Breaching His Defenses (Love Hack #1) (18 page)

Mikki drained half her orange juice in a single swallow. Embarrassment flooded her cheeks, when she realized all eyes were on her, and she ducked her head.

“Dehydrated?” Vivian teased.

Possibly.
Dinner the night before had been a blast. Mikki knew for sure now why Jared, Tate, and Vivian were such close friends. At the same time, they hadn’t left her out. Though for the fourth night in a row, she hadn’t gotten much sleep. The sex had been amazing every other night. However, last night they’d only talked. Connecting with Jared, learning about where he’d grown up, hearing stories about his past, had been even more incredible. The sleepless night had been worth it.

“It’s a desert, Viv.” Jared grabbed Mikki’s hand from where it rested on the bench between them and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “It’s important to drink plenty of fluids.”

“Good excuse.” Tate wasn’t paying attention to them. He’d been scoping out waitresses since they’d arrived. “Maybe it’s more important not to deplete those fluids so quickly in this dry climate.”

“No, I don’t think that’s the solution.” Jared poked at his toast. “I’m almost certain of it.”

Mikki’s face flared red-hot. She was going to die of embarrassment, she knew it. It was one thing to let loose and experience life—she was still pretty happy with her decisions there—but she hadn’t expected her impulses to be the focus of breakfast conversation. Especially since she hadn’t indulged last night.

“Did you tell her yet?” The shift in Vivian’s tone drew Mikki’s attention.

“Nope.” Jared suddenly seemed more interested in his food than the conversation. “I told you, I have nothing to do with this.”

Her embarrassment skittered away, and Mikki gave her full attention to the woman across from her. “Tell me what?”

Vivian reached down, grabbed a manila folder from her briefcase, and handed it across the table. “Wait,” she said before Mikki could open it.

A glimmer of hope flared inside Mikki, but she suppressed it. This wasn’t the kind of thing she could afford to get her hopes up about.

“I should be allowed one more chance.” Vivian’s tone was serious and her expression neutral.

“Come on.” Tate turned back to the table and looked at Mikki. “Please, for the love of all that’s good, hear her out so she’ll just shut up already. I swear, if I have to hear one more time— Ow.” He rubbed his shin and glared at Vivian. “Kicking. Real mature.”

Vivian gave him a casual shrug and nodded at the folder. “There are some ground rules. Things you have to keep in mind that don’t really go in the contract, but are deal breakers.”

Mikki’s hope surged again. Contract? No. It couldn’t be. She couldn’t ignore the giddiness climbing inside, but she did manage to keep it from her voice. “Go on.”

“First rule.” Vivian ticked off on her finger. “I don’t care what title the person you’re screwing holds. You report to me, not him, so it earns you zero special treatment.”

It really was what she thought. Mikki’s fingers itched to open the folder. They were going to make her an offer. She glanced at Jared, then back at Vivian, not daring to interrupt.

“Which also means.” Vivian ticked off another finger. “The two of you never work together, unless he needs you for collaboration.”

“What else?” Mikki didn’t care. She was ready to sign. This was her dream job. The one she would have taken in an instant if she’d been thinking six months ago.

“Nothing else.” Vivian nodded at the folder again. “Take your time, think about it. Keep in mind the moving expense has to be repaid if you leave us within the next twelve months. Though honestly, that’s just standard contract language. I’m not worried about it happening.”

Mikki was surprised her hands stayed steady as she opened the folder. Skriddie letterhead sat inside, offering her a touch more salary-wise than she’d made at NSS, and more than enough to move cross-country. She looked at Jared. “You knew about this?”

His smile made her insides melt. “I guessed. Tate’s right, she hasn’t shut up about hiring you since she figured out it might still be an option. I fought it every step of the way.”

“He begged me to take you on,” Vivian countered. “Groveled at my feet and told me he knew I’d never find someone so talented again.”

“You’re both so full of shit.” Tate reached across the table and flicked the folder. “They’re going to insist you take your time. You’re going to say you don’t need to. They’re going to say you really should. Tell them now you’re serious when you say yes.” He handed her a pen. “And let me enjoy my pancakes in peace?”

