clock.”
Shrugging and grinning sheepishly, Calder dipped his head, looking every inch the charming, self-effacing guy. “I’m sorry. I thought Ricki was off work at five. I waited outside for her, but when she didn’t show, I got worried. That’s why she was telling me to leave when you came out, she knew that it was against store policy.” The affable facade effectively disguised his predatory nature. It also fooled Candy completely. I, however, was immune.
“Oh.” Candy’s reply was abrupt and I knew her well enough to recognize the angry undertone to that single syllable.
I forced a laugh. “I, uh, get off at six tonight. Do you mind waiting until then?”
Before Calder could respond, Candy spoke up. “I’m terribly sorry, but I need Ricki to stay late tonight.”
My eyebrows rose. On Sundays, Candy was usually shoving me out the door so fast that there was a trail of smoke behind us.
The friendly gleam in Calder’s eyes chilled into something else. Something that made me shiver. “That’s fine. I can wait.” His gaze moved to me and I realized that he wasn’t just telling Candy that he was willing to be patient, but me as well. It didn’t feel reassuring. In fact, it felt like a threat.
I saw the muscles in my boss’ jaw clench in anger before she forced herself to smile. “You know what, Ricki so rarely goes out after work. I’m sure I can spare her this evening. She’ll be done at six.”
I blinked rapidly. What? Candy was actually being considerate? Calder nodded and turned to leave.
Assuming that he couldn’t hear her, my boss turned to me, arching a single brow. “Well, well, someone’s been keeping secrets,” she murmured. A condescending smile on her face, she patted my arm. “Enjoy it while it lasts. A man like that will get sick of a skank like you within a couple of weeks.”
While Candy had always been bitchy and downright mean, she’d never attacked me so viciously or on such personal terms. Usually, she read me the riot act when I made a mistake or didn’t complete tasks to her exacting standards. She could be a Grade A pain in the ass, but it was always about work, which I could deal. However, I couldn’t believe she had the gall to call me a skank.
I stiffened at her words. My mind went blank when I tried to decide the best way to respond, but I was distracted from my mental fumbling by the sight of Calder turning on his heel and stalking toward us.
Desperately, I shook my head at him, unsure what he intended to do. While she had just crossed the line, I couldn’t let him hurt her. He glowered at me, but stopped his forward momentum. Crossing his arms over his chest, he planted his feet apart and latched burning green eyes onto my boss.
Confused, Candy glanced over her shoulder and squeaked when she saw his angry stare focused on her. I almost felt sorry for her, seeing as she was the one used to intimidating people, not the other way around. Still, she had finally done the one thing I hadn’t thought her capable of; she pissed me off enough that I was finished dealing with her. No amount of money was worth this. I would rather take a drastic cut in pay than continue working at the boutique at the expense of my self-respect.
Since this would likely be my only shot at giving her a piece of my mind, I crossed my arms over my chest and waited for her to face me again. I intended to make this count.
Candy’s face was pinched when looked at me, but my expression must have conveyed exactly what I was thinking, because she scowled at me. “What?” she asked defensively.
“Skank? Really?” I uncrossed my arms and put my hands on my hips before I really cut loose. “I have put up with your nasty, bitchy attitude for too long now because I valued the security this job gave me more than I valued my pride. Actually, even more than I cared about my self-respect.”
Candy blinked at me, her mouth agape.
I leaned forward slightly. “Guess what? Your little snit
Shrugging and grinning sheepishly, Calder dipped his head, looking every inch the charming, self-effacing guy. “I’m sorry. I thought Ricki was off work at five. I waited outside for her, but when she didn’t show, I got worried. That’s why she was telling me to leave when you came out, she knew that it was against store policy.” The affable facade effectively disguised his predatory nature. It also fooled Candy completely. I, however, was immune.
“Oh.” Candy’s reply was abrupt and I knew her well enough to recognize the angry undertone to that single syllable.
I forced a laugh. “I, uh, get off at six tonight. Do you mind waiting until then?”
Before Calder could respond, Candy spoke up. “I’m terribly sorry, but I need Ricki to stay late tonight.”
My eyebrows rose. On Sundays, Candy was usually shoving me out the door so fast that there was a trail of smoke behind us.
The friendly gleam in Calder’s eyes chilled into something else. Something that made me shiver. “That’s fine. I can wait.” His gaze moved to me and I realized that he wasn’t just telling Candy that he was willing to be patient, but me as well. It didn’t feel reassuring. In fact, it felt like a threat.
I saw the muscles in my boss’ jaw clench in anger before she forced herself to smile. “You know what, Ricki so rarely goes out after work. I’m sure I can spare her this evening. She’ll be done at six.”
I blinked rapidly. What? Candy was actually being considerate? Calder nodded and turned to leave.
Assuming that he couldn’t hear her, my boss turned to me, arching a single brow. “Well, well, someone’s been keeping secrets,” she murmured. A condescending smile on her face, she patted my arm. “Enjoy it while it lasts. A man like that will get sick of a skank like you within a couple of weeks.”
While Candy had always been bitchy and downright mean, she’d never attacked me so viciously or on such personal terms. Usually, she read me the riot act when I made a mistake or didn’t complete tasks to her exacting standards. She could be a Grade A pain in the ass, but it was always about work, which I could deal. However, I couldn’t believe she had the gall to call me a skank.
I stiffened at her words. My mind went blank when I tried to decide the best way to respond, but I was distracted from my mental fumbling by the sight of Calder turning on his heel and stalking toward us.
Desperately, I shook my head at him, unsure what he intended to do. While she had just crossed the line, I couldn’t let him hurt her. He glowered at me, but stopped his forward momentum. Crossing his arms over his chest, he planted his feet apart and latched burning green eyes onto my boss.
Confused, Candy glanced over her shoulder and squeaked when she saw his angry stare focused on her. I almost felt sorry for her, seeing as she was the one used to intimidating people, not the other way around. Still, she had finally done the one thing I hadn’t thought her capable of; she pissed me off enough that I was finished dealing with her. No amount of money was worth this. I would rather take a drastic cut in pay than continue working at the boutique at the expense of my self-respect.
Since this would likely be my only shot at giving her a piece of my mind, I crossed my arms over my chest and waited for her to face me again. I intended to make this count.
Candy’s face was pinched when looked at me, but my expression must have conveyed exactly what I was thinking, because she scowled at me. “What?” she asked defensively.
“Skank? Really?” I uncrossed my arms and put my hands on my hips before I really cut loose. “I have put up with your nasty, bitchy attitude for too long now because I valued the security this job gave me more than I valued my pride. Actually, even more than I cared about my self-respect.”
Candy blinked at me, her mouth agape.
I leaned forward slightly. “Guess what? Your little snit
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