“She whisked Travis off to Vegas and lied about the alibi. Trenton was at the fight. He knew his brother was there. The whole family was in on it.”

“Except Thomas.”

He sighed in frustration and sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “It’s Thomas now?”

I glared at him.

“I’ve been telling Thomas for a year that we should use Abby. She would be a better asset.”

“I disagree,” I said simply.

He scooted to the edge of the couch and held out his hands. “Just…hear me out.”

“What is the point? If Travis finds out we’ve coerced his wife, the operation will implode.”

“So, the better option is to bring him, the unstable one, on as an asset?” he said, deadpan.

“I think Maddox knows his brother, and he is the lead on this. We should trust him.”

“You’ve known him for a week. You trust him?”

“No, not even a week. And yes. You should, too.”

“He’s too close to this case. This is his brother. Hell, even the director is too close. For some unknown reason, he’s practically adopted Maddox. They should all know better. This is not me being a jackass. This is reason, and it’s making me crazy that no one is listening. Then, you come in—someone unattached and put into a place of authority. I thought I finally got my chance, and I’ll be damned if Maddox isn’t actively keeping me away from you.”

“I’ll give you that,” I said.

“What’s worse is the louder I am, the less they hear.”

“Maybe you should try speaking more softly.”

Sawyer shook his head. His smoldering blue eyes snuffed out when he looked away from me. “Good God, Lindy. You need some help unpacking?”

I wanted to send him on his way, but an extra set of hands would make it go so much faster. “Actually—”

He held up his hands again. “I know my reputation at the office. I admit to half of it—okay, most of it. But I’m not a dick all the time. I’ll help you and go home. I swear.”

I glared at him. “I’m a lesbian.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Right, but the chances are better for me to become a lesbian than for me to have sex with you.”

“Understood. Although I find you extremely attractive—I won’t deny that in the real world, I’d try my damnedest to take you home from the bar—you should know that, even though I am a jerk and a man-whore at times, I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t sleep with my boss.”

Sawyer’s comment made my cheeks flush, and I turned my back to him. His Southern charm wasn’t lost on me even though reason told me he was a waste of time for any woman wanting respect or a relationship.