CABARET GIRLS, BARTENDERS, AND COFFEE
BY: COVER GIRL

Chapter Two

    “Okay people here’s what we know,” Hawk went to the screen. An image of a black haired, gray-eyed man in his mid thirties appeared before them. “This is Tony Baderas. You can see from his profile he’s quite a player. We’ve linked him to several drug operations, in addition to the weapons trafficking. He’s operating out of the Glass Slipper, a night club in Houston.”

    Flint watched Lady Jaye sitting across the table from him over his file. <How can she possibly pull this off? Sure she’s fine in the field, she’s incredible at gathering and sorting these Intel reports *thumbing through the file * but can she handle this creep? > He watched her shuffling through the file making notes of everything said.

    “Flint? You with us?” Hawk shook his shoulder. Lady Jaye stifled a laugh.

    “Ah—yeah, I mean yes, sir,” he shifted in his chair, locking eyes with Lady Jaye for a moment before turning his gaze back to the file in his hand. “How many men does he have inside this…ah…club?”

    “Best estimate, I’d say 6,” Lady Jaye smiled, handing him surveillance photos. “These men are usually with him. The tall one on the left,” she leaned across the table to point, “is his driver. The three behind him are his bodyguards, and the two to the right side are his business manager and partner.”

    He was distracted again by her closeness. Was it the soft fragrance of her perfume, the glint in her eyes, or the faint lilt in her voice as she spoke? He couldn’t put his finger on it. He noticed her the first day he’d walked onto the team but dismissed it. She was untouchable or so he thought until Duke prodded him one day from a daydream telling him about him and Scarlett. Flint had questioned him. They were the commanders. Weren’t women like Scarlett and Lady Jaye off limits? Duke had laughed and reminded him they lived by a different set of rules in this unit. Nothing was set in stone. So long as things *relationships * didn’t effect their duties, Hawk overlooked it. The debate warred within his mind after every mission since that whole Pyramid of Darkness thing COBRA had cooked up. He chided himself for his awkwardness with her. He still couldn’t get over he had this beautiful woman in his arms, sinking in pink mud, and all he could babble was ‘Where do we go from here…ah...not us personally…I mean professionally?’ He raked his hand up over his beret knocking it askew before shaking the confusion from his mind. <What in the hell is wrong with me today? >

    “Lady Jaye will infiltrate the club as a singer,” Hawk looked at her.

    “You can sing?” Flint whipped his head up from the file.

    “Ah—yes, though I much prefer singing in my shower,” she smirked humorously.

    Hawk cleared his throat. “As I was saying Lady Jaye will infiltrate the club as a singer, Ginger Dauphine. You will be handling her surveillance inside the club when she’s there as her manager, Michael Stevens.” He handed them their dossiers. “Now an audition tape was already sent. They’re expecting you in the morning… well they will be. The main act will have a sudden emergency to attend to. Any questions?”

    “NO SIR!” They replied in unison.

    “Very well, Lady Jaye go and finish your preparations. Flint, I need a word with you.”

    “Yes, sir, what is it?” Flint pulled his file together, watching Hawk splay his hand just above the table telling him to wait until Lady Jaye had left the room.

    Hawk face was deadpan betraying no hint of emotion or what he was thinking. “Flint about this assignment. I chose you for her back up because of the first mission you completed with her—the Vegas show. You’ve seen her in several disguises, and the two of you work well together.” Hawk had seen the distraction in his warrant officer during the meeting. “If you can’t…”

    “I can handle this, sir. It just threw me for a loop. I mean I never made the connection between Lady Jaye and the…ah…show girl or the bartender,” he ruffled the back of his hair below his beret. “There won’t be a problem. I guess I better catch up with her to make sure we’re on the same page.” He quickly grabbed his file, leaving Hawk standing at the table.

    <I see just how this is going to play out. > Hawk took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, while closing his file. He looked up at the door hearing a knock.

    “Flint? I thought you were looking for Lady Jaye?”

