Page 57 of Ridin' True

“I assure you I am not. The fact that it was carried out by Borrero, who is now tied to Hoffman, is the linchpin.”

“Bad fuckin’ luck for Freddy boy.”

“Serves him right,” piped in Jed. “You play with snakes, you’ll get bit.”

Roy nodded as he propped his forearms against the table and leaned into the conversation, his curiosity piqued. “Alright, Torres—lay it out.”

We discussed my strategy for the next thirty minutes, the guys contributing more information that strengthened my angle of Hoffman’s disregard for the code of conduct. I wrote it all down with the intention of drawing up a formal letter of termination for Roy to present to Fred when he was ready.

“Let’s talk timing. You said you wanted to give notice,” commented Roy.

I drew in a deep breath and let it out in a huff.

This was happening.

I did it.

Roy wishing to talktimingmade it all the more real.

I wanted the job. I spent the last four nights working to make it a possibility—but it was a huge career move, and it would have been short-sighted of me not to take a breath and remind myself exactly what I was doing.

And what I was doing was taking a leap of faith inmyself.

“I do,” I replied with a decisive nod. “If I could have until the end of the month, I think that should suffice.”

“That’s fine. We’ll set somethin’ up with Hoffman in a couple weeks. In the meantime, I’ll send over our generic employee agreement. Make any changes you want, send it my way, I’ll have a look at it, and we’ll make this official.” He stood and offered me his hand. “Nice work,” he said with a shake.

“Thank you.”

I smiled to myself as I gathered my notes and tucked them back into my purse. Roy and Benson were already on their way out when I stood to leave.

“You in a rush?” asked Jed.

“No. Why?”

He took my hand and turned for the door as he instructed, “Come with me.”

I was quick to follow his lead, my heels marking time against the concrete floors with my steps as we journeyed out of the conference room and down the opposite end of the hallway. When we reached the fifth door on the right, he pulled me inside, slammed the door shut, then backed me up against it before closing his mouth around mine.

I hummed, slightly startled by the sound, a bit curious where we were, but totally willing to indulge in Jed’s kiss.

I dropped my purse at our feet, freeing both hands to reach for him. I took hold of the back of his neck, pulling myself closer as I slipped my tongue through his parted lips.

“Missed you,” he mumbled between kisses, making my knees weak.

“Me, too,” I managed.

“Do you have any fuckin’ clue how sexy it is to witness that brain of yours at work?”

I sucked in a quiet gasp, at a loss for words.

As he licked his way around my lips, I knew the question was rhetorical.

At least, I hoped it was. It was impossible to think with his body plastering me to the door.

“Plan on fuckin’ you.”

“Now?” I breathed, peering at him, barely lit by the little bit of light coming from a high, narrow window across the room.