“On the contracts you’re sending me, does it show when you’ve reported the issue to Rustic and received a substituted piece of equipment?”
“Yes.Is that important?”Josh asked.
“It could be.It would give us knowledge of how often it’s happening.”
“Damn, I never thought of that,” Dean said.“Thanks, Valerie.We’ll separate out the contracts so we can run numbers as well.”
“I feel like I’ve been falling down on the job.”I shook my head.
She reached over and squeezed my leg.“You haven’t.Forensic accounting is a specialty.”My cock jumped, and she flashed me a grin, her eyes filled with delight.
“Are we all going to Whistle Stop tonight?”Miles asked.
I gathered my thoughts and glanced at Valerie, who nodded.“We’re in,” I said, getting another round of raised eyebrows from the guys I used to call my friends.They were killing me right now.
Everyone chimed in that they would be there, and the meeting broke up.Valerie and I went back to our office.Once there, I pinned her to the wall with her hands over her head.“It’s a good thing we’re at work, otherwise I’d teach you a lesson for teasing me.”
Valerie grinned.“I look forward to it.”
Damn if my dick didn’t thicken even more at her saucy tone.Working in the same office would be torture this afternoon.
Chapter Eighteen
Valerie
Settling down in the office was difficult at best.The feeling of Lucas’ fingers around my wrists continued to make my body tingle.And when he pressed his body against mine as he pinned me to the wall… My knees barely held me up.
A part of me wanted to take him up on his lesson right then and there, but unfortunately, he was right.We were in the office, and I was the one who said we must be professional.Like we were really professional at Rustic?But in my mind, I justified it that we weren’t in the office.
Damn, my own rules.My cell rang, and I looked at it.My mother.Great.She’d already left me over ten messages.The woman just didn’t get the hint.I didn’t need this today but might as well get it over with.“Hi, Mom.”
“You haven’t returned my calls.”Her screechy voice made me flinch.
“I’ve been busy.I do have a job.”Like my family ever remembered that.They still expected me to drop everything for them.Not that I’d done that in a very long time, but it never stopped my mother from berating me for some perceived slight.
“Your little accountant job, yes, I know.Anyway, we’re having a family dinner next weekend, and we want you there.”
I rolled my eyes.“I thought Kendall was accepting some sort of award next weekend.”Talk about forgetting what she told me.
“Change of plans.Family dinner.”
Why wasn’t I surprised.“I’m not available next weekend.”I hated those family dinners and hadn’t attended one in years.Was that why my mother said it was some award to get me there?It didn’t matter.I wasn’t going.
“Make yourself available.We’re celebrating Kendall’s modeling career.”
Ah, it was all about Kendall.Of course, it was.Kendall’s idea of a modeling career was taking some headshots.“Sorry, but I’m not available.Enjoy.I’ve got to go.”I hung up before she could say another word.Reminder to self: Don’t answer her calls.
“What are you doing next weekend that you’d blow off your family?”Lucas asked.
Damn.I closed my eyes, then opened them.“Nothing.”I wouldn’t lie to Lucas.Not if I was going to have a relationship with him.
“What’s going on?”Lucas was right next to me.When had he moved?
“It’s my family.You know we’re not close.”That was the understatement of the year.My parents never saw me, only Kendall.Nothing I did was worthy.
“It’s more than not being close.Will you talk to me, please?”
There was a pleading note in his voice.Had I shut him out that much?When it came to my family, yes.Now… I needed to talk to him about them, but not here.“The office isn’t a place for this.”
