AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He shakes his head, signaling to the waiter that he needs another glass of sweet tea. “Your mother is a woman with her own mind and her own life. We’re the type of couple who doesn’t check in every other hour.”
His dismissal is typical, yet the way he avoids eye contact with me while he says it raises a tiny pink flag in my mind.
Does he not know where she is?
“I talked to her yesterday, but she didn’t mention when she’d be home,” I muse.
He narrows his gaze, studying the floral design of my glass as condensation drips down it. The waitress returns with a pitcher of tea, smiling at my father as she reaches for his glass. She fills mine up next. I’ve always loved sweet tea, just like my dad. Every time we come here, he orders us two glasses of sweet tea with extra ice. It’s one of the rare tender moments we still share, but it always makes me smile.
“Can I get you anything else, Mayor Dixon?” Her Southern drawl is heavy with a flirtatious undertone, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes as his trail over her curves.
“Not today, Ashley. The food was excellent.” He watches her swaying hips as she sashays away.
My appetite has abandoned me, but I nibble on the buttered roll to have something to do with my hands. The ball in the pit of my stomach tightens with his next words, which he speaks as calmly as if he were ordering dessert.
“The man is responsible for spilling my little brother’s blood. Three and a half years behind bars doesn’t scratch the surface of paying for what he did. As your father, all I’m asking is for you to keep your ears open for any pertinent business-related information. He’s a hardened criminal, a murderer. I have it on good authority that he’s gotten himself mixed up with the wrong crowd while he was locked up.”
He waves at one of the town council members who just walked through the doors, as if he didn’t just drop a bomb on me.
As much as I despise him, there’s a chance he’s telling the truth about Holden.
Is he just trying to watch out for me?
What about what Dolly told me Cain was doing?
“I’m Dolly’s best friend. He loves her, and even if it were only for her sake, he wouldn’t hurt me.”
He scoffs, shaking his head as he pulls out two crisp one-hundred-dollar bills from his wallet and tosses them onto the white tablecloth.
“You’ll learn, Rosie. I just hope you find the sense to make the smart decision before it’s too late for you too.”
The following morning, I arrive at the ranch bright and early. For some strange, mysterious reason, I decided to wear muted pink lipstick and a push-up bra under my white V-neck today.
If Holden Redford expects to fire me, I’m hoping it’ll be slightly painful for him.
Is this beneath me?
Obviously.
Does it make me pathetic to use my body to try and keep my job?
Of course.
Am I doing it anyway because I love working here and I really don’t want to have to start job-hunting?
Also yes.
I strut through the front door like it’s just another Monday. The icky memory of lunch with my father washes over me, along with his comment about spying on the Redfords for him. The instant physical discomfort nearly makes me trip, but I shake my head, trying to get rid of it.
The kitchen is empty. It’s still early, just past seven in the morning. I start brewing a full pot of coffee, knowing it’ll be emptied as soon as the guys and Dolly make their way in. I’m sure a few of them are already up, checking on the animals in the barn.
I’m dumping the fresh grounds into the filter basket when I feel a warmth behind me.
“What do you think you’re doing here?” A deeply erotic morning voice right by my ear makes me gulp.
I spill the black grounds all over the white marble countertop. My heart is thundering in my ears. I manage to finish up making the pot, brushing the spilled grounds into my hand and dumping them in with the rest.
After pushing the Start button, I slowly turn around, tilting my head back to meet Holden’s gaze. The sharp, freshly shaved jawline, with stitches on the side, steals my focus for a split second before his full lips come into view, followed by an angular, strong nose and almost black eyes. His gaze is hard and unflinching.
