“Your bank account is on life support. It doesn’t have time. So again … why?” she prodded.
“Because the job involves Wes.” I gave her a quick rundown on the job offer. Wes’s ho-ish ways had caused a PR nightmare for the company. Weekly hit pieces had been released exposing his dirty deeds. Granny Joyce simply wanted to find the person targeting her family. “I mean, I understand why she needs the help. Her regular private investigator is retiring, and she needs someone to step into his role.”
Brianna nodded her head. “All good things, right?”
“Right,” I agreed. “I just don’t know if it’s a good idea to get involved withthis. I’d have to work with Wes, to ask him about his personal life.”
“But you mentioned she needed help with other things.”
“True.”
“Which is more work.Consistentwork.”
“Not necessarily,” I argued. “It could be three times a month or three times a year.”
My friend picked up a pad and paper and jotted something down. “I think we need a list of pros and cons. Actually, I can’t even think of a true downside to this.”
“But—”
“Give me a minute.” It took less than sixty seconds for Brianna to hand me the list.
The top three pros should have sealed the deal—cash, opportunity, connections. But that fourth one … “Bri, I don’t—”
She tapped the paper with her forefinger. “Those are the only reasons you need, to not only take the job, but acceptallof the potential cases. The one con—Wes—is irrelevant.”
Working for Batchelor Corp. could open countless doors for me. I’d be a fool not to jump at the opportunity. “I can’t deny those are great reasons to take the job,” I admitted. “That last one, though … Hate sex? Really, Bri? Yeah, no.”
Brianna snorted. “Whatever. I don’t thinkyoueven believe that. I say we place a wager.”
“I thought we already established I don’t have any money.”
“Not money. I’m thinking food. If you somehow fall on his dick, you have to cook dinner for two weeks straight.”
“And if I don’t? You can’t cook. What will I get for proving you wrong?”
Tapping her chin, Brianna peered up the ceiling. After a moment, she snapped and pointed at me. “If you win, I’ll put gas in your car for two weeks.”
With the price of gasoline high as hell, I considered taking the bet. Yet, the simple thought of sex with Wes flooded my body with a warmth I hadn’t felt in months. No, years if I was being honest.
“You’re thinking about naked Wes, aren’t you?” Brianna waggled her eyebrows. “Told you … he’s hot. Besides, it’s completely appropriate for exes to fall into bed at least once after the breakup. I’d say you’re about sixteen years overdue.”
Clearing my throat, I sliced a hand through the air. “No. It’s not going to happen. And, if it did, that would be a ‘con’ because nothing positive could come from that.”
“Okay, then don’t do it. Skip Wes’s dick and take the job anyway,” she said. “You need this.”
Again, Brianna was right. Ididneed it.
“Do it now because you know Mrs. Batchelor doesn’t wait around,” Brianna continued. “I’d hate for you to miss out on something that could be so good for your company.”
The positives outweighed the negatives but … Was I ready to be in such close proximity to Wes? Could I put the past behind me to do a much-needed job?Can I manage to keep my panties on?Of course, I could. I had spent years in the industry gaining invaluable experience in the field. I’d survived shootouts, arrested high profile criminals, investigated top-secret crimes.
And shit …I’m a muthafuckin’ professional.
A smirk formed on Brianna’s lips. “Looks like you made a decision.”
I nodded. “You already know. I’m good at what I do. Finding a mysterious influencer will be a cake walk. And she wouldn’t have asked me if she didn’t think I could handle this. I’m going to do this job with a smile on my face. Then, I’m going to doallthe jobs.”
A wide grin stretched across Brianna’s mouth as she clapped slowly. “Finally. And if you decide to let your body talk you into bedroom or boardroom action, try not to fall in love again,” she teased. “You know you’re drawn to tortured souls and Wes is the poster child.”
