Page 72 of False Evidence

“That’s why I went to New York. To tell Drake I was firing his pet for cause. It wasn’t something I could do on the phone. I needed my team in the office so we could reconfigure the management structure for our biggest project. Calling everyone in for a meeting two days before Christmas wasn’t my most popular move as CEO, but I got their support. Spaulding is out as of last night.”

“Does…does he know?”

He nodded. “Please. Come home with me tonight. You shouldn’t be alone at your place. Spaulding might show up again.”

“I don’t know, Jay. This has all gotten so ugly.”

“I’m sorry my dad was a dick. I was caught off guard. Didn’t know he knew anything, but I should have guessed. He and I—we aren’t supposed to talk about the company at all. And it’s my call all the way. He has no say. So he was lashing out like a child because he recognized your name. Drake must’ve told him or sent him the police report.”

“Will he tell Drake about you and me?”

“I don’t think so. But I’m hoping Drake will find out because you’ll be my date at the next company event.”

“We aren’t going to start dating, JT. You live in New York, and I have zero time for dating, let alone long distance.”

“But don’t you see? Long distance is perfect for our busy schedules. Instead of wasting time with dinner dates and movies, we’ll just have phone sex.”

She laughed at that.

He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers. “Please, Lex. Give me a chance.”

She tucked her head against his sternum. “I can’t believe you fired him. I was worried that he wasyourboss.”

“I’d have fired him on the spot that night, but we needed the investigation to move unhindered and having charges filed gave me more ammunition to do it properly. He was in a vital position for the company, so I needed to be careful.”

“I can’t believe I demanded anonymous one-time-only sex from a billionaire just a few hours after meeting him.”

He had to work to hide his smile. “I’m not a billionaire. But I do okay. And it killed me to say no to your offer. But if I’d taken it, we wouldn’t be here right now. And I want to see where this can go more than I wanted a single orgasm.”

“Oh, I’d have made you come more than once.”

He laughed. “Sounds like a testable hypothesis.”

“I can’t go back in there, Jay. Go have dinner and perform your official duties to the Talon family, or campaign, or whatever this was.”

“It’s a charity my stepmother helped create. Talon & Drake built the community center. My dad sees to it that it gets the funding it needs.”

“Who funds the Christmas gifts for the kids?”

“I do. It’s one reason my stepmom insists I play Santa. She wants me to see the kids’ faces. But honestly, I’d rather be a secret Santa. I don’t need to meet them to know what it means. My family wasn’t always rich.”

She rose on her toes and pressed her mouth to his, then whispered, “But still, you do it. Which makes me think part of you does want to see the joy your gifts can bring.”

She might be hitting a little too close to home there. He nodded toward the passenger side of the car. “Do you mind letting me drive?”

Her brows furrowed. “Yes, I mind. Also, you need to go back inside.”

He pulled out his BlackBerry. “I’ll send a text to Lee.”

He held the screen so she could read as he typed.

Sent:Sorry, bro. Joe upset Lex, so I’m taking her home.

“There. Lee will make excuses for me. Let’s go.”

“You aren’t driving my car.”

He leaned down and kissed her. “Fine. Unlock the passenger door.”

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