Wicked Force (Wicked Horse Vegas #4.5)(40)

All in all, it seems that his company is going to be a huge success if evidenced by the rate at which he is bringing legitimate business into the fold.

I glance at the binder sitting on my desk, knowing I should quit procrastinating and read it. Jerico says it provides the mission objectives as well as his plan to accomplish them. He wants me to review, tear it up if necessary, and make it better.

And I will.

As soon as I hear from Joslyn.

She did not sound good when I talked to her after the audition this morning. That was several hours ago and I’ve not heard anything since. I only can assume that she, her mother, and Ian might be out celebrating. Or maybe they’re still ironing out details.

There’s a knock on my door which I closed so I could play Solitaire without anyone noticing. My office is about the size of a broom closet but I told Jerico that I didn’t want one. He insisted, so I told him to give me the smallest one as I wouldn’t be in it much. I much preferred being out in the field.

I place my phone upside down on my desk and say, “Come in.”

Jerico peeks his head inside and smiles at me. His gaze goes to the binder then back to me. “So... what did you think?”

“Haven’t read it yet,” I tell him.

He appraises me and his smile turns into a smirk. He steps into my office, walks up to my desk, and takes my phone. Turning it over, he sees the half-finished game of Solitaire.

His eyes flash with mischief. “Knew it. You always played games on your phone when you were troubled.”

I should be irritated that he knows me so well but, in all actuality, I’m grateful I don’t have to explain my lackadaisical attitude toward a project he asked me to review.

So I just shrug in response.

“Have you heard anything more?” he asks me. He stopped by earlier after I’d talked to Joslyn, and I told him she’d been offered the part.

I shake my head. “I guess they’re ironing out details or something.”

“Why don’t you call her?” he suggests.

I glare at him. “And what... look like a pussy?”

“You are a pussy,” he says with a laugh. “This girl has you twisted up. Never thought I’d see the mighty Kynan McGrath fall to a wisp of a girl.”

Woman, but not going to argue with him.

His gaze goes back to the binder. “I really need your eyes on it. I could give it to someone else but would rather you do this with me.”

He’s not talking about the review. He’s talking about the entire mission and I have to admit, I’m feeling so out of sorts, I’d love nothing more than to head off to Afghanistan or Syria or wherever they’re calling for our help. I’d love to just hang out there while Joslyn is filming her movie, so at least I can be so focused on something vital and probably dangerous, which means I wouldn’t be mooning over her too badly.

I take the binder in hand. “I’ll start it now.”

Jerico nods with a smile. “Thanks, buddy. Let me know what you think when you’re done.”

He turns to walk out of my office, only to be brought up short by August Greenfield. He’s a new hire, straight from the Las Vegas PD and since he’s the newest, he has “front desk” duty. We still haven’t hired a full-time receptionist and until then, the newer employees are taking turns to catch any walk-in traffic.

August peeks his head around Jerico. “You got someone in the lobby to see you.”

A jolt of awareness pulses through my body. “Who?”

He shrugs. “Some blonde woman.”

“In the future,” Jerico says blandly, “you really should try to get visitors’ names.”

August blushes and I push up from my desk.

Blonde woman.

Can only be one person that I know with blonde hair.

At least I hope.

Without a word acknowledging the two men standing there, I scramble up from my desk and rush past them. Down the hall, forsaking the elevator and taking the fire stairwell three steps at a time to the first floor.

I come bursting out the door, skid across the marble floor, and come to a rigid stop as I take in Joslyn standing there with her suitcase clutched in front of her with both hands.

It tells me everything I need to know.

“You’re not doing the movie,” I breathe out, and it is an exhale of pure relief. I didn’t realize how much I was dreading her leaving until that very moment.

She gives me a smile. “My mom is kind of pissed at me right now. I kind of need a place to stay.”

My strides aren’t nearly long enough to take me to her but I cover the lobby in just two and a half. I remove the suitcase from her clutches, drop it carelessly to the side, and frame her face with my hands. “You’re staying?”

“I’m staying,” she affirms. “I just—”

Her words are cut off with my mouth on hers and I almost bend her backward in half as I lean into the kiss to give it all my worth.

One of her hands slides into my hair and the other to my shoulder, and she gives it back to me just as good.

When I’m out of oxygen and filled with curiosity again, I pull away from her and just take her in. She’s even more beautiful than I remember and she’s been gone less than a day.

Taking her by the hand, I lead her over to a leather couch that I don’t think has been sat on yet. We take a seat side by side, and she angles in toward me. Her expression is distressed, the corners of her mouth drawn downward. “It was awful,” she says quietly and looks down at her hands resting in her lap. “It was the worst fight I’ve ever had with my mother.”