Reluctant Romance Read Online Free Page B

door. Caitlyn jumped.  
    “Oh, hi. Come on in.” Caitlyn stood up, running shaky hands through her silky hair.
    Risa walked over to her, standing close so no one would overhear. “Are you all set?”
    Caitlyn nodded. “I’ve done a little creative rearranging of files. Some of them are not where they should be. They’ll produce a database error when he tries to look at them so it will seem like a computer glitch.”
    “Good. So you didn’t change any of the records?”
    “No. That would be a last resort. We don’t wanna go there. I figure if he can’t look at the files, he can’t find…well, you know." Caitlyn’s voice was barely above a whisper.
    “And if he can’t see all the financials, he won’t know if the company is doing well or not. Plus the glitches will make it seem like we aren’t organized, or using best practices."  
    “Right.”
    “Perfect. Hopefully that will be enough to give them a sour taste about Healthy-Pet.”
    Risa sensed the nervous energy coming from Caitlyn.  
    “You can pull this off, right?" she asked.
    Caitlyn let out a deep breath. “Yes.”
    “Okay.” Risa looked at her watch and started toward the door. “I’ll be back around ten with Connor and his accountant. Good luck.”
    Caitlyn smiled and gave a thumbs-up.  
    Risa walked back to her office on shaky limbs. She hoped Caitlyn’s diversions would work. If the accountant couldn’t see the full financials, how could he evaluate the company? It was smart to hide them through a veil of missing files and computer glitches.  
    Risa knew Caitlyn would do her best; after all she had just as much of an interest in keeping their little secret hidden as Risa did.
    ###
    Back in her office, Risa busied herself with trying not to look at the clock every five minutes. At precisely ten o’clock, Meredith ushered Connor and a middle-aged man in an expensive suit through the door. Risa stood and came around the desk.  
    “Good morning,” she said, trying to sound chipper even though she felt anything but.
    “Risa, this is Jim Abernake, my chief accountant. Jim - Risa Kennedy."  
    Risa shook Jim’s hand. He had a limp, clammy handshake, unlike Connor’s firm, warm one. Risa was thankful it didn’t induce an annoying spark like Connor’s had the day before.  
    Bailey bounded over to Connor like he was a long lost friend. Risa felt a little put out at the betrayal; after all, Connor Dunn was no friend.
    Connor bent down to return Bailey’s enthusiastic greeting.  
    “I’ll take you to the accounting department. I have my head accountant ready to show you through the books,” Risa said, heading for the door.
    Connor and Jim followed her into the hall.
    “Will you be here all day?” Risa asked.
    “Probably only half the day today, but I may need to come back tomorrow. It depends on what I find. I have a few key things to look for,” Jim said.
    “I’ll just get Jim settled, then I’ll be on my way. Jim can return on his own tomorrow, I trust?” Connor glanced at Risa, eyebrows raised.
    “Yep, just sign in at the receptionist like you did today and she’ll call Meredith to escort you.”
    As they made their way down the hall, Risa felt a strange vibe from Connor. Did he suspect she was up to something? Risa couldn’t be sure if it was real or a figment of her guilty conscience.  
    By the time they reached the accounting row, Risa’s nerves were raw, her tense shoulders felt like they were hunched up around her ears. She hoped Caitlyn wasn’t as jittery as she was.
    They stopped in front of Caitlyn's office. Much to Risa’s relief, the other woman seemed cool as a cucumber as Risa made the introductions. Caitlyn had prepared some papers and set up her office with an extra chair so she could walk Jim through the process on the computer.
    Risa felt the tension in her shoulders melting. “Well, it looks like you guys are all set, so I’ll get out of your hair.”  
    The others said good-bye. Risa gave one