My brows crinkled in confusion. Was this some type of gag, or was she seriously talking like a cowboy from the old west? “Why?”
“Hard to find jobs in small towns. It’s why no one ever moves to’em.” There was an edge in her voice that hadn’t been there before.
“You already have a job.”
She shook her head immediately; there wasn’t a moment of joy or hope. Just disbelief. “As of five o’clock yesterday, my temporary employment expired, so I’m headed off to find my fortune elsewhere.”
“What?”
Stevie stopped and looked at me again, annoyance the only emotion on her face. “Was there some word in there you didn’t understand?”
“No.” I blinked, feeling like the conversation had changed when I wasn’t looking.
“Okay, then.” She lifted a box onto the bed and rearranged its contents before folding it shut and lifting it once more to set it down beside the open door. When her petite frame unfolded, the top of her head didn’t even reach my chin and I smirked, which she did not appreciate. “Was there something else?”
No. That was what I should have said. Instead, a whole different set of words tumbled out of my mouth. “The job is yours. For as long as you want it.” If I had been expecting gratitude or happiness, I would have been disappointed.
She folded her arms over her chest and glared at me. “Why?”
“You’re good at your job and you don’t annoy me. Much. Plus, those extra hands on field days really help a lot.” I wiggled my fingers and she laughed, rolling her eyes at me. “Good enough reasons?”
“As long as this has nothing to do with Eddy or the others.”
“None at all,” I assured her.
“Thanks. I think I’ll take you up on that job offer.” She smiled and held out her hand until I took it, my own hand swallowing hers up in the process. “I appreciate the personal touch, but you could have just called.”
She was right, I could have called, but I needed to see her. To make sure she was all right with how things were supposed to play out, I had told myself, but now I knew why I really came. To force myself to do the right thing. “I know, but I have something else I wanted to discuss with you.”
She backed up, suddenly uneasy. “I’m not taking a pay cut,” she insisted. Again.
“What the hell is it with you and pay cuts?” She really had an issue about it.
“I know how bosses operate. ‘It’s just for a week, Stevie. We’ll be all caught up at the end of the month. Just to get us through this rough period,’” she said, voice pitched low in the tone of her male bosses. “I’ve heard it enough to know that it’s best to be up-front about these things.”
I accepted that, thinking how much human garbage she must have come across in her young life to be so cynical. So tough. “It’s about your, uh, living arrangements.” That was sloppy, and I didn’t blame her for the outrage gaining steam in her violet eyes.
She stood a little taller and let her hands drop to her sides, balling into fists before unballing them and then balling them right back up again. She always looked so damn tough in her trademark jeans and T-shirts that showed off toned arms. And tattoos. “What about them?”
“I have a guest house. Actually, it’s more like a carriage house.”
She held up a hand. “Neither of those words mean a thing to me.”
“The carriage house is a smaller house located on my property and it’s unoccupied at the moment. Plus, it’s about a quarter mile, give or take, from my house. If you’re interested.” That was clumsy as hell and I wouldn’t be surprised if she said no on principle alone, but housing wasn’t cheap and I knew how much she made.
“I’m not sleeping with you to keep my job, Scott.”
What will get you to sleep with me? I couldn’t ask her that, of course, especially minutes after offering her a job. But there was no harm in thinking it, was there? “If we’re going to work together, Stevie, you’ll need to work on your negativity.”
“What negativity? It’s pragmatism, that’s all.”
I laughed at her quick wit. Even if she was a little more tempting than I’d like, her smart mouth would ensure we stayed nothing but friends. “If that’s what you need to believe, sure. But sleeping with me is not part of your work contract or your rental agreement. Got it?”
She nodded. “How much?”
I quoted her the same price as the last tenant and her violet eyes went round in surprise.
“Then you’ve got yourself an assistant.” Relief showed on her face but I had a feeling it would take months, maybe longer, before she got comfortable around here.
