Take the Fall (Take the Fall, #1)(17)

Boyd crosses his arms over his chest. His bald head gleams under the light. Between being built like a brick shit house and the multiple neck tattoos he sports, Boyd is as intimidating as f*ck. Always has been, always will be.

“Saturdays are optional around here, and she’ll be back in a few. Had to run an errand.”

He’s loyal to her. A good thing, unless he’s f*cking her or wants to f*ck her. I rub the side of my jaw. “The two of you dating?”

Boyd gives me an Are you serious? look. “Only if I want my old lady to kick my ass. Shit. If I didn’t know you, Seth O’Connor, I’d kick your ass for even thinking that shit about Little Boss.”

Little Boss, huh? “Had to ask.”

He nods. “I hear ya.”

“Do you have the keys to her office? I’m supposed to go through—”

Boyd walks away, keys jingling as he pulls them out of his pocket. I follow him. “She told me to expect you and to tell you that everything you need is on the desk.” He unlocks the door and opens it, stepping to the side. “Holler if you need anything. I’m supervising some gearheads in bay two.”

I move to sit behind Rowan’s desk, taking in how neat and organized everything is. There’s a touch of her everywhere, from pictures on the desk to the Hot Guys Who Crank Our Engines calendar hanging on the wall.

I wiggle the mouse and the computer screen blinks to life. There’s a note on the monitor with instructions as to where to go first. I crack my neck on each side, relieving the pressure, and then get started.

—

Sometime later, the sound of shoes shuffling in the hallway catches my attention, and I look up from the computer. My stomach growls, and I realize that I haven’t eaten. Glancing at the time, I confirm I’ve missed lunch.

The shuffling grows louder as it gets closer. Curious as to who it could be, I lean back in my chair and wait.

Rowan’s pretty face suddenly fills my vision. “You’re still here?” She doesn’t sound too pleased.

“Several years’ worth of bookkeeping isn’t easy reading.”

She makes a noise and hangs up her coat on a hook by the office door. “Find anything underhanded?”

“The only thing I found was that you’ve made the company money. Great job,” I say.

Clearly not expecting that, Rowan blinks at me. “?‘Great job’?”

“No, not great. Excellent job,” I amend. “I admire what you’ve done with the Jailbirds to Jobs program, too.”

She beams at me, and my gut clenches. “It’s a great program. I had help from your grandmother when I first got the idea. It’s really hard for convicts to get jobs. So they come here to work, heavily supervised and with their parole officer’s permission. Then, near the end of their probation period, they have to start applying for other jobs. Gardner’s provides personal and work references for them. We even have a few other businesses joining in or interested in collaborating with us. Some people are a bit leery, but I can’t blame them.”

“You thought of all that by yourself?”

“Even dumb blondes like me get good ideas every now and then,” she snaps.

“I didn’t say you were dumb,” I point out, though I had most certainly implied it.

She flips her hair over her shoulder. “Thank you.” Batting her lashes, she blows me a kiss. Coming from another woman, that move would have been a calculated flirt. Coming from Rowan, it’s a sign that she’s going to cut me if I keep it up.

“Seriously.”

“Whatever.” Rowan looks away. “Everyone deserves a second chance, or at least a chance to prove that they’ve changed.”

Does she want to give me another chance? I’ve changed, and she needs to see it. I need her to see it. Hell, I just need her.

Straightening, I run a hand through my hair. “So I’m ready to learn, Little Boss.”

An annoyed expression covers her face, then it gives way to a smugness I’ve never seen before. “We’ll have to start from the ground up.”

“Not a problem.” Been there, done that in the Marines.

Her jaw turns hard. Oh, yeah, she’s pissed, and I’m digging it. “You’re just so damn cocky, aren’t you?”

I walk to her, stopping when we’re just inches apart. “Only because you’re my teacher.” I take her hands in mine. They’re strong yet delicate, like her. “I trust you to teach me everything. I want to know every last detail. What makes this place tick and what turns customers away.”

Her scent washes over me, and I’m surrounded by her, by the memories of us when we were younger.

“You and me forever,” I whisper, right before her lips touch mine.

“Forever, Seth,” Rowan agrees.

She snatches her hands away. “You can’t learn all that in less than two weeks. It took me months to get things right, and I’m always having to reassess.”

“We all have to start somewhere.”

“Just sell me the shop, Seth, and then you can go.”

I shake my head. “No. My terms, Rowan, not yours.”

Her jaw turns stubborn. “You can’t dictate how I teach you.”

I hold my arms wide open. “Teach me, master.”