bar rag up off the counter and tossed it toward the kitchen. Then he headed toward Gladys and Tori to see what the hell was going on.
“Darlin’, you’ve already paid for three months.” Gladys thrust her ample hip to the side and pressed her hand against her waist. “There’s a no refund clause on the rental paper I had you sign. I’d hate to see you lose the money. You might have everyone else fooled, but you’re rubbing quarters together as it is. What’re you gonna do on the road?”
Tori’s lips squished to the side, and she glanced away before turning back to Gladys. “Don’t worry about me. This is how I live.”
“Hell of a life for a young woman.” Gladys frowned. “I can’t stop you, but I think you’re making a mistake. When Rain finds out — ”
“Rain has found out.” He approached his manager. “Leave us, Gladys. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Figured as much.” Gladys patted him on the chest, dipped her chin, and leaned closer. “Don’t you scare her.”
He lifted his brow. “Impossible.”
“She’s got some trouble biting at her heels.” Gladys glanced over her shoulder at Tori. “She’s done a good job fooling everyone but trust me — she’s either looking for somewhere to hide or trying to find someone.”
Not sure if he approved of his manager telling him more about Tori than he’d already figured out, he wanted to put a stop to the talk. “You went against the rules.”
Gladys shook her head and grinned. “Look at her and tell me you could turn her away and still be able to sleep at night.”
His gaze stayed on Tori, and he answered on an exhale, “I hear you.”
“Good. You’re a decent guy — don’t let her leave.” Gladys patted his chest again and walked away.
His manager’s mothering instincts were not lost on him. He had no plan to let Tori walk away. He narrowed his eyes and studied her. What the fuck was she hiding?
Tori had fooled him at first with her sassy attitude and carefree ways, but the woman in front of him was anything but confident. Her chin quivered before she caught it and stared up at him. An urge to protect and shelter her came over him. No woman should ever feel as if she had no one to cover her back.
She was scared shitless. And he wanted to know why.
His resolve softened. He laid his hand low on her spine. “Come on.”
He made it to the entrance of the hallway with her before she balked. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m leaving.”
The hell she was. He leaned closer. “Office. Now.”
She folded her arms. “No.”
God, she was a total bozo, thinking she had a choice on whether she had to listen to him or not. At least she was getting her fiery spirit back.
He moved in, keeping her from throwing attitude at him. “Unless you want me to talk with you out here where everyone can watch, get your butt moving.”
She glanced behind him, wrinkled her nose, and led him to his office. He followed, content to admire the slim, proud shoulders and listen to the click, click, click of her heels tapping against the wood floor. All the while knowing underneath that prickly surface was a warm-blooded female, and he loved a challenge.
Class.A female quality worth his admiration.
Not causing a scene, she quietly opened the door and turned toward him with her nose stuck in the air. He approved of the way she forged ahead as if she owned Cactus Cove; at least she was fighting back. Her steady gaze, her unwavering demeanor, and her outfit got his attention.
Sexy. All three categories on his list of the perfect woman. Classy, sexy, and a total goof. Enough to keep a man satisfied beyond a lifetime.
Frayed denim shorts, skimpy and tight, showed off her long legs. The red-and-white-checkered blouse that hovered two inches over the waistband of her shorts sent his gaze to the bare skin of her stomach. He squinted, not believing what he was seeing. Mother fuckin’ lover.
A tiny sparkle in her belly button blinked at him.
“Darlin’, you’ve already paid for three months.” Gladys thrust her ample hip to the side and pressed her hand against her waist. “There’s a no refund clause on the rental paper I had you sign. I’d hate to see you lose the money. You might have everyone else fooled, but you’re rubbing quarters together as it is. What’re you gonna do on the road?”
Tori’s lips squished to the side, and she glanced away before turning back to Gladys. “Don’t worry about me. This is how I live.”
“Hell of a life for a young woman.” Gladys frowned. “I can’t stop you, but I think you’re making a mistake. When Rain finds out — ”
“Rain has found out.” He approached his manager. “Leave us, Gladys. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Figured as much.” Gladys patted him on the chest, dipped her chin, and leaned closer. “Don’t you scare her.”
He lifted his brow. “Impossible.”
“She’s got some trouble biting at her heels.” Gladys glanced over her shoulder at Tori. “She’s done a good job fooling everyone but trust me — she’s either looking for somewhere to hide or trying to find someone.”
Not sure if he approved of his manager telling him more about Tori than he’d already figured out, he wanted to put a stop to the talk. “You went against the rules.”
Gladys shook her head and grinned. “Look at her and tell me you could turn her away and still be able to sleep at night.”
His gaze stayed on Tori, and he answered on an exhale, “I hear you.”
“Good. You’re a decent guy — don’t let her leave.” Gladys patted his chest again and walked away.
His manager’s mothering instincts were not lost on him. He had no plan to let Tori walk away. He narrowed his eyes and studied her. What the fuck was she hiding?
Tori had fooled him at first with her sassy attitude and carefree ways, but the woman in front of him was anything but confident. Her chin quivered before she caught it and stared up at him. An urge to protect and shelter her came over him. No woman should ever feel as if she had no one to cover her back.
She was scared shitless. And he wanted to know why.
His resolve softened. He laid his hand low on her spine. “Come on.”
He made it to the entrance of the hallway with her before she balked. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m leaving.”
The hell she was. He leaned closer. “Office. Now.”
She folded her arms. “No.”
God, she was a total bozo, thinking she had a choice on whether she had to listen to him or not. At least she was getting her fiery spirit back.
He moved in, keeping her from throwing attitude at him. “Unless you want me to talk with you out here where everyone can watch, get your butt moving.”
She glanced behind him, wrinkled her nose, and led him to his office. He followed, content to admire the slim, proud shoulders and listen to the click, click, click of her heels tapping against the wood floor. All the while knowing underneath that prickly surface was a warm-blooded female, and he loved a challenge.
Class.A female quality worth his admiration.
Not causing a scene, she quietly opened the door and turned toward him with her nose stuck in the air. He approved of the way she forged ahead as if she owned Cactus Cove; at least she was fighting back. Her steady gaze, her unwavering demeanor, and her outfit got his attention.
Sexy. All three categories on his list of the perfect woman. Classy, sexy, and a total goof. Enough to keep a man satisfied beyond a lifetime.
Frayed denim shorts, skimpy and tight, showed off her long legs. The red-and-white-checkered blouse that hovered two inches over the waistband of her shorts sent his gaze to the bare skin of her stomach. He squinted, not believing what he was seeing. Mother fuckin’ lover.
A tiny sparkle in her belly button blinked at him.
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