Evan's Addiction (9 page)

     Nic frowned. “Someone cheated on you?”

     I stiffened, realizing I’d disclosed a little too much in my
explanation. “No.”

     I could feel his gaze boring into me at my short, stiff-faced reply.

     “Well, it looks like you do know what you’re doing.” He
acknowledged after a small pause.

     My shoulders slumped as the subject passed. 

     “Does my business proposition sound too mundane for you?” He joked. 

     Reaching into my desk I pulled out some folders, holding them out
to him. Frowning in confusion he rifled through them and his brows slowly rose
in astonishment.

     “I got bored one day.” I offered as explanation.

     He continued to flip through the papers of possible business
plans, building sites, future expense and revenue statements, and a host of
other material he could use to fire up his company.

     “I’m shocked as shit that you did this for me. It seemed like you
hated me when we first met and now I thought you only tolerated me.” He smirked
but I could read the query in it.

     I waggled my hand back and forth. “Ehh, you’re barely tolerable.”
I smiled letting him know I was kidding. “I do like you, Nic. Mostly because of
how you treat Carrie, and for that reason if you asked me to hack your father I
would bleed him dry for you.” Nic and his father did not get along.

     Nic’s brows shot up in astonishment.

     My smile dropped away. “But remember this; if you hurt her I will
bleed
you
dry.”

     He grinned.

     I shook my head and rolled my eyes. I threaten him and he grins.
“Don’t think I’m kidding. Hacking you would be like playing Pong.”

     “Oh, I believe you. It’s why I’ve put up with your feisty-ass for
so long, because you love Carrie too.” He smacked me on the head with the
folders in his hand.

     “You’re finally bonding.”

     We both looked over at the door to see Carrie watching us with
clasped hands and an exaggerated excited expression.

     I shook my head vehemently. “This isn’t bonding, this is business.
     Carrie jumped onto Nic’s lap and he caught her to him closely. “I’m pretty
sure I heard the words ‘like’ and ‘love’.”

     “I
like
Cheetos, and I’m going to
love
taking your
future husbands money.” I retorted.

     Carrie blushed brilliantly while Nic laughed loudly.

     Her eyes narrowed. “Do you
like
Evan?”

     My skin instantly went hot and I spun back to my computer screen.
“No.”

     “Because it looked like you liked him at the party last night.”
She continued.

     “I was using him to keep the other guys away from me.” My fingers
flew over my keyboard.

     “Like you need help shooting down guys.” She snorted.

     “I was drunk last night and his way was easier.” I justified
desperately.

     There was quiet for a moment before she spoke again. “Okay, if you
say so.”

     “I absolutely say so.” I swallowed. 

     Pause. “Because you looked really cute together last night.” I
heard Nic groan faintly and I had a feeling he’d been trying to get her to drop
it.

     “Not interested.” I stressed.

     “Okay, okay.” She said for both my benefit and Nic’s, since I
heard him murmuring softly to her to let it go. Her arms suddenly wrapped around
me. “I’m glad you came last night, and had fun, and I
will
be on your
ass to do it again.”

     I grinned at her profanity because she very rarely swore. “Maybe.”
I hedged.

     “Thanks for the material, Shaw. We’ll talk more later.” Nic called
out as they strode away.

     I let out a long exhale at their departure and memories of the
party rolled through my head. Last night
had
been fun, everyone had been
great, and I couldn’t stop wondering if I was too mistrustful of people? Yeah,
countless people had let me down and been shitty to me in the past, but not
everyone was like that. Letting Carrie in had gone a long way in healing parts
of me. It probably wouldn’t hurt to try making some friends again. I just had
to keep my armor up…in case.

     Evan though…being friends with him might be tricky, because my
body was starting to crave his, and those cravings had only gotten me heartache
in the past. Guys and sex led to lying and asshole behavior.

     Seeing all those couples last night, so happy together told me it
wasn’t always that way.

