Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 101764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
“He’s so great.” Somehow, I managed to get the words past my lips without gagging.
“When can you start?”
“Well, you said Wednesday to Saturday, and today’s Wednesday, so…”
“Fantastic.” He slid the packet of papers across the desk. “Fill these out, please. There’s a section on the application for your sizes so we can get you a few uniforms. I’ll have them ready for you when you come back at nine tonight.”
“Sounds perfect.” I picked up the Mont Blanc pen on top of the papers and got to work. The forms were straightforward, and within a few minutes of silence, I had them filled out and signed my final signature. “All done. There you go.” I slid them back across the desk.
“Great, I’ll get—”
“Oh, Parker…” A sing-song voice floated up from the staircase. “I brought you some lunch because I’m assuming you haven’t eaten, and have been working since six in the morning when you kicked some needy boy out of your bed to come here. Oh, sorry…”
A wide-eyed guy who couldn’t have been more than five feet six inches appeared at the top of the staircase, holding a white takeout bag. He had platinum blond hair with blue tips, and I couldn’t tell which was tighter, his sunny yellow crop top or his skinny jeans.
Parker sighed. “Trevor, what have I said about unannounced visits during the day?”
The growled tone didn’t seem to bother this Trevor guy in the least. A mischievous grin curled his glossy lips. “You said not to. Guess I didn’t listen. Oops. If you feel you have to punish me, I suppose I deserve it.” His grin slipped into a juicy pout.
I snorted out a laugh. It couldn’t be helped. This guy had it bad for Parker and had no problem expressing it.
“Trevor…” The rumbled tone held a warning Parker didn’t seem to realize would only encourage his much younger fan. “I’m finishing an interview. Can we please have a few minutes?”
As though Parker hadn’t spoken, Trevor sashayed into the room and set the food bag on the desk. Then he propped his bubble butt against it and gave me his full attention. “Hello there, handsome. What’s your name, and why do you look familiar?”
Damn, this guy was a firecracker and a half. “Ryder,” I said, holding out my hand. “And I was here Saturday night.”
“He’s replacing Lars. Starts tonight.” Parker narrowed his eyes at the bag. The delicious aroma of Mexican food permeated the room. Hell, if he didn’t want it, I’d eat it. “Oh, and he knows Alex.”
“We go way back.”
Not a lie.
A storm cloud moved across Trevor’s face, darkening his features. “Wait… you’re—”
I hopped to my feet. “Well, thank you, Parker.” Shit. Trevor knew who I was. The gig was up. If he told Parker how much Alex hated me, I’d be out on my ass in a heartbeat. Time to go. “I’m really looking forward to working here. See you gentlemen tonight.”
I turned and darted toward the staircase without offering to shake either man’s hand. If they found it rude, so be it. I could come back from a minor infraction like a rude exit. I couldn’t come back from the boss learning that the golden boy of his staff hated my guts. Hopefully, Trevor wouldn’t spill my secret. He seemed so smitten with his boss that he’d probably forget about me five seconds after I left him alone with the object of his desire.
Was Parker getting some from Trevor? Did he break his own ironclad rule and bend Trevor over his sturdy desk after hours, or was he as much of a stickler with himself as he seemed to be with the staff? I’d find out soon enough. Workplace secrets never stayed buried long.
As soon as I stepped outside, harsh, frigid wind whipped across my face. Winter in New England meant business, and I hadn’t dressed warm enough, something my mother had complained about since I was a kid. I tugged my leather jacket closed as I jogged toward my Range Rover. Once inside with the engine running, my seat warmers kicked into gear, and within seconds, I sat in a cocoon of warmth and comfort. This sure would come in handy on a middle-of-the-night drive home after a shift at Top Shelf.
I laughed out loud. None of my buddies would believe I’d gotten a job serving alcohol in a nightclub. God, I couldn’t wait to see the look on Alex’s face when he saw me in my skimpy uniform. His head might explode.
My father would also lose his shit if he caught wind of this—another reason to start looking for an apartment. Over the past few days, I’d had fun reconnecting with my sister. Maybe she and I could get an apartment together near campus.
The more I thought about it, the better that idea sounded. I’d have to run it by her later.