Read Online House of Payne: Steele by Stacy Gail - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Stacy Gail
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I’ve always wanted an excuse to say that phrase. What else?”
“I need you to email me a list of the names of all the House’s clients who are scheduled to come in today, so that my team can check them in at the door.”
“Wow, really? You don’t want us to cancel everyone?”
“Absolutely not. We want to give the appearance that everything at House Of Payne is business as usual. That means everyone keeps their appointments with their various tattooists, just like they would on any other day.”
“Sure, this is just another normal day here at the House, getting balls-to-the-walls ready for Prince Charming or whoever’s going to be waltzing through the door.” Looking down at her tablet, Scout worked it like a concert pianist. “I guess it’d be weird to roll out the red carpet since we’re wanting to keep a low profile?”
Essie loved the slow rise of Steele’s scarred eyebrow. “Yeah. It’d be weird.”
“Okay, nix on the red carpet, you killjoy, you. When’s your team due in to lock this place down like Fort Knox?”
“The next fifteen minutes or so, is my guess. However long it takes them to get from PSI to here.”
“PSI?” Essie asked, then immediately clamped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry.”
“It stands for Private Security International. We’ve been contracted to do security for the House.” Again, Steele’s gaze drifted to Essie. That looked like a hint to her, so she straightened away from the counter.
“Do you want me to leave? I should leave, right? Sorry about that.”
“What? No.” A half-smile softened Steele’s all-business mask before he moved to stand at the corner of the counter closest to her, as if to prevent her from going anywhere. “After careful consideration, it’s my professional opinion that you’re not a threat to some English Royal who may or may not be able to take the pain of a tattoo needle. I mean, you might look like a dangerous desperado, but I think it’s safe enough for you to stay.”
Oh, yeah, she silently snorted. Dangerous. That was her, all right. “Good, because I can’t leave until I get my sketchbook out of Twist’s booth, and finish making an appointment with some artist named Maximo.” She held up her mug, letting it dangle from her fingers by its handle. “Cool design, yeah?”
“You’re interested in Mad Max’s work?” Payne cast a curious glance their way. “Fair warning, Es—Max is what you might call eccentric . You can be chatting about something as simple as the merits of microwavable mac and cheese, and suddenly he’s turned the whole conversation into sexual innuendo. He doesn’t do it to be offensive. That’s just the way his mind works, and he seems to assume that everyone’s like that.”
“Aha.” Not sure whether she was put off or amused, she found herself grinning at Payne. Amusement won. “Thanks for the warning.”
“When’s your appointment with this guy?” Steele’s expression had slipped back into stone-faced professional mode, with his mouth a flat line.
“Um.” Surprised at his interest, she nodded at Scout. “I was just about to make an appointment when you guys rolled up.”
“Sorry, honey, but I have to put that on the backburner for now.” Scout spoke without looking up, busily typing away. “Could you do me a favor and remind me to make you an appointment later? I’ve got to get this done.”
“I’ll shoot you an email so that when you do have time, you can go ahead and get it then. No rush,” she added with a quick smile when the other woman looked up with a grateful glance. “It’d probably be best if this doesn’t even happen today, considering how busy everyone is, so it’s all good.”
Scout paused in her super-sonic typing just long enough to blow her a kiss. “You are so much easier to deal with than your brother. Email me right now so you don’t forget.”
“Got it.” As she dug for her phone to thumb at the screen, she listened absently to Payne
“I need you to email me a list of the names of all the House’s clients who are scheduled to come in today, so that my team can check them in at the door.”
“Wow, really? You don’t want us to cancel everyone?”
“Absolutely not. We want to give the appearance that everything at House Of Payne is business as usual. That means everyone keeps their appointments with their various tattooists, just like they would on any other day.”
“Sure, this is just another normal day here at the House, getting balls-to-the-walls ready for Prince Charming or whoever’s going to be waltzing through the door.” Looking down at her tablet, Scout worked it like a concert pianist. “I guess it’d be weird to roll out the red carpet since we’re wanting to keep a low profile?”
Essie loved the slow rise of Steele’s scarred eyebrow. “Yeah. It’d be weird.”
“Okay, nix on the red carpet, you killjoy, you. When’s your team due in to lock this place down like Fort Knox?”
“The next fifteen minutes or so, is my guess. However long it takes them to get from PSI to here.”
“PSI?” Essie asked, then immediately clamped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry.”
“It stands for Private Security International. We’ve been contracted to do security for the House.” Again, Steele’s gaze drifted to Essie. That looked like a hint to her, so she straightened away from the counter.
“Do you want me to leave? I should leave, right? Sorry about that.”
“What? No.” A half-smile softened Steele’s all-business mask before he moved to stand at the corner of the counter closest to her, as if to prevent her from going anywhere. “After careful consideration, it’s my professional opinion that you’re not a threat to some English Royal who may or may not be able to take the pain of a tattoo needle. I mean, you might look like a dangerous desperado, but I think it’s safe enough for you to stay.”
Oh, yeah, she silently snorted. Dangerous. That was her, all right. “Good, because I can’t leave until I get my sketchbook out of Twist’s booth, and finish making an appointment with some artist named Maximo.” She held up her mug, letting it dangle from her fingers by its handle. “Cool design, yeah?”
“You’re interested in Mad Max’s work?” Payne cast a curious glance their way. “Fair warning, Es—Max is what you might call eccentric . You can be chatting about something as simple as the merits of microwavable mac and cheese, and suddenly he’s turned the whole conversation into sexual innuendo. He doesn’t do it to be offensive. That’s just the way his mind works, and he seems to assume that everyone’s like that.”
“Aha.” Not sure whether she was put off or amused, she found herself grinning at Payne. Amusement won. “Thanks for the warning.”
“When’s your appointment with this guy?” Steele’s expression had slipped back into stone-faced professional mode, with his mouth a flat line.
“Um.” Surprised at his interest, she nodded at Scout. “I was just about to make an appointment when you guys rolled up.”
“Sorry, honey, but I have to put that on the backburner for now.” Scout spoke without looking up, busily typing away. “Could you do me a favor and remind me to make you an appointment later? I’ve got to get this done.”
“I’ll shoot you an email so that when you do have time, you can go ahead and get it then. No rush,” she added with a quick smile when the other woman looked up with a grateful glance. “It’d probably be best if this doesn’t even happen today, considering how busy everyone is, so it’s all good.”
Scout paused in her super-sonic typing just long enough to blow her a kiss. “You are so much easier to deal with than your brother. Email me right now so you don’t forget.”
“Got it.” As she dug for her phone to thumb at the screen, she listened absently to Payne
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