Read Untouched for Free Online

wouldn’t jump to protect you if you needed it.”
    “Sure they would. But you have no idea what I’ve been through. Don’t make assumptions.”
    “Is that any way to talk to your boss?”
    “You gonna fire me? Because then you can’t hold anything over my head.”
    “Nope. Not going to fire you.”
    “What do you want?” she asked. “Because no matter what you say, I don’t believe any of this has to do with me being awesome at tech and you wanting to pick up someone local. I don’t even think it’s a coincidence you’re here.”
    “It doesn’t concern you, because as you just pointed out, what happens here is between you and me, and no one else. Why I’m here? Not your damn business.”
    Her dark brown eyes assessed him, her brows drawn tightly together. She didn’t trust him. She was smart. And he was going to have to work hard to get past that. Because she shouldn’t trust him.
    But it was in his best interest that she did.
    “Fine. I’m just going to be your tech monkey.
Oooh ooh ah ah.
Get me a freaking box cutter and I’ll get to work.”
    He walked over to the counter that lined the back of the room and riffled through a box that was sitting on top of it, digging for her requested item. He walked over to where she was standing and held out the cutter, the blade not extended.
    She took it from him and pressed the button, pushing the blade up. Then she bent down and sliced the top of the first box. “All-in-one,” she said. “Sweet. Unless you need to pull one apart to repair it. Easy to set up, though, so I won’t complain.”
    “Maybe I should return them and get something that will challenge you.”
    “Don’t you have horses to shoe? Cattle to prod? Lives to ruin?”
    “Am I ruining yours a little by standing here? If so, I think I might just hang out.”
    “No. I find your presence therapeutic. You’re a living, breathing, shirtless Zen fountain.”
    “Then maybe I’ll stay.”
    She shot him a deadly glare and took the cutter to the top of the next box. “This is going to be really boring.”
    He shrugged, giving her ass a once-over when she bent down to dig through the box. No, this wasn’t boring at all. He didn’t want to think about how long it had been since he’d gotten laid. He’d had too much on his mind lately to even think about that.
    “Suit yourself. This might take you a while—if you want to stay for dinner, you’re welcome to. I have a chef, and he’ll be cooking for everyone in the mess hall.”
    “Mess hall? Is this a boot camp?”
    “Something like it.” He tipped his hat. “See you at dinner.”
    “No, you won’t!” she called after him as he exited the room and the building. Right when he went out into the warm, dusty afternoon, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He looked at the screen and hit the accept button. “What’s up, Sam?”
    “Jill agreed. So when are the reservations for?”
    “Tomorrow.”
    Sam swore. “Thanks, Quinn, might have given us some notice.”
    “Why? She’s gonna be pissed about a vacation?”
    “This isn’t a vacation so much as espionage for my boss. Who she thinks is kind of a dick.”
    “Jill doesn’t like me?”
    “Not much.”
    “Well. All right then. Anyway, she can just relax and enjoy. I just need you to keep your eyes open for anything I might be able to use to build a case against him.” He looked back over his shoulder. “Look, Lark is here, so that means you can’t be. You can’t be associated with me, and neither can Jill. Not until after the week is up.”
    “I’m not comfortable with this giddy-up spy ring thing you have going on. That’s not what I do, man.”
    “No, you and I travel the circuit. We’re rodeo men, Sam, unless I stay barred. For life. Then I’m not anymore.” He took a deep breath. “You could go back. Find someone else you can assist on the circuit.”
    “You know I won’t.”
    “Then you have to be part of the giddy-up spy ring. I’ll get you a deputy badge if you