“You’ve got student loans to pay off, and Bran needs help. Why not freelance for Club Tahoe and help Bran with his little tech problem?”
“Not so little,” Bran grumbled.
No question Ireland could help Bran with his software issues. She was an expert in half a dozen programming languages. The problem was, did she want to suffer the pain of working with him?
Bran glanced skeptically at Ireland as though reading her thoughts. “Thanks, but we’re good. I’m sure this guy will work it out.”
“No, seriously,” Cali continued, and Ireland shot her a look of annoyance that Cali ignored. “If it’s been days and this guy hasn’t figured it out, it will probably take Ireland a few hours to solve the problem. She’s that good.”
Ireland stared at Cali. Hadn’t Ireland made it clear she wasn’t interested in spending time with guys who were jerks? Why was Cali pushing her into Bran’s crosshairs?
But then, Ireland had mentioned the kiss, and Cali had gotten that look in her eye…as though she saw a match in the making.
Shit.
Bran shook his head. “This is specialized software. She won’t be able to accomplish more than the employee who helped design it.”
Ireland squeezed her hand into a fist. Did he doubt her skills? Like the men she worked with before? Oh,hell no.
At least the tech crew at Blue gave her respect. Sure, she’d had to come in and prove she was good, but they weren’t arrogant like the people she’d worked with at her previous employer. It would be great if she earned as much at Blue as she did at her old job, but a nice work environment was huge. Which meant Cali had made a valid point about money and student loans.Dammit.
“I can do it,” Ireland said, her gaze not leaving Bran’s.
“Yay!” Cali said. “It’s settled. Ireland will stop by Club Tahoe this week.”
A muscle in Bran’s jaw ticked. “It’s not that simple. I’d have to clear it with Levi. And the software is proprietary. I doubt the company would want a subcontractor coming in.”
“They will if she can fix the problem,” Cali said. “Ireland could sign one of those”—she snapped her fingers—“non-disclosure things—an NDA.”
Bran shoved a hand into the front pocket of his jeans—dark wash with just the right fit that showed off his muscular ass and thighs from the side.
Ireland stood and moved toward Cali, where she couldn’t see his butt from her vantage point. “Bran has a point.” No matter how much Ireland wanted to prove Bran wrong, the thrumming of her heart told her that spending time with him might not be wise. “I doubt I could find the time with my work schedule.”
Cali rolled her eyes. “You’re gone forty hours a week—that’s, like, half what you used to work. And it’s not as though you go out—” Ireland slyly pinched her cousin, and Cali cleared her throat. “I mean, it’s not like you don’t havespare time.” Cali grinned. “You might need to cut back on yourFixer Uppermarathons, though.”
Ireland closed her eyes. Would there be no end to this conversation? “Cali,” she said.
Her cousin laughed. “I’m just kidding. But you have time, admit it.”
A pleased look crossed Bran’s face. Was it that obvious she didn’t want to work with him?
Ireland straightened her shoulders. “You know what? You’re right, Cali. I can work Club Tahoe into my schedule.”
Take that, Bran Cade!Thinks he’s won? Not this time.
Bran frowned. “I still need to check with the software company.”
Cali waved him off. “Send them Ireland’s résumé. They’ll hire her.”
Ireland could use the extra cash, and this was a solid freelance lead. But that wasn’t the only reason she’d reconsidered the job…or working with Bran. When it came to programming and computers, Ireland was an expert.
And Ireland wanted to prove to Bran that she was his equal, once and for all.
Chapter 8
Bran returned to the club to find James still working on the software issue. In the back of his mind, he’d hoped to walk in and find everything miraculously resolved. “Any progress?”
“Some,” James said. “Just need a little more time.”
