Page 38 of Dealing Dirty
“Shh!” She giggles. “Ugh! There’s no way out of here. We’re busted, for sure.”
I feel around for the light, then flick it on before righting my shirt. I run a hand over my tangled hair and stop short.
My lips curl under my teeth, and I cover my mouth.
“What?” she says, her brows scrunching together.
She looks—well, she looks like a hot mess. A little mess that I created, and one I want to bend over Jack’s desk to finish the job.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” She touches the clumps of matted hair on each side of her head and gasps.
I hook my thumb over the front of my pants, pulling them away from my body. “Maybe you should fix your lipstick.”
“Eres un maldito cabrón,” she whispers before slapping my chest.
“Jules?” Cassidy asks again just outside the door.
Juliana’s eyes are wide with panic as she gasps, “The light!”
Thinking on my feet, I quickly shove her short frame back behind the filing cabinet.
“What about—”
“Shh,” I scold before reaching in and grabbing a familiar folder. I sift through the expense reports I help Jack create every month just as the door snicks open.
Cassidy’s head pokes through, and her bright green eyes fall to the file folder I’m holding. “What are you doing in here?” She purses her lips, looking around the room.
“I, uh… needed to make sure I put that last report in here for Jack. You know me, easily distracted.” I plop the folder back in its spot and clap my hands together.
Swaggering over to her as if I hadn’t just been given the most explosive orgasm of my life, I extend my arm and wiggle my brows. “Shall we?”
She gives the room one last glance before smiling and taking my arm. “We shall.”
* * *
Once the bar clears out, I throw myself into helping Jack clean up, but I can’t shake the phantom scrape of Juliana’s nails and teeth against my skin.
There’s no need to complicate things for Cass and Jack by letting them in on our agreement. So, we decided that keeping this entire thing a secret would be easier for all involved. Besides, once we get our fill, we’ll go back to being casual coworkers and nothing more.
I force myself not to look across the room to where she stands, unaware of my affection. It would be a terrible mistake to show this woman how much she consumes me.
Ben helps us wash, dry, and stack glasses behind the bar while Micah cleans the tables. It’s almost easy to forget that Ben’s been gone for over four months. He wears a relaxed, easy smile as he talks with Jack.
It’s short-lived, but having him here with us and the girls feels a lot like coming home from an extended vacation. The unmistakable relief that comes with walking through the door after being gone for so long. I miss it more than I want to admit.
Juliana sits at the bar next to Cassidy and Hazel. It’s cute seeing the three of them laugh and have fun together. Reliable friendships are hard to come by. I know I’d be lost without these guys.
Jack pauses as Ben retrieves his buzzing phone from his pocket. Blood drains from his face, along with any hint of happiness. “I’ll be right back,” he clips.
I clap a hand between Jack’s shoulder blades when I notice his frown. “We can’t get used to him being here. Hell, he may have jeopardized his position just coming here today.”
“I know. I hate it.” He slings a rag over his shoulder. “I trust him, but it doesn’t make the situation any easier.”
Wrapping a hand over his shoulder, I squeeze. “Stop blaming yourself, Jack. Ben knew what he was doing then, and he knows what he’s doing now. We’re going to take this fucker out and make him wish he never threatened us.”
As soon as the words leave my lips, Ben bursts back through the door, storming straight toward us. His expression is clouded and grim, falling back into his enforcer role.
Cassidy’s spine goes ramrod straight. “What’s wrong?”
