Page 56 of Toxic

I looked at my watch as she continued to shuffle papers. “I don’t have a lot of time, Miss…”

She looked up and I smiled at her. Her eyes softened a little, and a tiny moan escaped her lips, then shifted toward the back where the doors allowed access to the rest of the building. “Stacy,” she said, fluttering her lashes again. “I’m not really supposed to let anyone back without an appointment…”

“I understand, Stacy,” I said, leaning my elbow against her counter. I might have flexed, just a little. “My secretary was supposed to take care of that for me, but she doesn’t seem to be nearly as efficient as you are.”

There was a low grumble from beside me, but neither me nor Stacy commented on whatever Billie had just muttered. I didn’t want to be flirting with this woman, but I needed access to this building.

“You should find better help,” she teased.

“If I had an opening, maybe you’d be interested?” I asked.

Her eyes widened and her breath caught. “Is that possible?”

I shrugged. “My bosses give me free rein to hire my own staff into the civilian positions. The EPA may be a federal agency, but running my front desk isn’t federal.”

She was already furiously scribbling down her contact information and handing it over. I wasn’t sure how she could write with those wicked claws, but I took the card. “Thank you.”

“Go on back,” she told me. “Mr. Finch’s first appointment hasn’t shown up yet.”

“Thank you, Stacy,” I told her with a wide smile. “We’ll talk soon.”

“Shame on you,” Billie hissed as soon as the doors shut behind us. “She’s going to be so disappointed when ‘Bob Johnson’ has no idea who she is.”

“What makes you think there’s a Bob Johnson who works at the EPA?” I asked with a chuckle.

“Bob Johnson?” she said, rolling her eyes. “There will be one. Also, you almost blew our cover.” Her eyes raked over me as we walked. “Youdon’tlook like a Bob.”

I gave her a sinful grin. “Oh yeah? What do I look like?” I teased. I liked the way her cheeks went a little pink as I flirted with her.

“You look like a fuck boy,” she said and walked off, leaving me gaping after her.

I picked up my pace and caught up with her. “I’m not a fuck boy. Not even a boy,” I growled at her.

A man walking by overheard and gave us a shocked look. My scowl sent him scurrying away before he could gather the courage to ask what we were doing back here.

“Any man who is that practiced with flirting is probably a fuck boy,” she informed me.

“Stop calling me that,” I told her under my breath. “Makes me sound like some useless frat kid.”

She shrugged her shoulders and then sighed. “Another desk.”

I tore my eyes off her face and strode up to the desk. “I have an appointment with Declan Finch,” I told the man sitting there.

“Oh, Mr… Tanaka…” He looked up at me and frowned. “I have a Mr. Tanaka for Mr. Finch’s first appointment of the day.”

“That’s me.”

Both he and Billie were staring at me. I didn’t dare look over at her and give her a signal to play it cool.

“Uh…” the kid sputtered out.

“Adopted,” I told him with a charming smile.

“Oh. Well, that’s cool,” he said, getting flustered. “Mr. Finch isn’t in just yet. So if you wanted to wait over there-”

“What’s your name?” I asked.

He blinked. “Mike.” He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing in his throat. “Mike Kopp.”

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