“Excellent. You want to drop your stuff off at the carriage house or get a celebratory drink at Black Thumb?”
She snorted a laugh. “You guys really go all out with this whole flower theme, don’t ya?”
I picked up the box and took it to the truck parked right in front of her room. “This town likes to be consistent and themes are the kind of consistency that tourists appreciate. And we appreciate tourist dollars.”
She nodded, a mischievous tilt to her lips. “What do the tourists have to say about beer at the Black Thumb?”
“It’s ice cold, and the food is good and greasy.” She didn’t seem to be a prissy kind of girl, another strike against her being my type because I preferred my women on the extreme side of girly. Stevie was the opposite—a grownup tomboy, really.
“Now you’re just trying to butter me up.” She lifted her two bags and strode to the truck, jumping inside and moving around capably. More than someone her size should be able to.
“Need a hand?”
“I got it. Just drive a little on the slow side, since I don’t know where I’m going and this town is so Podunk even my GPS can’t get around town.” She wasn’t just a tomboy, no—it was worse. Stevie was a curmudgeon. “What’s so funny?”
“You. You’re like a grumpy old man. It’s hilarious.”
She narrowed her violet gaze at me and jumped down from the truck, yanking the sliding door down with her. “You’re not funny, and don’t think that I’m gonna laugh because you’re my boss.”
“Of course not. You’ll laugh because I’m funny as hell.” Her lips twitched but her iron will wouldn’t let the smile win. “The time will come. I’m not worried.”
“Neither am I.” She gave me a long look, licked her lips and turned to get in her car.
“Who’s driving the truck?”
“Me. After I hitch it to my car. Duh.”
I shook my head at this crazy woman, thankful she was an excellent assistant and even more thankful she wasn’t my type.
So very thankful.
Stevie
“I’ll have a shot of tequila and your best brown ale.” Just because I agreed to have a drink with Scott, my boss, didn’t mean I would let him buy my drinks. The guy was already giving me a pretty good deal on rent—okay, it was a damn good deal—and the last thing I needed was to feel indebted to him. “And two pitchers for the rowdy bunch in the back.”
The owner, Buddy, who I’d been introduced to earlier, leaned on the bar with his forearms exposed, flannel sleeves pushed up to just below his elbows. “What are you doing with the likes of them?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m drinking.” At least I would be as soon as the tap finished filling up my glass.
“You know what you’re doing?”
It was sweet of this big gruff man to be worried about me. He didn’t know me from Adam but his concern was kind of sweet, which should really be the tagline for this town. “I’ll be all right. Most of them are taken, and I’m not looking. Unless you know something I don’t?”
“Plenty, I reckon, but they’re all good boys. You’re safe, anyway.”
That was good enough for me. I wasn’t worried about my safety or my virtue because I could take care of myself, and since I wasn’t looking for a man or even a bed warmer right now, none of us had anything to worry about. As soon as B
uddy slid the shot my way, I knocked it back and took a sip of beer. Now I was ready to face the big group of handsome Hometown Heroes. “Wish me luck.”
“I wouldn’t dare. The wrong ears could be listening and misinterpret it.” Buddy’s smile was warm, but something about it caused a knot of worry to form in my gut. I couldn’t explain it other than to say that some of the people in Tulip had clearly gotten in my head.
Luckily for me, carrying two pitchers of beer plus my own tall glass required all of my concentration, so I didn’t have time or brain space to waste on things I couldn’t control. “Okay, boys, beer. As promised.”
“I like her already.” Nate relieved me of one of the pitchers and his brother Jase grabbed the other. “Thanks, Stevie.”
“No problem.” I took the seat at the end of a long table, across from Scott and next to his friend Derek. “So, who wants to fill me in on the whole Hometown Heroes thing?”
Silence descended and then all six guys started talking at once. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell her.”
“Basically, it means we’re sex symbols.” That came from Will, a handsome paramedic with gorgeous gray eyes.
