Race’s eyes grew wide, her mouth hanging open as I walked into her office. “What are you doing here?”

“Hey, princess,” I said as I took in the majesty of her office. I was totally impressed by the size. “I thought I’d drop by and see how things were going.”

She glanced at her watch before glaring at me. “It’s almost five. Aren’t you supposed to be getting ready to go meet him?”

I nodded, tapping on my watch. “Plenty of time.”

She sighed, pushing herself away from her desk before stalking toward me. “No, there isn’t.”

“Everything is set. We’re just waiting for seven to roll around. The day is dragging. I thought stopping by would be a great way to pass the time.”

She slid her hand up my arm and rested it on my shoulder. “Did you talk to the guys about me tagging along tonight?”

“Yeah. They said that you can meet us at six thirty at the office and we’ll head out from there.” I was fucking lying through my teeth.

Her eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

“Yeah,” I lied again. I was going to have to do some major groveling later to make up for the bullshit falling out of my mouth.

“Thank you,” she whispered. She leaned forward and gave me a kiss square on the lips.

As she started to pull away, I wrapped my arms around her waist and brought her body flush with mine.

“Where you going? I need more of that,” I murmured against her lips.

“Morgan,” she said, pushing against my chest, “I can’t get caught here at work.”

“Doesn’t everyone knock?” I asked, peering over her shoulder toward the door.

“Yeah, but—”

I cut her off, covering her mouth with mine and breathing her in.

She moaned into my mouth as she pulled the breath from my lungs. I pulled her tighter against me, wrapping her in my arms.

What the fuck was I doing?

I hadn’t gone there to fuck her, let alone kiss her. I wanted to drop by, say hello, have a quick chat with Natasha, and then make sure Race wouldn’t make the seven o’clock meeting tonight. But here I was, in a lip-lock with Race.

I broke the kiss. “I gotta stop.”

“What if I don’t want you to?” she asked with lipstick-smudged lips, panting.

“I just wanted to drop by and see how you were and tell you about tonight.” I licked my lips, savoring every drop of her left behind.

“That’s all you wanted?” she asked, backing away as she adjusted her shirt.

“Yep. That’s all,” I lied.

Three times I’d lied to her face. She’d probably have me by the balls later for it, but it was the right thing to do.

“Ms. True,” her secretary called through the door as she knocked.

“Fix your lips,” I whispered, touching my mouth.

“Shit,” she muttered, running to her desk. She grabbed a mirror and tried to fix her lipstick but failed. “Yes?” she called out.

Her secretary walked in, glancing between us as she walked toward Race’s desk. She gave me a quick wink before turning her full attention to her boss. “Natasha wanted to go over the notes for your meeting tomorrow before she leaves tonight. She asked me to give them to you and to have you phone her when you’re ready.”

Natasha. That was Tyler’s wife—and possibly an accomplice in his scheme to ruin Race’s career. I hadn’t told her about Natasha yet, and I still didn’t feel the time was right, but I had to warn her.

Race took the notes from the woman and flipped through the pages. “I’ll give them a quick read, Cara. Call her and tell her to come to my office in five.”

The woman nodded and turned on her heel to face me. “Are you sure you’ll be done?” Cara asked as her eyes raked over me from head to toe, and with a grin so dirty, I knew exactly what she had on her mind.

“Yes. We’re done here. Mr. DeLuca was on his way out.”

“Shame,” Cara whispered before she sauntered toward the door and left.

Race looked up from her notes with her eyebrows knitted together. “What did she say?”

“Nothing.” I shrugged.

She tossed the papers on the desk and collapsed in her chair. “Is there anything else you need, Morgan?”

“Oh, we’re back to Morgan?”

“Stop.” She rubbed her forehead. “I have to finish my work so I can be out of here on time tonight. There’s no way I’m going to miss it.”

“But it’s okay if you can’t make it tonight. I’d prefer it if you weren’t there.” It was the only truthful thing I’d said since I’d walked through her office door.

“I’m going. Don’t even try to talk me out of it. Now go so I’m not late.”

