Page 13 of Just Business

Sertab sat at Justin’s desk while Justin leaned over, both his hands on the desk.”... and to launch the VPN, click this,” she said.

Justin’s t-shirt had ridden up, and what a fine view that provided. “That’s easy enough,” Justin said.

Eli planted his cane against the carpet. Too tempting to thwack that band of flesh.

Sertab leaned back. “If you have any problems, let me know.” She looked over her shoulder. “Hey, Sam.”

“Morning.” Sam glanced at his watch. “For a little while yet.”

Justin righted himself, his expression shifting from smooth and confident to parted lips and reddening cheeks when he saw Eli. Nice, but certainly Sam caught that.

“All settled in?” Sam gestured at the laptop.

“Tech’s done,” Sertab said. “Rest is up to you guys.” She stood and paused at the door. “Justin, Ping-Pong starts at four thirty, if these guys let you loose.”

“You know what they say about all work and no play,” Justin said.

She laughed and was gone.

“Somehow, I doubt you’re ever a dull boy.” Eli couldn’t resist.

Justin froze.

Sam choked, trying not to laugh. “E, behave.” He pointed at his office. “In. Both of you.”

Eli felt Justin’s stare burrowing in between his shoulder blades as he entered Sam’s office. Still, the line had been too good to pass up.

Sam rounded his desk and took his seat and swallowed a hiss on the way down.

Someone had fun last night. Sore ass. Back, too, given Michael’s tastes. He stole a glance at Justin—yes, he’d noticed Sam’s wince as well.

Very interesting.

“You’ll have to forgive Eli. He’s not one to pass up an opportunity for wit.”

“I’m not sure that qualified as wit,” Justin said.

Heshouldhave laid his cane across that ass. “Considering what I had to work with—”

“Considering,” Sam said, “that you’re going to be training Justin this afternoon, can we keep the blood loss down to a minimum?” Sam grinned.

Justin relaxed. “Truce?”

Eli stared down at Justin. “No bloodletting and a truce are two very different things. Unless, of course, you want to conce—”

“Challenge accepted.” The timber of Justin’s voice took Eli’s breath away.

Sam coughed. “If you two are finished?”

Justin didn’t speak. Eli nodded.

“Good.” Sam explained what he expected of Justin and which tasks Eli would oversee—those dealing with finance. “Eli will hand over HR duties to you, if you’re up for that.”

Justin sat up straighter. “I am. But—” His Adam’s apple shifted his little leather necklace. “I have two semesters left. Classes. My capstone.”

“Taken into consideration. We’re seven people. I don’t anticipate hiring more at the moment, so there should be enough downtime. If there isn’t, tell me, and we’ll work something out.”

“Thanks.” Justin let out a slow exhale. “Good to know.”