Free Concealed Carry by Hildie McQueen

beer, put our feet up and watch the movie. Let's relax. No kissing. No stress."
    "No sex either right?" He asked her with a slight downward curve to his lips. When she shook her head, he heaved a dramatic sigh. "Okay, you grab the brews, I'll pop the corn."
     
    The next morning Lisa pulled into her parking space and walked toward the building. Bernie stood next to the back door and waved her over. In his pink striped shirt and well-fitting trousers, he looked out of place standing by the office dumpster.
    Lisa looked around and went to him. "What are you doing standing out here?"
    Bernie's handsome face scrunched and she wondered if he was in pain, but waited for him to talk. "I need you…" He whispered and grabbed her arm. "He's here." Panic emanated from him when he jerked around at the sound of footsteps. "Please, you have to help me. I need a girlfriend right now."
    "Who's here?"
    "Justin Ruiz, the guy from Corporate."
    "Okay?" Lisa looked at her cell phone. "Bernie I'm going to be late and I don't understand why you need to have a girlfriend at the office."
    "He's the guy that propositioned me at the team-building event. I turned him down. Told him I was straight and had a girlfriend."
    "Why in the world would you do that?"
    "He is a VP. He can ruin my career."
    "Okay, fine. Let's go . I'm already late." Lisa started to turn when Bernie grabbed her and covered her mouth with his. His hand slid down to her ass and he grabbed it and yanked her to him.
    Finally she manage d to move her face to the side. "You are overdoing it dumbass." She snapped and shoved his hands away. "Jeez Bernie, act like I'm a guy or something."
    "Hey that usually works with guys."
    " Really?" She asked him and slapped his shoulder. "You wrinkled my skirt."
    "Lover's spat?" Both jerked to a very angry looking Max. His eyes locked with hers. "I brought your sweater." He glared at Bernie who managed to look collected. "She left it at my place last night." Max threw it to her and left without allowing them to say anything.
    "Damn it Bernie!" Lisa shoved at Bernie only for him to grab her hand and smile. "Here comes Ruiz, please smile."
    Lisa covered her face and leaned into Bernie. "Why does it bother me that Max thinks I'm a slut when I know for a fact he's one?"
    Bernie took her face in his hands and placed a soft kiss on her nose. "I'll fix it so Max knows you and I are not dating. I'll tell him you're not as slutty as he thinks." Then like a perfect actor, he took her by shoulders and pushed her away and toward the door. He placed his hand on the small of her back as he led her through it just as Justin Ruiz reached them. "Good Morning Mister Ruiz."
    Lisa rolled her eyes. If Bernie really thought the man would believe their little act, he was dumber than Max.

 
    Chapter Eleven
     
     
    The personnel transporter bumped along the road, Angel pushing the pedal to the floor in an attempt to rush back to the office in time for their meeting with the VP. It was a hot day and Lisa blew her bangs away from her wet forehead and shifted her folders on her lap to ensure they didn't fall off. "Angel, do you think maybe you should slow down? Remember what happened last time we sped in this thing?"
    "I'm sweating and thirsty. I can't believe they have not refilled the soda mashine. I thought you said you called them last week?" He jerked the wheel to avoid a pothole and Lisa's fell against him. Her right leg shot out and her shoe flew off her foot.
    "Stop!" She pushed against Angel to get upright and a folder slipped to the floor of the cart. "Damn it Angel, I lost my shoe and now my inventory sheets are going to be all wrinkled."
    A car drove by just as Angel went to turn, so they had to wait. He maneuvered the cart around. They were in the perfect position to watch as the car ran over Lisa's shoe. Angel snorted attempting to hide his mirth as Lisa jumped from the cart and took off at a run toward her now flattened shoe.
    She stood in the middle of the road