“I mean it in the kindest possible way.”
Trin set the pan down on the counter. “I didn’t say he could come, he followed me.” She glanced at Zander before rushing back out to the dining room.
“Ooh.” Moriah stacked plates into the dishwasher. “It’s pretty early in the morning for you to have already ticked her off.”
“I’m not sure what I did.” Zander ate another bite of egg casserole, stinging from Trin’s hot and cold reception. He usually didn’t spend time chasing women. They came to him in droves of their own accord.
“Between you and me.” Moriah set a plate in the dishwasher and took a step closer.
The door swung open and Trin entered with the cinnamon roll tray and a carafe of juice. Moriah stepped back and said, “It sure is a beautiful morning. Turk and I are definitely going on a walk to the park after work.”
“He’ll love that,” Trin said.
“Where did you come up with Turk?” Zander asked. “My name is unusual so I always like hearing about other unusual names.”
“Jason is unusual?” Trin whirled to face him, pinning him with a look.
Oh, no. “Yeah, um, not Jason per se, but Hunley is unusual, and in high school everyone called me by my last name.”
“Oh, that makes sense. That you’re still keeping a nickname from high school.” Trin’s voice revealed that it definitely didn’t make sense. She brushed past him again and back out to the dining room.
“Yikes,” Zander muttered.
Moriah quickly darted to his side. “I think she likes you and doesn’t know how to deal with it.”
Zander reared back, staring at the beautiful young girl. “Really?” He leaned closer. “Why do you think that?”
Trin strode back into the kitchen with her arms loaded with clean cups and plates. She glared at the two of them and muttered, “Bad enough he doesn’t work.”
Moriah arched an eyebrow at Zander and nodded, as if Trin’s bitter words confirmed her suspicions. Zander placed a bite of cinnamon roll in his mouth as Moriah went back to loading the dishwasher. So when Trin was interested in a guy she got snippety? That made no sense. Plus, if she knew who he was, like he thought, shouldn’t she be buttering up to him to get a raise? He’d think she would worry about the same thing he was worrying about, that his dad was going to sell and she and Moriah would have no guarantees with a new owner.
He watched her unabashedly as she reached up to stack plates in a cupboard. Today she had on tights and a long, blousy shirt. He wouldn’t complain about the outfit. Not one bit. She turned and caught him gawking. Zander raised his juice glass to her in salute then took a drink. Moriah burst out laughing and Zander couldn’t help the laughter that rose up in him. Unfortunately, his mouth was full of juice, and he sprayed it all over the counter. Moriah’s throaty laughter just increased. Trin even cracked a smile, but shook her head at the two of them.
Zander coughed and stood, taking the wet rag Moriah handed to him and swiping up the mess. He looked mournfully at his plate of breakfast that was now cold and soaked in orange juice.
“Oh, heavens!” Trin exclaimed in exasperation. “You’re like a little boy that nobody can say no to.”
“What?” Zander looked to Moriah for help. She winked at him.
Trin huffed, grabbed a clean plate and filled it with more egg casserole. She plunked it in the microwave.
Zander took the rag to the sink and rinsed it out, handing it back to Moriah with a whispered, “Thanks.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
Zander’s eyes widened. She grinned and scurried away to the broom closet. Trin took the plate from the microwave, added a new cinnamon roll and some fruit then took away Zander’s soggy food and refilled his orange juice.
“There,” she declared, all but slamming down the cup of juice. “Now stop with the puppy dog eyes.”
Zander just stared at her. She was not happy with him today. How grumpy would she be when he wasted that second cinnamon roll? He had to keep that Ironman in his thoughts or he’d be consuming all kinds of Trin-influenced sugar. He was having a hard time thinking of that as a bad thing, liking her sugar and even her sass.
“Um, thanks?” he said.
“You’re welcome.” She stole the broom from Moriah’s hands. “I’ll sweep the downstairs.” She pushed through the swinging door.
