Cloud Dust: RD-1 (R-D #1)(18)

"Your health is suffering for it," he said. "Staying up so late."

"Really? Got a medical degree, too?" I sniped.

"I've done some reading."

"I'm sure you have."

"Natural remedies are available to help you sleep. You don't need those drugs that Shaw offers."

"I don't take those drugs that Shaw offers."

"Colonel Hunter said you didn't."

"You've increased my intake of ibuprofen."

"I know. You could go to the whirlpool. That would help."

"The whole Mansion shows up there."

"And that is a problem because?"

"I'm an introvert."

He laughed. It wasn't a horrible sound. "Do you own a swimsuit?" he asked when he stopped chuckling.

"It's five years old and I've never worn it. Moths may have eaten it; I haven't checked."

"You could go in naked."

"While everybody in the Mansion has probably seen me naked, I don't want it to be voluntary," I said.

"You make me laugh," he said.

"Sure. Every time you toss me to the floor, you're grinning."

"Get your swimsuit, lightweight. We'll go to the spa."

"Where's your suit?" I demanded.

"I'm wearing it under my jeans."

"Of course you are."

"You should call me Rafe," he added.

"Of course I should."

*

Complete proof that everybody listened to everything going on in the Mansion waited for us when we arrived at the huge hot tub connected to the gym. Even James was there, grinning like a fool and scooting over so I could sit next to him.

Rafe the rat sat between us.

"You stopped in the middle of a paragraph," James said, forcing me to lean around the mountain sitting next to me so I could reply.

"I stopped for lunch. Which he ate," I poked Rafe in the ribs.

"You had more. I wouldn't have eaten all your tinned soup." He took my fingers from his ribs and set them in my lap.

"Really?" I made a face at Rafe. At least six women lined the other side of the spa, and all of them ogled him. James, who was fit enough, looked like a ninety-pound-weakling next to Rafe. All six of those women will serve you soup—at the same time, I thought in his direction.

At least hot, bubbling water hid my hand as I poked him in the ribs a second time. He covered it by turning to James and asking how he might get access to my books as I wrote them. James offered to send him what he had. I slapped a wet hand against my forehead. Rafe laughed.

*

Running three miles at six in the morning was bad enough. What made it worse was that a light rain fell as I ran. Becker lapped me twice, just to prove he could. The last time he passed me, one of his hands snaked out and shoved me. Waving my arms helplessly when he knocked me off balance, I fell in rain-soaked grass and mud with a splash and a grunted oof. Muttering obscenities, I struggled to rise while Rafe ran right past, his steady stride slurping up mud and flinging wet droplets about him. I watched him run for a moment before pulling myself from the slop I'd landed in.

*

Ilya

I ran at a steady pace behind Becker, content to let him have the lead. He was happiest thinking he was in charge of every situation. I allowed him his fantasies—until he shoved Corinne into the mud.

That's when I caught up with him.

Waiting for an opportunity, I held back until he was prepared to pass one of the brothers, then burst between them, making sure Becker went down. I smiled as he shouted names in my direction.

*

Corinne

"Are you packed?" Rafe drank coffee as I walked into the kitchen. I was still sore, but the whirlpool sessions helped. Today was the day we were heading to Camp David. I didn't want to go. At least I wasn't expected to run or have a Krav Maga lesson.

"Yes," I grumbled.

"You're not dressed to go."

"It's a Freudian slip."

"Looks like a bathrobe to me."

"You're so funny," I mocked. "I want coffee first, so I can be wide awake and miserable, instead of half-asleep and miserable."

"Corinne?"

August had arrived.

"Auggie, please sit, have coffee and tell me everything that I'm doing wrong today," I waved toward a barstool at the island.

"You, Rafe and the others will attend the meetings with the President. Rafe will be within four feet always, while you will be nearby, watching the others and taking notes."

"Physically taking notes?"

"That's what Cutter said."

"Cutter. Joy."

"Cori."

"Yeah."

"Rafe?" Dalton Parrish walked through the door connecting Rafe's quarters with my kitchen.

"Dalton." Rafe sipped coffee and didn't look up. Dalton repeated August's words to Rafe, and then to me. His eyes wandered over me, too, as if he'd never seen a rumpled woman in her bathrobe before.

"Coffee?" Dalton asked. I made coffee for August, Dalton and me. I drank in silence while the others talked—we'd be flying in helicopters to Camp David. The choppers would arrive shortly, so I didn't have a lot of time to get ready.