Cowboy Command by Olivia Jaymes Read Free Book Online

bit.  Maybe if I go over what I’ve seen so far we can decide what I should tackle first?”
    He nodded and settled into his chair , indicating she should sit across from him.  “Sounds as good as any plan.  Shoot.”
    Thirty minutes and another cup of swill later, Seth was wearing a dubious expression. 
    “I can see you aren’t convinced.”
    Seth tapped his chin.  “I like everything to be orderly.  That’s why I set up the filing system the way it is.  You want to change it and then I won’t be able to find anything.”
    She held up a piece of paper.  “I found this shoved in a desk drawer.  I’m guessing it’s from a former secretary?  ‘To the next poor woman who has to deal with the Sheriff, he never puts the files back in the right place.  Then he yells.  Just stack all the current cases on his desk.’”  Presley eyed all the files stacked up.  “‘Then if he can’t find anything, he can just yell at himself.’”
    Seth flushed a dark red and ran a finger around the back of his collar.  Apparently she ’d hit a nerve.
    “ Some people have found me hard to work with, I gather.  I admit I can be difficult…and controlling.  At times.”
    Presley hid her smile.  Seth was clearly a man ’s man but she’d had bosses who were much worse.  She had a particular memory of one who liked to throw office supplies when things didn’t go his way.  Another had punched several holes into the drywall.  They never in a million years would have said they were difficult to work with.
    “ Admitting you have a problem is the first step.  Give me one week to reorganize things.  If you don’t like it, I’ll put everything back.  I promise.”
    “ I haven’t even gone over the daily duties with you.  How do you know how to reorganize?” 
    Seth seemed exasperated so Presley held on to her cool, calm demeanor.
    “There were copious notes in the desk from the last several people.  I think I’ve got the schedule pieced together.”
    Seth blanched.  “There were more notes?”
    “ Oh yes,” she answered sweetly.  “Very illuminating.  You certainly inspire a certain passionate response in your employees.”
    He stood up, probably trying to intimidate her.  She wasn ’t one to be easily intimidated.  “Look, I know you mean well, and I’m very impressed by your go-getter attitude today.  Really.  But I like things the way I like them.  Change isn’t always good.”
    If she laughed at his petulant expression, he ’d be really pissed.  Seth Reilly might not be afraid of the people trying to kill her, but he was clearly afraid of a few changes around here. 
    “ I guess I’m asking you to trust me.  I’ve screwed up many things in my life, but I know how to organize.”
    “ What have you screwed up?” Seth scowled.  “That doesn’t bode well.”
    “ Hello?  I’m in a small town in the middle of nowhere working for a sheriff who thinks I’m crazy, all because of my choice of employer.  Shit, I was just trying to make a living.”
    Seth pulled up to his full height and squared his shoulders.  “I think we need to keep things the same.  I expect your full cooperation.”
    Presley smiled.  “You’re the boss.”
    “ I’m glad to see we agree on one thing.”  Seth’s voice was gruff.
    He was cute when he was frustrated.  Last night she ’d been struck by how handsome he was, but today with his golden hair rumpled by the wind and his overall air of fatigue, he looked like a little boy just out of bed.  If she’d been looking—no, she wasn’t looking for anything.  She was simply trying to survive.
    Another blast of cold air made her shiver and Seth strode past her.  He rummaged in a closet and pulled out a small space heater before greeting the person who had let in the cold air.
    “You can use this.  It should keep you warmer.”
    She took it gratefully, pondering her new boss.  Seth Reilly was a strange man.  Strong and stoic one minute, an old