Page 143 of Their Naughty Student (Office Intrigue Duet 6)
“Not burned out. Not quite. But getting close.”
“Any recommendations for someone to fill your shoes?”
I sat up straight. “Actually, yes.”
His eyebrows lifted in curiosity.
“Triton.”
Trent grinned again. “Master Chaos, huh? Who gave him that name, anyway?”
“You don’t know?”
He shook his head. “Never bothered to ask.”
“Let’s just say, before he met Missy, got married, he was a handful.” I thought back to when Triton’s wife had died. “I think the club would be good for him. He tends to hold back, and I can’t say I blame him. He lost the love of his life.”
Trent nodded. “I’ll talk to him if you think he’d be a good fit.”
“I do.” I pushed the glass away. “Oh, and if you want to do it right, you’ll pull Cambria in. Get her on the payroll. Chaos could use an assistant and he couldn’t find a better one than her.”
“Interesting idea.” He nodded. “I like it. I’ll talk to him, then her.” He motioned toward the room. “How much notice are you giving me?”
“As long as you need. I’m in no hurry,” I admitted. “But I needed to make the decision so I can move forward.”
“It’s safe to assume you won’t handle the training classes going forward?”
“No.”
“Any suggestions on your replacement?”
“Ximena,” I answered instantly, making Trent laugh again.
“Mistress X running the class. I like it.”
“She’ll do a great job.”
“She’s young,” he noted.
“Yeah, but she’s got more experience than most.”
He nodded. “Like I said, I hate to have you step down. But I expect to see your ass in here.”
It was my turn to grin. “I’ll stop by from time to time,” I told him. “Wouldn’t want to give it up completely.”
Trent refilled the glasses and passed mine back to me, and I lifted it when he held his up.
“To a new normal,” he said with a glitter in his eyes.
Yeah. I could toast to that.
Jamie
“WHY AM I SO NERVOUS?” I RAMBLED as Edge pulled the car into his sister’s driveway.
“No reason to be, cupcake.” Cav peered back at me from the front seat. “She doesn’t bite.”
Edge laughed. “You’ve already met her, Jamie.”
“Yeah. At the bar. This is vastly different.”
Edge slipped out of the car, opened my door. He took my hand and helped me out.
Before he turned toward the house, he pulled me in close, bent his head, and kissed me. “She’s going to love you, Jamie. Almost as much as I do.”
My entire body warmed, my smile not as nervous as it had been.
When he released me, I smoothed my shirt and my skirt, took a deep breath, and nodded. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
By the time we made it to the front porch, I was trying to figure out the fastest escape route. If I scaled the bushes, perhaps I could be down the street before she opened the—
“There you are,” a familiar voice sounded from just inside the house. “I thought for a minute you were going to stand me up.”
“Gretchen, you remember Cav.”
“Hey,” she said sweetly, hugging him when he stepped inside.
Still time to scale the bushes, I thought as I shot my eyes to the street. Then run like hell.
“And this is our girlfriend, Jamie Lautner.” He urged me through the door.
Nope. Time jut ran out.
“I’m going to greet you first. It’s very nice to meet you,” Gretchen said with a wide smile as she pulled me in for a hug. “Then I’m going to ask my brother to clarify that statement.” Her bright blue eyes returned to his face, curiosity reflected there.
“Later, Gretch.” He chuckled. “Where’re the rug rats?”
“Uncle Greg!”
“There she is,” Edge said cheerfully.
The next thing I knew, Edge was swinging a little girl up into his arms, blowing a raspberry against her neck. She looked a lot like her mother, long dark hair, same kind smile, her blue eyes darker.
“Jamie, meet Julianna. Say hi to Jamie.”
“Hi, Jamie.” Julianna squirmed out of his arms. “I’m six. How old are you?”
I peered up at Edge and smiled. “Twenty-four.”
I didn’t imagine the look that Gretchen passed her brother.
A man appeared, his eyes bouncing between us. He held out his hand to Cav. “Good to see you again, man.”
“Same, Rick. How’s work?”
Rick sighed. “Busy. But the holidays are coming up, so that’s to be expected.”
“Rick manages a chain of department stores,” Edge explained. “I’d like you to meet Jamie Lautner. Jamie, this is my brother-in-law, Rick Reilley.”
I shook his hand when it was offered. “Nice to meet you.”
“No need to stand in the doorway,” he said, motioning us farther into the house. “Dinner’ll be ready in five. Hey, Gretch, will you get Matt and Heidi? I texted them, but they’re ignoring me.”
Gretchen grinned. “Not the first time. Come on. Let’s sit in the dining room. I’ll grab the wine.”
Edge took the lead and I followed with Cav on one side, Julianna on the other. The little girl tugged on my hand.
