Page 63 of Coming In Hot
“Jaxy,” Pharo echoes, trying the name on for size with a grin.
“No,” I warn him. “Double fucking no. In fact, weren't you just leaving?”
“I’m just dropping this off, if you wanna join me for a late snack somewhere,” Joey offers him.
Un-fucking-believeable! She’s been here two minutes and she’s already hitting on my man! I mean, he’s not mine, per se, but he sure as shit isn’t hers!
“Pharo, goodnight. Joey, you’re staying. We need to talk.”
Pharo still looks amused, but he nods and catches my chin in his grip. “Goodnight, Jaxy.”
Fucker. He appears to be debating whether he should kiss me or not, but fuck that. Not with an audience. And not a last-kiss-goodbye like I’m some first date he’s dropping off at his parents’ doorstep. Fuck no to both.
Pulling out of his grasp, I practically shoved him out the door. “Thanks for stopping by,” I call out as he makes his way down the hall, his laugh echoing off the walls.
Shutting the door a bit harder than necessary, I turn my attention to the stalker. “This better be good if you tracked me down. We’re supposed to have an understanding. No home addresses, no personal details, and no meet and greets!”
“Funny, I don’t remember signing that contract.” Her voice drips with sarcasm, but there’s a smugness to it, like she’s enjoying pushing my buttons.
I take a step closer, crossing my arms over my chest, narrowing my eyes. “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up at my door uninvited.”
“I figured you wouldn’t mind.” She takes a deliberate step forward, not intimidated by my glare. “Wait till you see what I’ve got. It’sgood,” she stresses, baiting me.
“Spill,” I say, holding out my hand for the manila folder.
“First, let’s discuss your guest.” She waggles her eyebrows suggestively. “Was that King Tut, the suspect in question?”
Damn her for spying on my desktop remotely. “Yeah, that was him.”
“Annnnd, I’m guessing he stopped by for somelate-night entertainment?” Joey clicks her tongue. “Sleeping with the enemy, Jaxy?”
“He’s not the enemy.”Anymore. “And I’m notJaxy!”
“Man, I wouldn’t mind cracking his password,” she says as she cracks her knuckles loudly. “I’d infiltrate his hard drive and encrypt his files in a heartbeat.”
Ew, she makes that sound fucking gross. “Good luck getting past his firewall.”
“Yeah, well, King Tut just accepted a job offer for that supersecret spy-ops outfit he works for. Did he tell you that? We’re talking a big promotion, here. Like higher ups, expense account, in so deep you can’t get out kinda stuff.”
Motherfucker! My ass burns and not because Pharo just fucked me. He’s a goddamn liar! Which I already knew, but still. I thought…
What, Jax? You thought just because he fucked you, he was going to come clean about everything and do a total one-eighty? Not fucking likely.
“Let me see that file.” Joey hands it over, and I scan the documents. She could have gotten busted big time for this info. “How’d you find this?”
“I set an alert on his name, and it dinged today. Luck of the Irish.”
I glance at her, sizing her up. “Are you Irish?”
“No,” she says cheekily, “But I am lucky.”
The contract states that he was offered a position as head of transportation and flight training. The six-figure salary is on the higher end. I don’t see his signature on it, but that might just be a formality because of the distance. Only a fool would turn down an offer like this.
Only a fool would fuck a guy he doesn’t trust after holding out for six years.
“Well, thanks for stopping by. It’s getting late. Next time, just send a message. No need to come all the way over here.”
She tilts her head slightly, a slow, deliberate grin curling her lips. “Maybe I just wanted to see you. Not everything has to be a transaction, you know.”
