tried to warn her, but the heart wants what the heart wants. She wouldn’t listen.”
“That’s so sad. What was the final straw that made you want to let her go?”
“Payroll started to get fucked up. I can’t keep top mechanics if I’m gonna treat ‘em like that. They can pick up their shit and go anywhere. The first time it happened, she managed to get their money direct deposited the next Monday. Still, their money wasn’t available to them until Tuesday. That sucks when you’re livin’ paycheck to paycheck, and you expect that money to be in your account Friday morning. The second time I had to pay them out of my pocket to prevent a fucking riot. That was the last straw. She must have known she’d fucked up because she never came in that Friday. I called her, and her boyfriend answered, said she was done working for me. That was fine with me. It was too bad, though, because before she met that drugged-out shit for brains, she was actually pretty good at her job, bar the clutter.”
“Okay, so stay on top of payroll, got it. Anything else?”
He grins and steps forward, backing me up until my ass hits the desk. “Keep your boss happy. That’s number one.”
I smile. “And how do I do that?”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something.” He glances to the window into the waiting area and the window in the door to the garage. “I’m gonna have to get some blinds put up.”
I roll my eyes. “Is that why there’s a couch in here?”
He chuckles. “You think I need a couch? I can fuck you bent over this desk just fine.”
I glance to the couch thinking of Flo. “You didn’t, you know…with Flo?”
“Fuck no.”
I stare into his eyes. He doesn’t look away.
“Not gonna lie. There’ve been women. A lot, but I usually don’t piss where I eat.”
“Good to know.”
“Until now.”
“I thought we had a deal?”
“Deals change, sweetheart.” He lifts me and sets me on the desk.
“Rusty!”
“Never said I wouldn’t try and change your mind.” He takes my head in his hands, tilts it back, and kisses me, reminding me all over again how good he is at it.
We’re interrupted when the door to the garage opens, and the man who was with Rusty at the gun counter walks in, talking before he sees me. “Hey, whose little yellow hot rod’s parked out front?”
Rusty breaks the kiss and swivels his head toward the door. “Get lost, Reno.”
“Aren’t you gonna introduce us, Prez?”
Rusty lets out an impatient sigh. “Fine. VP, this is Ashlynn or as I call her, Vegas. Ashlynn, this is my VP, Reno.”
“Pleased to meet you, Vegas.”
“Now see what you’ve started?” I snap at Rusty’s grinning face. “It’s not funny. I don’t like that nickname.”
“Too bad,” Rusty says with a chuckle.
“Don’t worry, Ashlynn. I won’t call you Vegas.”
“Thank you. See, he has manners.” I fling a hand in Reno’s direction.
“Naw, I think Hot Rod suits you better,” Reno replies, and Rusty snorts with laughter.
My mouth drops open.
Rusty lifts a finger under my jaw, shutting it. “Hot Rod’s gonna be takin’ Flo’s place in the office.”
Reno folds his arms and rocks back on his heels. “Oh, she is, is she? That should be interesting.”
“How so?” Rusty asks.
“You know as well as I do, you ain’t gonna keep the guys out of here. They’re gonna be comin’ in here every five minutes wanting to ask some stupid question about a customer’s invoice or their paycheck. Hell, they’ll make shit up.”
“Oh hell no, they won’t.”
Reno’s shoulders shake in silent laughter. “Yeah, good luck with that one, Prez.”
He turns to the door and stops with one hand on the knob. “Welcome aboard, Hot Rod.”
After he leaves, I glare up at Rusty. “What’s with you guys and nicknames?”
He grins, takes my head in his hands again and pulls me to him. “Shut up and kiss me.”
After a long kiss, he finally pulls back. “I’ve gotta go check on some shit with the boys. I know the desk’s a mess, but maybe you can try to sort it out to something you can work with.” He jerks his chin at the computer. “Password’s Twizzlers. I’ll be back in an hour or so to show you the programs.”
I arch a brow. “Twizzlers?”
He gives me a boyish grin. “The red ones are the best. Those black liquorish ones suck donkey balls.”
I burst out in laughter. “I’ll remember that. Strawberry Twizzlers are the way to your heart.”
CHAPTER TEN
Ashlynn—
At six p.m. with the