El rubbed her temples.“It doesn’t matter, seriously,” she said firmly when Persia just shot her a disbelieving look.“How are things here?You looked like you were going to throw the computer through the window?”
Persia glowered at her screen.“I swear to God, I’ll do it one day.”
El snorted.“I believe you.”
“My goddamn accountant says the IRS want to audit me.Me?!Can you imagine?I barely earn enough to pay my bills never mind squirrel some profits away to evade taxes.”
El frowned.“I’ll put you in touch with a good CPA.Better than that shark you’ve got now, anyway.”
Persia flushed.“You know he’s all I can afford.”
“Screw that.If the IRS are sniffing around, it’s for a reason.I can lend you the money to hire the guy.It’ll be worth it in the long run, Persia.”She knew how her friend felt about charity, and though usually El appreciated it after a lifetime of having friends that tried to mooch off her, there was a time to shrug charity away and a time to embrace it.“Consider it a loan and a favor.You can pay me back in muffins.”
Persia snorted.“That will take me a lifetime.”
“You thinking about going anywhere?”El demanded.“If I want to be repaid in cakes, the only one who should be complaining is my ass.”
“You’re nuts,” Persia retorted, a grin splitting her jaw.
“Nah, I’m not.I just don’t see the need for you to get your ass handed to you by the IRS.Anyway, you haven’t met my boyfriend or his brothers… they’ll eat you out of muffins, never mind house and home.You’ll be begging to pay me back.”
Eyes twinkling, Persia murmured, “Brothers?”
“Yeah, brothers,” El confirmed.“They’re hot too, hot but taken.”
A disappointed smile curved Persia’s lips.“Boo.”
“I know, right?I’m jealous and I have Ryan.”She winked, then leaned over and said, “Give me a second, okay?”
Persia nodded as El reached for cellphone and dialed her brother’s number.
When he picked up, his nasal voice had her wincing.She was used to it, but her Panther’s hearing wasn’t.Yet another turbocharged sense.
“El?What’s wrong?”
She blinked.“Nothing’s wrong.Why?”
“You never call.”
“Neither do you,” she retorted.
“True.So what do you want?”
“I need a CPA.Who do you recommend?”
“Why do you need a CPA?”She could almost see the scowl that would be splitting Daniel’s brow—he was handsome and looked like Annabel actually.Tall and slender with a face that could be considered pretty, she knew he tried to beef himself up with testosterone shots.
Illegal ones.
Rolling her eyes at the vanity in her family, she murmured, “I just need one.”
He heaved out a sigh.“You know we deal with all that stuff in-house.There’s no need for you to be handling accounts outside of the family.”
She narrowed her eyes.“It’s for a friend.”
He snorted.“Yeah.Right.What’s going on?Is this about your inheritance?Have the lawyers told you something you don’t want to tell Dad?”
She blinked; how the fuck had they leapfrogged onto that particular conversation?
