Wright with Benefits

Jennifer was editing images on the small breakfast nook table, which was cluttered with her equipment. I frowned. Definitely no space for me to get to work. Fuck.

“Hey, Jen,” I said. “How’s editing?”

“The grueling part of the job,” she said as she clicked incessantly in Photoshop.

“Are you even halfway through last weekend’s wedding?”

She shook her head. “Nope,” she said and then glanced up at me with a smile. The top half of her blonde bob was in a bun, and her hazel eyes glittered with excitement. This was the Jennifer that I adored. Completely unassuming, full of joy, and confident in her abilities. But when she stepped out of her circle of confidence in photography was when she fell apart. She’d had anxiety her entire life, and while it was managed, she still slipped when she got into uncomfortable situations. Like…Julian Wright.

“But it’s okay. I had the most beautiful bride, and Evan was second shooter. So, we had a great time.”

I smiled inwardly. She didn’t realize that her second shooter, Evan, was totally into her. Not that I intended to point it out.

“I’m glad you did,” I said as I retreated to my room.

My body sagged when I looked at my once-beautiful room and the mess it was now. The warped boards, the damage to the baseboards, the empty closet, a few Amazon boxes scattered around the room. I’d had to order new shoes for my upcoming interviews, and I might have gone overboard. As with everything. Suddenly, it all felt like too much. There was no way that I was going to get any work done.

I slung my backpack down on the bed and thought about screaming.

One bad day, and I’d had to suffer the consequences for months. I opted for a quick shower, towel-drying my messy red hair and pulling it up into a neat ponytail. Then I started packing a bag.

I wasn’t sure when I’d decided to go to Jordan’s, but suddenly, I was on his doorstep with a change of clothes and my backpack. I rang the doorbell.

Jordan appeared a minute later, opening the door cautiously. He was still in his suit. He must have just gotten home. Considering it was an hour later than when we’d talked, he must have stayed even later at work after I declined.

His eyebrows shot up. “Annie.” He slipped the door open wider. “Come in.”

“I should have texted,” I said automatically, twirling the claddagh ring around my finger.

“You’re in luck. I ordered enough Chinese for a family of four. There was a special.”

I laughed softly, staring around at his mansion and marveling that someone with that much money still appreciated specials. “Sesame chicken?” I asked hopefully.

“That’s my favorite,” he said, shutting the door. “So definitely.”

I exhaled softly. “Well, great. I like Mongolian beef, too.”

“Also included in my family pack,” he said, following me into the kitchen.

“Jesus,” I whispered.

A dozen little white Chinese boxes were spread out like a feast. He hadn’t been kidding about enough for a family of four.

“Pick your poison,” he offered.

After loading up a plate with sesame chicken, Mongolian beef, lo mein, fried rice, and two egg rolls, I retreated to the enormous dining room table. My eyes widened with relief. Nothing like the tiny space I’d been using the last three years. I could probably fit all of my notes here.

I set my plate down and dug out my computer, books, and notes. Jordan ate silently across from me, scrolling leisurely on his iPad.

“What are you working on?” I asked him after downing half of my plate in a feverish haze of hunger.

“Soccer complex,” he muttered, not taking his eyes from the screen.

My heart skipped. Isaac had told me about this, but it had slipped my mind. Wright Construction had gotten the contract to build an outdoor stadium for a new soccer team coming to Lubbock. It was our first professional sports team, and everyone was pretty excited. My brother was especially excited to be the on-ground project manager.

“What do you have to do for that?”

Jordan glanced up once with an amused look on his face. “I thought you had to study.”

I glowered at him. “I do.”

“Why’d you decide to show up?”

“Free food.”

He snorted. “Doubtful.”

“Jennifer is using the table for edits, and my room is still a mess from the flood,” I admitted. “I was worried that I wouldn’t get anything done.”

“So, here and not the library?”

I gestured to the Chinese food again with a smirk. “Like I said, free food.”

“I’m doing everything for the soccer complex,” he admitted. “I was the one who reached out to the team to suggest a site to build.”

“Whoa,” I whispered. I hadn’t known that. “How did you know they were looking?”

He smirked. “That’s half my job. I can do all the things that Morgan and Austin and David do, but my strength really lies in making connections, pinpointing new contracts, and negotiations.”