Page 52 of Bang

"Eh, she dropped her purse, bent over to get it…" He shrugged. "You know, the usual."

Not inmyworld, it wasn't. Yeah, I had plenty of offers, but the dayanyonefelt comfortable enough to flash their ass in my office would be the day I knew I was losing my touch.

At work, I was all business, as everyone damn well knew – or rather everyone except for Chase, who seemed determined to make me lose it.

It hadn't happened yet, and it wasn't going to happen today.

I listened in silent resignation as he detailed the shape of her ass and the rose tattoo on her right butt cheek.

When he finished, I said, "And you're telling me this, why?"

"Because I figured you'd want to know."

"Yeah, well Idon't."

"But you'll want to knowthis." He removed his feet from my desk and leaned forward in the chair. "I wasn't her first stop."

"Meaning?"

"Before she came to seeme, she went to see Willow."

I stiffened. "What? Where?"

"At the school, a few hours ago, when Willow was just getting out."

"Shit." I got to my feet. "I've gotta go."

Chase laughed. "Why?"

"To check on Willow."

"Relax, she's fine." Chase pointed toward my now-empty seat. "Sit. I'll tell you the rest."

I remained standing. "There's more?"

"Oh yeah. And let's just say, it wasn'tWillowwho cried in my office."

"What?"

"It was Veronica."

"Yeah, so?"Veronica wasn't family.She could cry all she wanted. She'd be getting no sympathy from me. Looking to make a point, I said, "Was thatbeforeoraftershe flashed you?"

"After." Chase paused. "No, wait. Before."

Oh, for fuck's sake."So let me get this straight," I said. "She cried first and flashed you second?"

"Pretty much."

"She was playing you," I said. "You know that, right?"

"No. She wastryingto play me. Big difference."

"Not if you're in here, pleading her case."

Chase laughed. "That's not why I’m here."

Yeah, right."It's not?"