Page 14 of Riding Hard

I need a job.

So I tell him.

I tell him everything.

“I’m on the run,” I confess. “My ex won’t leave me alone, no matter where I go. He always comes for me. I’m from Southern California. Las Vegas was the longest I’ve been able to stay until he found me last night. I ran until my car died. And now I’m here.”

“With no car?” he asks.

I can’t believe that’s all he asks me. “I walked and had it towed. But since it wasn’t worth having it towed, I went ahead and sold it for scrap metal to the tow-truck guy.”

“Oh shit, babe,” he hisses. Okay.

This is it.

I’m done for.

Maybe that strip club he was talking about needs a waitress. I mean, I can’t strip, but I’ve done my fair share of serving drinks. I stand, clearing my throat before I speak. I’m shaky, but it’s obvious this was never meant for me. It’s too good.

“I appreciate you taking the time out of your day…” I begin when he holds up his hand.

“Park it, babe,” Alex interrupts.

My ass slams down on the chair, and I press my lips together as I look into his eyes. He is grinning like a maniac. Then he leans forward and reaches out, curling his fingers around my forearm.

“Girl, welcome to the team.”

I stare at him, blinking, unbelieving that this is real.

Did he just hire me?

Am I awake?

Is this real?

CHAPTER

ELEVEN

JULIETTE

“Welcome to the team?” I ask.

His eyes dance as he watches me. “You’re good people. I can feel it. Elodie and I have lived a whole hell of a life, and I know a good egg when I see one. You’re it. Plus, we’re desperate, and I can’t work with some of these other people who have applied.”

My lips twitch into a small smile. I watch as he smiles back at me. I don’t know if I should be scared or excited, but I choose excited because I don’t have any other choice. This is an opportunity I don’t think I could ever replicate.

I choose happiness and excitement.

“Okay,” I say.

Alex stands, then walks over to the front door of the condo. He opens the door and leans inside before I hear him call out for Elodie. He turns, looking over his shoulder at me, and smiles.

“I am seriously excited about this,” he states. “Elodie is going to love you.”

I don’t know what that means. I can’t help but feel excited about this. I don’t think in the years I’ve been running away from Victor that I’ve felt excited about a potential job. I’ve always just taken what I can get, hoped it paid whatever bills I had, and that I could put a little away for the next time I had to run.

But this time, I’m actually excited.