    “Ah—sir. You wouldn’t happen to know where she might be would you?” Flint stammered.

    “Try the women’s barracks workout room, or find Rock ‘n Roll. She may be practicing.”

    “Practicing?” Confusion played across Flint’s face.

    “You know anyone else on this base with a music software program?” Hawk glared at him.

    “Oh…I’ll find her,” Flint headed off file in hand.

    <Son, you are in for one hell of a shock. > Hawk grinned at Flint’s retreating form.

    “Duke, have you seen Lady Jaye?” Flint rushed up to him in the control room.

    “Yeah, she was in the lab working with Rock ‘n Roll a little while ago. Why?”

    “Hawk’s sending us on a mission, and I have to check…I mean go over a few things with her before we leave,” Flint spotted Rock ‘n Roll coming into the control room with a huge grin on his face.

    “Rock ‘n Roll, I thought Lady Jaye was working with you. Where is she?” Duke grinned back at him.

    “We finished up a while ago,” the grin still etched on his face. “DAMN, she’s got a voice…no make it THE VOICE.” He caught the confusion on Duke and Flint’s faces. “I’m telling you…that girl can sing!”

    “Yeah…I know,” Duke elbowed Flint. “Have you ever heard her sing?”

    “No…she told me she preferred to sing in the shower,” he stammered. “She’s that good, huh?” He looked at them.

    “Flint…let me tell you that’s one show I’d kill to see,” Rock ‘n Roll sighed heavily walking to his station in the control room.

    “Come on Flint, I’ll help you find her. I’m headed over to Scarlett’s anyway,” he grinned clasping his hand over his buddy’s shoulder. “I guess with you and Lady Jaye out the next week or so…it doesn’t really matter what time I leave Scarlett’s, does it?”

    “I know where this is going, Duke,” Flint stopped to scowl.

    “So, why don’t you take a chance, Dash? I know you like her.”

    “We’ve been through this before CONRAD, just because you have Scarlett doesn’t mean you can play matchmaker with me,” he growled.

    “You know you want her,” Duke snickered, walking off ahead of him past the guard at the door.

    “Wait…where do you get off telling me what I…” Flint hissed, pulling him back by the arm.

    “For crying out loud, look at yourself. You get all googly-eyed and tongue tied around her,” Duke hissed back.

    “Like hell I…” Flint spotted Lady Jaye dressed in leotards headed into the workout room.

    “You were saying?” Duke smirked humorously. “Earth to Flint…”

    “Huh?”

    “Forget it…go find your lady. I’m going to see mine,” Duke grinned leaving Flint standing slack jaw outside the women’s workout room.

    Flint stood in the doorway his eyes drinking her in. He watched her stretching out along the ballet bar, listening to Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty. He knew she loved classical music. It was one of many things they’d discussed sitting around campsites the firelight playing across her face, dancing in those green eyes. He wanted to turn and run but found his feet wouldn’t heed him. Her body lithely formed stretches that made him cringe, yet gave him goose bumps at the same time watching her move smoothly through her routine. She had one leg extended across the bar forming a perfect line with her toes pointed out while she arched across her waist laying her fingertips across her toes. The lilac leotards she wore left nothing to his imagination--each muscle well defined, well sculpted. This wasn’t what he’d expected. It was beyond what he had imagined. Chiding himself for his thoughts, he continued watching recalling that first mission and that show girl costume. His face heated at the memory, his palms suddenly felt clammy as his heart began to race remembering how she felt in his arms when she’d fallen into his lap, when she brushed her lips over his, when she…

    “Flint, can I help you with something?” Her voice called waking him from his daydream. She looked up from the bar coming out of her stretch. Rolling her head over her shoulders, she reached for her water bottle and towel. “Surprised to see you here,” she wiped her hands, and opened the bottle taking a sip. She walked over to where he stood.

    “I—ah wanted to go over the mission in more…ah... detail.” He stuttered. <God I’m gawking at her like a…> “I’m sorry I didn’t think you’d be…ah...busy working out.”