Moriah watched him, nodding her head knowingly. “Um-hmm, my girl is all kinds of affected by you.” She snapped her fingers and wiggled her hips. “You got it going on, boy.”
Zander chuckled and sat down to his fresh plate of food. He hoped Moriah was right, but he really hoped Trin would start acting as if she liked him, if she truly did. “So, tell me more about your son,” he said to Moriah.
She grinned and plied him with funny stories. Zander listened and laughed, but part of his mind was still stuck on all things Trin.
Chapter 5
Chapter
Trin made it through the second day with Zander in residence, mostly trying to avoid him, but he seemed to be everywhere. He and Moriah had formed a quick friendship and she saw him helping Moriah haul bedding and garbage then she caught him chatting with Moriah while she scrubbed down the vacated suite.
Was he interested in Moriah? She wouldn’t blame him as Moriah was gorgeous and so much fun to be around, but the girl was much too young for Zander. Couldn’t he see that? She huffed. Dang men who liked to rob the cradle.
Finally, he left for a few hours and she felt like she could breathe again. How could one man affect her so much?
The next morning his car pulled out as she was coming into the house at five-thirty to start breakfast. Moriah was already there, forming biscuits for her famous biscuits and gravy. “Good morning, sunshine,” she called out.
“Is it?” Trin yawned.
“Every day we get the gift of being alive is a fabulous day, I tell you what.” She grinned. “Turk and me had the best time at the park yesterday afternoon. I kept praising the Lord and thinking, ‘Why am I so blessed?’”
Trin was suddenly blinking at the wetness behind her eyes. Most people would look at Moriah and notice a single mom struggling to work, raise her son, and find her own independence. She had an apartment over her mother’s garage so she had a small measure of privacy, but Trin doubted many outsiders would look at Moriah and think about how overwhelmed she was with blessings.
“Thank you, friend,” Trin said. “You always help me put things in perspective.”
“Did you see our resident hottie pull out this morning?” Moriah bustled to the stovetop where sausage was sizzling. She stirred and crumbled it as she waited for Trin’s response.
“No, I didn’t notice.”
“Ha! I think you’re a liar and you notice everything about that man, including his finely shaped body.” Of course Moriah couldn’t just say it, she had to dance it.
Trin rolled her eyes and grabbed an apron. “I think he likes you.”
“Me! I could be his like niece or something. He’s too old for me.”
“Why did he hang out with you all day yesterday?” Trin couldn’t keep the bitterness from her tone.
Moriah chuckled then it turned into her full-blown rich laughter. “Oh, girl, you have got it bad. He’s not into me, but you should see the way he watches every move you make and anything I said about you, he’d hang onto with a drip of drool coming out of his fine lips.”
Trin washed her hands, shaking her head. She couldn’t help but laugh with her friend. “I wish.”
“Ha! You admit it. You’re into him.” Moriah pointed an accusing finger her way.
Trin took over forming biscuits so Moriah could focus on her gravy. “Maybe. He’s definitely the best-looking man I’ve ever seen and he’s a nice guy, but he bugs me a little bit too.”
Moriah whistled. “Bugging you is good. They got to get under your skin a little bit or they ain’t any fun. Am I right or am I right?”
Trin just laughed again.
He took a plate and gave Trin a devastating smile. “Good morning.”
“Um, uh-huh. Looks good, yeah.” Wow. That was pathetic and too easy to read that she was dying over how good he looked.
“I get to sample the famous biscuits and gravy my third day here? Lucky.”
“Yes, you are very lucky. Moriah’s biscuits and gravy are delicious.” Trin could have smacked herself. Why had she emphasized delicious like that? As if she thought he was delicious. Was she as transparent as she feared?
Zander leaned closer and that hot man scent made her want to wrap her arms around his neck. She’d heard about expensive colognes that had pheromones in them to make a woman desire a man. That must be it. It wasn’t him. It was his tricky, pricey cologne.
