Power Play by Tara Lynn

person than you.”
    She glared at me.
    “Don’t worry,” I said. “It really is business, but you don't have to mention it to your team if you don't want.”
    Jesse shifted around the booth, and I made room for Kerry to get in. She took a deep breath and entered. The table wasn't tight, but it would do no good to leave her feeling cornered. I clambered in after her, making sure to leave room.
    “So you’re an accounting analyst?” Jesse said, hunching forward. “I will certainly have to readjust my mental picture of that profession.”
    “Save it till you see the rest of her team,” I said.
    “I’m seeing the only one that matters.”
    Kerry glanced at me. “Why exactly did you call me in here anyway?”
    “To help you get a feel for the scope of the project,” I said. “I know that… your team had expressed certain doubts about whether their report would matter.”
    Her eyes widened. Good. She understood this was for her.
    I ticked my head at Jesse. “I figured that a talk with the man who ordained this operation would make clear that there is real purpose behind hiring you. Ain’t that right, Jesse?”
    Jesse flinched as he looked up from Kerry to me. Another dual hit. I loved it.
    “There was a very good reason to hire an external team,” Jesse said to Kerry. “I wanted to make make sure that the internal assessments weren’t biased.”
    “You think they missed something?” Kerry asked.
    “Not necessarily. But I head the sales organization for the company. Which means I know all the ways to get into people’s heads. All the ways to hide things that you don’t want them to see. And to make them think you can give them what they've been craving deep down.”
    His fingers traced up the table, landing just inches away from Kerry's hand.
    “So you’re the rainmaker at Stone Holdings,” Kerry said. “I can see why.”
    “Not me?” I said.
    “Definitely not you.” She flashed a smile that dulled the words.
    “Rainmaker.” Jesse nodded. “That's a positive in your world, I hope?”
    Kerry chuckled, a hot low sound. “It’s pretty much the highest award an accountant can give you.”
    Jesse’s face lit up. He set off into a tale about his latest big contract. Kerry laughed high and bright at all the right points. If I didn't know better, it looked like Jesse was the one losing control.
    This was getting a bit too chummy.
    “It’s kinda ironic then,” I said. “That a man who brings in so much money doesn’t know how to balance his own sheets. That’s the real reason Ms. Martin's here, right? To do your work.”
    “It’s a different skillset, Deacon,” Jesse said. “What my skillset allowed me to do was look at the deal you proposed and imagine myself on the other end selling it to you. What sort of things could I hide from a man so eager to make his mark that he might overlook the risks?”
    “Risks are risks. Just cause I roll the dice doesn't mean I don't see them.”
    “You saw the risks with this company you want to buy perhaps, but not in how the deal could affect us overall. Of course, if you considered that, then you might not get things your way for once.”
    Faint red heat occupied Jesse’s regal cheeks. The formally-dressed waitress came over, and found us glaring at each other. She took one look and backed off.
    This might have been a bit more than I wanted to show Kerry about our family.
    “Well what’s the harm, huh?” I chuckled. “A few weeks and another bill are peanuts compared to the potential of this deal. It’s probably a good thing to do a third check.”
    I flashed my eyebrows at Jesse. For now, he accepted my graces and eased back.
    “Precisely my thoughts,” he said, turning to Kerry. “As you see, we're a meticulous bunch here. At the very least, you’re giving us peace of mind over a rather risky venture.”
    “Well, it’s a team effort,” she said.
    “Not from what Trey’s told me,” I said.
    Her brow wrinkled. “Trey’s been giving