Mission: Capture His Heart

Chapter 9

I woke up the next morning feeling light-headed. My TV was still on and I was asleep in my recliner, I shut the TV off and put the recliner's footrest down. I stood up and looked at Gray sleeping on the couch, snoring lightly.

I looked at my watch, it was 12 in the afternoon. I brushed Gray's messy hair back and bent down beside him. As I was stroking my thumb across the side of his forehead, I saw a small grin light his face.  "Gray." I said softly, "Are you up?"

"5 more minutes Elizabeth." Came his soft reply, his lips barely moving. I smiled and stood up but he pulled me back, "5 more minutes with you Elizabeth."

His eyes were still closed but he still had the small smile playing on his lips. I bent down beside him, "I have things to do. You sleep and I work."

Gray opened his right eye but his left one remained closed, he looked at me then shut his eye again, shifting positions on the couch. "Fine. I'll stay here and you can go slave away doing whatever it is you do."  

I smiled and left his side, I walked into the kitchen to make me some coffee. I unplugged my phone--usually it charges in my room, it's rare it's in the kitchen--I looked at all the missed calls from Mike.

I called him back and he answered immediately, "Izzy! How the hell do you and Gray analyze the DNA?"

I stifled a laugh as I replied, "Ask Ethan for his DNA analyzer. He'll give it to you with no questions asked, you put the tube that is holding the DNA in the analyzer."  I looked over when I heard the noise by the fridge, Gray was searching for food. "It should take about an hour, okay?"

"Okay, thank you." I heard Jess's faint, "I told you so!" in the background.

I giggled, "Oh and Mike, I would take the analyzer out of the lab and into your office. Make sure no one sees you. We don't want questions asked."

Mike was bickering with Jess, I played with my coffee as I listened, enjoying every part of the conversation. I looked over to see Gray leaning up against the wall, "I have to go Mike. Talk to you later."

"Bye Izzy. Thanks again."

With that, I hung up the phone and walked to Gray's side. "Come on Gray, go sit on the couch. I'll bring you food in a little."

He went back to the couch without any argument. I stepped out of the kitchen with two trays in hand. Gray was sitting on the couch cross-legged and reading The Unquiet Dead  by Ausma Zehanat Khan

It was one of my favorite mystery novels, "You have an interesting choice of books Izzy."

I looked at the page he was on, "You're on page 5, you can't judge me yet. You have to finish the book first."

He grabbed a sticky note from the pad that was resting on the table by the couch and put it on the page as a bookmark. "I'll finish it and let you know what I think." He put the book down on the table.

I handed him his breakfast tray, "I think you'll enjoy it. Especially in our line of work." He smiled and started eating. I just sat down when there was a knock at the door. I sighed and went to the door, I looked out the eye hole to see who was at my house. It was Zach.

As soon as I opened the door, Zach wrapped me in a hug then pulled back as quickly as he hugged me. "Are you okay? I saw Gray's car and a lot of blood."

"I'm fine Zach. It's Gray you need to worry about."

"What about me?" He piped up from the couch behind me.

Zach smiled at him, "You okay? Your car is totaled."

"I'm okay but I'm gonna miss that car.  It was my pride and joy." He looked at us sheepishly. "Which is kind of pathetic but when you have no family well..."

Gray trailed off, not wanting to finish. I understood and turned to Zach, "So the doctor that took care of him said that he has poison in his system. Do you know how he would have gotten that if he didn't eat or drink anything?"

Zach shook his head, "Someone probably slipped something into his coffee when you guys were at the café."

Gray started to stand but I stopped him, "You stay right where you are mister." Zach stifled a laugh and Gray put his hands in the air in surrender. I sat down next to Gray on the couch, our knees touching.

When Zach's gaze landed on our touching knees and almost interlocked hands, a new emotion showed in his eyes, replacing the worry he had just a second ago. Just as quickly his eyes changed from--jealousy? Maybe unsettling?--his eyes turned back to the normal color. Light and happy, not a care in the world.

He looked at me, "Well, I should be off. Mr. Smith is probably wondering where I am. He doesn't want me late to my first meeting."

I stood up and walked Zach out to his car, "I'll see you later. Keep me updated." He gave me a curt nod and a small smile then got in his car.

I turned around to see Gray leaning on the door frame, his arms crossed and an eyebrow arched. I put my hands in my back pockets of my skinny jeans and arched an eyebrow, "What?"

"Little Zach has a crush on you." He said. I stepped closer to Gray.

"Why do you say that?" If I took one more step, I would be in Gray's arms and kissing him but I held myself back.

He looked inside then back at me, "When you sat by me--which was close by the way--I saw the jealousy in his eyes. When our knees were touching and our fingers were almost intertwined." Gray smirked, "You're 'childhood friend' wants to be more than a friend."

I rolled my eyes and pushed past him, "Zach treats me like a sister. He doesn't like me any more than that."

Gray followed me inside and shut the door behind me, "So not true but whatever." He sat back down on the couch and picked up one of the magazines I had on the table beside him. Gray gave me a weird look and held up the magazine so I could see, "Fashion magazines? Really?"

I shrugged and sat down beside him and finished my breakfast. After I was done, I moved the tray off of my lap and onto the main table then sat back against the couch and put my feet on the table. Gray put his head on my lap, I was shocked but...comfortable. Absentmindedly, I started playing with Gray's hair. Almost like we were a normal couple that had a normal life. He was still looking at the magazine, after a few moments of silence, he spoke up. "That dress would look good on you." He pointed to the dress I've been drooling over for weeks.

I was about to respond when I heard a gun and then a bullet miss my head by inches. Gray and I sat up quickly. We ran upstairs to my bedroom, I grabbed my pistols from underneath my bed and tossed one to Gray. He looked at me, "You know these are completely unnecessary, right?"

I rolled my eyes and put a finger to my lips, a figure walked into my room. His hands in the air, I recognized him immediately, it was Gray's father.

Mr. Smith smiled, "Hello son, it's been awhile." He turned to me and his hands dropped to his side, his gun falling to the floor. He kicked it away with his foot. "And you must be Elizabeth. Oh, I've learned so much about you from your father."

Immediately, I stood in front of Gray. I expected him to be nervous but he was collected and his gun was pointed at his father's head.

His dad clucked his tongue, "Now Gray, is that a way to treat a guest? Especially your father?"

Gray tensed beside me, "You're not my father."

Mr. Smith, or Joshua, came closer, "Gray. I came here to make amends."

Gray moved in front of me, "Bullshit. Now, get out."

Joshua smirked, "Why should I? You don't live here so you have no right to kick me out. It's all on Elizabeth."

I lowered my gun and stepped forward, "You need to get out. Now." I crossed my arms, "My father is waiting."

The color drained from Joshua Smith's face then he muttered quietly, "Shit! Zach is going to wonder where I am."

With that, he rushed out of my door. Leaving his gun behind.