Free Fernando - Bad Boy Love (Bad Boy Love Series Book 1) by Jessica Gray

someone from his gang?”
    “Oh, no. Nothing like that,” she assured him.
    He looked at her suspiciously. “Has he acted inappropriately towards you?”
    Gwen felt blood rushing to her face. Inappropriate would exactly describe the occurrence. Deliciously inappropriate. But, she couldn’t say that. Nor that she longed for a repetition. She shook her head. “No, nothing like that. I’m just afraid I’m not the right person for the job. He seems to need someone with more experience.”
    “How so?” Gerald asked, squinting his eyes.
    “He can’t get a job.” She knew it was a lame excuse, as excuses went, but her brain seemed frozen and wouldn’t come up with something better.
    “That’s definitely not a valid reason. You have to dig into it and do your best. This job cannot be learned in a textbook or a seminar. It involves rolling up your sleeves and getting in the trenches sometimes.” Gerald’s expression softened. “Gwen, you’ve been with us for only a year. Trust me when I tell you, if you ask to transfer this case because of your lack of experience, you’ll be out in no time at all.”
    She nodded. “I understand.”
    He continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “The only acceptable reason to allow a transfer is if you feel threatened by him.”
    Gwen held back her sigh of resignation. “Okay, I’ll keep working with him. I just want to see him succeed, you know?”
    Gerald nodded sagely. “Isn’t that why we’re here? To help our clients turn around their lives and succeed. You keep working with that man. Don’t let him give up, and don’t give up on him. That mindset is much more important than experience.”
    She faked a grateful smile. “Thanks, Gerald. I’m glad I came and talked to you.”
    “Anytime.”
    She left his office, her stomach tied in knots. There was no way out. She had to suck it up and find a way to ignore her attraction during the next twelve months.
    ***
    On Saturday, she drove to Vivian’s parent’s house on the beach. Annie and Jeff Armstrong greeted her warmly and ushered her into the garden where two of Vivian’s brothers stood near the barbecue.
    Both of them had the same features: tall, broad shoulders, thick, dark hair, and the signature blue Armstrong eyes. They were very handsome men – not as handsome as Fernando, though. There it was, she was thinking about him again, and hadn’t she promised herself not to go down that road?
    Chuck was twenty-nine, worked as a private investigator, and featured even more muscles than the youngest sibling, River. It was a rare occurrence to meet River. Since he owned his own scuba diving company, he usually spent his time taking passionate divers to the most exotic locations on our planet.
    The sun was shining, and as Gwen walked into the backyard, she could already smell the burgers cooking. “Smells good,” she greeted Chuck, who was manning the grill.
    “Hey, Gwen. How’s things?”
    “So, so,” she said, accepting a friendly hug. “Hey, River, how was your trip to Aruba?”
    River smiled and hugged her, “Awesome. We got back a few weeks ago. Caribbean water is so clear, turquoise-blue, and it’s warm. Not like the Pacific, which never warms up.”
    “That’s because we get all of that melted ice from Alaska.”
    “Well, I’ll take diving in the Caribbean over the Pacific any day of the week. You should go one day,” River said.
    She laughed. “As if I could afford your prices.”
    “You know I’d give you a special discount.” He made an exaggerated pout. “For being the woman of my dreams.”
    Gwen boxed him in the ribs. “As far as I remember, you change the woman of your dreams like your underwear. And thankfully I never filled that position.”
    Smiling brightly, he slung a casual arm over her shoulder. “I’m putting together a trip to some of the lesser known Caribbean islands. Phenomenal diving conditions. Pristine waters. Abundant marine life. You should come. I’ll let you know the