    “Just taking a break to clear my mind. I can’t exactly practice in the gym area you know,” she gestured to the CD player. “The guys would hate my workout music.”

    <I don’t think they’d mind…> “I—ah, I’ll wait outside for you.” Flint watched her head up to her room.

    “Well…” Duke waved a hand in front of his face. “Flint, did you talk to her? Hello…Flint.”

    “Hmmm?” He snapped out of his thoughts.

    “You’re flight’s been moved up to tonight. You better start packing. I told Lady Jaye to get her gear together. You can talk more on the way to the airport. Come on the last of the Intel reports just came in,” Duke pulled him away from the front of the barracks, a sly grin forming over his face.

    “What are you grinning about now?” Flint growled.

    “Nothing…not a thing,” Duke shrugged. <You my friend will thank me later…>

    “C’mon Jaye,” Duke entered the quarters she shared with Scarlett. “Flint’s already down in the car. You’re flight leaves in two hours.”

    “I’ll be right there,” she called from her room. “Scarlett have you seen my bag?”

    “Uh…check the top shelf in your closet,” Scarlett came out of her room.

    “What are you up to now?” She glared at her boyfriend.

    “Who me? What makes you think I’m up to something?” He grinned picking up Jaye’s suitcases.

    Scarlett moved in front of him. “You not thinking of…”

    “Now, Scarlett,” he gave her a mock pout.

    “Duke, didn’t we have this discussion before leave them alone,” she poked him in the chest.

    “Now, what kind of a friend would I be if I didn’t help a friend out? You said yourself she REALLY likes him.”

    “Duke, what are you up to?” She stood with her hands on her hips.

    “Hey, sorry it took me longer than expected,” Lady Jaye stepped into the common area wearing a light blue suit. “I misplaced my bag.” She lifted the bag up to them.

    “Not a problem, my lady your chariot awaits,” Duke grinned, following her out.

    He was stopped by Scarlett’s hand. “He’ll be right down Lady Jaye. All right, what are you up to?” She watched his eyes bright with mischief. “Duke?”

    “What? Hey, what did she pack?” He set the suitcase on the sofa, and popped the lock.

    “Duke?” Scarlett’s eyes widened.

    “Hey just checking. This thing weighs a ton,” he moved a few things around. “Do you really think she needs these?” He held up two sleep shirts, and a robe. “I’ll just set these back in her room.” He walked past Scarlett.

    “Duke, put that back you can’t…. what are you doing?” She followed him into Lady Jaye’s bedroom and watched him go through her closet.

    “Where is it?” He moved hangers aside.

    “Where’s what? What the hell are you looking for?”

    “Her little night gown…you know the one every girl keeps,” he winked.

    “Duke…don’t you dare?” She tried to pull him out of the room.

    “Come on Scarlett…. where is it? I’d pack yours but I don’t think it would…ow…what did you do that for?” Duke rubbed his shoulder.

    “ROOKIE…here let me show you how it’s done,” she rolled her eyes, walking over to Lady Jaye’s dresser.

    “What do you mean you don’t have a reservation for me?” Flint growled at the front desk clerk.

    “I’m sorry sir, but we’re booked solid. The entire town is with the convention.”

    “I confirmed my reservation this morning,” Flint glared at the man.

    “Sir, I have nothing here in your name. Perhaps….”

    “Michael, can you come over here please?” Lady Jaye called out to him.

    “Ah, sure,” Flint sighed. “I’ll be right back…keep looking.”

    “Leave the guy alone. They’re swamped.”

    “But...” he pointed towards the desk.

    “Look, they put me in a suite. It should be big enough for the two of us to share without bothering each other. We’ve been out in the field before without problems, why should this be any different?” She grabbed his sleeve. <Keep it together Alison. This is no biggie. You can handle sharing a room with him. >

    “That’s not the point. I had a reservation,” he glared towards the desk.

