Welcome to the Cassadines: Book II of Kismet

Chapter Five

***First, Second, Third Impressions***

Dawn looked down at the slip of paper in her hand and then up at the warehouse. The numbers matched, but this couldn't be the place. Why would he want to meet her there?

"In here!" The silhouette of a man appeared in the darkened warehouse. As she moved closer, she saw him raise his arm and beckon to her. "Come on."

She folded the paper and stuffed it inside her purse. The rubber soles of her Nikes moved silently across the concrete floor as she crossed the length of the warehouse. Behind her, the door she just walked through closed. For a moment, she was shrouded in darkness and then just as suddenly, fluorescent lights illuminated the space. Her eyes blinked as protection against the sudden glare. She stopped and called out, "Frisco!"

"Right here," came the warm familiar voice directly in front of her. He pulled her into a warm hug and placed a chaste kiss on her brow. His lips brushed against her again before he pulled back and stepped away. His eyes sparkled and his cheeks were flushed. "You found it."

"I wasn't sure about that at first," she admitted, allowing him to take her hand and lead her up the staircase.

On the second landing was a row of offices with large picture windows serving as walls. She glanced down to the bottom floor and was surprised to see that it was furnished with expensive fitness equipment. A state-of-the-art treadmill sat in front of one wall with an exercise bike beside it. The back area was carpeted with royal blue exercise floor mats and in front of that was a whirlpool sauna. She looked at Frisco and raised an eyebrow. "Wow."

"It's called training," he said, wagging his finger at her. He jerked his head toward the largest office and gestured for her to enter. "Come in and have a seat. This shouldn't take long."

"Ouch. You sound like my old orthodontist. He'd always start the torture of tightening my braces by telling me it wouldn't take long."

Frisco chuckled. "Stop your complaining and sit."

Dawn barely noticed him closing the door. His office was even more impressive than the first floor training area. Steel and wood were the choices for decoration of this space. It was a combination of modern techno meets the wild, wild west. Dawn liked it.

Frisco sat on his leather chair with an audible sigh and a wide grin. Dawn shook her head at him and sat on the leather bench that faced his desk. She set her purse on the empty space beside her and waited.

"Well?"

She laughed. "Well, what? You called me, remember? What's up?"

"Such informality for a new recruit," he teasingly scolded, shaking his head. "What will I have to do about this insubordination?"

Her laughter faded and she quickly sobered. "I'm sorry. I've known you for so long that sometimes I forget. It won't happen again."

"You will be working under my direction, but that doesn't mean we're no longer friends, Dawn," he said. "I'll always be that."

"That's good to know. It will certainly make Daddy happy."

"Steve." Frisco laughed. "Don't be surprised if he re-enlists on a permanent basis just to keep his eye on you."

"Promise me you wouldn't let him. Please!"

Frisco nodded. "Not unless it's absolutely necessary. You have my word. Speaking of word, what's the word from you? Are you ready to start training?"