Page 44 of Zach
Colt, but what my brother wants, my brother gets. “We can design a kind of marketing campaign
tailored just for him. I bet that within a month, we can convince him to apply for release. And we’ve
got The Judge to put in a good word for him.” The Judge being a corrupt fucker that tried to blow up
Cara’s life. He’s ours now, and we’ll damn well use him for this.
The tension seeps out of Colt’s body. “Ok…ok. That’s a good idea.”
Our post-workday meeting breaks up soon after, my brothers scattering. The ones with significant
others hurrying home to them. Jonas trails me to my office, clearly not done with telling me how much
of a dick I am. He pushes the door shut behind him, and with a sigh, I sit on the edge of my desk. He
glares at me, hands propped on his hips like superman. Fuck, if any of us were qualified to wear the
cape, it’s him. He is good and kind and so fucking thoughtful that I feel like a degenerate next to him
sometimes.
“Promise me,” he finally says.
I rub my hand over my stubbled cheek as I study him. “Why does she mean so much to you? You
barely know her.”
“I do know her. I know exactly what it is like to feel like the odd one out. I know what it is like to
have people judge me. I know her, and I do not want to do anything to make her leave.”
“Are you…do you have feelings for her?”
He frowns, giving me thewhat the fuck you talkin’ aboutlook. Why am I so relieved? “I have
feelings for her. She’s a human being and a co-worker.”
Right. Forgot who I was talking to for a minute. “Do you have romantic feelings for her? I thought
you liked Janey, but maybe y—.“
“No. Maya is not Janey. My feelings for one have nothing to do with the other.”
“Alright, no offense intended. I just wondered.”
“Stop wondering.” He moves to the door, swinging it open, his large frame filling the doorway.
“Six weeks. Do not do anything to make her want to leave.”
Clenching my jaw, I finally give him a nod. He walks away, leaving the door wide open.
I drop my chin to my chest, the next six weeks stretching in front of me endlessly. How do I
convince a woman who seems to have one foot out the door on day one, to stay? I rise and lean in the
doorway of my office, staring toward her desk. The image of her relaxing in her chair, wearing those
ridiculous glasses and eating that bright red apple flashes in my mind, and I grin involuntarily. She is
