Torque by Gillian Archer (10 ebook reader txt) 📕

find the cameramen packing up. And the only reason James had interrupted us. Aside from our “talking head” interviews, he never addressed us during filming.

“Why’s that?” I asked.

“Dylan spends at least half the week in the paint shed working,” James replied. “And if you guys have more than one bike going, he’s even busier. You need someone else on the phones.”

“Fine. We’ll hire a girl.” I turned and gave Austin my done-with-this-shit expression. “You ready for lunch?”

“Yup, let’s get going.”

We left James behind us without even a goodbye. Apparently, the asshole was getting to Austin too. But as we pushed the outer doors open, Austin turned to me. “So about this girl you’re seeing…”

I groaned and tipped my head back to look at the sky.

Apparently, Austin wasn’t done getting to me yet either.

Chapter Eleven

Maddie

My boss, Neil, clasped his hands as he stood in front of the four of us at our staff meeting. “I’m sure you’ve all heard the news. The state is going through a budget crisis, and as you all know libraries tend to shoulder the brunt of the cutbacks.”

My stomach dropped even as I knew what he would say next.

“No decisions have been made yet, but I wanted to clear the air about rumors that have been going around.” He paused and sent a significant look Elaine’s way. “You should expect cutbacks. Our community spending will be cut back—that means money for children’s crafts, outreach programs, and computer upkeep. And as it’s been speculated, there will most likely be staffing cutbacks. But contrary to speculation, no one’s job is safe, not even mine. They might cut some of us or all of us or none of us. But be ready.”

A tense silence thrummed after Neil’s announcement. I saw the wide-eyed fear reflected in my colleagues’ faces. Even catty Elaine looked a little green at the prospect of unemployment.

After a few beats, Steve raised his hand. “When do you think they’ll make decisions?”

“State assembly meets next week to hash out budget concerns, so I imagine a week or two after we’ll have some definite decisions.”

The meeting broke up after that, no one really eager to linger as a death knell all but rang around us.

It was all I could think about as I drove home. Homeless. Probably jobless in less than a month. Life was pretty depressing. I had to swipe at my cheeks a few times to stem the flow of tears. I’d known it was coming but hearing it from my boss’ mouth somehow made it all the more real.

As I pulled up to my parking spot at Dylan’s condo, my phone buzzed with an incoming text. An unwanted dick pic to round out my awesome night? I really needed to delete that dating app.

But when I pulled my phone out of my purse, I found a text from Nathan instead.

Nathan: Is your meeting over? Have you had dinner?

Before I could even process that message another one came through.

Nathan: Or do you want to come over for some dessert and a movie?

Did he really just invite me over for a Netflix and chill date? Wasn’t it a bit too soon?

Although after the day I’d had, gorging myself on ice cream sounded like a smart decision. I just didn’t want Nathan front and center witnessing me eat my feelings. I wanted to wallow and just be depressed before I had to pull up my big girl panties and get back to “the plan” AKA getting my life back on track.

Me: Meeting was rough. Raincheck?

I didn’t wait for his reply. I was exhausted. I shoved my phone into my purse, crawled outta my car and headed for my home on the couch.

As I walked past Nathan’s front door, it opened. “Maddie?”

I stopped and muttered a curse. “Yeah?”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not really.” I wanted to turn around and see him leaning all perfect against his door, but I didn’t want him to see what I looked like when I was barely holding it together. Most of the tears had dried on my cheeks, but I knew I looked a mess. And I really didn’t want to see the pity in his eyes.

“Want to come over and make out?”

I blinked. What the…

This time I couldn’t resist the urge to turn and face him. And he looked just as delicious as I’d imagined. More so. His tight, white t-shirt stretched across his chiseled chest, displaying his muscles but hiding them at the same time. His right arm braced his body against the doorframe, making his bicep pop in a fascinating show of musculature while at the same time drawing my attention to the slash of gears and skulls tattooed on his arms. I wanted to trace them with my tongue. My mouth salivated at the thought.

“Maddie?”

I blinked and looked back at his face in confusion. Crap, did I say that out loud? “What?”

“I’m gonna take that as a yes. Feel free to change your mind at any time.” He grabbed my hand and tugged me inside his condo, the door slamming behind me.

“Wha—” I didn’t get a chance to finish the word as his lips swooped over mine. He kissed me like he could never get enough of me. Like he was hungry for me.

I wasn’t really capable of much thought after that. My purse fell from my shoulder with a crash, but we continued to kiss. I wrapped my arms around him, my fingers brushing against the back of his head where his hair was shorn. It prickled against my fingertips. About a zillion sensations swept through me, but all I could do was hold on and kiss him back.

He took a few steps backward and I drunkenly followed him, his lips still pressed against mine. I didn’t know where we were going, and I didn’t care. All I wanted was for him to keep kissing me like that.

Somehow, we ended up on his couch, his body on top of