Page 46 of Ridin' True
I looked up as Jed pushed himself away from the wall and eradicated the distance between us. He didn’t grab my jaw, but he got close—close enough that I was able to breathe in the scent of sandalwood and leather.
“I’d kiss you, darlin’, but considerin’ the ‘tude you gave me earlier about you wearin’ a skirt, I imagine you’d feel some type of way if I messed up your lipstick before we headed inside.”
I grinned.
Ireallyliked him.
Maybe enough to ruin my lipstick.
But not enough to show up late to my interview after fixing it.
“Kiss me later?”
He was grinning now, too.
“You know it.”
I was still smiling when he grabbed my hand and escorted me around to the side door that led into the garage. I was careful to watch my step as we made our way around the bays, a couple of them car occupied, and toward the short flight of stairs that took us to the office. The light inside shone through the small window, and my nerves came back as soon as Jed reached for the handle.
The office was only a little bigger than mine. It was dated, but well maintained. On the right side of the room, under outdoor facing windows, was a low-set loveseat. On the left side of the room, in front of windows that looked out over the garage, there was a small desk behind which sat Bull.
He stood as we approached, and I found him to be a whole lot more intimidating now that I wasn’t totally distracted by men holding me captive. Before I could speak a word, I noticed how his eyes dropped to my hand tucked inside of Jed’s. He then lifted his gaze, settled his attention on Jed and asked, “I’m guessing you’re stayin’?”
“If you don’t mind,” he answered.
I slipped my fingers free, wanting both of them to know I was capable of standing on my own. I stretched out my arm toward Bull, offering him my hand instead. “We haven’t officially met. Alexia Torres.”
His eyes shifted from Jed to me then back again, settling on me before he took my hand and shook it.
“Good to see you again.”
As soon as he let me go, I reached into my purse and said, “I brought my resume. I probably should have sent it over sooner, but I hadn’t updated it before this afternoon.”
I handed him a copy, and he took it but didn’t look at it before setting it down on the desk. “Not a problem. ‘Ppreciate it. Why don’t you have a seat?”
I glanced behind me, realizing the couch was my only option. “Uh, okay.”
Jed followed me to the loveseat and we both sat—me on a cushion, him on the opposite arm. Bull came around and sat on the front of the desk. Both men folded their arms casually across their chests.
“Wrangler mentioned your name a few days ago, before the incident with Borrero. Already know more about you than you think.”
“Oh,” I murmured, sitting up a little straighter. “What does that mean, exactly?”
“Looked into your record. More wins than losses. You’ve dabbled in a bit of everything over the years, but you lean toward family law.”
I raised a finger and clarified, “I have done my fair share of family law, but I don’t necessarily lean toward it. My boss—”
“Doesn’t touch ‘em. I know.”
My mouth fell open a little, my brain trying to reconcile how it was that he knew all of this. I couldn’t even begin to figure it out before he continued, “That tells me two things: you do the job you’re expected to do, and you don’t half-ass any of it.” He nodded toward Jed and added, “Heard you mopped the floor with Nicole even though her case was weak, at best, and you could have gotten away with less.”
I shrugged, still trying to keep up, and muttered, “I like to win.”
“Yeah. I got that.”
“So…how is it that you know so much about me?”
He smiled, but it didn’t feel exactly friendly.
