Rush (Breathless #1)(56)

“I’m working for him,” she said calmly.

Ash’s lips formed a silent O and then he turned back toward the door. “I’ll just wait outside.”

Jace’s face was the poster child for what the f**k. As soon as the door closed behind Ash, he turned back to Mia, his jaw tight. “Okay, what the hell is going on? You’re working for him? In what capacity? And why am I only just finding this out?”

“What’s going on is Gabe offered me a job. I’m working as his personal assistant. And you’ve been gone, and this isn’t the sort of thing I’d simply tell you on the phone.”

“Why the hell not?”

She rolled her eyes. “Because you’d react just like you are now and you’d be on the first flight home determined to figure it all out.”

“When did this happen?” he asked bluntly.

She lifted her shoulder in a shrug. “About the time you and Ash left for California. I saw Gabe at the grand opening. He told me to come into his office. Voila. Here I am.”

“Just like that,” he said skeptically.

His eyes narrowed and he studied her intently as if trying to peel back her skin and see inside her head.

“Gabe was right. Working at La Patisserie was a waste of my education and all the money you spent sending me to college. I was comfortable and maybe a little scared to bust into the real world. This job gives me an opportunity to get my feet wet.”

Jace’s expression softened. “If you wanted a job, why didn’t you come to me? You have to know I would have taken care of you.”

She chose her words carefully, because she didn’t want to seem ungrateful. She dearly loved Jace. He’d sacrificed a lot for her and still managed to build a successful empire, all while dealing with a much younger sister.

“I wanted to do this on my own,” she said quietly. “I know you would have given me a job. And maybe it’s no different that Gabe has hired me. I’m sure everyone will say the same as if you’d done the hiring. That I’m Jace Crestwell’s little sister and this is nepotism at its finest. Besides, I couldn’t work for you and you know it.” She grinned mischievously at him. “We’d kill each other after a day.”

Jace chuckled. “Okay maybe. But only because you’re so hardheaded.”

She shook her head. “I’m not stubborn. My way is just better.”

“It’s nice to see you by the way, baby girl. I missed you in California.”

“Which is why you’re still buying me dinner tomorrow night,” she said cheekily.

He grimaced. “Can we do it the next night? Ash and I have this thing. Part of the reason we’re back early. Investor dinner. Boring as hell. Lots of ass kissing.”

“Okay, that’s a date,” she said. “And you’re not getting out of it.”

“Bet your ass. It’s a date. After work, run home and change if you want and I’ll pick you up at your apartment.”

Then he frowned.

“How are you getting to and from work anyway?”

She was careful to make her voice casual, like it was perfectly normal for Gabe to provide transportation for her. “Gabe sends a car for me and has it bring me home.”

She conveniently left off the part about them leaving work together most of the time and of her spending the nights at Gabe’s apartment. Now that Jace was back, they were going to be forced to be a great deal more circumspect. He’d flip out if he knew what went on behind closed doors between her and Gabe.

Jace nodded. “Okay good. Don’t want you walking or taking the subway.” He checked his watch and then angled his gaze at her. “Do you know what time Gabe is due back? Where the hell is he for that matter? I thought his calendar was clear today.”

“He, uh, left with his dad. Not sure when he’s getting back, or if.”

Jace grimaced. “Say no more. That’s a f**ked-up situation.”

And Jace didn’t even know the half of it.

He reached over and tousled her hair. “I’ll let you get back to work. Gabe’s a hardass to work for. I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into. Maybe we should have put you to work for Ash. He has a huge soft spot for you.”

She laughed. “I’ll be fine. Stop worrying. Don’t you and Ash have someone else to pester?”

“Yeah, investors,” Jace muttered. “Take care, baby girl. I’ll look forward to our dinner. We have a lot of catching up to do.”

As soon as he left Gabe’s office, she sagged in relief. Her pulse was beating a mile a minute and she leaned forward, putting her face in her hands. That had gone better than expected.

• • •

When Gabe got out of the car at his office building, he hadn’t taken three steps toward the entrance when Jace came out, a deep frown on his face. It was obvious that he’d evidently been waiting on Gabe. Shit. He wasn’t supposed to be back until tomorrow. He hoped to hell Mia had handled things well between her and Jace. But judging by the look on his friend’s face, whatever it was she’d said or how she’d explained the situation hadn’t satisfied him.

“We need to talk,” Jace said curtly when Gabe drew abreast of him.

“Okay,” Gabe said calmly. “What’s up? Problems in California?”