She nodded. “Okay. I get that. We need to tell you when we’ve given her something.”
“I’d rather you let me do my own job and not give it away.”
“You sure there isn’t something else? You’re so tense and angry lately. Have you thought about talking to someone?”
My jaw dropped. “You mean like a shrink?”
She nodded.
“I’m not crazy.” But the world I lived in had surely gone mad.
“No. I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that maybe talking to someone can help you—”
“I know my quirks. I know I can get frustrated and angry easily. I don’t need a shrink to tell me that.”
“But knowing and doing something to help you deal with it are two different things. I mean, wouldn’t you rather find a way to relax and enjoy life more instead of always being keyed up.”
“Keyed up?” My world truly had gone topsy turvy when my best friend was now against me and the man I’d loathed for so long was now the one good thing in my life.
She let out a breath. “Never mind. Forget about the counseling. But you do need to blow off steam. Why don’t you take a break to clear your head?” she said. It wasn’t the first time Sinclair treated me like I was a petulant child needing a time out. I was a pain in the ass, but I usually knew it when I was. I had some insight even if I didn’t necessarily work to change. But this time, I felt she was ignoring me. I wasn’t seeing things with the Mayor and Brooke, nor was I imagining that she was slowly taking on more and more of my work.
Because I was more keyed up now and I was at work, I knew when it was time to put a cork in my complaining. See, I didn’t need counseling. I could control myself.
“Fine,” I said. I headed out of the office to the break room thinking I’d get coffee and maybe a snack. I stepped into the room to see Brooke patting the Mayor’s chest like she was wiping crumbs from his tie. I wasn’t fooled though. She was either sucking up to him or seducing him. The blush on his cheeks suggested he was enjoying it. Christ, he was nearly twice her age.
To keep from blurting out something that could get me fired, I left the breakroom and exited the administrative building to Main Street. I stood for a moment wondering what I should do to deal with my sour mood. Most women I knew shopped when they needed a pick-me-up, but spending frivolously was never an answer. I lost count of all the times my father bought some sort of doo-dad on a whim and ended up overdrawing his bank account. It was the reason I went to work as soon as I could get hired. I was tired of not having enough money for food or buying time with our landlord until I could get the overdue rent paid. So shopping was out because there wasn’t anything I needed.
Deciding a walk was the answer, I headed up the street. I made it to the corner when I noticed Salvation Station. Maybe I’d go there. I could have a drink, and Ryder was always good for a laugh. I shook my head slightly at that thought. Just a few days ago, I’d have rejected seeing him because he was usually a source of annoyance. What a difference a day and great sex made.
I entered the restaurant and went to the bar.
When he saw me, his face lit up, and my mood shifted from one-hundred percent irked down to fifty-percent annoyed.
“Hey.” He frowned. “Everything all right?”
I rolled my shoulders. “Your sister sent me away for being grumpy.”
He smiled and motioned to a barstool. “You’re in luck. I have a cure for that.”
I took a seat and he poured a shot of whiskey. I looked around, noting the place was practically empty. “Where is everyone?”
“Back at work.” He leaned his forearms on the bar. “So, what can I do to help improve your mood?” I expected him to waggle his eyebrows or some other innuendo, but he didn’t. He was sincere in wanting to know about why I was annoyed.
“I think the new assistant wants my job.” I shrugged, trying to act like it was no big deal, even though it was. I didn’t like the uncertainty it brought. I knew acting like a jealous bitch wasn’t the answer either so Sinclair’s sending me off to sort my attitude out was probably a good idea.
“Wanting your job and getting it are two different things. Everyone knows there’s no one as organized as you. Plus, when it comes to gatekeeping, the Mayor can’t do any better at keeping the riff-raff away than you.”
My lips twitched up slightly. He was right. I was good at keeping annoyances away from the mayor. But then I remembered how familiar Brooke was around the mayor and how he seemed to enjoy her attention.
“I suspect it won’t matter. I think he has a hardon for her.” I downed the whiskey and considered asking for another. But no. Showing up to work half-lit was a sure way to get fired.
Ryder came around the bar. He swiveled my chair around and put his hands on my shoulders, massaging them. The woman in me wanted to give in to him. To let him soothe my irritated soul. But it was dangerous to start relying on a man.
Still, what would one moment of letting Ryder’s strength boost my mood hurt? I leaned forward and rested my head against his chest.
He slid his hands around my back and held me. I waited for him to start giving me advice, like everything would be okay or I was the best damned administrative assistant, which I was, or something like that. I’d of course tell him things wouldn’t be all right or being good at my job didn’t matter. As if
