Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 144628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 723(@200wpm)___ 579(@250wpm)___ 482(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 723(@200wpm)___ 579(@250wpm)___ 482(@300wpm)
Deke straightened up. “No, that wasn’t any of us. You know that old lady across the street with all the cats?”
She gasped. “Mrs. Tillmon? That nice lady? I helped her with her groceries.”
Deke shrugged. “She’s real active on the community boards, and she’s very judgmental about everything. She calls the cops on kids who are playing too loud, and she hates you. She’s also got a surprisingly strong arm for an eighty-five-year-old.”
“But it was you who fucked with the gate.” She normally knew a guilty man when she saw one. She’d just gotten flustered by how gorgeous Michael was.
She’d seen what she’d wanted to see. She’d wanted desperately to be cared for, to have someone. She’d been alone for so long. That was why she’d fallen for Michael’s lies.
“I did.” Deke’s shoulders went straight. “At the time we thought it was important to watch you carefully. We had every reason to suspect you were the one who took the money, and we believed you were working with someone to hack into Lodge Corp’s systems. I know you feel what Michael and I did was wrong, but we truly believed something was going on. The way you believed Kyle was sketchy.”
Kyle sat back with a sigh. “I don’t blame her. I am pretty sketchy. And hey, she didn’t try to trick me into a romantic relationship.”
At least he got it.
Taggart turned to stare his way. “Really? Do I need to remind you that Deke and Michael are on your team?”
Kyle shrugged. “Doesn’t mean they don’t do bad shit. I don’t think sleeping with a woman for information is good for the soul. And they were wrong to bring in MaeBe. She can’t do this part of the job. She’s been crying all day because she likes Vanessa and she can’t stand the idea that she hurt her friend.”
“She’s not…” Vanessa frowned. She was saying that a lot. “I wish she’d been upfront with me. I do get why Mr. Lodge was worried about what was happening. I wish he’d asked me, but I also get it. Why would I tell him the truth? But what Michael did…”
Taggart pointed her way. “Michael did what all my idiot employees do and fell for the client. Trust me. I’ve seen it a thousand times. Operative walks in, thinks he’s the big man and the bad girl will give up all her secrets because his dick is so special. But let me tell you, special dick always gives it up for a magical pussy. Or that one asshole that fits perfectly for my gay brothers. Or when the scissoring works just right between two chicks. Gay, straight, bi, it’s all the same. Suddenly big bad operative is all The bad girl isn’t so bad and if she did something wrong, my penis will fix it.”
Kyle’s mouth was hanging open. “Why do they let you around clients?”
Taggart shrugged. “Clients love my sparkling personality. And my honesty. Deke, was Michael still planning on turning Vanessa over?”
Deke shook his head. “Nope. He was going to pay off all her debts, spank her, and then make sure she didn’t get in trouble again. He wasn’t actually planning on letting her find her own place. He was going to make excuses for her to stay until one day she’d been there long enough it made sense to call his place home. You know where it goes from there.”
“Yeah, south, man. That leads to kids and dogs who pee when they’re happy or scared. Or awake. Invest in potty pads.” Taggart’s expression went earnest. “Ms. Jones, I know you’re pissed at Michael and your instinct is to get as far away from him as possible, but he’s got an excellent plan to fix your situation. He’s had a couple of hours to think.”
She didn’t want to know what Michael wanted. “I thought you already fixed my situation.”
“I meant your situation with the press,” Taggart replied. “I’ve had a long talk with Julian, and he’s willing to provide you with a PR firm that specializes in crisis management.”
She wanted to tell him to fuck himself. She didn’t need this.
But she did. The press had made her life a living hell, and she wasn’t sure she could survive this new scandal. “What’s the catch?”
“The catch is you have to stay at Michael’s for a while. You’ll go to work as normal. You’ll be provided with a bodyguard,” Taggart explained.
Kyle held up his hand. “As long as you’re not scared of him. By him, I mean me.”
Ruby had talked about him being a killer, but she was young and she likely didn’t understand what it meant to be a soldier. If there was one person Vanessa owed a second chance, it was Kyle. “I would appreciate it. But I don’t understand why I can’t stay at Lodge Corp. Dani offered me an apartment there.”