"You didn't even look to see who it was!" Blue was in full intimidation mode and knew she was scaring Shelby, but the analyst needed to be called to task on this.

"I knew you were coming..."

Blue snapped, "Did you know it was me?"

"I made a mistake, okay?" Shelby was struggling with a combination of fear and anger. What she had done was careless, but she felt like Kris was overreacting, and the operative was downright scary. At the same time she was crushed that she had appeared inept. "It won't happen again."

"Make sure it doesn't." Kris set down her overnight bag. She'd left the remainder of her clothes in the car, easily accessible if she needed them.

Shelby retreated to her bedroom and closed the door. Yes, what she had done was stupid, but it wasn't like she lived some cloak and dagger lifestyle, either. And when in the heck did she have time to change into jeans? Well, I sure didn't make any points with her. But she didn't have to be such a bitch, either. The analyst squared her shoulders. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, so let me see if we can start all over again.

Kris sank down onto the couch and lowered her head into her hands. Why did I do that? That was mean. I could have nicely explained the danger to her. In a moment of total honesty, Kris acknowledged, I did it to push her away. I know it was unfair. She doesn't deserve to be treated like that. It shouldn't matter to me, this is just a job, but it does. And that's the whole problem. I've always been able to maintain a distance when I needed to and I'm having a big problem doing that with her. There's something about her...

The operative heard the bedroom door open and quickly stood up. She gazed around the apartment, taking in the comfortable, homey décor. The carpet was buff and the overstuffed couch and matching chair were a blend of very light mauves, blues, and teals intricately woven into a beige background. There was a pair of mauve tinted glass lamps with an attractive flower painted on the base centered on end tables at opposite sides of the couch. A matching heavy oak coffee table set in front of the couch. Kris' perusal was interrupted by Shelby's voice.

"Want something to drink?"

Kris wanted to apologize, to say something light, anything, but the words weren't there. "Do you have any Coke?"

"Diet okay?"

Shelby chuckled at the look on Kris' face. "Guess that's a no. How about ginger ale."

"Sounds good."

Kris took the can from Shelby. "Do I get a tour?"

"Sure, but why don't you just sit down and relax for a few. I want to change clothes. You already did. How did you manage that?

"I have many skills."

Shelby chuckled at the cryptic comment. "I'll bet you do. Be right back."

"Take your time." Kris leaned back against the couch, and quirked a half-smile. "I'm not going anywhere." She grinned, listening to Shelby chuckle as she walked away.

She resumed her perusal of the small apartment, her eyes taking in an open laptop on one end of the dining room table with a few papers lying next to it and a vase of artificial flowers pushed off to the side. On one wall, there was a bookcase with glass doors and on the opposite wall a patio door led to a large balcony. Kris crossed the room, heading toward the balcony, when the bookcase caught her attention as she passed. Stopping, she gazed at the contents curiously.

It contained a small collection of mystical creatures. Leprechauns, fairies and elves surrounded a family of unicorns. On the shelf below, a statue of Pegasus with his wings fully extended as he reared was facing an intricately painted dragon with fire spewing forth from its mouth. A few of the fairies and elves looked old and Kris wondered how Shelby had come to develop an interest in the magical creatures of fairy tales and myths.

Her acute hearing picked up the sound of a footfall on carpet and she stepped away from the bookcase, not wanting to be caught studying the knickknacks, then continued to the patio door, sliding it open. As she stepped out onto the balcony, Shelby joined her.

"I love sitting out here in the evening. It's so peaceful."

Kris glanced down at Shelby, taking in the tranquil look on her face, and nodded, hating that she was going to have to spoil it for the analyst. "It is nice out here, but you should avoid doing that for a while."

Shelby sighed, knowing what Kris said made sense. "Okay. What would you like for dinner?"

"Anything is fine. Do you have any TV dinners? I can just throw one in the microwave."

"No. I don't usually buy those. Do you like spaghetti? Or how about pork chops? I've got some chili I made in the freezer..."

"Shelby, wait." Kris waited until she had her attention. "I'm not your guest. You don't have to cook for me. You didn't ask for this anymore than I did. Just do what you usually do and pretend I'm not even here."

