Page 15 of Ignite

“I created the inventory database system for Steelworks Inc. They pay me monthly to maintain it and take care of any problems if it crashes. I have it to the point that it’s pretty self-reliant and will alert me if anything goes down.”

One of his eyebrows arched. “That’s impressive. You’re a smart woman. You went to college for that?”

Jazz felt her cheeks heat. “Yes, but my major was graphics and programming, not software engineering. I graduated and… well… just happened to find this field.”Yeah, “happened” because of Madge and Bill, Delia, and a whole lotta other folks just like them.

He stood up from his position and regarded her with those gorgeous eyes of his. “So, messin’ with scammers is just a side thing? You don’t make money with it?” His easy posture sent her libido into overdrive.

She pressed her lips together and got a firm grip on her hormones. She reached down and pulled an empty tray from the display case, keeping her eyes on her task. “Nope. Some people have monetized it by making YouTube videos and contests from the phone calls, but no one I know takes money from victims. The bottom line is, we do what we do to help people. Like your landlady.”

He frowned and took the heavy metal sheet from her hands. “We? There are more than just you?”

Her grin returned. “There’s a network of people who take on scammers, bots, fake accounts, all sorts of stuff. It’s sad we have to do this, but….”

“But what?”

Jazz turned to Wolf and, for the first time, stood tall and met his eyes directly. “I’ve had too many people I know personally who were targeted by those criminals. I’ve seen people get taken for a few hundred, others for a few thousand. Then there are the ones like Madge and Bill. They lost their entire savings on an online retirement investment company that turned out to be a scam.” She raised her fists and flared her fingers. “Poof. Just like that, a lifetime of work, gone. By the time they figured it out, their money had disappeared into cyberspace, and there was nothing they could do about it. Bill spent his life pouring steel at the forge and ended up broke and disabled. The only income they have left is what the bakery produces. They should be retired at their age, but they can’t afford it now. It’s not right, and I have the ability to do something about it. Part of that is making coffee and helping them around here. The other part is using my talent to shield vulnerable people when I can. That’s what we unofficially call ourselves—scam-shielders.”

“That’s really cool.” His approving smile sent thrills from her head to her toes, making her movements tight and jerky. She popped off one portafilter, fumbled it, and spilled grounds all over the counter. Her cheeks flamed at his amused chuckle.

“You guys got a website? How do people find you?”

She scooped the mess into her hand and turned away to dump it into the trash bin. “We don’t advertise or sell our services. We’re just a bunch of people who get together online sometimes and kick some scammer ass. We get hundreds of bogus emails and texts every day. That makes it easy to find them when we have time. It’s not like we have work hours.” The bell rang as a few more customers came in. “Although, I think I’m gonna message some of them later and let them know I’ll be off-grid for a while. I believe I’m gonna be needed here more in the next weeks, and I still have my day job to handle.”

Wolf stood directly behind her. “Yeah, I’d say you’re right. I’ll be stepping in as needed too.” His voice got serious, dropping in volume and pitch. “Listen, I don’t want this to get awkward between us over what happened this morning. I repeat, I’m sorry for touching you like I did, and I hope you won’t hold that against me.”

I really do want to hold it against you. I mean me. I want to hold me against you just for a minute.Jazz pressed her lips together to keep from speaking. No way did she want to screw up her words this time. No telling what embarrassing phrase would come out.

He must have taken her silence as anger. “Look, we’re gonna need to get through this so we can work together.”

She thought carefully before she replied. “I get it. I’m okay working with you as long as you’re okay working with me?”

“Is that another question?”

Jazz took a big breath before turning to face him. I can control my mouth. I can control my thoughts. I can control my hormones.“I’m okay working with you as long as you’re okay working with me.”

He chuckled again at her carefully worded sentence. “Good. Now show me how to use the register properly.”

8

Lynn Farthing pulledat the boning in the tight corset underneath her dress as she entered the Radisson West Hotel. The upscale resort was a far cry from the tiny one-bedroom apartment she barely afforded. Rent was disgustingly high in this part of California, and her job as a high school guidance counselor didn’t pay all the bills. The divorce settlement she got from her ex-husband helped, but it was still hard for her to make ends meet. At age fifty, she was essentially starting over.

Her best friend at the school had turned her onto this dating app. More like a hookup app, as most of the people there were looking for a temporary sex partner. Lynn figured if her ex used the app, she had that option as well.

The bar was tasteful and high-class. Lynn felt frumpy and way too old to be there, but she’d taken the train into the city and was determined to follow through with this… meeting? Assignation? Fucking?

She raised a hand to her freshly colored blonde hair and glanced at the picture on her phone. Gilbert was the only name he gave. His profile said he was a marketing consultant for the travel business and somewhat younger than her. For what reason he swiped on her profile, she did not know. What were the chances that he liked older women?

Older. Fatter. Overworked. She shook her head. This was not about any future plans. This was just about getting laid, and somehow she needed to let her ex find out about it. He got himself a pretty little fuck toy, so she could, too, right?

One last look at the picture, and she slipped the phone in her purse. She scanned the room.

“CatLady50?” A deep male voice vibrated near her left ear.

Shit-oh-shit-oh-shit!Lynn swallowed and steeled herself before she turned to face the man. “Yes, it’s nice to meet yoooo…oh my.”

Stunning dark eyes peered down at her from the handsomest face she’d seen in a long time—high cheekbones, strong jawline with a close sculpted beard, long nose. The only mar was a small scar in front of his left ear and a light smattering of gray at his temples. He dressed in a tailored business suit and gave off an aristocratic vibe. The aura he exuded was as powerful and wide as his shoulders, and she had no doubts that the rest of him would be as equally appealing naked as it was clothed.

What the fuck have I gotten myself into?“I’m sorry. This was a mistake. Have a nice night.”

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