herself to the former king and then Harriet. "It's nice to meet the famous Harriet Hopper. You're a legend around here." Amira extended her hand. Harriet shook it and smiled.

"It's nice to meet a fellow FUC. I've heard you're on course to make an outstanding agent."

"Thank you, Harriet!" Amira said with a bright smile.

"So, Harriet, are you familiar with where we're going tonight, The Joint?" Richard asked, glancing over at Amira before locking onto Harriet.

"I've looked over the schematics, yes."

"The big thing to know is that there are no cameras around the bathrooms. Just one facing a door leading to the back alley between both lavatories."

Amira blushed at the mention of the bathrooms, and the memory of what she'd propositioned Richard to do there, but luckily no one seemed to notice. She'd prayed it was just a proposition. If it was anything else? Well? Her mouth went dry. She quickly swallowed and tried to focus on their meeting instead of her lusty thoughts about having her way with Richard.

"That will pose a slight problem," Harriet replied. "Amira and I obviously can't go with my father-in-law to the bathroom."

"No, but Richard or I can," Stan piped up.

"Oh, awesome! You are both coming with us! I think between the four of us, we will be okay protecting the former king. Shall we head out?"

"Yes! Let me get my jacket and keys," Richard said, glancing over at Amira.

"I'll grab mine as well. Meet you in the parking garage, guys?"

"Sounds like a plan!" Harriet said.

Amira followed Richard into his office. It was now or never. There was no way she could get through the whole night without some sort of acknowledgment about what had happened between them. She took in a breath before speaking.

"Can I talk to you later? It's about last night and what happened between us."

Richard's face finally softened again. "Of course. I kinda wanted to talk to you about it, too, but I wasn't sure how to bring it up. Things are a little fuzzy for me." He brought his palm to the back of his neck and shifted from one foot to the other.

Amira placed a palm on Richard's arm. His tense muscles suddenly relaxed under her palm.

"I honestly hadn't planned to say anything for the same reason. Then flashes came to me, and I'll admit I was a little embarrassed at how I acted."

"I'm glad to know it's not just me. But let's talk later. Right now, we've got a job to do."

Amira smiled and nodded at him, and the two headed for the elevator. Richard pressed the button for the garage, and they headed for his car. As he opened the driver's side, Stan came into view and was heading for his own car.

"Stan, we should take only two cars. "

"Good idea."

"Great! We will follow you and Harriet."