I waved. “Yes, ma’am,” I said before I left.

As the door clicked closed, a loud bang made me jump.

“What the hell?” I asked as I turned around.

Cara walked over to me, touching my arm. More like she groped my arm as she stared up at me. “Don’t mind her. Oh, you must work out.” She squeezed my forearms, working her way up to just above my elbows.

“Cara…”

“I’m too old for you, Mr. DeLuca. I’m just wondering what your intentions are toward Ms. True.”

“Um, I don’t know.”

“Honey, the woman needs a man. I saw the look on her face when I walked in the room. I saw her bee-stung lips and red lipstick still smeared on her face. I think you’re just what the doctor ordered. Just perfect.”

“Thanks.” I laughed. “I’m trying my best.”

“The woman works too much. Life’s too short and she’s too young to always spend it in the office. Just treat her right, Mr. DeLuca.”

“Morgan,” I corrected her.

“Morgan,” she repeated, dropping her hand from my arm.

The sound of a person clearing their throat made us both turn.

“Am I interrupting?” the woman asked, glaring at me and giving us both a look of disgust.

Cara shook her head as she sat down and started moving papers around on the desk. “I was just saying goodbye, ma’am. You’re a few minutes early, but I’m sure Ms. True is ready for you.”

In front of me stood Natasha.

The vibe she threw off was that of a megabitch.

Although Race carried herself with authority, she had nothing on Natasha. Her pin-straight black hair was pulled up in a bun so tight that I wondered if it altered the look of her face. Her business suit was perfect, not a wrinkle on it, as if she’d stood all day to avoid any imperfections.

“And you are?” Natasha asked in a snotty tone as she looked me over, but not like Cara had before. Natasha looked at me like a low-class citizen who wasn’t fit to breathe the same air she was breathing.

“Mr. DeLuca,” I replied as I looked at her the exact same way she had me, but I held my hand out, trying to be courteous.

She glanced down and snarled. “I’m sure she’s ready for me,” Natasha said as she walked past me and entered Race’s office without knocking.

“Wow,” I muttered to myself before the door closed.

“She’s a real treat,” Cara said before sticking her finger in her mouth. “She’s one of the ugliest people I know.”

I wondered if Cara was the eyes and ears in this place. Typically, secretaries talked. If there was a bitchy boss, I wondered how much information was shared between them.

“Let me ask you something,” I whispered as I leaned on Cara’s desk to be close enough not to be overheard.

“Anything you want, handsome.” She gazed up at me.

“Natasha. Good person or bad? I think I know the answer.”

“Nothing but bad there.”

“How bad?” I asked as I rubbed my chin.

“She’d sell her own mother for personal gain. She’s the worst there is here. No one likes her, and poor Ms. True has to work with her. They’re both in line for partnership. It’s dog-eat-dog, and I worry Natasha will do anything to win.”

“I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen,” I said even though I didn’t know how in the fuck I’d do that. But I knew that if Natasha were involved, I wouldn’t let her destroy Race.

“Who are you, Morgan?” she asked as she rested her chin in her palm, giving me dreamy eyes.

“I may be done before anything gets started.”

“Well, isn’t that confusing?”

“If you see me again, I’ll answer it. Right now, everything is in the air.”

“Don’t let her run,” she whispered. “She needs a tight leash, that one.” Cara covered her mouth. “Don’t ever tell her I said that.”

I ran my fingers across my lips and replied, “My lips are sealed.”

“Cara!” a voice yelled from the other side of the closed door.

She sighed, pushing back from the desk. “You better go before we get ourselves in trouble.”

I nodded. I liked Cara. I felt like we could be good friends. “I’m out. Nice chatting with you, Cara.”

“Any time, handsome. Come back, ya hear?” She waved before disappearing into Race’s office.

As soon as I exited the building, I dialed Johnny. “Hey, this is Race’s friend from the other day.”

“Hi, son. What can I do for you?” he asked.

“Race is going to call you tonight. I need a favor.”

“Anything you or Race need, I’m there for you.”

“Here’s what I need you to do for me,” I said before setting my plan into motion.