Page 45 of Salacious Devotion

“I don’t even recognize what’s happening in this office, Dane.” She’s staring at the monitors.

I slide my hands around her waist, holding her back against my front. “I have a lot of monitors. There have been advances. Everything in here is state-of-the-art. You will catch on. I promise.”

It hurts me to see her so upset about what she’s lost, but I’m confident she will learn all the latest advances in a few weeks. She’s sharp.

“I’ve spent three years cutting the dead leaves off roses and trying not to prick myself on the thorns.” She tips her head back to look at me. “Let me tell you how hard it was to school my face when the owner of the florist decided to trust me with the inventory. She spent a great deal of time showing me how to turn on the computer, open the spreadsheet, and input the numbers. She told me not to worry about the formulas because she would handle them. After a few months, she even showed me how to use the credit card machine to check out customers.”

I wince. I can’t imagine how she managed to listen to those lessons with a straight face. I grab her hips and guide her into the office. Drag is more like it. She’s not going in enthusiastically.

We didn’t sleep late. I would have liked to, but we were both wide awake early. We made love, showered, and had breakfast. My men will be here in about half an hour to learn what’s going on and the plans I’m working on.

“You have more equipment in this room than a major credit card company does in their entire office,” she jokes. “And this isn’t even your actual office. Do you work from home a lot?”

“No. Not usually, but I will start spending more time here now. I’m a workaholic. I usually get to the office by seven-thirty, and I’m often the last to leave. But I work when I get home, too. Or I did. I believe I’ll be cutting way back now that I have a reason to.”

She takes a deep breath as she runs her hand over the back of one of the leather chairs. “It’s set up for two people in here.”

“I’ve been here for two weeks making that happen, baby.”

“Ah, right.” She smiles at me. “You added a space for me. How come it all matches?”

“Because I replaced everything so we’d have one huge L-shaped desk taking up two walls.” I pull out a chair for her. “I’m hoping you’ll join my company and work with my team.”

She licks her lips and rubs her hands together. “I hope you’re not overestimating my abilities.”

“I know I’m not.” She’s nervous. She has every right to be. I get it. “Why don’t I leave you to tinker with everything, so you don’t feel like I’m hovering?”

“What if I fuck something up?” She looks serious, brows furrowed, lip caught between her teeth.

“Paige, there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell you’re going to fuck anything up. You’re one of the brightest computer geniuses in the country. Everything is backed up in four spots, too, including two cloud spaces.” I kiss her cheek. “Dig in.”

As she slides into the chair I offered, I move toward the door. I watch her, intending to stay for just a few moments. All she’s done so far is graze her fingers along the edge of the desk. It’s like riding a bike. She’s going to be shaking with excitement in no time at all.

Finally she touches the mouse as though it’s a foreign object or a long, lost friend. She even gasps as the computer lights up.

I can’t move. I’m mesmerized.

“Shoot,” she mutters when she sees the computer is password protected.

I smile as she types in her birthday and then scoffs out loud. “Silly man. Doesn’t he know that’s a horrible password?”

I cover my mouth to keep from making a sound as I fight laughter. It’s so hard for me to leave her, but I eventually duck around the corner. Just in time, too, because the elevator opens, and JT and Brant step into my penthouse.

“Coffee?” My men follow me, accept mugs of coffee, and take up seats at the island.

“So, we have a bank robber turned mass murderer to locate,” JT surmises.

Brant rolls his eyes. “Because lord knows the feds haven’t managed to do so in three years.”

“Exactly,” I say.

“Where is Paige now?” JT asks.

I nod toward the hallway. “My office. Only a handful of people will ever know she’s here. She will not be leaving this apartment until the threat to her life is eliminated.”

“How is she?” Brant asks.

“Good. So far. She’s had to give up her freedom with no end in sight.”

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