Page 40 of Dirty Rival

“No.” He backs me up and presses me against the door. “Just because you can doesn’t always mean you should.”

“Does that include us?”

“Yes, but at least we want the same things, including each other. He does not.”

It’s the first time we’ve talked about wanting each other without denial.

“There’s more to this story than you know,” he adds. “We will not do this deal. We’ll get a new deal.”

“Tell me the story.”

He studies me several beats, his expression unreadable before he pulls me to him, kisses me and says, “No,” and with that, he releases me and leaves.

I spend the afternoon researching Reid and Elijah, looking for a connection that I can’t find. What I do find is details on the case Reid is handling. People died and the DA charged the wrong man, and even after he was acquitted, the DA didn’t look for the real killer—who killed again. And Reid is suing the DA. It’s not his kind of case—well, not now, but looking back, he represented a lot of random cases that weren’t just about money. I am curious about the man who is so much more than all of his money, but tonight isn’t the night I find out. By five, my email is already filling with staff ideas for Elijah and I move to my conference table to start working through them because we are doing this deal. I’m going to make it happen.

“Have you eaten at all?” Sallie asks, motioning to the sandwich still on my desk.

“Cookies. A lot of cookies and tomorrow it will be a salad.”

She shoves blonde hair from her eyes and sits down next to me. “Can I get you anything?”

“I’m good. Go to your Tuesday night yoga class.”

“I don’t care about yoga. I’ve been with you for five years. I know what this company means to you. You made it matter to me. And frankly, I’m thirty next month. I don’t want to start over somewhere else. What can I do to help?”

“You already are. Really. You are amazing. Go. I just need some time to work on my own.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive,” I assure her.

“Okay. Can I at least get you food?”

“No food.” I point to the bag of cookies next to me, with only one left. “I’m quite well taken care of.”

She smiles and hurries toward the door. I quickly get back to work and have a thought. I dial Royce Walker. “Problem?” he answers.

“Why do you always think there’s a problem?” I ask.

“That’s why people call me.”

“Right. Elijah Woodson. I need to know everything about him, how he might burn our company, how we might burn him.”

“You want to know how to burn him?”

“That does seem the best way to keep him from burning us.”

He’s silent for two beats. “I’ll look into it.”

We disconnect and I feel good about that call. There’s a way to do this deal and while I don’t like to play dirty, if someone plans to burn me, I have to ensure they can’t.

It’s at least another hour before Connie pokes her head in the door, a long blonde curl bouncing by her face. Good Lord, I’m surrounded by gorgeous blonde women. “I’m headed out, but Reid wanted me to tell you that your call to Royce was unnecessary. He has it handled.”

I am instantly hot under the collar. “Did he now?”

“Yes,” she says. “I take it that doesn’t please you.”

“No,” I reply tightly. “It doesn’t, but I’ll handle it.”

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