She took the pen without another word and signed on the appropriate line. She handed the pen back to Tate and the letter to Vivian. “I’m serious when I say yes.”

“Good.” Vivian tucked everything back into her briefcase. “It’s about time.”

“But I will need something from you.” Mikki felt like dancing. She might still; she hadn’t decided yet. She’d be living closer to Jared, and she’d be working for an actual respectable company. A tiny
Yay!
echoed in her thoughts. “The names of hotels near the office that will give me a corporate discount, so I have a place to crash until I find an apartment.”

Vivian waved the comment aside and took a long sip of coffee. “Details will be in your email by the end of the day. You just tell me what you prefer, and we’ll make the reservations.”

Jared pulled her closer and prompted her to shift her position enough she was half leaning into him. He rested his forehead on the back of her head. His warm breath glided over her neck when he spoke. “And I’m hoping you’ll leave a couple of weekends open for me. Or more than that.”

Her smile grew and she leaned more of her weight against his chest. “I don’t have any plans right now, so your chances are pretty good.”

****

Six months later

Mikki leaned back into Jared, the overstuffed sofa enveloping them both, and he draped an arm over her shoulder. They were all in his—their, he’d correct her in an instant if he knew what she was thinking—condo. She’d only moved in a month or so ago, after their relationship had reached the point where she wasn’t going home most nights anyway.

Vivian was tucked into one of the recliners, legs underneath her, sipping a margarita. Tate occupied a second chair, and Jared’s younger sister, Alyssia, rattled through something in the kitchen. After moving to the new town, Mikki had quickly learned this was a typical weekend for all of them if they weren’t traveling. Gathering at someone’s house, bullshitting, and just unwinding.

She never would have guessed she’d get used to that kind of routine. Never would have seen this kind of camaraderie with a group of people in her future. But now that she had it, she didn’t know if she could ever give it up. The one thing making tonight different was they were celebrating her birthday. She’d never had friends throw her a birthday party before. Turned out it was a lot of fun, especially the reminder they cared.

Empty and half-empty Chinese take-out boxes littered the coffee table in the middle of the living room. A box that had once contained cupcakes, but was now just filled with wrappers, sat to the side. She was impressed Jared hadn’t moved to clean it up yet, but she knew the clutter wouldn’t evade his need for order much longer.

Alyssia stopped at the edge of the living room, arms crossed, scowl marring her face. “I was sitting there.”

Tate reclined in the easy chair, arms open. “There’s still room.”

A low growl rolled through Jared’s chest, rumbling through Mikki’s back, and she bit back her smile. The first time she’d seen Tate and Alyssia interact—flirt, really—she’d worried Jared might burst a blood vessel. Since then, she’d learned it was all part of who they were.

“No thanks.” Alyssia didn’t move. “I know where you’ve been.”

“So do I.” The menacing tone in Jared’s voice might have held more threat if it wasn’t so familiar.

Tate shrugged and stood. “Had to try.” He gestured to the chair.

A smile twitched through Alyssia’s irritation, and seconds later she dropped into the now empty spot. She snagged Tate’s wrist before he could walk away, tugged, and let her hand drop.

He perched on the arm of the chair, a hint of smugness marring his expression.

Jared trailed his lips up Mikki’s neck and ended with a soft nip on her earlobe and a whisper. “I’ll be right back.” He extracted himself from behind her, and she couldn’t help the whisper of disappointment at losing his warmth, even temporarily.

Apparently the clutter’s lifespan was even shorter than she’d thought.

Alyssia made exaggerated retching noises. “Could you not paw at each other tonight? Just for once?”

“Are you ten?” There was only light-hearted teasing in Tate’s question.

Alyssia glared at his back. “I don’t know, you tell me.”

He glanced back at her, and his gaze traveled up and down her figure. “Nope. You’re definitely not a little girl.”