     But I saw more cheating and lying couples because of my job. Hell,
even before that.  

     My brain and body, past and present were colliding and arguing
with each other. It was giving me a stomach ache.

     Tums…I needed Tums.

CHAPTER
FOUR

EVAN

     “Mr. McKay, Miss O’Conner is here. Should I send her in?”

     Dan pressed the intercom button. “Yes, Diane, thank you.”

     I eagerly straightened from my desk off to the side of Dan’s.
Dan’s office was huge. It held his desk, my desk, an oval conference table, a
lounge area, a small enclosed kitchen, and a full-sized lavatory. It screamed
presidential.

     As I made for the door it opened letting Shaw in. My dick, which
had perked up at Diane just saying her name, distended further at the sight of
her. I had been expecting her to dress professionally today. Maybe in a skirt
or dress, but she always surprised me, because instead of proper business
attire she was in a pair of cut of cargo pants, her flip-flops, and a somewhat
tighter t-shirt than she usually wore that read:
Some people just need a
high five…In the face.

    
I glanced back at Dan to see him take in her appearance
with a skeptical expression. Shaw just had to make this difficult. 

     Stepping up to her I gave her a deliberate once over and then
whispered. “Here I am, now what are your other two wishes?” Instead of
answering she looked up with a frown. I followed her gaze. “What’s wrong?” I
asked wondering what she was looking at.

     “I’m not seeing the anvil I wished for.” She mumbled crossly.

     I snorted out a cough, straightening my suddenly excessively tight
tie. What I really needed to adjust was my expanding junk but I couldn’t in
front of Dan. Hopefully his gaze stayed glued to Shaw.

     Waving her forward I paced next to her as we made our way over to
Dan. “Nice outfit.”

     “Thanks, it took me hours to pick out.” I saw her throw me a quick
side glance.

     “Have I ever told you I love your shirts?”

     Her voice was barely audible as we neared Dan. “Great, now I have
to get rid of all of them.”

     I didn’t miss the faint flush that colored her skin as we bantered
telling me that she was enjoying our wordplay, and maybe even the compliment.

     Containing my chuckle with difficulty I made introductions. “Dan,
this is Shaw O’Conner.” I took one small step to the side, but only one. For
whatever reason I wanted her to know that I was there for her physically and
symbolically. 

     Dan had stood up when she walked in the room, and now he held out
his hand. “Miss.

O’Conner, nice to meet you.”

     The corner of her mouth twitched up. “I guess we’ll see about
that.”  

     I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply at her ‘
could give a shit’
attitude, because now was not the time.

     At Dan’s chuckle my eyes flew open. “I never thought about it
before, but that saying should be left for the end of the meeting.”

     Good thing Dan had a sense of humor. He waved for her to take a
seat and I took the second leather chair next to her.

     “You’re young, but Evan has vouched for you and I trust him.”
Hearing Dan state that had my chest swelling with pride. His opinion had become
important to me in the last several months. “Landon and Evan told me your
theory on what might be happening to our money and that is quite the complex
crime. He also thinks it could be an inside job.”

     After giving me a quick skeptical glance at Dan’s ‘
vouch’
comment Shaw nodded. “The only way to upload a program like that is for someone
in-house to do it. I’m sure their greedy little eyes are monitoring it
constantly too.”

     Dan’s lips thinned in anger. “I have a list of new employee’s that
were hired right before the money started disappearing. I don’t know if you
need it to delve into their activities?”

     She shrugged slightly. “It could be helpful, if it is indeed one
of them, but it could be an old employee that someone else is using. What I
will do is find the program, if there is one, and backtrack it to where it was uploaded
and then locate where the money’s being displaced. Whoever uploaded the program
may have done it at a different server than their own making it difficult to
find the true culprit, and if the account is in a false name then all I can do
is close down the program. You will have to wait to see who tries to close the
account if you want to arrest them.”

