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“Tangled up? I wouldn’t necessarily classify us as being tangled up.”
Should I be blunt?
Yeah, I should.
“We will be.”
Though she tried to remain composed, Natalie’s slightly widened eyes and parted lips told me she was anything but.
“Right,” she said, clearing her throat. “I’m your case manager after all—”
“No, Natalie. That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it.”
“Jaxon—”
“Jax.”
“Jaxon,” she said stubbornly. “We should not have danced on Saturday. This is strictly a one hundred percent professional relationship, and even if I thought you were the hottest, most charming man in the world, I wouldn’t risk my job for a”—she shrugged—“one-night stand. Especially with you,” she tossed in, for good measure.
“We are two consenting adults. I don’t think your job would be in jeopardy.”
“First of all, I’m anything but consenting. Second of all, it wouldn’t look good, at minimum. Especially now that I’m your case manager.”
“Can you alter the findings? Sway opinion one way or another on the purchase?”
That question didn’t please her very much because we both knew the answer.
“My job isn’t to decide on the land purchase but to answer any questions you might have, or anyone else involved. But you know that already.”
“I do. Which is why I’m not too worried about you losing your job when we get together.”
She laughed, and I fucking loved the sound. “We are not getting together.”
“You don’t think so?”
“No. I do not.”
“Alright. How about a friendly wager on that particular point?”
Natalie shook her head. “No way. I’m not betting on something I already know won’t happen. For many, many reasons.”
I’d played my hand. Time to let Natalie finish her work and think about what we’d talked about. “Scaredy-cat,” I said, standing.
“I’m not scared,” she insisted.
“No? Then take the bet. If you win, if we don’t get together, I’ll drop my bid.”
Was it a bit of fucking madness? Sure. But I was that certain that Natalie would crack. More importantly, if she thought I was dropping the bid, maybe she’d stop looking at me with daggers in her eyes.
I’d managed to shock the hell out of her.
“You’re kidding?”
“I’m not.”
“Done,” she said, clearly banking on her victory.
“But if I win...” I reminded her there were two sides to this coin. “You’ll call me Jax.”