“I’m lucky because I get to see you.”
Trin licked at her very dry lips and searched his blue eyes. He looked serious and much too tempting.
“Thank you,” she squeaked out.
Zander set his plate down, reached out and took Trin’s hand in his own. “I’d love to spend some time with you today.”
Trin’s throat was dry and her hand was trembling from his warm touch. “I’m very busy today,” she sputtered out.
“Let me know if you can fit me in.” He squeezed her hand then let it go, giving her one more tempting smile. His blue eyes were brighter today as they twinkled at her like he knew all her most intimate secrets. Darn him all the way to Hades and back.
“Okay.” Trin backed away then spun and pushed through the swinging door. “Ooh, that man,” she said to Moriah. “Zander is making me crazy! I honestly don’t know if I should kiss him or smack him. What? I said the same thing yesterday, didn’t I?”
Moriah’s eyes had widened throughout Trin’s rant. “Uh, girl, you might want to?” She pointed behind Trin.
Trin didn’t even need to turn around. “He’s right behind me?” she whispered, her heart seeming to stop beating completely.
“He followed you into the kitchen.”
Trin clenched her hands and took a slow breath. Now that she had calmed down enough to experience a whole different kind of emotion, namely panic, she could smell him, and she could hear his soft exhalations behind her. She turned slowly and if his eyes had been amused before they were having a stinking party now.
“I’d suggest kissing me. I don’t really like being smacked.”
“Oh, yeah?” How dare he? “Well, maybe I like to smack men who just … unsettle me.”
He chuckled, reached up, and brushed a lock of hair over her shoulder. His fingers lingered on the sensitive skin of her neck and darn it if she didn’t tremble and get all weak like one of those wussy girls who had tried to snag Zander on The Bachelor.
“I’m sorry if I unsettle you.”
“You should be,” she flung back at him.
He tilted his head to the side and studied her. “Did you call me Zander?”
Oh, no. She had. The secret was out and he knew that she knew. She was relieved and even more upset at him.
“Yes, I did. You think you’re so funny, huh? Trying to trick me. Well I knew from the second you walked in the door. You can’t hide a face like that with longer hair and a few highlights.” She jabbed a finger at him.
Zander’s eyes twinkled at her and she got even more irate.
“I don’t know why you’re here or what you’re playing at, but I am not one of your little flings. If your dad has an issue with how I run my house tell him to come talk to me. I am done dealing with you.”
His eyes had gone from amused to wary to angry during her tirade.
She stomped around him, grabbed the plate of cinnamon rolls that he’d made and hadn’t finished yesterday and shoved them at him. “Here. I hope the sugar makes you sick.”
Zander gripped the plate and simply stared at her.
“Girl, what are you doing?” Moriah asked, a note of desperation in her voice.
“I’m sorry,” Trin muttered to her friend and she was sorry, but not to Zander. She was sorry that she might have just gotten them both fired.
She hurried to the back door and slipped outside. Running to the swing, she sat in it and let the tears of frustration course down her cheeks. What had she done? Yes, she was angry at Zander, but mostly at herself for being so attracted to him and allowing him to get under her skin. He also was her boss, sort of, and had the power to fire her right now. That thought was terrifying. This house was her entire life. What would she do if she didn’t have this connection to her grandparents. To a solid family feeling.
Poor Moriah. What would her friend do if the house was sold or Trin was fired? A smart manager would keep her on because she was an amazing cook, a hard worker, and always positive, but who knew what a different owner would choose to do.
She twisted, grasping the scratchy ropes in her palms. The swing moved slightly. She tipped back her head and stared into the towering oak tree. “What do I do, Nana?” It had been a while since she’d chatted with her grandmother. Not that Nana answered, but sometimes it made her feel better.
“Maybe you give the guy a chance to explain before you rip his head off.”
