In Two Weeks (NY State Trooper Series) by Jen Talty Read Free Book Online

screwed up somewhere. I’m sorry.” One thing Ryan had learned along the way was to always take full responsibility. The buck had to stop somewhere, and today it stopped with her. “I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
    Rick cast an appreciative look around the room. “You’ve always been very efficient. You’ve done a fabulous job here. I don’t believe all this could’ve been your fault.”
    “Well, it is my job to make sure parties like this go off without a hitch.”
    “And you did.” Rick smiled. “Don’t forget about the changes in the golf tournament this weekend.”
    “I’ll take care of everything personally.” She pushed back the large double doors to the main lobby that glistened with sunlight. It had been her idea to add windows to bring in as much sunlight as possible. Also, the view of the lake against the backdrop of the tall mountains would only add to the ambiance, and she’d been right.
    There was a freshness in the air, like walking into a flower shop. She made sure arrays of freshly cut flowers were strategically placed on every floor so the hotel always smelled like spring. A large chandelier hung proudly from the cathedral ceiling.
    “I know you will.”
    She headed toward her office with a spring in her step. Not only did she do her job well, but also she knew without a doubt she was good at it. And she’d continue to make sure that no major screw-ups happened again. She would hand deliver all her requests, and she’d confirm them and check on them herself. No way would she rely on anyone else and have to scramble like this again.
    Dodging a few young patrons who ran down the hall, she tried to figure out how so many mishaps could happen on one project. The ladies’ club had always held their banquets in the village, and she’d worked hard to land this account. She couldn’t afford to have something like this happen again with any of the other major accounts she had convinced to change venues.
    In the comfort of her small, cozy office, she adjusted the fresh daisies she’d received from her brother, then seated herself behind the oak desk. Penny had always accused her of being anal when it came to neatness. Ryan wanted to laugh out loud over how well Penny knew her as she ran her hands across the clutter free desk top. She wouldn’t describe herself as anal, but more of a go-getter of sorts. Maybe she was more like Jared than she cared to admit. The man did have a tendency to like things done his way and so did she.
    Her to-do list caught her attention, reminding her she’d have to stop at the store on the way home. Hopefully Jared would forget to fix the door. Not that she didn’t want him around, but she needed to feel as though she could take care of herself. Or maybe it had more to do with proving to him once and for all she was a full-fledged adult and didn’t need him. Well, she wanted him in her bed, but wanted him more to see her as a woman. Her heart pounded in uneven bursts as she thought about the possibility of getting Jared alone for the night. This time she wouldn’t screw it up. No way.
    Inspecting the paperwork for the golf tournament, she opened her file drawer. “Oh, my God!” A bloody, dead rat sprawled across her files, dripping red liquid across her hanging folders. Pounding her feet on the floor, she rolled her chair back and let out a piercing scream.
    Fear gripped her heart as her pulse raged out of control. Her hands trembled when she reached for the phone, but she didn’t know who to call first.
    “Ryan!” A female voice rang out from the hallway. “What’s going on?” Her assistant, Cheryl, bolted through the door.
    Ryan ripped her eyes from the nasty thing dangling on the metal file holder. “A rat.”
    “A live rat?” Cheryl asked with wide eyes.
    Ryan shook her head and swallowed the lump in her throat. “A very dead one.” She lifted the receiver to her ear. “I’m calling 911. Get Rick.”
    A male voice