Page 104 of Bad Situation

“You need references? I can help with that.”

“No.” I pause and open my eyes. “I want you.”

“Baby, it doesn’t matter how many ways you want me, you’ve got me.”

“No, Eli. I’m offering you a job. I want you to be in charge of Global Security for MI.”

Silence.

I tap my Tabitha Simmons heel on the carpet and wait.

“You’re serious?”

I sigh. “As a gunshot wound.”

I guess he knows how serious I am because he gives me more silence.

“You’ll have complete say on who we hire, the infrastructure you want to put in place. The position is going to cover all our refineries and satellite offices. I can show you the salary structure if that’s a concern—”

“Baby, stop. I’m not worried about the money. I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do. Is this about me getting shot? Because that was a freak incident. There hasn’t been a shooting within FBI offices like that in … hell, I have no clue. But I promise you, I’m calculated in what I do. I’m done working undercover. It’s a safe job.”

I’m quick to respond. “It’s not about that.”

“Then what’s it about?”

The sun is setting and, as the fiery orange ball starts its descent, I tell him the truth. “I know I asked you to look into things before when the situation was bad and I was desperate. I know you can’t do both under normal circumstances. But if I’m going to do this—take over this company—I want it to be you.” I hesitate for a tick before telling the truth. “You make me feel safe.”

I hear him move and shift and, if I know my man, he’s running a hand through his hair or over his scruffy jaw that tickles and scratches every part of me in a delicious way. What I don’t do is tell him he can have access to the Gulfstream whenever he needs to visit his parents or, with the bonus structure, he’d be able to afford to do anything for them. I want to say all this, to make him accept because I’m being selfish. I want him here with me—the thought of the FBI moving him again makes me want to scream the building down.

But he doesn’t need the job I’m offering. We’ll go to Chicago as much as he wants and I’ll do everything I can for his parents.

Instead, I decide to go with, “I know it might be weird, you working for me, but you wouldn’t report to me. And after all this hoopla, my mom mentioned that she’s going to push my dad to retire sooner than later. She wants time with him and he can still sit on the board.”

“I’ll think about it.”

My eyes close and I breathe a sigh of relief. I thought he’d shoot me down immediately. “You will?”

“Yeah. I just need some time.”

“Thank you. For thinking about it.”

His voice dips. “I love you and I’ll do anything for you, but that can happen in a lot of different ways.”

I let that seep through me and nod. “I know it can. I love you, too.”

“I promise you’ll always feel safe.”

My voice hitches and I squeeze my eyes shut so I don’t ruin my mascara. “Thank you.”

He changes the subject. “Sarah just called. She was less of a bitch than she’s been in the last few months, letting me know your lawyer did his thing and my parents have the first check from their insurance to start fixing the damage from the fire.”

I smile. “I’m glad. Trig did that as a favor.”

His voice goes tight. “A favor for what?”

I almost laugh. “For not letting my dad go at him in the conference room a few weeks ago.”

“That’s fucked up,” he adds.

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