Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
"Well, shit, Calamity." I grin at her. "Why didn't you say that? We always need business-minded people around here."
"Yeah, but…" She shifts uneasily. "I have a warrant out for my arrest," she whispers. "And my dad—"
I press my lips to hers, cutting her off. "None of that shit matters, baby. You didn't steal that jewelry, and you aren't your dad. The Carringtons will give you a chance."
"You really think so?" she asks, trying to hide the hope in her eyes.
I stare at her for a long moment and then wrap my hand around hers, tugging her toward the door of the barn. "Let's go."
"Where?"
"To talk to Hudson."
Hudson Carrington is in his office, cursing up a blue streak when we step inside. Morgan sticks close to my side, her eyes bouncing around the office like she's trying to take it all in.
It's a lot to see. His office is massive, with big windows overlooking the ranch, and paperwork stacked everywhere. It's enough to stress me the fuck out.
There's a reason I work outside. Paperwork is the reason.
"Blaze," Hudson growls, jerking his chin at me. "What's up?"
"Hudson, this is Morgan Lott," I murmur, nudging her forward. "Morgan, baby, this is Hudson Carrington. His family owns the ranch. He's the man in charge."
Hudson's gaze rakes over Morgan, his expression softening when he notices how nervous she looks. "Hey, sweetheart. Flint mentioned you'd be staying with us for a while. Is Blaze taking good care of you?"
"Yes, sir," she whispers.
Hudson grins at her before his gaze drifts to me, curiosity in his eyes.
"Morgan is working on a degree in business," I murmur. "I thought you guys might have more use for her in here than we do out in the fields."
His brows lift. "A business degree, huh?"
"Yes, sir. Business administration."
"How much longer do you have until you're finished?"
"About a year. I had to take this semester off."
Hudson nods. "You ever worked in an office before, Morgan?"
"I interned with Jack Whitlock for the summer when I was nineteen," she says. "I worked the front desk."
"Well, hell," Hudson says with a laugh. "If you can handle Whitlock, you can damn sure handle anything we'd throw at you."
"I believe so, sir."
"I just lost my assistant."
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" she cries, her eyes wide.
"Shit." Hudson rakes a hand down his face. "I didn't mean it like that. She quit." He motions to the mountains of paperwork stacked around the office. "And now I have to sort through all of this shit. I could use some help."
"I can help," Morgan says and then bites her lip. "I mean…if you'll let me."
Hudon eyes her for a moment and then grins. "I'll make you a deal, Morgan Lott."
"Yes, sir?"
"You quit calling me sir, and the job is yours."
"Really?" She gapes at him, her eyes wide with hope.
"Really."
"I have a warrant out for my arrest right now," she blurts. "I…I just thought you should know before you agree to hire me. My last boss accused me of stealing jewelry from him. I didn't do it, but I don't have any way to prove it, either."
"Heard about that," he mutters, his eyes coming to me. There's no judgment there, just curiosity. "You handling it?"
"Yeah, I'm handling it."
"Good," he grunts. "Burkett always has been a prick." He looks at Morgan again, his expression soft. "We don't take the word of bastards like that around here, sweetheart. Blaze and Flint have vouched for you, and their word is worth a whole helluva lot more than Burkett's will ever be in my book. If you want the job, it's yours."
She squeals, flinging her arms around me in a big hug.
I yank her up against my chest, meeting Hudson's gaze over her shoulder. "Thank you," I mouth, grateful as hell that he's giving her a place here.
He jerks his chin in a nod.
Chapter Eight
Morgan
"Ihave a job," I say, beaming as Blaze escorts me back to the cabin with his hand in mine. I try to walk like a normal person, but I'm so excited, I can't contain it. I probably look like a nut, dancing along at his side.
He doesn't seem to mind. He just keeps smiling at me.
Every time his eyes lock with mine, my stomach trembles, and I want to throw myself into his arms and kiss him stupid. For a man who indulges in kidnapping, he's pretty amazing.
"You do," he says. "I'm proud of you."
"Hey." I stop walking. "What did you mean when you said that you were handling it?"
"I mean that I'm handling it, baby."
"Blaze."
"Calamity."
I narrow my eyes at him. "You can't call me that at work. I'm a professional now."
"Oh, yeah?" He chuckles, pinning me up against the side of the cabin. One big hand wraps around my throat, tipping my head back. His eyes are so damn blue when they lock with mine. "What if I just call you mine instead, Morgan? You going to complain about that?"