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“Can I pick up an extra shift tomorrow, Martin?”
Jane looked over and saw Lonnie standing at Martin’s desk. Jane noticed how she was wringing her hands, a sure sign that the petite redhead was nervous as hell.
“I don’t have any extra hours, Lonnie,” Martin said without looking up from his mound of paperwork.
“It’s just that I had to call off last week because Skylar was sick, and I could really make up those hours.”
Jane’s heart clenched at the desperation in the woman’s voice. Her little girl, Skylar, a beautiful redhead just like her mom, had come down with some kind of stomach bug last week. Jane knew Lonnie didn’t have the time or the money to call in sick, but what other option did she have?
Martin lifted his beady little eyes and gave Lonnie a bored look. “That’s really not my problem, Lonnie. All the extra shifts have been covered.” He dismissed her with a wave of his hand, and Jane didn’t miss the dejected look on Lonnie’s face. She walked past Jane and into the employee locker room. After glaring at Martin, Jane followed Lonnie.
“You doing okay, hon?”
Lonnie nodded and grabbed her purse out of the locker. “Yeah, it’s just I really couldn’t afford to take off that day, but little Skylar was sick.” She turned around, and Jane’s heart broke when she saw tears swimming in Lonnie’s big green eyes.
“Oh, Lonnie.” Jane walked up to her and wrapped her arms around her petite frame. “Everything will be okay.” Jane pulled back and wiped the stray tears that had fallen from Lonnie’s eyes. “I don’t have extra money, but I can give you one or two of my shifts next week. I’ve been picking up a lot of doubles lately.”
Lonnie cried harder and buried her face in the crook of Jane’s neck. “Thank you, but I couldn’t take that from you. I know how much you and your mama need that money.”
Jane pulled her away and smiled.
“You and your little girl could use it more. I just wish I could give you some money to help. I know how hard it has to be raising Skylar by yourself.”
Lonnie smiled and ducked her head. “Thank you, Jane.” Her gratitude was huge even though her words were low. They hugged once more and then headed out together. To others, giving one employee a shift didn’t seem like much, but Jane knew firsthand that eight hours could mean a lot when another person was depending on her.
Chapter 19
Ten minutes later, Rys was pulling his beast of a truck into his driveway. Even though Jane was exhausted and it was past midnight, she didn’t want to go home. Her mom would be home but fast asleep. Jane didn’t want to go into an empty home and listen to the house settle. There was no way she would have been able to fall asleep, not when her body was lit up like a firework from Rys’s earlier innuendo.
Rys turned toward her, the shadows wrapping around him like a dark lover’s caress. “Come on.” His voice was low, his grin wide. She climbed out of the cab, and he met her at the front of the truck. In one hand, he held a thick blanket, and the other took her hand in his. He started pulling her forward to the back of the property. It was dark as hell out, but a full moon lit the ground with silvery light.
They walked in silence for several long moments, the sounds of the night their background music. They broke through the thick line of trees at the back of the property, and she knew exactly where he was going. The pond came into view, the break in the trees above it letting in the moon’s light, making the liquid look iridescent.
“What are we doing out here?” As soon as the words were out, she knew the answer. Casting a curious glance at Rys, she was surprised to see him already shirtless.
“I thought a little midnight skinny-dipping would be therapeutic, since you’ve been on your feet all day.”
“Mmm-hmm.” She just bet he was doing all of this for “therapeutic reasons.” It didn’t matter though, because she didn’t need a reason to get naked with Rys. “Where’s William?” She slipped off her shoes and socks.
“Doing some late-night paperwork.” His hands went to the button of his jeans, and he popped it free.
“I didn’t take you away from anything important, did I?”
He pushed his jeans down. His boxer briefs followed. There he stood, gloriously naked and causing her mouth to dry. He stalked toward her, and when he was right in front of her, he cupped her cheek with his big, warm palm.
“There isn’t anything more important than you, Jane. The only reason Will is still at work is because Olyver was busting balls for the blueprints to be triple-checked. Will drew the short straw.” He smirked, ran his hands down her arms, and stopped at her waist. Her shirt was pulled from her body in one sweep, and her ridiculously short skirt was next.
