Asher picked that very moment to walk into the living room. Of course he did, because I was having thebest day ever.
“What’s going on with your boss, Dylan?” he asked, without missing a beat.
My cheeks heated as my eyes sought him out, wondering what else he’d overheard. Asher was suited up for the day. Probably Armani, since both he and Addison had a penchant for the designer. He had the same dark blond hair as his sister, but his blue eyes had an intensity to them that always managed to stealmy breath away. He was currently rocking a short beard that added a layer of ruggedness to his posh handsomeness, taking him to yet another level out of my league. Hell, now that I was jobless, we weren’t even playing the same sport. I sat there in my clearance-rack skirt and blazer, acutely aware of the small run in the back of my nylons that I’d dabbed fingernail polish on rather than replacing,wishing I could blend in with Addison’s leather sofa. When I didn’t answer his question, he turned to Addison.
“Addie?”
“Her boss is a douchebag,” Addison replied. “He’s been hitting on her since she started there, and when he finally realized it wasn’t going to happen, he fired her.”
Asher’s eyes hardened and the muscles along his jawline rippled as he turned his gaze back onto me. “Is thattrue?”
I swallowed. “Not... exactly.”
“Dylan!” Addison admonished.
When I didn’t elaborate, Asher walked over to the sofa and sat beside me. “Tell me.”
The heat of his body did crazy things to my pulse, but I forced myself to woman-up and face him. “There were some discrepancies with the budget. I brought them to his attention and he informed me they weren’t my concern and ordered me to keepmy nose in my own job. But they affected my job because I couldn’t add his expenses without plunging the budget into the red, so I... I took my issue to his boss. Next thing I know, Kirk-the-Jerk is helping me pack up my desk under the watchful eye of the security guard. Like I would take anything that reminded me of Bridge City Property Management Company, eeeeeencorporated.”
Asher arched aneyebrow. “So he wasn’t hitting on you?”
“Uh... well... let’s just say that wasn’t the reason I was fired.”
“More like it wasn’t the reason he gave you,” Addison countered with a huff. “Seriously, Ashey, you should hear some of the things this Kirk douchebag has said to her. And the other day, he actually patted her on the ass! Can you imagine? Don’t you think she should—”
“Not important rightnow,” I said, feeling my cheeks heat up as I cast a hard glare at her. “Addie, you’re not helping.”
She glared right back at me. “You can’t let him get away with that crap.”
Asher grabbed my hand, forcing my attention back on him. “Dylan, if your boss did or said anything inappropriate, you have options for—”
“For never getting a job in this town again?” I asked, emboldened by my frustration.I tugged my hand away from his, stood, and started pacing to work out my energy. “As much as I would love to do a solid for women everywhere and nail Kirk’s balls to the wall, I have to think about my future here. Do you have any idea what a sexual harassment case does to a woman’s chances of employment? I need to work, Ash. I had a plan and I was...” I paused long enough to swallow back my emotions,reminding myself that crying wouldn’t solve anything. “It would be less detrimental to my career to kill him than it would be to sue him.”
“Great, I’ll get my gun,” Addison said, heading for the safe.
Always the voice of reason, Asher lunged to wrap his sister in a hug, effectively cutting off the route that would begin her murder sentence. “I get what you’re saying, Dylan. I don’t like it andI wish I could change your mind, but I understand why you don’t want to go after your boss. He’s definitely not worththoseconsequences.”
Addison snorted. “We can hide a body, Dylan.”
“You say that like you’ve done it before,” Asher accused.
Addison raised her hands. “I will neither confirm, nor deny...”
“To be clear, we’ve never bagged a body then weighted it down with twenty-pound cinderblocksbefore throwing it in the river, watching it sink and never be seen again.” I winked at Addison and then sighed. “Asher’s right, though, Addie. I don’t want to spend any more time or energy on Kirk. I just want to drink my feelings away this weekend, and then Monday morning I’ll put on my big girl panties and update my resume.” And with a little luck, I’d have my college loans paid off rightabout the time I hit ninety.
Addison’s expression softened. I could tell she wanted to hug me, but was thankful she didn’t, because I could barely hold on to my tears as it was. “You’re amazing and awesome and super-duper incredible, so you’ll find something quickly. I know you will. I’ll help you go through job listings this weekend.”
“Thanks, Ad.”
“Tonight we party, though,” Addison said.“On me. Ashey, wanna join us?”
“Can’t, Sis. I’d love to stick around and make sure you two don’t end up in the hospital with alcohol poisoning, but I’ve gotta get back to work. And I have dinner with a client tonight. But call me if you need anything.” He released Addison to grab a file off the coffee table. Then he hugged me.
Asher had been one of my two best friends for years, and his armsfelt safe and familiar, like a lighthouse directing me out of my current storm. I laid my head on his shoulder and breathed in his scent, content to let him hold me while tears stung my eyes. I wished I could stay like that forever, but all too soon the rest of my body picked up on his nearness, increasing my pulse and launching my stomach into a triple-tuck flip with a half-twist.
I startedto pull away, but Asher gave me one last squeeze, whispering, “I miss you” against my cheek. Then he released me and headed out. I watched his very impressive backside disappear out the door before turning back to Addison.
“That bit about the body in the river was clever,” she said. “A little terrifying, but clever.”