    “You’re not going to find another room this late with these conventions.” He watched her walk towards the desk. “Mr. Stevens will be staying with me, please have all his calls forwarded there.”

    “Yes ma’am,” the clerk gave her grateful smile, handing her another key.

    “But…” Flint hissed in her ear.

    “Problem solved, please have our bags taken upstairs,” she smiled at the clerk, before placing her room key in her purse and handing the spare to Flint. “Shall we go,” she wrapped her arm around his.

    “Sure.” He led her to the elevator, watching her step inside. <Why me? >

    “Michael, I’m going to change,” she called back from the bedroom while Flint tipped the bellhop. He instinctively looked to the bedroom door closing and then back to the grinning bellhop. “Thanks buddy,” he growled slipping cash into his open palm.

    “Hey, no problem,” the man replied straining to see past him to the bedroom door as he pushed him out.

    Flint went to his suitcase and opened a hidden compartment. Pulling out a small device he began to scan the suite for listening devices. <Everything seems normal. > He frowned finding himself standing outside the bedroom door. <How the hell did I end up here with her like this? > He was about to knock on the door when she opened it suddenly still dressed in the blue suit.

    “I-ah thought you were going to change?” he looked over her head.

    “Can’t until we finish the sweep,” eyeing the device in his hands.

    “Everything’s clear out here, I—ah just have to check the rest,” he gulped.

    “Go right ahead, I need to unpack and get ready for tomorrow.” She slipped past him to their luggage. “Are we going to the club tonight?”

    “I was planning on checking it out tonight, why?” He walked into the living room area.

    “You read my mind that’s all. I wanted to check it out before I go in tomorrow,” she pulled out a case. “My make up bag,” she smirked at him. “Never leave home without it. Let me get changed and we’ll check it out together.” She walked to the bedroom with one of her garment bags over her shoulder and the make up case in hand. “I’ll only be a minute.”

    “I’ll call headquarters now,” he reached for his cell phone to call Duke. After waiting a minute, he finally got him.

    “Flint, how the hell are thing’s going?” Duke grinned, leaning back in his chair.

    “Everything’s fine. We’re here at the hotel,” Flint reclined back in a chair, raking his fingers through his hair.

    “Ok, I need the room numbers in case I need to get a hold of you,” Duke grinned evilly.

    “Got a problem there, Duke. It seems they lost my reservation,” Flint leaned forward, his forehead resting in his hand.

    “Lost your reservation?” <Oh… this is going to be good. > Duke was fighting to suppress his laughter. “How the hell did that happened? I told you to confirm the reservations this morning, didn’t I?” He growled looking at the cancellation number in his hand.

    “Yeah, well—“

    “So, where are you staying?”

    “Suite 1214”

    “And Lady Jaye?”

    “I’m staying with her…don’t get any ideas Duke. I told you before…look I’m gonna sleep on the sofa,” he heard footsteps behind him and turned muttering. “Holy sh—“

    “What was that?” Duke nearly fell from his chair. “What did you say after the sofa part?”

    Lady Jaye had walked out wearing a red wig and a short black halter dress, “Are you ready?”

    “Ah—yeah, sure,” he grinned, completely taken off guard.

    “Dash…you there?” Duke kicked back in his chair.

    “Do you mind?” Lady Jaye turned her back to Flint. “I’m having problems with the zipper,” she pointed around her back.

    “DASH!” Duke’s eyes widened before he fell out of his chair with a loud crash.

    “Got…ta go, I’ll check in later. We’re going to the club…Duke? Duke? Lost him,” Flint shrugged. “Here I-ah got it,” Flint gulped, zipping the dress the rest of the way. <It’s gonna be a long night. > He grabbed his jacket and got the door for her.

    The Glass Slipper was definitely the place to be. Flint scanned the club taking in the exits, and the locations of Baderas’ men while watching Lady Jaye circulate.

