Devil You Know(Lost Boys Book 1)(93)

“What the fuck.”

“Sorry. I forgot.”

“Sorry?”

“Yes, sorry.”

It was fascinating watching him because he really looked like a man who was in imminent danger of his head flying off his shoulders. He wasn’t wrong to be angry. We’d just had this conversation yesterday.

“How did you know I was here?” Sure he had suggested I check the place out, but how did he know I was actually here?

No answer, not surprising. I did feel badly so I sought to explain. “I took your suggestion and I’m interviewing for a job, trial run, and I’ve been moving nonstop for the past three hours, but I should have remembered to check in. I really am sorry, Damian.”

“Where’s your phone?”

I reached for my phone that was in my pocket. It was dead. I had forgotten to charge it. In fairness to me I wasn’t big on cell phones, I rarely used it, but I had to get used to using it at least for a little while.

“I forgot to charge it.”

He looked about ready to explode again.

“I’ll charge it when I get back to the house.”

“Charge your fucking phone.” He pressed closer to me and lowered his voice. “And don’t fucking forget to call me.”

I said I was sorry. And so on principal I bit my tongue on the sorry I almost offered again.

Janice called my name but I knew she was there before she spoke because Damian’s attention had turned from me to someone just behind me. I could not describe the look he gave her, but never once had his head turned when we were together, so seeing it turn now was like taking a kick to the gut. And to add insult to injury, we were supposed to be married and yet my husband was eyeing my potential boss right after he had disciplined me like a child.

“Could you not do that?” My whisper was more a hiss.

His eyes came back to me.

“We’re supposed to be married. I realize I’m not in her league, but could you at least fake it.”

He didn’t answer. Big surprise. I turned as Janice approached and she looked hungry. I didn’t want to watch Daman and Janice because there was something there. I hated witnessing the love of my life having a moment with another, but he was having a moment and he did nothing to stop it.

“I was just going to offer your wife a job.”

Great now they were talking about me like I wasn’t there. I eyed the door. Perhaps Charlie’s Chicken Hut was the way to go after all. I could totally rock that chicken costume—a little swagger, a little attitude—totally doable.

Her next question had me seeing red. “Is that a problem?”

Was it a problem? She wouldn’t offer me the job if Damian had an issue with it? Seriously? Sure, he stormed in here like a bull and they didn’t know the real reason for his anger, but still her question pissed me off. Or maybe it was the way she was looking at him that pissed me off.

“You know what? I don’t need his approval for a job, and I don’t want to work some place where the idea that I did was even considered. Thanks for the opportunity, but no thanks.” I handed her my tray and apron, gave Damian my best withering glare, and walked out. It was Charlie’s Chicken Hut after all because there was no way I was going to be alone in that house with that man. There had been countless emotions Damian Tate had brought out in me over the years, but he had never acted in a way that hurt me. But whatever the hell that was in there just now with Janice fucking hurt.

Standing on the corner, peering down the street at what would be my catwalk as Charlie the Chicken, the temptation to walk into traffic was strong. And why the fuck if you were selling chicken would you make your mascot a chicken? A chicken promoting the eating of other chickens was just so terribly wrong in a Hannibal Lecter kind of way.

“Don’t do it.”

I turned at the humor-laced voice to find Maureen standing behind me.

“It can’t be that bad.”

“You’re looking at the new mascot for Charlie’s Chicken Hut.”

“Oh…on second thought.”

Her response was not what I was expecting. I laughed, like a real belly laugh. Humor once again eased the pain. “Thank you, Maureen, I needed that.”

“Instead of becoming a hood ornament, how would you feel about working for me at the nursery?”

Sure I met her once, but I was a stranger on the street, literally, and she was offering me a job. You had to love this town. “Seriously?”

“I can’t offer much, but Charlie.” She shivered.

“I’ll work for free.”

“No I couldn’t.”

“I have a job, graphic design, I just want to get out of the house and interact a bit. You would be doing me a huge favor.”