Nate elbowed Will in the side. “It’s a calendar. For charity, to help rebuild Tulip’s Tribute without Preston’s mom getting her rich hands all over it.” I didn’t know what most of that meant, so I just nodded.
“Okay. And you’re heroes because of your jobs or for stepping up to be naked for charity?”
Scott spat his beer out, spraying everyone at the table. “What the hell, Stevie? We’re not naked!”
I shrugged. “Too bad, because that’s a calendar I would pay good money for. I mean, you guys are handsome, but tell me you’re at least shirtless?” I looked around at each of them, easily picking out who was brave enough or easily gave in to the photographer. “Interesting.”
Jase frowned. “No one said anything. What’s so interesting?”
“How many of you agreed to take your shirts off for a good cause. It’s admirable. Really, it is.” I tried to hold in the smirk, but they were all shifting in their seats and looking wildly uncomfortable and I couldn’t help messing with them. I raised my glass in the air. “To charity and the do-gooders that make the rest of us look bad.”
“Cheers!” They were loud and boisterous, and these men didn’t mind having a good time. The drinks flowed along with conversation and I got to know a little about each of the men. They were all flirts, even the ones who couldn’t stop talking about the women who owned their hearts. They loved to give each other crap and—it seemed to me, anyway—they had each other’s backs.
It was so damn sweet it almost gave me a toothache. But it was also kind of awesome and comforting, too. “What are you thinking about, I wonder?” Nate’s red brows arched in curiosity as several men left the table when a group of women walked in.
“Nothing in particular. How nice it must be to work and hang around with your best friends.”
He grunted. “It’s nice, but don’t let tonight fool you. We meddle, we push and we fight like hell. Most of the time we want to kill each other, but somehow, it all works out okay in the end.”
That was a nice sentiment, one I wasn’t all that familiar with. “I’ll have to take your word for it.” I nodded over his shoulder to one of the dark-haired women from the community center bathroom. “There’s a beautiful brunette trying to get your attention.”
A smile lit up his face, turning him from gruff to gorgeous in a flash. “That’s Mikki.”
“Well, don’t keep her waiting.” To his credit, Nate hesitated for a second about leaving me alone before he pushed away from the table and took long strides towards his woman. I watched, like the outsider I was, as he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her like they were alone. Like no one else was watching.
Then again, no one else was, because they were all busy with friends and loved ones. Everyone but me, anyway. So, I did what any sad sack did when surrounded by throngs of happy, coupled up people. “Buddy, another shot and a beer, please.”
“Make it two and put it on my tab.” I knew that voice better than any but my own, at this point.
“No need. I can pay for my own drinks, but you can stay if you want.” No point in letting the boss think he could push me around when I was off the clock.
“Of course you can, but the offer was real. A welcome-to-Tulip shot and beer.” He flashed his handsome, boyish grin, one I was sure made him irresistible to both young and old ladies alike. Even this lady, a little.
I rolled my eyes at his attempt to be cute. “Fine, you can buy me this shot and this drink. No more.”
Scott held his hands up in defeat, the look of innocence on his face nowhere near believable. “I wouldn’t dream of offending you by offering to buy you more than two drinks.”
“One drink,” I clarified. “Everyone knows a shot and a beer together are one drink. Right, Buddy?”
The gruff bartender nodded as he set our drinks in front of us and gave a shrug before ambling down to the other end of the bar to serve a few new arrivals.
“See?” I said. “Buddy knows what’s up.”
He gave me a half smile that said he was amused by me, and I didn’t know whether to be flattered or annoyed by that. “You’re a strange cookie, Stevie, you know that?”
“I do, but it’s always nice to hear.” He let out a low chuckle of amusement and I let the sound bounce off me, pretending it didn’t have my blood vibrating at a molecular level. “You don’t have to keep me company, Scott.”
He shrugged. “I know.”
Okay, then. “I don’t need to be kept company.”
