Wicked Force (Wicked Horse Vegas #4.5)(28)

I don’t answer right away, trying to formulate my thoughts so he understands me. “Listen... I know what I did was wrong. I also know that I’m compromised. I’m too biased and that would affect my ability to protect her. I also know this puts you in a totally shitty situation with her mother. So I’m here to offer my sincere apology, mate, as well as my resignation. I truly hope this doesn’t affect our friendship.”

Jerico squeezes his eyes shut and pinches the bridge of his nose while muttering, “Jesus fucking Christ, Kynan.”

“I’m sorry,” I repeat. “I know this leaves you in a bad position with Madeline, but I know you can easily assign someone to take my place.”

Jerico opens his eyes, glares at me, and then gives a dismissive wave. “I can handle Madeline. What I can’t handle is your resignation. You’re my number two and my number three doesn’t have nearly the qualifications or inherent abilities to move upward.”

“What are you saying?” I ask him cautiously.

“I’m saying I’m not accepting your resignation,” he snaps. “You can move over to help me manage the casino projects and I’ll reassign someone to cover your shift tonight with Joslyn.”

This was more than I had ever expected. I know Jerico says he can handle Madeline but the truth is, she’s more than likely to fire us for this breach of trust. I’m sure she’s going to think I took advantage of Joslyn, which might partly be true because, let’s face it... I didn’t have to kiss her last night.

I certainly could have chosen not to fuck her.

Wait... strike that.

Not all the military forces in the world could have stopped me from doing that last night, nor could they stop me today. She’s mine and that’s all there is to it.

“Is this thing serious with her?” Jerico asks, and that catches me off guard. I wasn’t prepared to discuss the personal feelings involved.

But this is also Jerico Jameson. I’m incredibly tight with the bloke and we’ve been through some intense, dangerous stuff together that tends to bond you tighter than any regular friendship could. Maybe I misjudged his interest in my happiness outside of the workplace.

I decide to go with straight-up honesty, even it if makes me look like a pussy in his eyes. Up until now, both of us were happy playing the field with no intention of ever settling down.

“I don’t know what this is,” I tell him, lifting my chin just a bit in defiance of any laughter he might decide to throw my way. I’m prepared to punch him if he does anything to diminish it. “But I’ve never felt this before and I don’t want to give it up.”

He surprises me. Instead of ridicule or an incredible lewd joke, his eyes soften and the corners of his mouth tip up. “Then I’m happy for you. Truly.”

I’d hug the guy if that totally wouldn’t cause him to call me a pussy, but I smile back. “Thanks, mate.”

“This is more than just lust, right?” he asks for clarification.

“It was something big before we were even together last night,” I explain and my ears flush with heat. I feel proprietary over Joslyn and sharing our intimate details, even with someone I’m close to like Jerico. I don’t want to cheapen anything about her.

Jerico sighs and leans back in his chair. “When she makes it big and leaves Vegas, you going with her?”

“I have no clue. I don’t think that’s happening any time soon. She still has a few months left on her Vegas contract, and when that’s done, if she leaves I’ll just have to figure things out then.”

He regards me a moment and then mutters, “I should just fire you now because you’ll probably be chasing her in a few months.”

He’s probably not wrong about that.

Jerico nods toward the door. “Go home and get some rest. I’ll start you on the casino project tomorrow and I’ve got to call Madeline.”

“Sure thing,” I say and start to turn away. But then I look back at him. “Thanks, Jerico. Means the world you understanding.”

“Can’t say as I understand it,” he drawls with a smirk. “But I believe and trust in your feelings. It’s all good.”

I nod my thanks and head out the door.

When I reach my car, I grab my phone and check my texts. I was hoping Joslyn would have been done talking to her mom and sent me some type of update. I see nothing but there is a missed call from Rachel Hart.

In moments, I have the voice mail rolling on speaker phone. Hey, dude. Mate. Whatever the hell you Brits say. Just rolled into Vegas for a few weeks and thought I’d look you up. I’m going to do some climbing over at Red Rock Canyon and wanted to see if you were interested. Call me.

I smile as I delete the voice mail.

I’ll call her back later, as Rachel will be in town awhile and I’ll definitely have to hook up with her for a climb.

Rachel is one of those chicks who can just “be one of the guys.” Don’t get me wrong... she’s smokin’ hot, but I’ve not gone there and don’t intend to. We met less than a year ago in Venezuela. I was taking a month off for a long holiday before going to work at my father’s car dealership, and because I’m an adrenaline junkie, I decided to do some base jumping off Angel Falls.

I jumped in a wingsuit and apparently Rachel had been up there and watched me. She came down via parachute, but immediately sought me out and asked me how to do it. She shared the same love of speed and danger as I did.