Mikki laughed at the antics. It had taken her a little while, but she’d finally figured out Tate flirted with everyone. And she adored spending time with Alyssia—the other woman was only a year older, and they had a lot of similar interests.

“For you.” Jared handed Mikki a gift bag with a rainbow of tissue paper poking out of the top.

Her eyebrows rose. “I said no gifts.”

He shrugged and kneeled in front of her. “I say otherwise.”

She tugged out some of the tissue paper, and then some more, curiosity growing as quickly as the pile of colorful wrapping next to her. “Is there even anything in here?”

He nodded. “Almost there.”

And then her fingers closed around something small and velvety. She pulled the box out, and her heart leaped into her throat before her brain finished telling her it was a jewelry box.

Jared covered her hands with his. “Mikki Elford. You’re everything I need in my life to balance me out. You compliment me, you make me think, and you keep me humble.” He pulled her hand back with his, raising the lid of the box.

A small gold band stared back, with a diamond solitaire glinting at her from the middle of a cushion of satin.

“I can’t imagine life without you. And I’ll always love you for showing me that what we have can actually exist. Will you marry me?”

A giddy bubble rose in her chest, and a squeak pushed past her lips. She didn’t have to hesitate to know the answer. “Yes. Absolutely, yes.”

He slid the ring on her finger and rose enough to rest a hand on the back of her neck. He kissed her hard, tongue sliding into her mouth, dancing around hers, teasing the barbell piercing.

When they finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers. “I don’t know what I would have done if you’d said no.”

She gave a small laugh. “I love you dearly and completely. Why would I say no?”

He brushed his lips across her knuckles. “To surprise me?”

“There are some things even I consider too sacred to be random about.” She tugged him to his feet, shifted enough for him to take his seat again, and leaned back into him.

Congratulations and teasing passed around the room, each new comment warming Mikki further. She couldn’t imagine anything less with this wonderful man. She raised his fingers, kissing the tips one at a time.

He slid his hand under hers, extending her fingers until the light glinted off the diamond. His words were warm on her neck and meant only for her ears. “I really do love you.”

She leaned farther into him, sinking into the familiar comfort. Yup, this was absolutely perfect. “I love you, too.”

THE END

Please help this author's career by posting an honest review wherever you purchased this book.

Return to Emerald City
(by Allyson Lindt & Sofia Grey)

Dorothy’s Red Shoes

There’s no place like home… Dorothy is already feeling homesick for Emerald City, and wonders if taking a job halfway around the world was a mistake. When her love life crumbles–again–will she run for home?

His Replay Girl

If he only had the nerve… Ten years ago, Quinn made the best choice of his life, and the biggest mistake. It’s true, his band, Lionheart, is one of the biggest in the world, but how much does it mean if he can’t tell the woman he loves how he feels?

His Reboot Girl

If only he had a brain… Scott woke up with his head spinning and not much else going on up there. Now he’s a suspect in a terrorist plot, and on the run. One woman insists she's the key to his past and his freedom. Too bad he doesn't remember her.

His Rewind Girl

If he only had a heart.... Cam is as much machine as man. There are days he loathes the CyGes implants that saved his life but couldn't do the same for his family. They replaced his limbs, but now he needs someone to mend his heart.

Roll Against Trust
(3d20 1 by Allyson Lindt)

The line between fantasy and reality blurs when a late night gaming session goes from playful to smoldering.

Tasha’s not looking for love, but she doesn’t mind just looking… and maybe a little fantasizing. Her two best friends and weekend AD& D buddies, Seth and Ryan, are the perfect guest stars in her fantasies. When a late night gaming session with the three goes from silly to verbally scorching in an instant, Tasha wonders if her imagination is enough to keep her satisfied long term.

Then her ex’s money mismanagement catches up to her in the form of draining her bank account, her job is threatened by a mistake that points to Ryan, and Seth takes his side. If Tasha can’t move past her trust issues long enough to uncover the truth—both with herself and the men she’s falling for—she’ll wind up broken-hearted and just plain broke.