     Shaw might not have dressed professionally but her explanation of
what she planned to accomplish was. Both Dan and I were listening to her
intently and nodding along with her words.

     I don’t know why listening to her made me horny as hell, but Fuck,
I wanted to usher Dan out the door and pounce on her, or grab her and drag her
into the bathroom to have every possible way with her. 

     “How long do you think this will take, if it is indeed the
problem?” Dan asked.

     “I should be able to find the program today. The rest of it could
take a few days. It depends on how sophisticated the program is.” Shaw
answered.

     “What do you need?”

     “Any computer will work as long as it’s connected to your entire
company’s network.”

     Dan looked at me. “How about we set her up at your computer and we
can share mine. That way we aren’t dragging up another computer and setting off
any alarms. I don’t want this individual getting nervous and skipping out
before they are caught.”

     “Sounds good.” I acknowledged.

     “Why don’t you draw up the standard privacy contract and set in
the amount you discussed with her.” He looked at Shaw. “Five thousand, right?”

    Shaw nodded looking like she was trying to hold back how thrilled
she was. Observing that had my own smile coming out.

    He stood up and held out his hand with a smile. “If everything
works out than it is very nice to meet you, Shaw.”

     She sounded like she started to giggle but cut it off quickly as
she took his hand. I almost laughed realizing she hadn’t wanted to sound like a
silly school girl at this crucial verbal accord. It was also surprising that
she had a little bit of school girl in her; she was so hard-assed most of the
time. 

     “I’m confident it will be.” She returned austerely.

     “I like confidence.” He declared, and then jerked his head toward
me. “This guy has an overload of it as well.”

     Shaw sucked her lips in and I knew she had a comeback she was
dying to utter, and it wasn’t difficult to imagine what it would have been.

     “Follow me, Shaw. I’ll show you your work space.” I directed her
over to my desk.

     “You okay with me taking over your space?” She picked up the
computer carrier she’d brought with her and trailed after me.

     “Yeah. I had a feeling it was going to fall that way. If you’re
going to be coming later in the day I’ll just make certain I get as much done
as I can on it in the mornings.”

     “Okay, just don’t close out any of my windows that I have on it or
I might have to start all over again.” She ordered. “And then I’d have to kill
you.”

     “I love it when you get bossy, and murderous.” I leered down at
her as I pulled out my chair for her.

     “Good, I do too.” She quipped.

     Setting down her bag she pulled out her laptop and arranged it
next to my computer on the desk. I grabbed up my paperwork getting it out of
her way. Seconds later I thought she forgot all about me as she sat down and
began typing away rapidly at my keyboard…but then her eyes flickered up at me.

     “You…ah…look pretty shnazzy decked out in a suit.” Faint pink
brushed her cheeks again.

     Was she actually giving me a compliment, and blushing while doing it?
“You feeling okay?”

     She frowned. “Yeah, why?”

     “You’re being nice and you’re not drunk. You’re not drunk, are
you?” I quirked my brow in teasing inquiry.

     A darker red painted her skin and her mouth turned mulish.
“Drunk…high on caffeine…sometimes it’s all the same.” She fixed her eyes back
on the screen.

     She was fucking adorable when she tried to be nice.

     I gave a theatric tug to my suit jacket. “Well, thank you for the
compliment. I will treat it like gold since it’s my first one from you.”

     “It’s one more than I’ve gotten from you.” She grouched.

     I grinned. “I give you compliments all the time.”

     She gave me the evil eye. “Your bogus pick-up lines are not
compliments.”

     Putting one hand on the desk and the other on the chair I bent
down towards her. She froze staring forward at her screen. “They were not
bogus. I meant every one of them.” The fresh smell coming off her had my dick
throbbing. Saturday night she’d smelled of moisturizers from getting her spa treatments,
but this natural scent was better. And those freckles over her nose, cheeks,
and lips made my cock pulse with further want. “You should know that I’ve never
used a pick-up line on any other female.”