Page 44 of Degrading Her

And you like it,I argued back.

“Why are you looking up HCF, anyway?” Erica asked.

“HCF?” I asked.

“Hatchcom’s abbreviation,” she explained.

“They’re a competitor for the Feldman Farm,” Sawyer replied.

“But aren’t they a communications company?” Erica asked. Sawyer shifted but didn’t answer her question. “What does that have to do with cattle?”

Sawyer’s eyes focused on her with sudden intensity.

“We go after the same clients,” he said.

Then a memory surfaced: wasn’t Erica’s master’s degree in communications? Not that it meant anything in this context. But she’d certainly know more about Hatchcom Focus than me. So why wasn’t Sawyer asking her for help? Was it because he preferred me?

Still, I pleaded that she got the hint.

Erica shrugged. “All right. Out of my territory anyway. You two have fun.”

The back door clicked behind her, and for a long moment, Sawyer stared at the door, contemplating her.Jealousy rocked through me. Why was he looking at her like that? Was he through with me and ready to move on? Did they have a game of their own?

Or were they both playing me?

He broke his attention from the door and returned to me. “Where are you most comfortable working?” he asked.

“My computer?” It was one of the best computers in the building, though that wasn’t saying much. I still guarded it like it was my own device.

After I locked the doors and switched off most of the lights, making it obvious to any patrons that we were closed, we both went back to the staff room and sat at my computer. Colorful sticky notes decorated the monitor, and some half-chewed pens laid next to the keyboard.

“Do your magic,” Sawyer said.

My magic?

“Need me to spell it for you?” he asked.

“Or you could do this all by yourself,” I said, a flirtatious smirk on my face.

He grinned at my jab. “Please,” he added, gesturing toward the computer.

I did a basic search in our database. While the results were generating, I wondered if maybe Sawyer was just like that: constantly dashing back and forth between being the gentleman and the douchebag. Sometimes, he was cutting, but at least most of the time, like now, he was… pleasant. Maybe I even liked him.

But my dream—co-ownership of the library—came first, and that digital file in my pocket itched at me. I had been waiting to use the work computers to open it once we closed, but now I couldn’t do anything without Sawyer knowing I had stolen it from his office.

Hewasmostly nice. But I still wanted to win, even if that meant digging for dirt on him.

Maybe it was a bad idea.Disloyal,when he had continually protected me. But it’s not like I was going to give the file to the police. I didn’t even know what it was. Once I opened it, I would decide if it could help me learn what Sawyer truly wanted. And then, like a good, respectful opponent, I would put it back.

It’s not like he didn’t enjoy playing the upper hand with me.

The results popped up: Erica was right. Hatchcom Focus was a communication and consulting firm, though they seemed to specialize in business departures, with a specialization on legal teams. But the exact services they offered were vague.

“I don’t get it,” I said. “What do theydo,exactly?”

“Make sure people know what they’ve gotten themselves into,” Sawyer said.

“So, it’s like contract planning?”

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