The routine allowed her to settle her thoughts and steady her nerves.Pull it together, Taryn. It’s a transaction, like all the others the Jack makes every day.
Nerves settled, she still braced herself to hear him say her name again. Instead, he said, “I was surprised to get your note. How did you do it?”
A half smile curved her lips. That had taken a little, no, a lot of thought on her part, but she was pleased that she’d managed to infiltrate the Tremaine Corporation. “Trade secret.”
He smiled and saluted her with his glass. He didn’t bitch, he didn’t moan. Between that and his smile, she had the warm fuzzies.
“Why did you drop the ban?”
“We need to talk.”
“About Hope?” he asked quietly.
She nodded. The bar wasn’t the place for this conversation. “We’ll talk in my office when Dani gets back.”
“That’s the bartender?”
“Yep, that’s me.” Dani appeared at her side. She frowned slightly at Ash, then turned to Taryn. “Thanks for covering for me, boss.”
“No problem. You good out here?” Part of her hoped Dani would say no, would give her an excuse tonotbe alone with Ash in her office.
Dani studied the patrons at the counter and then swept her gaze over the wider bar. “Yeah, I’m good. I’ll call you if there’s trouble.”
Taryn nodded, though she really hoped that trouble, whatever form it took, didn’t show up tonight.
Ash’s gaze swung between them. “You’re having trouble?”
“No.” Both women spoke in unison.
“Grab your drink,” Taryn said, “and follow me.”
Taryn waved Ash into her office. The entire walk from the bar area to the back, she’d felt his gaze, his presence, and it took effort not to squirm. She took a moment at the door to breathe, then took her seat behind the desk.
“It must be serious,” Ash said.
“What is?” She was curious how his mind worked.
“Whatever caused you to drop the ban and send the note.” His brows furrowed and the corners of his mouth turned down. “Are you planning to turn me in?”
Taryn blinked in surprise. “Why would I do that?”
“A better offer?” His concern was reflected in his eyes.
She laughed. “Right now, every offer is better than yours.” When he opened his mouth to object, she shook her head. “You asked for my help, but you never said what you were willing to pay.”
He swallowed hard and she watched his Adam’s apple bob. “Whatever you want, it’s yours.”
She sighed. “Maybe it’s better that you’re on a leash if that’s how you negotiate.”
“I..” Ash trailed off and snapped his mouth shut.
“I’m going to ask you some questions,” she said, “and I expect answers. Truthful ones. Or the ban will be back in place before you can blink.” Ash didn’t know what she’d decided yet, and she was going to use that to her advantage.
Ash nodded.
“Yes or no?”
“Yes,” Ash said.
