Page 23 of Miss Trust

“I’ll see if Mona can stay tonight.” She took out her phone and began typing on it.

“Fine. If she can, then we’ll leave at six o’clock.”

I noticed the smudge on her nose. I should have ignored it. I absolutely should not have reached out and tenderly wiped it from her nose in an intimate gesture like I ended up doing. “You had something there.”

Her blue eyes went wide. By the way her lips parted, I could swear she had felt the unmistakable spark too. But she stepped back. “Thanks. I’ll finish up here.”

“Yep.” I didn’t bother to argue because I needed to get out of here, stat.

I intended to head straight for a shower in the hopes of jerking off, but Mona intercepted me in the hallway on the way to the master bedroom. Just as well. My childhood nanny in front of me handled the situation faster than anything else could have.

“I hope you didn’t upset Tory. She’s dealing with enough on her plate.”

“Upset her? You sorely misunderstand if you think I could have any effect on her whatsoever.”

She put a gentle hand on my arm. “Please remember she’s a mom whose child has cancer.”

I threw up my hands. “Why do you think I was trying to give her a couple weeks to get settled in before putting her to work?” What in the hell. Try to be a nice guy and get flack from not one, but two, women about it.

“Being idle makes her focus too much on it. She needs to be busy, and most of all, she needs to feel like she’s earning her keep.”

I hadn’t thought about her first point. But the second was more than clear. “I will ensure she has both.”

She smiled. “I have every confidence you will. And don’t worry. I told her you’re a good boy.”

Terrific. Just what I needed.

* * *

Ten minutes before six p.m.,Tory came into the kitchen where I was sipping coffee. She was dressed in a black pantsuit with a light blue silk shirt underneath, reminding me of something she might wear to an interview.

Her hair was up in a bun, and she’d put on light makeup. Although she appeared all business, there wasn’t a professional thing I wanted to do to her. The four-inch black heels she wore did nothing to simmer my desire.

“Ready?” My voice came out sharper than intended.

She didn’t bat an eyelash. “Yep.”

We walked out to the white Escalade. “You should drive, so you get used to it. It’ll be your new vehicle while you’re here.”

“Are you kidding me?” Once again, she put her hands on her hips, a gesture I didn’t mind inspiring.

“Nope. Think of it as your work vehicle, but I expect you to take it for Penny’s medical appointments too.”

“No. Absolutely not.”

Was there ever a time where I wouldn’t have to fight with this woman? Although my approach probably needed some finesse, my argument was sound. “Your car is a liability. I can’t have you breaking down while running errands for me or when you need reliable transportation for your daughter’s treatments. I have dozens of vehicles for my employees’ use. It’s a package deal for anyone who works for me.”

She hesitated, appearing as if she was tempted to argue, but she finally said, “Fine, but no more surprises.”

Where would the fun be in that? “If you prefer black, we could trade it.”

She leveled me with a glare. “Do I seem like the kind of girl who cares what color her car is?”

Nope. As I’d never before met one who didn’t, I found Tory an enigma. “I’d guess you’re a red-convertible type of girl.”

She got in the driver’s seat and adjusted it ridiculously close to the steering wheel to accommodate her short legs. “It’s like you enjoy pressing my buttons.”

I shrugged. “It’s not boring, that’s for sure.”