Read Online Sinful Suspense Box Set by Tess Oliver - Free Book Online Page B

boss.
    “Since when do you guys walk through the office to get back to the mill?” Hal asked sharply.
    “Sorry about that. Must have forgotten,” one of the men stuttered as they both turned and made a quick retreat. I leaned over and stared into the break room. It had three round tables and sets of mismatched chairs, a refrigerator, a microwave and most notably, a back door.
    Hal slammed shut the door and scrubbed his fingers through his thinning hair. His gray eyes seemed to be lost in thought for a minute, then he turned to me. “No one else will come through here unless it’s to speak to me.” He stopped and looked at the dirt on the floor. “No, wait, we need to take care of this right now.” He seemed to be thinking aloud. He walked to the microphone on his desk and picked it up. Three sharp beeps rang out over the yard. They were followed by a rough, scratchy sound. Hal spoke and his deep voice was projected out across the mill and to the forest and trees beyond. “Attention all workers. Let me have your attention please.” I paused and leaned down to look through the dusty front window of his office. Outside, some of the loud equipment slowed from a roar to a hiss and the tractors stopped moving. Hal cleared his throat. “Next man to walk through my office will be handed his ass and shown the door . . . or in this instance, the front gate. Back doors only for the locker and lunchroom. Yes, we have a new person in the office, and while she doesn’t look or smell like the rest of you knuckleheads, she’s here to work. So leave her the hell alone, or, like I said earlier, you’ll be walking out the gate with ass in hand. Now get back to work.” Hal nodded in approval at his speech as he put down the microphone. “Now, the papers are safe, so go take your lunch.”
    “Thanks. I am hungry.” I walked to the door and reached for the knob.
    “Uh, that’s the locker room. I guess I should put a sign on them since they’re both the same.”
    “No, I’ll remember.” I glanced around at the files still left on the floor. “With no more interruptions from dirty shoes stomping through the office, I should have this done today.”
    Hal growled. “I should knock each and every one of them upside the head.”
    I walked into the break room and was relieved to see it was empty. Everly had been kind enough to fix me a ham and cheese sandwich to take along for lunch. She’d even stuck in some red grapes and a bottle of iced tea. I had no idea how I was ever going to repay her for all her kindness. For now, I had only my friendship to offer, which she seemed happy to have. I was definitely happy to have hers too.
    I carried my lunch to the table next to a large window. Crumbs of food stuck to the grease on the table. I pulled out the napkin Everly had stuck in the bag and wiped away the crumbs. The room was dingy and cold, but the view from the window made up for the lack of comfort.
    A long river cut through the mountains, eventually disappearing behind jutting rocks. The deep greens of the trees and pearly pinks of the granite cliffs looked as if they were fresh off a painter’s palette. I stretched my neck to see down below. A truck was sitting patiently as a man on a yellow tractor-style vehicle with a giant claw plucked fresh cut trees from the bed. Beneath the ramp where the truck unloaded was a section of river that ballooned into a glassy, navy blue pond. Logs covered most of the surface.
    Even from the distance I sat, it was easy to recognize Jem Wolfe standing on top of one of the logs. He had the sleeves of his blue flannel shirt rolled up, and he was holding a long pole. Tattoos covered almost his entire left arm. He had a gray beanie pulled down over his hair, and beard stubble covered his perfectly chiseled, yet scarred chin. Dark and dangerous. It was as if the phrase had been developed solely with Jem Wolfe in mind.
    A boat that resembled a miniature tugboat was docked near a long, smooth curb