The Lawman's Secret Vow by Tara Randel

Author:Tara Randel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-05-08T18:22:16+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

ONE SNIFF OF Rico’s office and Eloise took a giant step backward.

The tall, olive-skinned man with dark hair and equally dark eyes had the grace to grimace. “Before you say anything, I know. This place has gotten out of hand.”

Eloise tried not to gape, but really? No wonder Stella was no longer working for her husband. If she’d had to put up with the noxious odor when she worked here, his wife deserved all her recent shopping trips and spa days.

“It’s not so bad,” Dante said beside her.

She shot him an Are you kidding me? look, then focused on her new boss.

“When Stella decided to stay home, I kind of let things go,” Rico explained.

Not sure how to reply nicely, she stepped into the small room to get her bearings. The trash cans overflowed with old food wrappers and what else she didn’t want to imagine. Just like Dante said, the desk was loaded with papers, which actually spilled over to the top of the filing cabinet. File folders had been set on the floor and an ancient computer sat in the corner, turned off. By the sheer volume of paperwork, Eloise wondered if Rico even bothered with the machine.

Rico gathered the mess on the filing cabinet and dumped the pile on the already overflowing desk, then set a small fan on top of the metal cabinet and turned it on. “Sorry it’s hot in here. The wall unit is on the fritz.” He turned to her. “Dan tells me you should have this place in tiptop shape in no time.”

No time? She wasn’t sure, but said, “We’ll see. I should get started.”

“And I need to get back to my work for the day,” Dante said, winking before making his way to a red sports car with the hood up. Eloise knew his gesture was for show, but couldn’t deny the tendril of pleasure.

“Any questions?” Rico asked.

“Not at the moment.”

He fished a plastic bag from the corner and tossed it to her. “Work T-shirts.”

She pulled one out, read Battles Auto Repair silk-screened on front, noticed the large size and held back a sigh.

Rico inched to the open door. “If you need me I’ll be out back.”

She raised a brow.

“I have another office.”

“Oh, my.” Eloise placed her hand over her chest, going for overwhelmed instead of curious.

“It’s in better shape,” Rico said, his deep voice gruff.

“Good, because I won’t be able to get to that one for—” she scanned the room again “—a while.”

“No.”

“No?”

Rico’s expression turned scary serious. “The building out back is off-limits.”

By his reaction, it was clear the office out back was where the real information lay. Now all Eloise had to do was figure out a way to gain access.

“Oh, okay.” She lifted a few papers from the desk. “If you change your mind, you know where I’ll be.”

Rico nodded.

“And, Mr. Battles?”

“Yes.”

“Thanks. For the job.”

He cleared his throat. “Sure. Just don’t make me regret having you and your husband under one roof.” His gaze narrowed. “What with you being newlyweds and all.

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