    “See anything interesting,” she approached him with two bottles of Black and Tan. “I remembered,” she smiled catching the startled look on his face. “Rule number one…never drink unless you know the person giving it to you, and/or it’s sealed. I watched them flip the caps.” She winked turning to face the stage.

    “And what if you don’t know?”

    “Then you make sure you have the best back up you can,” she leaned back looking up at him. “Come on let’s grab a table.”

    “After you,” he guided her to a table in the corner.

    It was after 3 by the time they returned, having watched Baderas leave with his entourage. Flint opened the door to the suite and watched her walk to the sofa, taking a seat. She yawned and stretched her neck.

    “You might as well get some sleep,” he tossed his jacket to the side. “You’ve got a long day tomorrow.”

    “Nope try a long night. I have to get used to staying up,” she reached for the phone to check the messages. “No one called,” she shrugged placing the phone back in the cradle.

    “Come on Lady Jaye…I’ll set the bags in the other room, and grab a pillow for out here. You take the bed,” he reached for her hand.

    “You know I do have a real name,” she frowned.

    “Really? Thought your mom named you Lady…”

    “It’s Alison…my name is Alison, Dashiell.” She interrupted waiting for a reaction.

    “I know…I read your file.” Not sure where this was headed he looked past her grasping for something else to talk about.

    “Ah—so you know my checkered past?” She raised her brow as a mischievous glint danced in her eyes.

    <She’s had too much to drink. Put her in the other room and walk away, Dash. > “I—ah,” clearing his throat, “I think I’ll grab that pillow now.” He picked up the suitcases and headed for the bedroom.

    “You know if my mother knew what I did for a living she’d have a stroke for sure,” she leaned against the bedroom door, slipping her shoes off. “That is after she reamed me with one of her patented young lady lectures. Are you ok?” She watched his eyes shifting around avoiding her. “Dash?”

    “Ah…sorry, I was just putting the bags away, and getting my stuff,” he heard her laugh.

    “Here’s a pillow,” she walked past the bed to the closet. Standing on the tips of her toes she reached, “Arghhh…. should have left my heels on,” she grimaced stretching for the pillow, her fingertips brushing the edge of it.

    “I got it,” he touched her shoulders lightly before reaching over her.

    “Don’t forget the blanket up there,” she pointed, knocking him slightly off balance.

    “Ah—thanks,” he stammered catching himself from falling forward into her with one hand, while taking the pillow and blanket down. He placed them under his arm and heading for the living room. Flint turned his head back once going out the door, seeing her unpacking. “Hey, that can wait till morning, why don’t you get some sleep?”

    “I’m just looking for one of my sleep shirts. I know I packed them,” she rummaged her suitcase. “Damn…. where did I?” Picking up a silk robe, a shocked expression came over her face. <What’s this doing here? I know I didn’t pack that. >

    “Something wrong?” He studied her for a moment with his workout clothes in hand.

    “Ah—no, I can’t find it,” she turned suddenly, hiding the robe behind her back. “You wouldn’t happen to have a t-shirt I could...ah...borrowed would you?” she gulped. “I must have left my sleep shirts back at the base. You know how Duke rushes everyone out the door.” She bit her lower lip. <For Chris sakes Allie…get a grip! This is Dash…Flint. Mr. Serious. Mr. Perfect by the book… absolutely gorgeous…oh my God…I’m in trouble now. > She forgot about the robe lifting it to cover her face, to cover her embarrassment.

    “What’s that?” He stepped forward.

    “Ah...nothing…ah just a slip to go with one of my dresses,” she stammered, tossing it behind her back once again. <Why don’t you quit while you’re ahead? > An awkward silence fell between them.

    “I got a couple of t-shirts,” he walked over to his suitcase, popping it open. “Here you go. I hope it’s big enough. I mean I hope it…ah…fits. I mean I’m sure it will,” he sputtered handing it to her before quickly walking off.

