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Ryder looked at the computer, then slid his hand over hers on the mouse. He clicked on the property map, then tapped the screen. “The Compound is too far away. I’d rather stay right here, close to the computer. We could rig something up here in the security office. A cot or just a mattress and sleeping bag. It would make coordination easier.”
Nita’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of mischief dancing in them.
“I’m nobody’s personal assistant,” she muttered.
“Hartley called you an assistant to the in-house lawyer,” he replied, looking her up and down. A heat came back into his gaze as he looked over at her.
“That’s a fuck-ton different from being someone’s personal assistant,” she said stonily.
A grin curved his lips.
“Damn, I like your sass. I didn’t mean personal assistant in a fetch me coffee kind of way. I need someone who knows the software inside and out and can get me fast access to what I need. Like… how do I access the live feeds from the cameras? How do I find which ones are down? Where can I see data on which sensors are people swiping at?”
She looked at him a moment longer, his eyes now back on the computer. He clicked around on the desktop, opening windows, then closing them again. What he said made sense.
“I would say I only need you for a day or two, but I’d prefer to have you until after the engagement is over. If something goes to shit, no matter what I learn, I’ll never be as fast as you at finding it,” he said, then looked at her with a sincerity she hadn’t seen in him yet.
“That makes sense,” she allowed, ignoring a small thrill at the idea of being near that hard body for two weeks.
She looked around the office space, thinking how inappropriate it would be as living space.
That’s when a memory popped into her head.
“There might be something—” she murmured, and flipped open her bag to pull out her personal phone. Her Cavendish phone only had Cavendish contacts.
After a couple of minutes of texting with Kensley, she had her memory confirmed.
“Okay, I’ve got an idea,” she said, interrupting Ryder, who’d been opening and closing various windows. He’d tried to access the bio-haptics files, only to have a redCONSULT ADMINISTRATOR FOR ACCESSflash on the screen.
“What’s the idea?” he asked, frustration in his voice.
She hesitated as she looked into his eyes, which she’d thought were blue but now saw had a ring of brown near the pupil.
This was a secret that could change the dynamics of their working relationship. Not only because none of the current Cavendish owners knew about it, but because it was a secret she’d be sharing with Ryder. And a living environment that was more fantasy than reality.
But then again, hadn’t it been her fantasy to live at Cavendish?
She looked around the room for the computer with a scanner attached and pushed her wheeled chair until she sat in front of it. Typing in a code, she navigated to the security access login and swiped her wristband. The screen changed, displaying an encrypted interface. She typed again, then re-swiped her wristband.
“Come over here,” she said, waving him over. She repeated the process with his wristband, then faced him with a mischievous smile on her lips.
“Can you keep a secret?” she asked.
Ryder’s eyes widened, his voice laced with intrigue. “I suppose that depends on the secret.”
Nita stood and strolled closer to Ryder, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “This is a hidden location. Only the previous owners know about it, and Kensley only told me if I swore to take it to my grave.”
Ryder’s eyes locked onto Nita’s. “Where exactly is this secret location?”
With a sly grin, Nita explained, “Very close. We’re practically in it now.”
A shot of excitement ran through her, and she let it. Why not let sex and work mix this one time? Besides, he was right. He wouldn’t be able to do his job without an understanding of the computer system. And with staffing so short—
Shut up, her inner naughty voice chided.You want to fuck his brains out, so stop rationalizing already.
Ryder’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Okay, I’m hooked. Where is this magical place?”
Nita smiled. “First, promise we can maintain our professional boundaries while we’re working together.”
