Simon’s office seemed all too crowded that morning and Simon was beginning to think he needed a bigger desk. Rica had pretty much commandeered it when she arrived, spreading her paper work across it to show Simon their plan of action. At first he was not so pleased with it but it did give him a chance to get Il Divo out there and into public view if nothing else. Not quite the way he would normally do things and he was sure that all four Divos would have something to say about it.
Lea took one look at the desk and it brought back memories of her time with the squads. Best to let Rica bring the guys around to her way of thinking.
“Good morning ya’ll. Glad to see you can be on time.”
David would normally give her a smart remark but this morning he was quiet. After talking to Sebastien last night about Lea and Rica he had done some very serious thinking. Wondering when their lives would ever be free of the whirlwind that had picked them up and played with them so mercilessly over the past month. Would getting this Vaga character out of their lives mean getting them back to some kind of normal or was this how it was going to be from now on. He had to smile a little at the thought of Rica looking after them, he had told Tam he felt safe and that was the truth. She was an amazing women and he had to admit that even knowing the little he did about her he was somewhat smitten. Sebastien’s little piece of information last night had not squashed that, if anything it had made that little smidge of desire grow just a little more.
Rica clicking her fingers in front of his face brought David back to reality. “Miller, we keeping you up?”
“Sorry Boss, just thinking.”
Lea smiled at his slip of the tongue, looked at Rica who had a cheeky look on her face. “Aw Sweet thing you don’t have to call me Boss, just grovelling at my feet should do.”
Everyone laughed except David and Rica knew he had taken it to heart and not as a joke the way it was intended. Again in a soft tone that betrayed her toughness she apologised. “David Hun. I’m sorry. That was hurtful of me. I never intended it to be. Sometimes my smart mouth gets carried away and the rest of me has to go along for the ride .I do really think you are very sweet. Can you forgive a rough southern girl?”
David smiled. It was her voice that got him every time. Rica had her hair in a pony tail but a small red wisp had escaped and David ran his fingers over it placing it behind her ear as he spoke. “I guess. Would you ever consider going out to dinner with a musician?”
His answer took her by surprise. It took everyone by surprise and they all waited for her to reply. Knowing this Rica leaned into David so only he could hear her answer. “Ask me after this assignment is over and we might be able to do better than dinner.”
David’s beaming smile is all the others needed but Rica was a little shocked at what she had said. She looked to Lea who had a questioning look on her face.
Simon wanted his office back. “So now that we have sorted out your dinner plans David can we get back to business.” Rica did just that. Explaining the plan and getting the barrage of disagreement she had expected from the four Divos.
Through it all Lea had remained silent. Sebastien looked at her. “Lea. Do you agree with all this?”
“If Tam is up to it yes I do. It makes the most sense and the most efficient way to bring him undone so that we can all get back on with our lives.”
They all looked from Lea to Tam, who had also remained quiet through it all. She would have done anything to stop this man from hurting anyone else, any of the Divos and if it meant being the bait in a trap so be it.
Sebastien asked Tam the question. “Tam. Do you understand what they are asking you to do? What they are asking us to do?”
She nodded.
It was David’s turn. “And you are okay with it?”
Again she nodded.
Carlos stood looking like a matador ready to fight the bull. “Then we shall all take our place at your side my sweet lady and triumph over this most heinous situation and be rid of the monster that would seek to harm you.”
Everyone smiled, Simon dropped his head and shook it and David gave Carlos a mouthful. “Man, Carlos can’t you just say we’re with her.”
Carlos looked at David. “I thought I just did.”
Again everyone laughed but Rica was pleased. She had what she wanted and it seemed that Carlos’ little speech had helped.
Tam went over to him and kissed him on both cheeks, whispering something in his ear that made him blush.
“So my intrepid new recruits it is settled. If Simon here can get your public appearances sorted for the next few weeks, as many as we can fit in and as many that will allow Tam time to paly the piano I think we have a plan. So go, scatter, do what ya’ll need to do. The boys will still be keeping an eye on you.”

They all left Simons office and were almost at the elevator when David stopped and started to rummage in his pockets. “Damn, my phone must have dropped out. I’ll meet you at the car.”
The others left and David walked back to Simon’s office, it was empty except for Rica who was gathering her papers. She smiled at him when he came in.
“Dropped my phone.” David began to search the sofa he had been siting on and sure enough there it was. Retrieving it he began to leave but stopped and turned to Rica. “Rica, can I ask you a question?”
She did not bother to look up from her papers to answer. “Sure thing Honey.”
David stepped a little closer. “Did you mean what you said about after the assignment?”
For the second time that morning he had surprised her. She stopped gathering her stuff and looked him straight in the eyes. David could almost feel the wave a rejection coming. It had been the first time he had really put himself out there with anyone and he was not sure how he would handle it.
Rica came to stand so close to him David could feel her breath on his skin. “I’m going to tell you something and I don’t want you to interrupt and then I will give you my answer sweet thing.”
David went to say something but she stopped him. “Shhhh. I have a few rules I have to live by in this job that have saved my life and my sanity more than once. One of those rules is that I don’t date clients.”
She saw the dismay in his eyes and his shoulders slump just a little. “However Miller, this assignment will not last forever.” With that she backed him up against the office door and kissed him and continued to kiss him. At first David was a little stunned but then he wrapped his arms round her and pulled her closer if that was at all possible and returned her kiss with passion and force. The world disappeared, no sound except that of his own heart beating, no light, nothing but the feel of her body close to his, the sweet fragrance of her perfume as it danced in the air, and his passion that exploded sending its fire to every single part of his body.
Their lips separated but David held onto her. He was breathless. “That was your answer?”
“Uh huh. Wait till the assignment is over Hun and there will be more where that came from.”
Rica left, forgetting her papers and leaving David speechless in Simon’s office. He never wanted an assignment to be over so quickly.

When he got back into the car the others all saw the smile on his face. Sebastien nudged him. “You okay David?”
“Perfect, just perfect.”
Lea frowned a little; she would need to talk to Rica about her rules.