Breaching His Defenses - Allyson Lindt (best short novels .TXT) 📗

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 complement 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

 

~*~Sheltering His Desire (Love Hack 2) is coming August, 2015~*~

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