Page 46 of Nothing to Deny
“I said not today, Con,” Baer’s voice came through the speakerphone.
Oh, God, more humiliation. Should she smile or weep? The point of visiting Conrad was to get a measure of how this would work before Baer was introduced into the equation. If she convinced his boss, he couldn’t object, could he? Having Conrad on her side may be useful in encouraging Baer’s agreement.
“Yeah, I know, but, look, I’ve got a client—”
“What part of not today do you not follow?” Baer asked. “Someone told you I’m around? I came in for the gym. I’m not in… not in, in. I’ve been in every day this week. I’m entitled to a damn minute.”
Part of that week included her, but she couldn’t be offended he was frayed, he wasn’t the only one.
The more relevant point? He was there, in the building. Unnerving, he could be close by.
“You gonna let me finish a goddamn sentence, Baer?” Conrad snapped then took a breath. “I have a client, who doesn’t care about seeing you today.”
He looked to her for confirmation; she shook her head fast.
“Oh,” Baer said. “Cool, what’s the problem?”
Conrad’s irritation faded to a smile. “She wants the full package from you.”
“I don’t do men.”
“Yeah, I know,” Conrad said and smirked as he leaned back in his seat. “She says she wants you to do it all to her. Do everything to her… Everything a man can do with a woman… one on one… And she’ll pay for the privilege…” Silence. “Never heard you hesitate before, buddy… This is top dollar for a job. And I gotta tell you, I wouldn’t mind doing this one myself.”
He winked at her. A signal he wasn’t hitting on her or being leery? The comment was a prompt for Baer. And maybe for her too. Did he think Baer cared about her or was he amused that she had such a hard-on—no pun intended—for Baer?
“Then do it yourself,” Baer said. “Use your patter. She won’t care who—”
“No, she’s pretty adamant, man,” Conrad said. “She asked for you by name.”
“Recommendation?”
“No, you know this one.”
Interrupting would be rude, but she was dying to butt in.
“Regular?” Baer asked, trying to figure it out. “My clients want something, they ask for it and are billed. Who would come to you instead of asking me next time we’re together?”
“Hound.”
The word leaped out of her. All on its own. Unintentionally.
In the following quiet, her intense cringe wished the ground would swallow her whole. Conrad stared at her—just stared—awaiting Baer’s response.
“Wait there,” Baer said. “Don’t move. Do nothing.”
The line died.
On another inhale, Conrad opened his arms. “That went well,” he said. “The gym’s two floors down, he’ll be up in just a minute… We could do the paperwork while we wait.”
Opening a different drawer, he retrieved some documents to go through them, letting her read as he explained different clauses.
Conrad was still talking when she plucked a pen from a holder on the desk intending to sign the latest page.
Until someone came rushing in.
“Do not sign that,” Baer said, tossing what sounded like a bag to the floor.
Twisting around, her intention was to object to his barking. But, damn, the bright white tee-shirt, the damp hair, gray sweats… She could smell soap and deodorant and… man. That was a tempting combination, she could go over there and—
