“Oh, please. Do I look like I can be wooed any easier than you can?”
Most of the women he’d dated treated him as if they were lucky to be with him. Rebecca never did, and that confidence made her sexier than a pretty face and hot body ever could.
“No, you don’t, but will you do me a favor?” He locked the door behind them, and they headed out to the car.
“Maybe.”
“Can you make yourself less attractive when you’re with the customers?”
She stuck her front teeth out like a beaver. “Is this better?”
“Much.”
THE ASTRAL RESORT was known for the casino, but the restaurants were close behind, with stellar reputations and world-renowned chefs. Even at seven thirty in the morning, the kitchen Rebecca was working in smelled heavenly. Rebecca had been paired with Daphne Wrigley for her training period, which she was thrilled about because they’d hit it off right away. Daphne had a mass of fiery red corkscrew curls cropped just below her ears, catlike green and slightly slanty eyes, and flawless olive skin, save for a spray of freckles across the bridge of her upturned nose. She had to be in her fifties, at least, but her snarky attitude made her seem much younger.
“Always look the customers in the eye, and if they get touchy, which they will, just fend them off with smiles, and lots of darlins or if only I wasn’t married.” Daphne lifted Rebecca’s left hand and looked at her ring finger. “It doesn’t matter that you’re not really married.”
“Flirt well, got it.”
“Bigger tips that way.” Daphne glanced at Rebecca’s butt. “Shake it, wiggle it, shift it around, and your tips will triple.”
“Triple?” Pierce would love that. He’d looked so cute when he was jealous. She’d never been with a man who was jealous, and she liked the way he’d handled it with humor instead of in a controlling fashion that would have sent her running for the hills—and running was the last thing she wanted to do.
“Triple.” Daphne pointed out where to turn in her orders and showed her around the kitchen so she’d know exactly what she was doing.
She had been trying not to think about the fact that Pierce owned the resort, but it was hard not to as she took in the massive stainless-steel kitchen with twenty or more employees bustling about. How did one person manage to own so many resorts? It seemed overwhelming to her, but Pierce was perfectly at ease. The few times he’d been reading over his documents or on the phone, discussing business, he was completely focused and serious, but as soon as he hung up, he was perfectly relaxed with her again. He’d even gone from a heated discussion with a man named Jeff to the bedroom with Rebecca five minutes later and, good Lord, the man didn’t miss a beat. She realized now that she hadn’t thought to ask if they should keep their relationship on the down low, but she assumed so, given his position.
“Did you memorize the whole menu?” Daphne asked.
“Of course. Marlow tested me on it.” Marlow was the kitchen manager. She was a serious woman with stern, beady eyes and a forced smile. Luckily, she didn’t appear to micromanage, considering that she’d handed Rebecca over to Daphne and then disappeared.
“Great.” Daphne pressed her shoulder to Rebecca’s and lowered her voice. “If a customer asks you how something’s made and you forget, just compliment them on what they’re wearing or their hair or something. They always forget and move on.” She nodded as if she knew all the tricks, which Rebecca was sure she did.
The breakfast rush kept her on her toes, but orders were simple morning fare. No complications other than gluten-free waffles and egg whites. That she could handle. When it came time for her lunch break, Daphne pulled her aside.
“Whatever you do, make sure you’re back on time. Marlow hates tardiness.”
“I’m just going to look over the employee board to see if I can find a room to rent.”
“You’re looking for a room?” Daphne’s eyes widened.
“Yeah, if I can find one I can afford.”
“I haven’t posted it, but Henry and I are looking for someone to rent a room.”
“Henry?” They’d been so busy that Rebecca and Daphne hadn’t had time to get to know each other on a personal level yet.
“My husband. Been married forever, hon. He’s a good man, my Henry.” Daphne’s voice softened. “You know what they say: Bad things happen to good people, and my Henry, well, he’s a little older than me.” She patted her hair. “He’s sixty-seven, and I’m…forty something.” She winked. “We women count backward when we hit fifty. Anyway, he was laid off from his accounting job at the newspaper six months ago, and we were okay for a while, but things are tight. He’s a little embarrassed about having to rent a room, but we do what we need to.”