Yeah, right. As if I could, even if I wanted to. "No. I won't do that. You are here and you're stuck with me because I might be in danger. I'm glad you're here and I'm not ignoring you."

She's glad I'm here? Kris liked how that thought felt, but it troubled her, too. She knew she had to put a halt to anything other than a business arrangement. "You might as well, because I'm here to do a job, that's it."

"Fine. But I'm still not ignoring you and if I make something to eat, I'm making enough for both of us. I wouldn't want the person protecting me to be too weak to do her job effectively."

Kris had to smother a smile at Shelby's last comment. "I didn't mean to offend you. I just don't want you to go to any extra trouble on account of my staying here."

Shelby met Kris' eyes. "It's no trouble."

Kris had to force herself to look away from the dancing green pools that were brimming with sincerity. The operative suddenly realized she wasn't going to win this battle and capitulated. "What do you want me to do?"

"Protect me, of course." Shelby grinned when a smile finally appeared on Kris' face.

"That I can do."

"Why don't you put your things in the bedroom? I'll change the bedding for you after dinner."

"I'm not taking your bed. I'll sleep on the couch."

Shelby looked at the couch and then looked up at Kris. "Just how do you think you're going to fit on it?"

"It'll be more comfortable than a lot of places I've slept."

Nodding, Shelby decided to make dinner. They could talk about it later. It didn't make any sense to her for Kris to sleep on the couch. She'd fallen asleep on it more than once and it was just big enough for her. Kris was over half a foot taller than she was.

Shelby walked over to a closet in the alcove by the apartment door and pushed aside her winter coat and a couple of lighter jackets. "You can hang your clothes in here, if you want."

"Thanks." Kris grinned ruefully as she watched Shelby walk into the kitchen. This job was going to be even tougher than she had thought it would be.

An hour later, they finished eating the spaghetti dinner Shelby had prepared and Kris helped her clear the table, placing the dishes in the dishwasher. "That was delicious. You're a good cook."

A slight blush appeared on Shelby's face. "Thanks."

The remainder of the evening passed quickly with Shelby carrying most of the conversation, determined to get the tall woman to relax. Kris felt some of her tension fade as she listened to Shelby chat while she softly petted the kitten that had decided to curl up in her lap, after spending most of the evening on Shelby's.

At eleven Shelby stood up. "I'm beat. I'm going to take a shower and go to bed. I'll put out some towels and a washcloth for you when I'm finished."

Kris nodded and turned off the mute button on the TV. She looked back at Shelby when the analyst called her name. "Yeah?"

"I want to sleep on the couch. There's a small TV in the bedroom you can watch."

"I thought we already settled where we were sleeping?"

"You're not gonna be comfortable on the couch. Why don't you take the bed?"

Kris found it hard to reject the sincere appeal that was evident in both Shelby's voice and on her face. "I won't be able to hear or see enough from the bedroom."

Shelby sighed. "Okay." She had enjoyed Kris's company so much she had almost forgotten why Kris was there.

"Shelby." Kris waited for the analyst to look at her. "Thanks for the offer."

Kris was graced with a smile that warmed her heart. Oh am I in trouble. "Nite."

"Goodnight."

A short time later the lights in the apartment were extinguished as both women entered the dream world.


CHAPTER 5

JEB LOOKED UP in surprise when the doorbell chimed. His wife, Sharon, had gone to bed before the late news started, so he hurried to the door, not wanting her to be awakened. A smile spread across his face when he saw his younger brother through the peephole and he unlocked the door, pulling it open.

"Michael! When did you get back? Come on in." Jeb looked up at his tall brother grinning. Michael was 6'3" with close-cropped nearly black hair. He ruefully acknowledged his brother had gotten the looks in the family. His wife had even commented that Michael could have been a model for the cover of Harlequin romances had he chosen to.

"Hey, Jimbo. Just got back. I decided to take a few days of leave." Michael had actually been in town for two days, but his brother didn't need to know that. "I know it's late, but I couldn't wait to see you. It's been what? Two years?"