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Cal listened as they went through the form and confirmed that everything looked fine, until she finally got to the part with the problem. “Yes, Roger. I believe that might be the error right there. Could it have been keyed into the system incorrectly?” When Roger obviously agreed that was what must have happened, she asked, “Do we need to resubmit? Or can this be fixed right away? We’re approaching donors, and we need to be able to confirm that any contributions will be charitable deductions.”
Cal turned away from the London view in time to see her grin as she gave him the thumbs-up. “Thanks so much, Roger. I’ll look for a revised letter. And if you wouldn’t mind sending that as soon as possible, it will keep my boss from breathing down my neck and making my life absolutely miserable.” She winked at Cal as Roger agreed on his end to help her any way he could. “Thank you, Roger. If I ever decide to quit this job, I’ll certainly think of you and the IRS as an alternative.”
“Yes!” Lyssa exclaimed after she’d hung up. Jumping off the couch, she bounded toward Cal, her right hand up for a high five. But when her foot caught on the rug, she stumbled into his arms instead.
Their impromptu hug lasted only a few seconds, yet it was far too long for his peace of mind. Silently swearing, he reminded himself yet again that he needed to stop thinking about how good she felt in his arms.
“I never thought I’d see the day when anyone could wrap an IRS agent around their little finger,” Cal noted. “Am I right in assuming that he offered you a job too?”
She was laughing as she stepped out of his arms, her color high. “He was a pussycat. And yes, he did invite me to come work at the IRS anytime.” She clapped her hands. “I’m so pleased we got it all worked out.”
“You got it all worked out.” Cal gazed at her glowing features as she laughed, the rosy flush in her cheeks. “I never had a doubt.”
* * *
I never had a doubt.
Lyssa let the compliment sink in.
Cal believed in her. And that hug… The feel of his arms around her was so good. But she couldn’t fixate on that now—or ever.
Her email pinged a moment later. “Hopefully, that’s from Roger.”
“If it is,” Cal said, “it will be the fastest IRS correction in history, and I’m going to give you a raise.”
Indeed, when she clicked her email, the corrected letter had arrived. Her grin was huge. “I’ll send it to Gideon immediately so he can stop worrying.”
She forwarded the message and received an immediate happy-face emoji and a thumbs-up from Gideon.
“That settles it,” Cal said, his approving smile going straight to her heart. “I’m raising your salary by five thousand a year.”
“Five thousand?” She could hardly believe it. She wouldn’t have to live on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and an apple for lunch anymore. But since all she’d done was fix something that never should have been broken in the first place, she said, “You don’t have to do that, Cal. Especially when I know we need every penny we can get for the foundation.”
“I sure as hell do need to do it, Lyssa. I’m a man of my word. And,” he teased, “do you think I want to lose a star employee who has an in with the IRS? This calls for a celebration. Something special to commemorate our first major victory.”
She should have been exhausted after having been up for almost twenty-four hours. Instead, she felt energized. “Fabulous. What shall we do?”
“If you trust me, I might have a surprise up my sleeve that I think you’ll like.”
“Of course I trust you.” Even if a part of her wished he was a little less trustworthy when it came to his unspoken vow to her brothers never to look at her as an attractive woman. “How long do I have to get ready?” By now, she was desperate for a shower and a change of clothes.
“How about an hour? That should give me time to make arrangements.”
“How dressed up should I get?” She’d packed mostly business attire, plus jeans, a shirt, and one dress just in case.
“On the dressier side, if you’ve got something that will work.”
“I do.”
After unpacking and shaking the wrinkles out of her dress, she took a luxurious shower. She was back in the sitting room before the hour was up.
“You look nice,” he said.
She might have blushed, even though it was nothing more than an ordinary compliment her brothers or parents might have given her. “Thank you.” She ran her gaze over him. He looked dashing in a blue pinstripe suit. He always dressed well, his suits tailored and fitting to perfection. “So do you.”
