“We’ll do our best,” he assures me, setting his toolbox down and surveying the space. “The good news is the leak wasn’t as bad as I initially thought. Should be able to get it fixed today and start laying the new flooring.”
“Awesome, thanks.”
His team gets to work right away. In no time at all the building is filled with the sounds of power tools and construction chatter.
While Rick and his crew get to work, I head to the office tomake some calls. The first is to my lawyer, Marissa, to discuss Ryan’s latest attempt to strong-arm me into selling.
“Good morning, Ms. Garrett,” she answers. “I received your email. I’ve already drafted a response to Mr. Collins’ legal team.”
“Thank you. What exactly are we telling them?”
“In essence, his claim has no merit,” she says, confidence clear in her voice. “The expansion proposal was properly submitted and approved by your investors. His signature may not be on it, but he had ample opportunity to review it. His negligence doesn’t constitute a breach on your part.”
Relief washes over me. “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.”
“I should warn you, though,” she continues. “He might not back down so easily. Men like him rarely do.”
“I know,” I sigh, leaning back in my chair. “But I’m not backing down either. Summit Studio is mine.”
After hanging up, I spend the next few hours making calls, verifying new hire interviews, and updating my staff. By lunchtime, I’m mentally exhausted and in desperate need of caffeine.
When lunchtime arrives, I lock up the office and head over to Rise & Dine. The restaurant is bustling with the lunch crowd, but I manage to snag a table by the window.
I’m halfway through my turkey club when I look up and nearly choke on my sandwich when Jax walks in with a tall, muscular guy I don’t recognize. His hair is styled in that sexy mohawk again, and he’s wearing a black Skin & Ink T-shirt that stretches across his chest in all the best ways.
My first instinct is to duck under the table, but it’s too late. His eyes sweep the room and latch onto me. A slow, knowing smirk spreads across his face as he murmurs something to his companion before making a beeline for my table.
“Fancy meeting you here,” he says, leaning in to rest his hands on the back of the empty chair next to mine. “Mind if I join you?”
Before I can protest, he pulls the chair out and sits down, stretching his long legs out under the table. When his boot brushes against my shoe, I quickly pull my foot away.
“Actually, I was just leaving,” I lie.
His eyes drop to my plate to my half-eaten sandwich, then lift back to mine with an infuriating grin. “Doesn’t look that way to me.”
The guy he came in with saunters over to the table.
Up close, he looks even more intimidating. Standing at a minimum of 6’4”, with broad shoulders and a full sleeve of tattoos covering his right arm, his dark hair is cropped short.
As he slides into the chair across from me, I realize that there’s something familiar about his gorgeous green eyes.
“Sasha, this is Logan Cade. Lizzy’s brother,” Jax explains with a jerk of his chin. “He’s here visiting. Thinking about maybe moving back.”
My eyes widen in recognition. “Oh! You’re her twin! The firefighter, right? Lizzy talks about you a lot.” Now the eyes make sense.
Logan extends his hand across the small table with a warm smile. “Nice to meet you. Lizzy’s told me a lot about you too. Said you’re opening a Summit Studio?”
His grip is warm and respectfully firm. “Yes. Right next door, actually.”
“Nice. If I end up moving back, I might have to check it out. Been looking for something to help with recovery after shifts.”
“You should,” I say, giving him my brightest smile. “We have discounts for first responders.”
“Cool.” He flashes a smile that under normal circumstances would make me swoon, but for some reason it’s just nice. Nopang of sexual attraction. Especially with Jax sitting next to me. The energy coming off of him is off the charts.
I notice Jax watching me intently, a hint of possessiveness in his gaze. My cheeks flush as our eyes meet, and suddenly I’m back in my bedroom with him watching me through my window.
Just as heat crawls up my neck at the memory, I feel a warm hand squeeze my thigh.
