Turning the Page Read Free

present and did some quick figuring. “You don’t seem to have made much those years.”
    “No. I was just starting out and getting my first books published. It took some time for things to build,” Hans said. “Those were fun years, though. The excitement of writing and then the first contracts. It was really heady.”
    “I bet,” Malcolm said, trying to sound like he understood, but it was hard to remember feeling that way without David. There was only thirty thousand in income total, and Malcolm checked the statements. “Only about twelve thousand is subject to tax. So you owe about fifteen to eighteen hundred dollars.” He picked up the notice and rolled his eyes. Of course they had added penalties and interest on top of interest and more penalties so it came out to over thirty thousand dollars. “What we’ll do is file amended returns with the error corrected, and then I’ll contact them and see if they’ll waive the penalties and interest. That way you’ll pay the missing taxes and it should be done.”
    “Do you really think they will?” Hans asked. “I’ve lost days of work time on the phone with them, and I got nowhere. They sent me round and round and basically told me to write a check and this would all go away. I don’t have that kind of money to just write them a check over a mistake that my tax preparer made.”
    He sounded a little frantic. Malcolm understood. The IRS bureaucracy tended to do that to people.
    “I understand. Did you contact your tax preparer?”
    “He’s moved on. I had an accountant do last year’s taxes, and I’ll use him going forward.”
    “All right. Let me work up an estimate of how much of my time this is going to take so you’ll have an estimate of costs, and you can decide what you’d like to do.” Malcolm folded his hands on his desk. “I always want my clients to know exactly what they’re getting into.”
    “I appreciate that,” Hans said. “Do you want me to leave all this with you?”
    “That’s fine.” Malcolm pulled a blank file folder from his desk drawer and put everything he thought he was going to need into it. He really didn’t think this would take very long, and it all depended on how soon he could get in touch with one of his contacts at the IRS. “I’ll get the estimate out to you tomorrow, and once you approve it, we’ll get moving.” He had to turn away and take his time putting the file together to get his heart to stop beating in his ears. Hans was handsome, but those eyes…. Malcolm kept looking into those eyes, and thoughts he shouldn’t be having sprang into his head.
    Hans was a client, and Malcolm was not having… well, downright dirty thoughts about what was under Hans’s tight shirt. No, those thoughts and images had no place in the office. Hell, they had no place in his life. David was gone, and that part of his life was over. He had accepted that months ago.
    Malcolm stood and extended his hand, and Hans did the same. This time when they touched, a current passed through Malcolm’s arm and down his spine, and he had to use all his self-control to keep from shivering. Hans’s hand was warm, firm, and strong, with a hint of calluses on his fingers, probably from typing all the time. For a split second Malcolm wondered what those hands would feel like on him and then pushed it away.
    “I’ll walk you out,” he managed to say as he released Hans’s hand and opened the office door. Malcolm led Hans through the quieting office to the lobby and told him he’d be in touch.
    Hans smiled and turned away. Malcolm had every intention of turning and going right back to his office. But his willpower failed him, and he turned just in time to catch a glimpse of Hans’s backside in his designer jeans. The elevator doors opened and Hans stepped inside. Malcolm turned away before he could be seen and went back to his office.
    He got to work, burying his attention in various tasks for his clients. He made notes of calls to be