Chapter Three #3
Besides Marcus, Bryce was Avery’s best friend.
They’d played soccer together since they were four, ended up in the same private school, college, and fraternity.
From there, the party never stopped until Avery’s parents threatened to cut off funds and Bryce came back after that same summer wrecked over some girl.
Turns out that girl, Kate, ended up as head of legal at Preston Enterprises, and they’d only just started to work things out.
Avery sighed. Another brother locked down. He loved the Sigmas, but he struggled with impulse control, and Bryce kept him in line when they veered into the extreme. No telling what trouble he’d get into on his own. Still…
Avery: I’m in
Because his dick had been dry all week and he needed a break—and an outlet—from his family’s interference.
No answer from Gage, but he’d been out of town this week. Avery closed the group and opened the next text down from Charlotte’s.
Unknown: This is Jo—
Buzz.
Another text from Melody hit the top of his screen. He read the message before it disappeared.
Melody: I need an answer by end of day.
What the fuck? He groaned, switched from Unknown’s message to Melody’s thread, and fired back a text.
Avery: Got it.
A non-answer, but maybe the response would satisfy her for a minute. Or at least give him time to get through his other messages. He flipped back to the previous text and started where he’d left off.
Unknown: —Hayes. If your offer still stands, I’d like to meet to discuss the details.
Joe Hayes. The name sounded familiar. What offer? He dealt with a lot of accountants from companies Spencer brought on board.
“I forgot to tell you,” Zach said, walking into his office with a thick binder. “Kate dropped off the Kramer contracts. I double-checked the numbers. They’re good to go.”
“Thanks.” Avery laid the binder in front of him. “Hey, do you recall the name Joe Hayes? Is he one of the guys from the Kramer merger?”
“No, that was Jana, but there was a Joe Something in the applicants you interviewed for Ashley’s position. I’ll check with HR.” His thumbs were flying across his phone before he even turned to go.
Avery had seen at least fifteen applicants last week. Zach had them in and out so fast, he barely heard their names, much less remembered them.
He really should have let HR weed out the ones that didn’t fit, but they often overlooked a diamond in the rough because they only searched for perfection. Some of his best people hadn’t looked good on paper.
Zach paused at the door. “There’s a Joseph Cooper but no Hayes.”
“Okay, thanks.” So, who was Joe Hayes? He was a whiz with numbers but couldn’t remember names for shit. He needed context. But how could he answer without offending the guy?
Avery: Are there any details I should be concerned with before we meet?
He started to move on to his next message, but the bubbles dancing at the bottom of the screen made him hesitate. They stopped then started again. Stop…start. Stop…start.
Avery sighed, his fingers thrumming on top of the Kramer file. Was this guy writing a fucking book?
“Joe Hayes.” Thump, thump, thump, thump. “Joe Hayes.” Thump, thump, thump, thump. “I got nothin’.”
The bubbles stopped again, and a text appeared.
Unknown: All of them.
“So not in the mood for this motherfucker.” He stabbed a message, “Suck my dick.” His thumb hovered over Send for a long moment, then landed on backspace.
There had to be something he wanted from this guy, prick or not, or he wouldn’t have made the offer.
Avery: I’m sorry to hear that, Joe, but if you’ll email a list of your concerns, I’m confident we can reach a mutually beneficial agreement.
There. Problem solved.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Nothing.
He reread his message. Perfectly professional.
Unknown: It’s Jo. Not Joe.
Picky, picky. But he scrolled up to look at the first text. Shit. He’d been too distracted to notice the missing E.
Another text came through before he could think of a way to appeal to Jo-without-an-E’s business sense. Some of his fellow accountants, male or female, had sticks permanently shoved up their asses.
Unknown: But then you’re a dick, so why would you remember my name?
Avery blinked.
A bit harsh, don’t you think?
Unknown: You got me fired, asshole.
Avery sat up straight. “Legs?”
It had been two weeks since he’d left his business card with her co-worker. He’d given up on hearing from her. Honestly, he hadn’t really thought she’d reach out. But he’d had to try. The devastation in her eyes when she’d asked him to leave her alone had gutted him. He’d fucked up.
Attempting to unfuck what he’d done by trying to talk to her boss had been a waste of time. The woman was as cold as ice. And it wasn’t until he returned to his office that he realized he’d forgotten to ask for her name.
He opened his contact list.
Jo Hayes. It had a strong, tough, don’t fuck with me feel to it, which pretty much described the sassy, hot headed woman.
“Nah.” He liked Legs better. Sleek, hot, passionate. And in his fantasies… Fuck, he’d rubbed out more than one to images of the long-legged siren.
His dick stirred as he closed his eyes and pictured her in his bed.
Soft pale skin bared for his touch, dark red hair splayed across the black sheets like fire in a midnight sky.
Icy blue eyes melting into warm pools of need as she spread those magnificent legs and whispered in that low, raspy voice all the filthy things she wanted him to do to her.
He blew out a long breath and shook his head to clear it. He might want Legs, but he needed Jo. And somehow, he’d managed to piss her off again. Still…
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
That she’d reached out was a good sign. It meant she needed his help.
Not a good thing, asshole.
But he was just as desperate. And this was his chance to make things right, to appease his guilty conscience. One stone for two birds. Or was it two birds with one stone?
He typed a message and hit send.
Avery: I’m sorry.
Simple. Direct. But was it enough?
A minute passed, then another.
Legs: Yes, you are.
A smile tugged at his lips. It wasn’t a fuck off. Even better, she was typing again.
Stop…start…stop.
Legs: Well?
Avery chuckled. Stubborn woman couldn’t bring herself to ask again and was making him do it.
Avery: Are you free for lunch?