tabby

laptop bounce. I snagged it midair and glared at Arin. I didn’t know what he was more upset at, having to act gay or pretending to be the person who did my makeup and organized my wardrobe. It had to be the gay part since I would have thought that he would enjoy picking out stripper clothes and getting to be back in the dressing room, getting an up-close-and-personal look at the strippers.
“You’re the only one who can do it, Arin. Kasim needs to be free to leave the club to follow suspects, and I need to be free to meet other businessmen in my role as her manager and agent. Besides you need a reason to be in the back with her so that you can try to find the computer files we need.”
“I thought we needed her”—he jerked his thumb toward me—“to get us the files. Isn’t that why she’s here?”
“She’s here to get us into the club and then to use her magic wand—”
“Oh, you mean her magic DICC.” While Arin wore a grin, the sneer in his tone came through loud and clear. I revised my earlier thoughts about liking them. Bae and Arin were still dicks.
Beside me, Kasim growled. “Careful what you say. Like it or not, for this case we—all four of us—are a team, and we will act like one. Now, enough of this shit. We know what we are doing and can hash out more details once we’ve had her audition and she’s gotten the job. So let’s go climb.” He stood, arms crossed over his chest, and wore that fierce look on his face that scared me that first night at the climbing wall. Yet tonight, it didn’t faze me. Maybe it was the fact that when he turned to face me, the look he wore softened. “Ready?” he asked me.
“Um.” I closed the lid on my laptop to purchase myself some time. I did need to climb, and I was glad the meeting was over, but we hadn’t talked about my stage fright. I’d never be able to dance in front of people.
He uncrossed his arms and loomed over me. “I know that you’re a good climber. Practising it in front of us will help you to relax around us.”
“Relax?” Arin scrunched up his eyebrows.
“Sweet desserts. I completely forgot she mentioned something about stage fright.” Bae shrugged. “I’m not sure why. She dances well.”
“She is right here.” I wanted to add ass, but his earlier comments that had popped my burgeoning confidence wouldn’t allow me. “Yes, I have stage fright. And it’s bad.”
“And that’s why you are coming climbing with us. The four of us need to learn to work together.” Kasim held out his hand to me, which I took. The comfort of his touch soothed my irritation. If I wasn’t careful, I could become addicted to the way his touch made me feel. Like my personal supply of catnip.
I wasn’t given a chance to agree. He pulled me from the chair, handed my laptop off to Arin, and told him to grab my bag. And with that, he pulled me from the room, leading me down the hall to the climbing area.
The moment we entered the rock-climbing room, Gary rushed over but then came to a sudden stop as if he’d hit a large invisible brick wall. His smile faltered as his gaze darted between Kasim and myself before moving past us to Bae and Arin. “Ahh, Mia called to say that the climbing room was to be closed to all but Team Jones...”
“She’s part of us.” Kasim gripped my hand tighter as I tried to pull it from his.
“At least for now,” Bae added.
Gary nodded without confidence. His eyes pleaded with me to tell him what was going on. He knew I preferred to climb alone, and the last time I’d been here with these three, I’d run away. It was nice of him to check in with me, but from the yank on my arm pulling me closer to Kasim without my normal clumsy reaction, I needed to reassure them all. Not that I knew why I needed to placate them.
“Director Cooper has assigned me to their team for the next little bit. It’ll help me to learn more about how the agents in the field work to better the equipment I design.” At Gary’s nod and the slight loosening of the fingers squeezing my hand, I sighed.
“Okay, then. Well, let me get you all set up. Since I didn’t know you’d be with them, Tabitha, it’ll take a few seconds to get all your equipment together. Would you like to come with me to let me know which ones you’ll want?”
“Actually, Gary, we can handle getting her all suited up. But thanks. I believe Mia said that you could take the rest of your shift off.” While the statement sounded like it should have been a question, from Kasim’s stance and the gruffness of his voice, it came out more of a command.
Gary swallowed. “Um, yes, she did communicate that with me.” His gaze flicked to meet mine, and I gave him a quick chin bob. “Well then, I guess I shall leave you to it. My phone number is by the phone in case any of you need it”—his gaze returned to mine—“for anything.”
I wasn’t given the chance to answer. Kasim towed me toward the change rooms. “Do you have shorts with you?”
I nodded. Knowing I’d need to climb after the meeting to de-stress, I’d packed my gear in my bag. My bag was handed to me, and I was shoved into the change room.
“Don’t keep us waiting,” Bae shouted as the door swung shut, blocking out their voices. I leaned against the wall and attempted to get my ragged breathing under control. What did I get myself into?
Bae’s threat spurred me into action after only a second of rest. Maybe if Kasim touched me again, it would settle my internal upheaval caused by