Janet Read online

  “That sounds like what you want,” I said.

  “No. You’re perfect. I like that you stand up to me. You definitely aren’t a push over. I like that.”

  “So you like arguing with me?”

  “I didn’t say that,” he said with a laugh. “And I’m lucky I have a secret weapon.”

  “A secret weapon?”

  “When I kiss you, you lose all ability to function.”

  “Damn, you caught that?”

  “Yep. You’re at my mercy.”

  “I have a secret weapon too.”

  “Oh really?” he asked.

  “My purple thong.”

  “Damn.”

  15

  When I got to work the next morning, there was a porno DVD sitting on my desk along with a dirty note. I tossed it in the garbage and pushed it to the back of my mind. I got an interview for a job but it paid half of what I was making here. I wouldn’t be able to make rent with that.

  Ryan came to my office. “You got my note?”

  “Go to hell,” I snapped.

  “So, Garrison told me you tattled.”

  I looked at my computer and ignored him.

  “I’m talking to you,” he snapped.

  “Fuck you.”

  He came toward me then placed his hand on my chair. I didn’t like the touch at all. It was intimidating and threatening. “How does it feel to be played?”

  “I already apologized, Ryan. There’s nothing more I can do.”

  “I bet you regret your actions now.”

  “Now I know why you’re single.”

  “What the fuck did you just say to me?”

  I glared at him. “Get out of my office.”

  “Or what? You’re going to report me to Garrison?”

  “No, I’ll tell my boyfriend and he’ll kill you.”

  “I’m not scared of him,” he said.

  “You should be.”

  There was a knock on the door.

  Ryan quickly stepped away from me.

  Mr. Garrison was standing in the doorway but he wasn’t alone. Scott was standing next to him, a look of murder on his face. Mr. Garrison was watching us. He eyed the DVD and note that was in the garbage. “Is everything alright?”

  My heart was pounding in my chest. I didn’t speak, unsure what to say. I stared at Scott, who was looking into his eyes.

  “We’re fine, sir,” Ryan said calmly.

  “Did you give her that DVD?” Mr. Garrison asked. “Along with that note?”

  “No,” Ryan said quickly.

  “That’s sexual harassment, Ryan,” Mr. Garrison said.

  “Then good thing it wasn’t me,” Ryan said.

  “We just heard you.” Scott’s voice was calm but deadly at the same time.

  Ryan glared at him.

  Mr. Garrison cleared his throat. “Scott is a new addition to our team. He reported the sexual harassment taking place, and I hate to say that he was right.”

  Ryan looked frightened.

  “This can go down two different ways,” Mr. Garrison said. “Ryan, you can quit, pack up your things, and leave immediately, admitting to these charges. If you challenge them, Mr. Benedict will be taking you to court on behalf of Janet, humiliating this company. I suggest you take my generous offer.”

  Ryan said nothing for a long time. He took a deep breath then looked at me.

  “Don’t look at her,” Scott snapped.

  Ryan quickly looked away.

  “I told you not to fuck with my boyfriend,” I whispered.

  After a moment of silence, Ryan left the office and walked into his own, packing his things.

  Mr. Garrison looked at me. “I apologize for all of this, Janet. I should have taken you seriously when you came to me.”

  “As long as Ryan is gone and the harassment is over, there are no hard feelings.”

  He nodded. “I’ll talk to everyone,” he said. “But Mr. Benedict has already made the rounds. I don’t mind doing it again.” He left the office.

  Scott came closer to me, his hands in his pockets.

  “You work here now?”

  “I applied for the job last week.”

  “Why?”

  “You really can’t figure that out?” he said sarcastically. “You wouldn’t leave so I had to come here.”

  “I can’t believe you did that.”

  “I can,” he said. “Now I get to see you every day. And fuck you in my office.”

  I blushed.

  He came closer to me. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. You always take care of me.”

  He smiled. “You got that right.”

  I patted his thigh. “I was getting really sick of Ryan.”

  “I’ll beat the shit out of him later.”

  “Don’t,” I said quickly. “Just leave it alone.”

  “No, now I have to scare him into never bothering you. My brothers will help.”

  “Scott, I said no. You’re a respectable lawyer. It isn’t worth it. And it’s wrong.”

  “And what he did was wrong.”

  “Let it go.”

  He looked like was going to argue.

  I grabbed his face and kissed him. He melted in the same way I always did. “It works both ways.”

  “Damn.”

  “I guess I should get back to work.”

  “Can I take you to lunch?”

  “Can we fuck in your office instead?”

  “That’s my girl,” he said with a wink.

  “Babe, I love you.”

  “I love you too.” He kissed me on the forehead. “Have you heard from Beatriz?”

  “She grabbed her stuff, left, and moved in with Hank.”

  “I’m glad they worked it out.”

  “Me too,” I said. “And now my sister and I are closer than ever before.”

  “Good things came out of it.”

  “Yeah.”

  “So, I was talking to Tony...”

  I rolled my eyes. “When are you not talking to him? Seriously, you two are joined at the hip.”

  “Isn’t that a good thing?”

  “Not when it ruins my time with you,” I said. “I can’t just sit on your lap and make out with you. He’s my brother. It’s weird.”

  “It would be weird if you did that in front of anyone.”

  I glared at him. “So what did you talk about?”

  “I asked if I could move in with you.”

  My heart stopped beating. “What did he say?”

  “He said we should have already done it.”

  “Are you asking me?”

  He shook his head. “You know me better than that. I’m telling you.”

  I smiled. “Well, this is me accepting that command.”

  He nodded. “We’re getting better at this.”

  “Compromise goes a long way.”

  Scott pulled out a key. “The movers already moved everything.”

  My mouth fell open. “What if I said no?”

  “You weren’t going to say no,” he said with a laugh.

  “I still would have liked to have been asked.”

  “Too bad.”

  I felt my anger rise. “Scott—”

  He grabbed my face and kissed me, quieting my protests and making me dig my nails into his skin. “Works every time.”

  The story continues….

  Cassie

  (Book Five in the Alpha Series)

  Available Now

  About the Author

  E. L. Todd was raised in California where she attended California State University, Stanislaus and received her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, then continued onto her master’s degree in education. While she considers science to be interesting, her true passion is writing. She works as an assistant editor at Final-Edits.com.

  By E. L. Todd

  Soul Catcher

  (Book One of the Soul Saga)

  Soul Binder

  (Book Two of the Soul Saga)
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  Soul Relenter

  (Book Three of the Soul Saga)

  Only For You

  (Book One of the Forever and Always Series)

  Forever and Always

  (Book Two of the Forever and Always Series)

  Edge of Love

  (Book Three of the Forever and Always Series)

  Force of Love

  (Book Four in the Forever and Always Series)

  Fight for Love

  (Book Five in the Forever and Always Series)

  Lover’s Roulette

  (Book Six in the Forever and Always Series)

  Happily Ever After

  (Book Seven of the Forever and Always Series)

  Sadie

  (Book One of the Alpha Series

  Elisa

  (Book Two of the Alpha Series)

  Connected by the Sea

  (Book One of the Hawaiian Crush Series)

  Breaking Through the Waves

  (Book Two of the Hawaiian Crush Series)

  Connected by the Tide

  (Book Three of the Hawaiian Crush Series)

  Taking the Plunge

  (Book Four of the Hawaiian Crush Series)