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“Could we be focused, people? Clay has everything we’re looking for”
“And more,” Olivia said with a wink “But no from me”
Charlie stared at her “What?”
Her captain shrugged “Come on, Charlie Be serious Sure, he’s physically fit and yes, he passed the interviews I have no doubt he’d do fine on the psych exam, but so what? He’s not so our volunteers We need to knoe can count on the to spend money on a butt model”
Charlie felt her te ive him a chance because he’s too attractive?”
“No He’s unreliable”
“What is that based on? He was on time to each of my classes and stayed to the end” She turned to Michelle “Was he late to the interviews?”
“No, but”
Charlie waited
Michelle sighed “He was on time”
Charlie turned back to Olivia “So how is he any more or less dependable than the other candidates?”
“You knohat he is,” Olivia told her
“No I don’t What I know is he’s interested and ive hi if soirl is too pretty, she can’t be intelligent, too If he were a wo this conversation We would, in fact, be going out of our way to make sure ere fair to her I’e ant to send to the department and the community”
Charlie stared at the other woenuinely surprised by the fact that they weren’t giving Clay a fair chance
Olivia shifted in her seat “You’re ets into the training program or not?”
“Because I do a lot of the training and he’s the best one we have It pissesdismissed because of how he looks Probably because it’s happened a lot to me, but for very different reasons”
Michelle drew in a breath “She’s right He knew eneral, but hoe do things here He’s put ti to consider Clay because of how he looks or what he was doesn’t speak very highly of us”
Olivia wasn’t pleased “Fine We’ll put hiram, but if he screws up even once, he’s out”
“No,” Charlie told her boss “I don’t agree with that We have very specific rules in place and consequences If Clay breaks the rules, then the same consequences apply to him as they would to anyone else”
“Whatever” Olivia made a note on the list “Who’s next?”
“I WAS so angry,” Charlie said at lunch “They practically called him a piece of ass It never would have happened if he were a woet it I’ve been dismissed because of how I look I kno it feels Most of the like this?”
Annabelle reached across the table and grabbed a French fry from Charlie’s plate
“Is that allowed?” Patience asked with a s went”
Charlie eyed the other toreens in bowls “If you don’t want salad, why do you order salad?”
“Because I don’t burn a million calories at my job and I’m as tall as a mushroom,” Annabelle said, then popped the second half of the fry into her mouth
“I like the pretense of eating healthy,” Patience told her
Charlie sighed and turned her plate so the fries were facing the other two, then motioned to Jo who stood by the bar
Jo grinned “They’re stealing again?”
“It happens every time”
“I’ll bring out more as soon as they’re ready”
“Thanks”
Charlie picked up her burger “What was I saying?”
“You were ranting,” Patience told her “It was a good rant I adood at it, too”
“Lillie is good at a lot of things,” Annabelle said “She’s so fun when she co about Clay and the ”
“I’ve seen hihed “Wow He’s seriously good-looking It’s like he’s not really one of us I ad up for him”
Annabelle, who knew a littleon with Clay, looked a she was going to get a talking-to fairly soon
“Me, too,” Annabelle told her “And I’ht ere more evolved than that”
“They think he’s going to be flaky That he won’t follow through If he’d given them any reason for that, I would totally support their concern But he hasn’t He’s shown up when he’s supposed to and done what he’s told”
“An excellent quality in a“I like him already”
“Interested?” Annabelle asked causally, keeping her gaze on Charlie
Charlie forced herself to take a big bite of her burger and chew as if she hadn’t felt a single twinge of jealousy That sharp pain in the region of her heart was just, uestion
“Wish I could be, but no My ex cured ain” Patience’s smile turned rueful “Not asa dad, so he signed away his rights to her I’ her heart a second time”
“Not all guys are jerks,” Annabelle told her
“I’ve heard the ruuy is pretty special”
“I know,” Annabelle said with a sigh
“Oh, the fries are ready” Patience got up and walked toward the bar
Annabelle watched her go, then leaned forward “Be careful,” she said in a low voice “About Clay”
“I wasn’t reacting emotionally,” Charlie whispered “I defended hi to do”
“I agree, but I’m worried about you”
“We’re just friends”
“You’re having sex”
“Not yet, but soon” Anticipation sent an odd heat burning through to her thighs
Her friend looked at her “You’rewith forces you can’t control”