AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tears stung her eyes. Life was spinning out of control and she couldn’t stop it.
“Sterling.” Rose reached across the desk and laid her hands on top. If Sterling hadn’t been so far away she was sure Rose would have grabbed her hands. “A bank just isn’t going to give you a mortgage. If selling isn’t an option, you may need to seek
out other avenues.” She took a business card from the top drawer of her desk. “I have a friend, she’s a mortgage broker. Maybe she can help you secure a loan with a private lender. That may be your only option.”
Sterling took the card. “Thanks, Rose.”
“I’m so sorry.”
She attempted a smile. But she didn’t have the luxury of dwelling on the situation.
“Can I have a copy of that report?” she asked Rose.
She nodded. “I’ll go and make you a copy right now.”
Rose left the room, and the silence hung in the air.
At that moment, Sterling envied all the opportunities Jack Vaughn had at his fingertips. Last night, the sex had been mind-altering. The best she’d ever had. And his proposition had come at the perfect time. But now, this extra debt she had to pay off was more important than some stupid attempt to have some fun.
Life was already too out of control for her to willingly let the reins on her life go. She shouldn’t have given in so easily the other day. She needed the money from the Madewood job. She had to be professional. And she had to stay far away from anything remotely sexual with Jack Vaughn.
…
Jack straightened the knot of his tie in the mirror that hung across the back of the bar. He smoothed down the front of his white oxford shirt and thrust his hands in the pockets of his black slacks.
It was weird to see himself dressed like this. He was used to the white chef’s coat. But Cole needed a bartender after Randy suddenly quit, leaving him high and dry. And if dressing like a penguin was what Jack had to do to help out his family, so be it.
But his brothers shouldn’t get used to it. This was only temporary. He had a business to get back to.
With his bar set up—ice piled high in the tray, lemons and limes cut up and sitting in plastic pitchers, the daily float accounted for and in the register—Jack was ready to take on the night.
Christine, one of the newer waitresses, winked. “Lookin’ good, Jack.”
She walked by with the new hostess on her arm. What was her name? Danielle? Darlene? Did he care? He was not here to become friends. He was not here to date. He was an owner for Christ’s sake and he would act like one. Even if it killed him.
The ladies smiled coyly as they walked by. The hostess even gave him a little wave of her fingers.
“This place is going to be crawling with women once word gets out Jack is working here,” Christine murmured out of the side of her mouth.
They might have the come-hither look down to a science but their skills in the whispering department needed work.
“Which means we better get in there fast before he has too many choices,” the hostess said.
They both looked over, subtlety not their intention, and giggled.
He didn’t acknowledge them. He didn’t want to lead anyone on. His best mode of defense was going to be silence.
Besides, he didn’t have room in his brain for another woman. Sterling had taken up residence and occupied every inch, firing his synapses on all cylinders. His brain was on overload at the thought of her, clothed, undressed. Happy. Shy. Needy. The last four days had been torture. He wished he could drop everything and see her. But she had a life outside of her job packing up his home and he would respect that.
Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough. And he knew exactly what he was going to do when he saw her.
“Everything ready, little brother?” Cole stood at the end of the bar, his expression a mixture of appreciation, sympathy…caution. He knew better than to acknowledge the situation.
With the restaurant set to open any minute, Jack gave the bar surface one last wipe. “Good. Ready to go.”
“If you have any questions just ask Devon. He pretty much runs the waitstaff out here so he can help you with anything you need.”
Jack nodded. “Devon. Got it.”
