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He headed around his desk and pulled out the chair before sitting down. This conversation had already taken a strange turn. He’d expected her to take the money and leave. Based on what he’d overheard from her conversation with Hannah, she wasn’t quite sure about working here, which suited him just fine.
Faye might have been okay with her big sister taking a job at the new restaurant, but Brielle might not appreciate him getting close to one of her sisters.
Okay, that was a stretch. He didn’t knowwhatBrielle cared about at this point. It was possible she wouldn’t mind at all. Shane swallowed down those intrusive thoughts about his ex and met Eloise’s eyes once more. “What did you need?”
“It’s not about what I need… it’s about what you need.”
He arched a brow. First of all, he didn’t need anything from her. He already had too much on his plate. Secondly, he wasn’t one hundred percent sure she was safe from the likes of his cousins. The farther she remained from his restaurant, the better. “And what is it you think I might need?”
“Help.”
“Help,” he drawled with disdain. “You think I need help.”
She nodded, though she appeared even less confident, which was quite a feat.
Shane steepled his fingers at his lips. “And just why do you believe that?”
“Because you…” Her cheeks flushed. “You needed the additional help tonight—”
“Tonight was the grand opening. I fully expect everything will level out. And I didn’t fire Penelope. She will return as soon as she is able. I’m sure we can handle everything for the next few weeks.”
“But—”
He rose to his feet. “With all due respect, I was up against a wall tonight. I needed to fill a position and fill it fast. I only accepted your help because of that fact and that fact alone. You were overpaid for the menial job you were asked to complete.”
She sucked in sharply and her eyes dropped to the floor. For a moment guilt swirled around him, knocking into organs he’d never felt before. Then he reminded himself that his cousins never gave up easily and Eloise would be far safer at home with her father and certain sisters. “Don’t get me wrong. I fully appreciate your help with tonight. Everything went smoothly—exactly according to plan… well, after we found out about Penelope. I just don’t have a need for more kitchen staff.” He turned his attention to his computer if only to quell the growing guilt that continued making a home in his gut.
More than that, he didn’t have any room for another Callahan. If he counted correctly, he had at least three or four working for him. More if he included those who were getting married to men who worked for him. One more Callahan was just asking for trouble—especially with his cousins snooping around.
If Madeline got wind that the Callahans were one of the wealthier families in this part of the state, then there would be no stopping the destruction that would follow. She had no regard for decorum. All she wanted was money. She should have stayed in California where she had more victims to choose from.
His eyes flitted up to meet hers, and he was surprised to find she didn’t look at all as upset as he’d expected. Though she was staring at the check in her hands thoughtfully. Shaking her head, she slapped the piece of paper on his desk. “I don’t want it.”
Shane choked as he inhaled sharply. He coughed in an attempt to clear the irritation and sat up straighter. “What?”
She shrugged. “I don’t want this. I would wager that I don’t need it as much as you probably think I do. Tonight was fun. It was different.”
He leaned forward, pushing the check across the table with his finger. “I’m sorry, I can’t accept that explanation. For legal reasons, among others—”
“Call me a volunteer then. I’m not taking the money, especially for such amenialjob. Thanks for the offer, though.” She turned before he could make sense of what had just happened. His thoughts were ping-ponging around in his skull, refusing to allow him to grasp onto even one of them.
From the moment she’d stood up to him before the shift to the way she’d just thrown his money back in his face, he just didn’t understand what she was trying to do. Was she manipulating him into hiring her?
No, that didn’t make sense either. And why would she want to work in the kitchen when she was practically raised in the saddle? That was one thing he knew. After observing the way Dianna and Grace could handle his horses, he had no doubt all of the Callahans were just as prolific with the four-legged animals. Asking Eloise to work in the kitchen would be like asking a pilot to take a desk job. It just wasn’t a good idea.
But as he stared at the space she had previously occupied, he couldn’t help wondering if she was disappointed he’d turned down her request.
Just as quickly as that thought appeared, he shoved it aside. He picked up the check. “Why are Callahan women so obstinately stubborn?” he muttered.
* * *
A few days passed,and while certain things had sorted themselves out, there were still several issues he had to deal with. His cousins were still in town, lurking somewhere. He knew better than to believe they would grow tired so early. He was just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The kitchen staff was still burning the candle at both ends. It shouldn’t have been this hard to find a replacement for Penelope. He was already short-staffed as it was, which only made her absence felt more.
Shane had thrown Eloise’s check in his drawer, expecting that she’d return with her tail between her legs and tell him she’d actually like the money. He wouldn’t fault her for it. From what he understood, her father wasn’t the kind of man that doted on his daughters in the way that his wealth would suggest. He raised hard-working women.
His gaze locked onto the check, and he almost contemplated calling Eloise to see if she’d like to work out something temporary. But he wasn’t that desperate, right?
