Page 22 of Miss Trust

Chance

People didn’t challenge me unless they were drunk or stupid. Tory was neither, leaving me at a complete loss of how to handle her. Adding to my frustration was the way my body was reacting to her temper. Or maybe it was reacting to the vision of her down on her hands and knees working up a sweat.

Christ. I needed to get laid. It was the only logical explanation for how easily she could turn me on. I’d been putting in record hours auditing my financial books and hadn’t managed the time to take care of more personal matters the last few days. That had to change. Soon. But first I needed to defuse this situation before Tory did something rash, like pack up her daughter with nowhere to go. I could sense how close she was to letting her pride take over. Then I’d have to make a horrible phone call to my brother letting him know of my failure.

“I didn’t hire you to clean my house.”

“Then what did you hire me for?” She put her hands on her hips, doing nothing to quell my attraction to her.

“As we discussed—”

“No, this bullshit may work on other people, but don’t go pulling it with me. Either I start doing something tomorrow to earn my paycheck, or I keep cleaning. Matter of fact, I’ll start gardening too.”

My molars ground together. “I had hoped to give you some time to get settled in before starting the remodel.”

“I don’t want time. I need to stay busy. Also, paying Mona is nonnegotiable.”

No one could possibly be this stubborn. Then a thought occurred to me. “Did Teagan put you up to this? Is this my penance for being an asshole to your sister?”

She rolled her eyes. “My sister actually told me you weren’t all bad. But I’m not surprised, since she’s always been the nicer one.”

God help me. “So you’re naturally this stubborn?”

I’d meant it to be playful, but my attempt fell flat. Her eyes held a murderous gleam. “It’s not a matter of being stubborn, it’s a matter of you paying me, and me not doing anything to earn it.”

“You have serious trust issues. Just with me, or with everyone?”

“What do you think?”

Everyone. But especially me because I made her feel vulnerable by having her in my house and reliant on me for her livelihood. And yet I suspected there was something deeper.

“I don’t lie, but I didn’t want to start you on the remodel before your first medical appointment. I figured you wouldn’t know your schedule yet.”

My candid response dissolved some of her anger. Although her obstinacy infuriated me, I was beginning to understand Tory wasn’t a woman who’d ever sit around and take advantage of a situation. My respect for her grew.

“Fine. Then I’ll keep cleaning.”

“No, you won’t.” I wouldn’t have her cleaning my home. Something about it bothered me to my core.

“Then I’ll move back into my apartment, and I’ll return to work at the Lucky Lady until I can know what the next couple months hold. I’ll reimburse you for the money you’ve already paid me.”

“Your apartment has already been rented, and if you think Ernie the sleazebag will allow you to have your job back without an abundance of sexual favors, you’re delusional.”

Her face went red, making me wince at my delivery. I was backing her into a corner, and it was the last thing I wanted to do.

“Before you go getting your panties in a twist, give me a freaking moment to think of something, okay?”

She shivered. “God, please don’t say the P word.”

My mouth twitched. “Panties?”

She shuddered. “Stop.”

My chuckle filled the room at such an unexpected discovery. “Is thong more to your liking?” I hadn’t meant the husky drop of my voice, yet there it was.

Her lips curved into a reluctant smile. “Thong is much better. Yes.”

Dammit. I was half a second away from having to adjust myself like a prepubescent boy. “Good to know. How about you come to the club tonight? We’re in the midst of an audit, and my accounting manager, Carmen, could use another pair of hands.”