Grumbling comes from around the table.

“No whining. I changed it this morning before the meeting. I think you’ll like what I’ve done. Look at the clipboard before you start. Use the timers. No cheating. If I catch you cheating, you’ll pay for it.”

I have no idea what this circuit is, but it doesn’t look like it’s very popular.

“I’m going to manage May’s workouts for the time being,” Ozzie says. His voice sounds a little gruff to me. I look around the table, but I can’t tell if anyone else noticed it or not.

“Why?” Dev’s clearly not happy. “You think I’m not up to snuff?”

“No, you’re up for it. I just want you to focus on combat training. I’ll get her cardio where it needs to be. After that we’ll work on building muscle.”

I focus on the papers in front of me. My instinct is to stare at Ozzie and share goofy smiles with him, but even I know that’s a bad idea. I don’t want to embarrass him and make him hate me before he even has a chance to like me for more than twenty-four hours. That would be a tragedy, considering the amazing sex we had last night. Twice!

“Okay. We’ll start with the singlestick.”

I’m not going to remind Ozzie that he promised to teach me how to use that weapon. He’s doing my workouts. That’s enough special attention. I don’t want everyone thinking I’m some kind of prima donna.

“What else?” Thibault asks.

“I need someone to chase down the intruder from last night,” Ozzie says. He sounds angry.

“I got that,” Thibault says. “Not sure what I’ll be able to find, but I’ll give it a shot.”

“We might find something on the tapes,” Toni offers.

“Keep your ears open for anything,” Ozzie says. He turns his attention to Lucky. “What’s going on with the Blue Marine Op?”

“I don’t know, actually.” Lucky is frustrated. “I sat down and went through their financials, and they seem fine . . . but something’s up. They were right to call us.”

“What do you mean?” Ozzie stops messing around with folders and stares at Lucky.

“I’m not sure. I need to go on-site and figure some things out.”

“Go ahead. Just don’t talk to any employees without speaking to our contact first. And obviously, don’t identify yourself to anyone there at the site, even our contact.”

“No, of course not. I’m going to shop for some fishing tackle.”

“And what would Sunny think about that, I wonder?” Dev smiles evilly at Lucky.

“What Sunny doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” Lucky throws his folders to the middle of the table. “We done here? I need to get going.”

“Hot date?” Thibault asks, grinning.

“If you must know, I have a doctor’s appointment. But thanks for caring about my personal life.”

Thibault holds up a hand to the table. “Speaking of which, I need everyone’s time sheets by the end of the day. Payroll is Friday, don’t forget. If you want to get paid, get me your time sheets. No excuses.”

Groans come from around the table. I’m a little worried myself, since I don’t know anything about time sheets. Do I need to do one too, or is being on probation somehow exempting me from that?

Thibault rolls his eyes. “I’ll say it again, since we have a new hire at the table . . . fill out your sheets every day, as you book the hours. That way it isn’t a big chore at the end of the week.” He points at me. “I’m doing yours for you for now, but after this week, you’re on your own.”

I nod.

“Booo,” Dev says with his thumb pointed down.

Thibault shakes his head. “Jesus, people, grow up. It’s a time sheet, not a calculus test.”

Ozzie stands. “One more thing before you all leave.”

Panic hits me. I know it’s irrational and completely contrary to how he’s treated me so far, but all I can think is he’s going to tell them. He’s going to expose me for the slut that I am, revealing that I slept with him just mere days after meeting him for the first time.

“We need a company car for May. I’m open to suggestions about make and model.”

I’m too stunned to speak. I get a company car? Does that mean I’m not on probation anymore? Am I the only one noticing how crazy this is?

“How about a minivan?” Toni says, snorting at her own joke.

I glare at her, my misgivings flying out the window. “What . . . you’re saying I look like a minivan type? A mom with a bunch of kids? No thanks.”

She shrugs. “You’re Bo Peep. Might as well work with the cover you’ve got naturally.”

“It’s not a bad idea,” Ozzie says.

Traitor! I turn on him. “Of course it’s a bad idea. It’s a horrible idea. I can’t drive a minivan! Minivans are for moms. They’re for married women, not single ones.”

I don’t look like a minivan driver, do I? It makes me want to cry. I know they have a lot of headroom and storage space, plus room for eight passengers, but come on . . . I’m single, for God’s sake!

“You’re worried it’ll get in the way of your dating life?” Ozzie waits impassively for my response.

My face contorts itself through several expressions. Frustration. Embarrassment. Sadness. Jealousy. “How come Toni gets to drive an SUV?”

Yes, I’m being childish, but what the hell. She gets to walk around in tight pants and stiletto-heeled boots. I’m in espadrilles and a minivan. I’m calling shenanigans on that. It makes me wonder why Ozzie slept with me in the first place. Is he some kind of weirdo with an Oedipus complex?

“I drive the SUV because it suits me.” She smiles at me, and I detect more than a hint of smugness there. Argh, she is so begging for a Tasering right now, or at the very least a pee-purse whacking.

I narrow my eyes at her. “A minivan does not suit me at all.”

“How about I take her car shopping?” Dev says. “I have time later today.”

“Do that.” Ozzie nods. “I’ll be done with her around nine.”

“And I’ll be done with her by two,” Toni adds. I think she likes speaking for my time schedule a little too much. She and I are going to have to share a few words about that. I can’t go running to Ozzie over issues like this, especially now that we’re sleeping together. I don’t want any special treatment. Yeah, Toni and I are going to have a little convo later this morning, just so we can get some things straight.

“You want to meet me here at two-thirty?” Dev asks me.

“Sure. As long as you don’t have a weapon on you that you plan to use against me.”

He smiles. “No promises.”

I shrug. “Fine. Same goes for me, though.”

“Ooooh, baby, that sounds like a threat!” Thibault is laughing. “You opened up a can o’ worms with her, Dev. I think you’d better retreat.”

“Retreat isn’t in my vocabulary,” he says, standing to his full, almost seven-foot height.

I have to admit, it’s pretty impressive. But I’m not going to let anyone know I’m affected by it. I shrug. “Don’t worry, Thibault. You know what they say about guys like him.” I gesture at Dev with my chin.

Thibault’s eyes are practically sparkling with glee. “No, what do they say?”

“The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”

Even Ozzie laughs when Dev replies. “Oh, it’s on, Bo Peep. It is so on right now.”

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

After changing into my workout clothes, I meet Ozzie in the company’s gym. He’s wearing his workout stuff too, and I have to avert my eyes from his crotch that I swear is growing bigger by the second. It doesn’t help to calm me down, though. His chest is massive in the light of day, and I still remember what it felt like beneath my hands and what it looked like naked, hovering above me.

“I’m going to show you Dev’s circuit today, so you can do it without me in the future.”

My face falls. All sexy thoughts leave my mind immediately. The circuit? Nobody likes the circuit. I don’t even know what it is, and I don’t like it.