Submission Impossible (Masters & Mercenaries Reloaded 1)

So would she. An influx of cash would help her enormously. A whole lot of the cash for her lab had gone to Madison last quarter. Now she was the one with the successful experiment, and she was ready to reap the rewards by buying a bunch of new equipment. It would be like Christmas. “I think this data is the last I need, but thanks. Have a good workout.”

He strode out as Kyle was walking in. Kyle looked a bit pale and kept glancing back at the door.

“Are you okay?” She didn’t see Hutch with him.

Kyle seemed to shake something off. “Yeah, I’m good. Just saw someone who reminded me of an ex. Like the worst ex ever. How are you doing?” Kyle stepped into the lab. He’d put his suitcoat on, a sure sign he was about to follow Jessica to someplace fancy. “Hutch texted me he’s running late, but he should be downstairs in a couple of minutes. I thought I’d walk you down.”

She frowned his way. “Is there any way I could convince him to let me stay a couple of hours?”

Kyle crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t think so. Not after what happened yesterday. He doesn’t want you in here alone, and I have to go out tonight.”

That brought up a good point. Kyle should know what Jessica was doing this evening. “I thought this was a date, but Pete mentioned a meeting with investors.”

“She mentioned a date to me a couple of days ago, but from what I can tell this is a business dinner,” Kyle explained. “She changed the restaurant from a French bistro to a steak house, and I overheard her assistant confirming a table for four. Why do you ask?”

“Pete thought she was pitching my research to investors.” It didn’t make any sense unless she was buttering them up for the real meeting next week. “But she doesn’t have my supporting evidence, so it can’t be that. I know you’re not supposed to listen in.”

“I’m literally being paid to spy on the woman,” Kyle pointed out. “If you want me to figure out what she’s pitching tonight, I will let you know. You ready to head down? I’ve got to meet Jessica at the limo in a couple of minutes.”

She sighed because he didn’t look like a man who was going to be persuaded. “I’ll get my keycard.”

She glanced down and it wasn’t sitting on her desk. Where had she put it?

“Hey, baby. I brought us some dinner because I thought about it and you are going to feel better if you finish this thing.”

All thoughts of anything else fled as she looked up and Hutch walked into the room, carrying a bag emblazoned with the Top logo. Her stomach growled, reminding her she’d only eaten about half the sandwich she’d bought at the deli downstairs. A few days before she’d thought the turkey on wheat had been a serviceable lunch, but then Hutch had started making her lunches. He put honey mustard and tomatoes on it, and she loved them. The one from downstairs was now bland.

She would miss him if they drifted apart at the end of this.

“Did you bring me something?” Kyle started to poke around in the bag Hutch had set on her desk. “I don’t think I’m eating at this thing. What’s the special tonight? Mom told me Sean was working on short ribs and they’re delicious.”

Hutch slapped at his hand. “No, I did not get you anything because we’re not in a relationship, and as you have pointed out many times, you are an adult man capable of making your own lunch.”

Kyle stared down at the bag with sad puppy eyes. “Only because I didn’t know you’re actually pretty good in the kitchen. I thought it was one of those things where a dude thinks he’s good, but he pretty much sucks. Your breakfasts are solid. I missed it this morning. We need to get groceries again.”

Because they’d abandoned the ones at her place the night before. None of that mattered because Hutch was here and he was letting her stay and finish up. She moved into his arms and wrapped herself around him. He hugged her tight and she realized what she’d been missing all day. Him.

He kissed her cheek and nuzzled her ear. “Hey, I missed you. It was a long day.”

But he was still here and still willing to wait with her. “You, too. Thank you for dinner and thank you for letting me stay.”

“Okay, I lost my appetite. You got this, brother?” Kyle was already at the door.

Hutch’s lips curled up in a sexy grin as he stared down at her. “Oh, I got this. I got all of this.”

His hands moved down to cup her ass. Kyle made a gagging sound and then he was gone.