She took online college classes at the crack of dawn. Her job was demanding and took up a solid eight hours a day. At night she studied, fighting for her ever elusive accounting degree. Someday she was going to run her own accounting firm and be badass too, just in a different way than Archer. She was going to be a stable, respectable badass—-in great shoes. But in the meantime, she worked herself half into the grave just to keep her head above water.
Problem was, school was expensive, very expensive. As was living in San Francisco. As were great shoes. Plus good jobs didn’t grow on trees. The one she’d had before this had turned out to be a nightmare. She felt lucky here, and although she was paid very decently, college was breaking her bank. To help fund herself, she took the occasional job with Archer when he needed a woman on a job. A distraction usually, but sometimes he prevailed on her other skills, skills she’d honed a lifetime ago.
“It’s a challenging job,” he said, knowing exactly how to pique her interest, damn him. “Need an ID on a guy, and if it’s our man, we need a distraction while we . . . borrow his laptop, the one he never lets out of his sight.”
Hmm. Definitely a challenge. “I don’t suppose he’s the type you could just walk up to and ask his name,” she said.
His mouth curved in a small smile. “Let’s just say I’m not someone who would interest him.”
“No? So who would?” she asked.
“A hot blonde with legs for days in a short, tight dress.”
Heat pooled in her belly and spread outward. Dammit.
“One with the stickiest pickpocket fingers I’ve ever met,” he added.
With a low laugh—-dammit, was there anything sexier than a man who knew you to the bone?—-she made it to the outer reception area. She’d just reached for the front door when it opened and she collided with someone.
The man caught her, keeping her upright. “I’m so sorry. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” she said. In his early thirties, he was about her height, medium build, and in a very nice suit. He also had a nice smile, a kind smile, and more than a little male interest in his expression.
“Mike Penham,” he said, offering her a hand. “I’m a client of Archer’s.”
“Elle Wheaton.” She smiled. “Not a client.”
“Ah, a mysterious woman,” he said with a smile.
“No, just a busy one.” She shot one last look at Archer—-a mistake because his gaze was inscrutable and on her as always, and she felt her stupid heart do a stupid somersault in her chest as he came into the front room, moving with his usual liquid grace in spite of still being armed for a third--world skirmish.
“Mike,” he said in greeting to the man who’d just arrived. “Come on back.” He looked at Elle. “Tonight then?”
Since she’d never yet figured out how to say no to the hot bastard, she nodded. And for a single beat, the mask fell from his eyes and his golden green gaze warmed as he nodded back.
And then she shut the door between them.
Accidentally on Purpose
Chapter 2
#AccidentallyOnPurpose
“DAMN, SHE’S SMOKIN’ hot. Is she available?”
Archer heard Mike’s question about Elle but he didn’t take his gaze off her as she walked her sweet ass out of his office. “No.”
Mike slapped his hand dramatically to his own chest. “Right through the heart, man. You’ve cut me right through the heart. She’s got some serious fire, that one. Love that in a woman.”
Yeah Elle had fire. She was like the sun. Get too close and you’d burn up . . . With a shake of his head at himself, Archer turned away, heading for his office.
“No, but seriously,” Mike said, following along after him. “I’ve got a shot at her, right?”
“No.”
Mike laughed. The guy was a walking conglomerate and a solid client who brought in business, a lot of it in fact, but that didn’t mean Archer wanted him within fifty feet of Elle.
Granted, the vulnerable, scared, isolated sixteen--year--old street rat he’d once saved when he’d been a twenty--two--year--old rookie cop was not a street rat any more. Nor alone, scared, or vulnerable. She was outspoken and tough as nails.
But she wasn’t available. Hell no.
Not that she was his.
He wanted her. And he wanted her bad too. But she’d worked her ass off to become the woman she was now. He knew he reminded her of bad times, and there was no way he’d risk setting her back or damaging her in any way. She’d been through enough without him muddying the waters. So they were friends.
Or maybe the more accurate description was that they pretended to be friends.
He entered his office and he gestured for Mike to have a seat. “Your message said you have a security problem.”
“A big one,” Mike said. “I think our digital division’s got a leak.”
“What makes you think so?”
“We had two new high--tech communication products that no one else even had a bead on. We had a scheduled presentation to a very selective, confidential client—-”
“How selective?” Archer asked. “How confidential?”
Mike rolled his lips inward. “Let’s just say very.”
The US government, Archer figured, reading between the lines. “And let me guess, someone beat you to the punch.”
“Our number one competitor,” Mike said grimly. “But there’s no way in hell that they beat us. Someone gave them the intel. From the inside.”
“That’s ugly.”
“Yes. And now I need to stop the leak. You in?”