Trin scrambled off the swing and whirled to face him. Explain? No, she definitely hadn’t thought of that during her attack on the man. “I, um … please don’t fire Moriah.”
Zander’s serious expression broke and he smiled at her. “Thank you for thinking of Moriah first. Was her Pollyanna story all true or did you exaggerate it?”
“Oh!” Trin fired up again. “Why would I lie to you?”
He shrugged. “Play on my sympathies. You knew who I was and you’re obviously worried about why I’m here. Though I wouldn’t recommend screaming at me as the best way to make sure you keep your job.”
Trin clenched her fists tight. “I apologize for screaming at you, but I have no desire to ‘play on your sympathies.’”
“I’m obviously upsetting you and that isn’t why I’m here.” He took a cautious step closer.
“Why are you here?” Trin clung to the rope of the swing for stability, but it wasn’t much help.
His eyes grew wary again. “I’m not really sure. My dad asked me to do an Undercover Boss of sorts.”
Trin’s breath popped out she exhaled so quickly. Mr. Keller was concerned and had sent his son to figure out the situation. Why? Things were great. Well, they had been until Zander showed up. “Do you think he wants to sell or get rid of me?”
“I don’t know.” He shook his head. “If it’s any consolation I think you’re doing a fabulous job.”
She bit at her cheek. “Thanks.” Was he really on her side? “So you’ll give your dad a good recommendation for us?”
“I will. I already have, but he didn’t confide his plans, even when I asked him point blank. He’s kind of secretive sometimes and it’s not like I really work for him. I only help out when he asks me to.”
“That’s pretty pathetic, you know that, right?” Trin should clap a hand over her mouth, but he really ticked her off. Was he lying when he said Mr. Keller was being vague or was that just his excuse so he could keep observing Trin and driving her nuts?
“Excuse me?”
“You have the chance to work with your dad. To use all that money to make a difference and you … train for Ironmans.”
He took a step back. His blue eyes turned a frosty color. “Most people find my dedication to training impressive.”
She swallowed hard. Offending him again wasn’t the smartest path with everything so unstable. Think of Moriah, think of your house. “I’m sure they do. Excuse me. I
need to get back to work.”
He didn’t say anything.
Trin plodded back to the house. She may have just jeopardized hers, Moriah’s, and Marcus’ futures. She should go back, drop to her knees in front of Zander, and beg his forgiveness. Instead she kept her back ramrod straight and walked away from him. Humility had never been her strong suit.
Chapter 6
Chapter
Zander could understand why Trin would be defensive and testy about him coming here under an assumed name. He could understand that she was concerned about his and his dad’s motives and if she was going to lose her job, or the house was going to be sold. What he couldn’t understand was how she thought she had the right to basically say he was a worthless member of society because he was pursuing an athlete’s path instead of working at a desk job, especially when he didn’t need the money. It was his life, not hers. She had no clue how hard he’d worked for the title of recovering addict and to put his mom’s death behind him. Exercise was the only way he could clear his mind and keep strong when the desire to quench his thirst overwhelmed him.
He was so angry after their interaction he didn’t go back in and eat the breakfast that had smelled so tempting. Instead, he grabbed a Luna bar, filled up his water bottles in his room, and took off on his bike. The ride helped, a little bit.
When he came back, she was in the entryway, checking in a young couple. She gave him a wary smile, which he didn’t return. She thought she had the right to righteous anger, well, so did he.
The next few days were tense, to say the least. He kept to himself and focused on his training. He didn’t eat their breakfasts, which was definitely better for his training, or say much to anyone. His father had said to observe for a few weeks then get back to him. At this point Zander had no clue what he’d recommend. Yes, he felt sympathy for Trin and Moriah, but Trin needed to make a huge apology to him if she wanted him to be her advocate to keep the house. If selling was even in his father’s plan. Ugh. It was all frustrating and he didn’t like to deal with problems, it put him on edge.
The Faithful One: Billionaire Bride Pact Romance Page 5