Page 34 of Caught in the Axe
I cleared my throat. “Sorry. I was in my head. What can I help with?”
He lifted one brow and scrutinized me, like he was trying to read my mind.
My skin tingled under his regard, and there went my blood heating again. Goddamn, those blue eyes practically scorched me.
“I need you to check this asset report for me. I’ve got to get it to the lawyers tonight, since we’re headed to Portland on Friday for negotiations with the buyers.”
“Right,” I said, forcing a smile and patently ignoring the way my core ached. “Of course.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” His concerned frown was adorable. “I could grab you a bottle of water. Do you want to sit down?”
Nodding like a bobblehead, I dragged myself over to a chair on the other side of the table. I dropped into it and turned up the volume on my playlist, attempting to lose myself in a sea of numbers.
After fixing a few inconsistencies and sending them off to the legal team, we celebrated with an assortment of gluten-free sugary cereal and tea I heated up in the microwave.
“I’ve figured out most of the acronyms and the shorthand on the written documents,” I said, sorting through our cereal options. “I’ve got a list on my computer for reference.”
He snatched the box of marshmallow cereal out of my hand. “The chocolate bombs are better.” When I feigned a scowl, he grinned, looking so boyish. “I said what I said.” He was still wearing the T-shirt. His fancy dress shirt was carefully draped over the back of one of the metal folding chairs, daring me to pick it up and sniff it.
I shrugged. “I’m on team fruity sugar cereal. But I will admit the strawberry chocolate turtles were gross.”
“Who thought it was a good idea to make kids’ cereal out of chickpeas?”
I shuddered. “It’s a crime against nature.”
The smile he gave me was one of pure contentment. It was impossible not to take a moment to revel in it.
“What?” he said, his cheeks going a little pink.
“I like your smile. You wear this grumpy façade, so most of the time, you’re scowling. But once in a while, you smile at me, and when you do, you look like a different person—” The moment the last word left my lips, I stiffened. Dammit, I’d gone too far and been too honest. Yes, we were becoming friends, but he was my boss and my ex’s brother as well.
He pressed his lips together and ducked his head. When he looked up again, he searched my face, like he was worried I wouldn’t understand his reasoning. “It’s hard being here. This town, this building. It makes me feel stuck. Logically, I know that’s not the case, but being here puts me on the defensive. I’m sorry if I’ve been scowling at you.”
“Eh.” I shrugged, picking out a box of tried-and-true fruity cereal. “I’ll take authenticity over artifice any day of the week. Your grumpy scowls and resting boss face don’t bother me. Though I do enjoy the rare smile.”
He smirked. “Resting boss face?”
“Oh yeah.” I slid a finger under the tab of my cereal box, popping it open. “It’s like your facial muscles know how to project responsibility and confidence. When I see you, I thinkthis guy knows what he’s doing.”
The laugh that bubbled out of him was deep and loud. The sound caused butterflies to take flight in my belly.
I busied myself with opening the bag inside my cereal box, trying to hide the blush on my face. This kept happening, these tiny moments where I nudged a toe over the line. It was so effortless. Talking turned into flirting so naturally, and I found myself addicted to watching him respond to me.
Desperate to change the subject, I racked my brain for a work-related topic to focus on. “I have a bunch of invoices and receipts for Deimos Industries.”
He popped a handful of chocolate bombs into his mouth and chomped on them, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully. “Doesn’t sound familiar,” he said around the mouthful. “Is it one of the smaller mills? We’ve shipped to a few in Vermont, as well as some down south.”
I shook my head. “I’ve cross-referenced all our other stuff and the online cost reports. But it’s not a client.”
He frowned and sat up straighter. “What do you mean?”
“It’s not listed in either the client or vendor databases. Which is strange enough. Then there are records of payments coming and going. Random amounts, sometimes a few dollars and other times tens of thousands.”
“Flag them,” he said. “I’ll ask Gus if he knows what that’s about. If not, we can always do some digging online.”
I pushed my hair behind my ears. “I did, actually. I went to the Secretary of State’s website to learn more, and it kind of led me down a rabbit hole.” My notepad had been pushedaside while we snacked, but I dragged it in front of me and skimmed the notes I’d taken. “Deimos is an S corp incorporated in Delaware. According to the documents I found, it’s an entertainment and merchandising company. Whatever that means.”
He sat back and smiled. “I’m impressed.”
