Read Online Jingle Spells by Vicki Lewis Thompson - Free Book Online Page A

“But I love you, too! And people who love each other share things they wouldn’t tell anyone else.”
    â€œNot in this case.” His gaze searched hers. “I need you to analyze the database. You’re the person for the job—maybe the only person who can do what I need done. Will you do that for me?”
    â€œYes, I will.” He hadn’t asked her to promise she’d wear those blinders. Maybe he secretly wanted her to find out what was going on.
    Whether he wanted her to find out or not, she intended to. This was ridiculous. They belonged together, and she wouldn’t let him throw their future away, at least not until she knew why he was so intent on doing it.
    The lobby was decorated for Christmas, which she would have expected. A blue spruce that had to be thirty feet tall stood in the center of the two-story vaulted ceiling. Evergreen ornaments hung from every branch. Many of them gave off that mysterious glow she’d noticed in hers.
    Display cases filled with ornaments lined the walls, and each ornament was labeled with the year in which it was manufactured. Taryn didn’t have much time to look, but she’d swear at least one of them dated back to the 1600s. “Cole, some of those ornaments are really old.”
    â€œThe company’s been around a long time.”
    â€œDid it originate in Europe?”
    â€œYes, it did, in fact. Let’s get you signed in.” He guided her toward an ornate desk that looked as if it might have been imported from Versailles. Behind it sat a sweet-faced woman who could have been anywhere from fifty to seventy. She wore a red velvet dress, and the nameplate on her desk identified her as Jolie S. Garland.
    Taryn wanted to ask her, with a wink, if that was her real name. But something about the woman’s calm gaze kept her from doing that. Taryn suspected it was her real name, and she’d be insulted if anyone suggested otherwise. Whether she’d found her perfect job or the job had found her, she’d discovered the right spot for a person with that particular name.
    Smiling, she handed Taryn a gold pen. “Sign here, Miss Harper, and I’ll give you an access card.”
    Jolie reached into a drawer and came up with a sparkling gold card with Taryn’s name embossed on the front and a magnetic strip on the back. “This will allow you to board the elevator, which will take you to the IT center on the twelfth floor. If you need anything, please come back to the lobby and I’ll assist you.”
    â€œThank you, Jolie.” Taryn returned the woman’s genial smile, but she had the distinct impression she’d been given a ticket to the IT floor and nothing else. Once she and Cole were inside the shiny gold elevator, she confirmed it with him.
    â€œThat’s all you were hired to do.” He unbuttoned his coat and loosened his scarf, but he stood on the opposite side of the elevator.
    She found that significant—depressingly so. “I thought you might give me a tour of the building while I’m here.” She hadn’t really thought that, but it was worth a shot.
    A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “Would you settle for a tour of the IT department? It’s my favorite floor.”
    â€œI’m sure it is. But your parking space said you were the CEO. Who’s in charge of IT?”
    â€œI am, for now. I haven’t found anybody I’d turn it over to, so I’m doing double-duty.”
    â€œThat can’t be easy. This looks like a huge operation. How can you handle the IT department when you’re supposed to be the head honcho of Evergreen?”
    â€œObviously I’m not doing a very good job of it. You hacked in.”
    â€œYou shouldn’t let that bother you. As I said before, I know your MO. The average hacker wouldn’t have nearly such an easy time of it.”
    â€œNevertheless, you exposed my vulnerabilities. I want those