Page 7 of Xactly What She Needs

Mean, maybe not. Homicidal, possibly. But that’s on them to learn the hard way. You can only push someone so far.

Xander shakes his head. “Anyway,” he looks over at me, “I promise that all the guys in the shop are good guys, just a little rough around the edges. But I can guarantee that they would never do or say anything inappropriate towards you.”

I chew on my bottom lip, indecision running rampant through my brain.

“It’s up to you, Bri,” Edge states. “I won’t fire you, but I really think this is a better opportunity for you. You have way too many skills to just be our receptionist.”

“How would I get there?” I ask. “I only have to walk downstairs right now.” I don’t have a car yet. I left everything behind when I ran. Not like it would’ve mattered since my car was in his name anyway. My eyes go wide. “Am I going to have to move out?” That thought scares me. I appreciate the help I received at the shelter, but it’s been really nice having a place of my own. And I haven’t been able to save up enough money for rent yet. Even though, now that I think about it, I probably do because Edge hasn’t seemed to cash the check that I gave him two weeks ago.

Edge gives me a small smile and shakes his head. “Nah, you can stay there as long as you want. I don’t like renting to people I don’t know,so itwould stay empty if you moved out.”

I give him a frown. “You know, renting usually consists of taking payment.”

Cadie snortsloudly, makingme look at her in question. “Don’t bother trying. I lived there for months and he never cashed one of the checks I gave him. Kealy was right, he has more money than sense.”

Edge narrows his eyes at her. “When did she say that?”

“When I asked her why you weren’t taking my money,” Cadie smirks.

“It’s not even like that,” Edge grumbles, adorably, well asadorableas someone who looks terrifying can be anyway.

“Face it,” Marrow chuckles loudly. “Youcan’t help yourself. You’ve never met a stray that you didn’t take in. Why do you think Kea won’t let you go near any dog shelters?”

I probably should be insulted about being called a stray, but instead I feel happy. I’ve heard that everyone who works here was a stray at one point or another and that Edge took care of all of them. Looks definitely can be deceiving when it comes to him.

“And don’t worry about getting to the shop,” Xander says. “Me, Jax or one of the other guys can pick you. Edge’s shop is on the way for a few of us, so it’s not a big deal.” He gives me a thoughtful look. “Plus, it will be good in case we have any late nights. You won’t be taking an Uber alone with some stranger.”

How he knew I was going to suggest taking an Uber is beyond me, but I do feel a little better not having to get in a car with a complete stranger. Even though I don’t really know Xander or any of the other guys, I know that Edge wouldn’t suggestIwork somewhere he didn’t think I would be safe. How he’s earned my trust so quickly, I’ll never know, but he has.

It’s with that thought, that I know I’ve come to a decision. “Okay,” I nod my head slowly. “When would you like me to start?”

Xander shrugs his massive shoulders,“Last week?”

My eyes widen. “How much of a disaster am I walking into?” My brain has now seemingly switched to work mode, which I prefer. I was a great manager and always kept on top of everything. And the way he grimaced at my question is making allsortsof alarm bells go off in my head.

“It’s not too bad,chuckles and scratches the back of his head, making my eyes narrow. “Just a little backed up, that’s all.”

****

Two Days Later

My first thought upon walking in with Xander this morning is that every man here is gigantic and scary looking. My second was that his brother Jax is even bigger than Xander and by far more terrifying. My third is that Xander was full of shit when he said it wasn’t that bad. Jax looked so damn happy to see me when he walked out of the office that I knew right there and then that all of their paperwork was a mess. Jax doesn’t look like a man who shows too much emotion, but the second I met him, his eyes sparkled like a kid’s on Christmas morning.

Looking around a few hours later and I’ve barely made a dent. How they’ve managed to keep this place running is beyond me. The accounting program that they use is terribly outdated and needs to be switched immediately. They have paperwork thrown all over. Work orders, supply lists, final bills, basically you name it and it’s laying around. I don’t think they even know what folders or files are. This place is a disaster, which surprises me. When looking through a few things, I saw that they specialize in custom builds that also include some major electronics. How they can do all of that but have the world’s worst computer programs for themselves is just plain amazing and slightly scary.

I look up from the mounds of paperwork when I hear a knock on the door frame. “How’s it goin?” Xander asks in a low, very cautious tone. He should be cautious right now. Anyone else would’ve run out of here screaming already.

He walks into the large office with Jax following on his heels. They both stand on the other side of the room and as much as I would like to think it’s because they know I’m slightly irritated at them, I know they’re standing there so that I don’t feel crowded by them. Their thoughtfulness melts away some of my irritation, not all, but enough not to give them a dirty look.

I take a few deep breaths to control myself. Even with them across the room, they’re both still large men and the fact that they’re in coveralls doesn’t help. It brings back horrible memories that I try very hard to forget. If I had told Edge about my past, he never would’ve mentioned working here to me. But I decided that I will not let my past interfere with my future. Plus, these two need all the help they can get.

“Do you guys know what folders are?” I ask slowly.

They give me matching frowns as Jax nods his head as Xander says, “Yes.”

I rubmy temples. I can feel a headache coming on from looking at all of this. “Has it ever occurred to you to purchase any?”

They both look at each other and in that moment, they almost look like twins. They both have the same jawline and nose, though Jax’s looks as though it’s been broken a few times. Both men have dark brown eyes and even darker hair. They both seem to like having scruff on their faces and being covered in tattoos. If it wasn’t for the height difference, you truly would thinkthey aretwins. But where Xander seems to have a more open face, Jax looks as though he closed off the world.

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