    Lady Jaye found her voice. “Dash stop! This is ridiculous. We’re just fine together on the field camped out with everyone else. Why should this be any different? Look, I’m going to finish unpacking. Hopefully I didn’t forget anything else,” she sighed heavily. <Different? Yeah it’s different all right. You’re alone with him. God Scarlett would have a field day ripping on you for this one as much as you drool over the man in front of her. >

    “You’re right,” he nodded his head closing the door behind him. “Don’t stay up too late, you still have that audition tomorrow.” He called from the other side throwing the pillow and blanket down on the sofa. <It’s going to be a long night…> He watched the light fade beneath the bedroom door.

    *RING…RING…RING…RING *

    Flint fumbled for his cell phone on the cocktail table. “What the…” he looked to the clock, “who the hell can be calling now…its 4am?” He grumbled opening the phone. “Flint here,” he leaned back on his pillow.

    “Flint just the man I’m looking for,” the cheery voice boomed in his ear.

    “Duke, do you have any idea what time it is?” He sighed heavily, sitting up.

    “I need to speak to Lady Jaye, is she there?” Duke leaned back in his chair, grinning at his accomplice seated on the edge of his desk near the speakerphone.

    “What is it? I’ll tell her in the morning. It can’t be too damn important or you wouldn’t have that shit eating grin on your face,” he growled.

    “What?” He sat up wiping the grin from his face and scowling at Scarlett not to laugh.

    “You heard me. What do you want this late? She’s asleep,” Flint grumbled.

    “So get her,” he grinned. “She’s there right?”

    “No…I mean she’s in the bedroom, hold on I’ll get her.”

    “Where are you?” Duke leaned into the phone.

    “On the sofa…like I said,” Flint growled standing to get her.

    “And how was your date…I mean assignment,” Duke stifled a chuckle.

    “You didn’t call for her, you called to…”

    “You wouldn’t be saying that unless you were thinking it old buddy. Seriously, though I need Lady Jaye, ASAP,” forcing a serious tone.

    “Fine,” Flint opened the bedroom door carefully looking towards the bed.

    “She’s sound asleep, why don’t you just tell me?”

    “Get her.” Duke smirked at Scarlett biting her lower lip.

    Flint turned the light on. He caught his breath seeing her asleep. She was wearing the gray ranger t-shirt he had given her. She had kicked the covers away, lying with her leg draped across a pile of them and was turning in her sleep. The t-shirt inched upwards resting on her hip. He couldn’t help but grin at her choice of panties. <Bikinis. > He was pulled from his thoughts when she began to stir. <Think fast Dash. > He waited for her to roll to the other side then tossed the covers back over her legs.

    Pulling the covers closer to her, she sat up shielding her eyes from the light. “Dash?” she yawned. “Is something wrong?”

    “See, what did I tell you?” Duke mouthed to Scarlett.

    “Ah—Duke…needs to talk to you,” he offered her the phone. “I’m gonna grab a sh..shower,” he nodded towards the door. <A cold shower. >

    “Thanks,” she smiled watching Flint head off to the bathroom.

    Quickly shedding his clothes, he slipped into the shower letting the cool water run over him attempting to clear his mind. The rushing water obscured the sounds of Lady Jaye’s voice on the phone with Duke but didn’t stop images from coming to him. A barrage of images flashed through his mind. He recalled the first time she fell into his lap, chatting over coffee, field exercises, the pink mud splattered on her face. He shook his head wiping his hand over his face before turning the temperature lower.

    “Anything else, Duke,” she rolled her eyes.

    “Yeah, I just have to finish up with Flint, is he there?” Duke grinned at Scarlett who mouthed to him one word—“EVIL.”

    “He’s in the shower. I’ll have him call you as soon as he’s finished,” exasperation hedging her voice.

    Scarlett’s eyes perked up at her words. “Send her to get him,” she mouthed.

    Duke gave her a thumb’s up. “Lady Jaye, I need to talk to him ASAP. Get him now!”

______________________________________________________

Continued in Chapter Three!
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