“Well, no one knows that better than me.” Rebecca felt like she could confide in Daphne. She leaned in close and whispered, “I’ve had to stay in my car for a few days.”
“Oh, Rebecca.” Daphne placed her hand on her forearm and squeezed. “Hon, we own a three-bedroom house about ten minutes from here. Let’s see if we can help each other. Do you smoke?”
“No.”
“Into late-night partying?” Daphne arched a brow.
“No.” Rebecca hadn’t had a roommate other than her mother for so long that she’d almost forgotten about worries like smoking and partying all night long.
“Drugs?” Daphne asked.
“No. Really, I’m pretty boring.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Yes. Our relationship is still sort of new.” It felt really good to say that. A boyfriend. She had a boyfriend. Oh my God, I have a boyfriend.
“Is he trouble? Because we don’t want guys knocking down our door at midnight, or freaking out and causing fights. No loose cannons.” Daphne put her hand on her hip and shook her head.
“He’s not anything like that. He’s…” Dreamy. “He’s a professional, very nice. He won’t cause any trouble.” Dreamy? Holy cow. Dreamy? What kind of word is that, anyway? That’s never even been in my vocabulary.
“I guess given your situation, you’re looking for a place ASAP?”
“Now. Today. This second.” It dawned on her that she might not be able to afford the room. “How much is the rent?”
“Three hundred, utilities included. Oh, and the room is furnished, so if you have furniture, it may not work.” Daphne touched her arm again. “Please tell me you want to see it.”
“I do, yes, but honestly, as long as your husband isn’t a crazed rapist or serial killer, I don’t even care what the room looks like. I’ll take it.”
Daphne’s eyes widened. “For real?”
“For real. Thank you.” Rebecca said a silent thank-you to her mother, whom she was sure had found more of those heavenly strings after all.
Rebecca took down the address from Daphne and made arrangements to follow her over after work; then she retrieved her purse and went into the break room to check her texts. She was so excited about a finding a place to live that she was ready to burst. I’m doing it, Mom. I’m going to be okay. She realized that it had been so long since she’d had any exciting news to share, other than this job, which she’d shared with Pierce, that she didn’t have anyone to tell. She would tell Andy when she went back to the gym, but when she saw that she’d received a text from Pierce at eight o’clock that morning, sadness pressed in around her. She couldn’t share this with him. He didn’t know she’d been sleeping in her car, and if she could help it, he wouldn’t find out until it was part of her past, not her present.
She read his text. What have you done to me? I can’t concentrate on a darn thing but you. She held her phone against her chest, relishing in the warmth flushing through her body and memories of the look in his eyes when they were making love last night.
She thought of how sincere he’d been when he’d said, Bec, I don’t want any secrets between us, and the way he looked at her when he’d asked if she was running from something. Maybe she was running after all. Running from a world of pitiful looks and sighs. Running from what she could have been if she weren’t as determined as she was. But she couldn’t tell him that, either.
No, she couldn’t tell him any of it. As painful as it had been when she’d pretended not to know why he’d asked her if she wasn’t telling him something, or if she was married, she’d had to do it. Pierce had a big heart, and if he’d heard she was staying in her car, he would have wanted to save her. It wasn’t his fault he was chivalrous. He just was, and she loved that about him as much as she disliked it when it came to her circumstances.
No, this was one secret—the only secret—she’d ever keep from him, and as soon as they were together long enough, she’d reveal that secret to him carefully. He would have to understand that she held it back only to allow their relationship to grow and flourish, pity-free.
ACQUISITIONS WERE LIKE heroine. The mere thought of them brought a rush of adrenaline, and the craving for the next one never receded. Pierce had always been that way. Even as a kid, if he wanted something that belonged to one of his siblings, he’d strategize and plan, then negotiate until it was his. Pierce loved almost every step of the decision-making process, from deciphering the numbers and quantifying the return on investments to the actual negotiations. The only part of the process that wasn’t invigorating was the due diligence process. Pierce didn’t like to wait for answers, and he abhorred dishonesty. When he found a snake in the grass, which he had many times in his business dealings, it not only pissed him off, but pushed him from reasonable to ruthless.