“Neither do I.” He turned to face me and I kept my gaze steady on the wall of booze behind the bar, refusing to give in to the discomfort that his interrogating stare caused. “A booth just opened up. I’ll answer embarrassing questions about myself if you will.”
I turned to him, a slow smile curling my lips. “I don’t do embarrassing.” His shoulders fell and I smacked another bill on the bar. “Another round of shots please, Buddy. But I’ll answer personal questions for the chance to find one that embarrasses you.”
His lips twitched as he stood and motioned for me to follow him. “I’ll keep that in mind, but why don’t we start simple. Where are you from?”
“All over Texas,” I replied quickly. He arched his brows at me, knowingly. “Fine, I was born and raised on a small farm in Gary, Indiana. Then I grew up on a farm in Lubbock. After that, we moved around a lot.” There wasn’t much to tell, but I could tell it wouldn’t satisfy his curiosity. “Dad sold the farm shortly after Mom died, convinced a woman couldn’t do the job. We moved a lot after that.” That wasn’t the whole story, but it was all he would get and, thankfully, Scott was able to take a hint.
“I’m from Tulip,” he offered easily.
Too easily. “No kidding. Were you raised by Eddy?”
Scott shook his head, but a wistful smile spread across his face. “Yes and no. I spent a lot of time with Eddy because my parents traveled a lot. Dad is an equine specialist and Mom is a rodeo coach. When it became clear I wasn’t going to work with horses, they agreed I needed to focus more on my studies. Eddy was happy to have me.”
“I’ll bet. She’s kooky as hell but, man, I bet she gets stuff done.” She managed to get me here and someone keep Scott from firing me without even showing her face in the office once this past week.
“That’s a pretty grown-up decision for a kid to make.” Maybe he wasn’t as golden as I thought.
“It was either that or choose something made me unhappy.”
That surprised me. “You seem more of the go-along-to-get-along type, just to keep the peace.” I could see Scott grinning and bearing it, just because he thought it was the right thing to do. “Color me surprised.”
“You think I’d choose to be miserable?” He snorted a laugh. “You really do have a bad opinion of me.”
“Not miserable, per se, but I think
you’d do something that didn’t satisfy you under the guise of doing the right thing. Whatever that is.”
“Maybe you’re right about that, I don’t know. Siblings?”
I blinked at the quick topic change. “A couple step-siblings, maybe more. I’m not really sure.” I hadn’t spoken to my dad in years and the last time I did, he hadn’t been able to stop talking about the newest addition to his family. His, not ours. “You?”
He barked out a laugh. “It’s just me and my older brother Tyson, he’s the sheriff. My parents didn’t spend enough time together to make me a big brother, too.” He grinned but I could see the disappointment still swimming in his eyes.
“But they both work with horses.”
“Yes, but dad works on Olympic horses, dressage and all that, while mom is a rodeo girl.” He smiled easily when he talked about his parents, but the tension never left his eyes or mouth, giving away his truest, most deeply-held feelings about his parents.
“Impressive.” I stared at him and remembered the old ladies. “Never married?”
“Nope. You?”
“Nope. Why not?”
He shrugged. “Vet school took up most of my time and, in case you haven’t noticed, I grew up with most of the women in this town. They’re either good friends of mine or my parents’.”
That would make dating hard and getting some nookie downright impossible, unless you were creative. “Bummer for you.”
“You don’t have to worry about me, Stevie.”
I blinked innocently. “I would never, ever dream of worrying about a doctor. They know everything, they’ll be fine.” I blinked and he laughed and the sound was deep and rich, like expensive chocolate.
I had to suppress a shiver.
“Good. Glad we understand each other.” Scott flagged Buddy down and I realized more than a couple empty bottles and shot glasses now littered the table. “Why the tattoos?”
“Each one means something to me. A struggle or fight or success. Some people document with photos and souvenirs, I do it with body art.” His gaze seemed less bothered by it now and more… I don’t know, curious, I guess.
Hero Boss: An Alpha Male Office Romance Page 5