“Yes, sir,” she snapped.
I closed my eyes and rubbed a hand over my face. Damn. Not what I wanted to deal with today. I pulled out my wallet and counted my cash. Eight hundred and change. I handed it over. “Gimme the keys.”
Her hands went to her hips. “What the fuck, Talon?”
“You can tell people you quit. I don’t care.”
“I’m not quitting,” she said belligerently.
“Well, you sure as shit ain’t workin’ here with that attitude.”
“What fucking attitude?”
“Jesus Christ, darlin’, do us both a favor and take the cash.”
“Did you just call me darlin’?”
Shit. “Here we go.”
“Darlin’. Darlin’? What. The fuck? You think you can call me that shit? You think I’m one of your fuck bunnies? Do I look like a fucking Talon-the-god groupie? Do I fucking sparkle? I’m a goddamn sparkle bunny now?” she yelled.
“Sparkle bunny?” Now I was yelling. “Are you out of your fuckin’ mind? What the fuck are you talkin’ about?”
“Talon? Is this a bad time?”
Both our heads spun toward my office door.
Kendall pointed at Georgia. “That. Is a sparkle bunny.”
Red sticky lips, fake tits, tight-ass clothes, Georgia’s strawberry-blonde curls bounced as she looked between us.
“Hey, Peaches,” I said wearily.
“I brought you breakfast.” Georgia smiled wide.
Cute as hell but dumb as fuck, I’d made the mistake of sleeping with her twice and hadn’t been able to shake her since. I nicknamed her Peaches for obvious reasons. She baked like a goddess but bored the fuck out of me in bed. I didn’t have the heart to tell her to take a hike. As a result, I got muffins and shit a few times a week. “Thanks, darlin’. Kinda busy right now firin’ Kendall.”
“Oh!” Georgia gasped and put a hand over her mouth.
Kendall snorted. “This is the type of shit you want to hire?”
I looked at Georgia holding a basket of muffins while covering her mouth. Kendall might’ve had a point.
“That’s what I thought.” Kendall pushed past Georgia and snatched the basket from her hand. “I’ll take these.” She waltzed out of my office.
“Fuck,” I muttered.
You okay? Georgia mouthed.
“Terrific.” I ran a hand through my hair.
Georgia tiptoed to the door, peeked out then turned and looked at me. “She’s still here,” she stage-whispered.
No shit. “I know.”
She blinked. Twice.
“I’ve got work to do, darlin’. Thanks for breakfast.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiled wide but she didn’t take the hint.
“I’m goin’ in the workshop now,” I explained.
“Okay,” she said cheerfully. “See you later.” She spun to go and her skirt flared out in back, giving me an eyeful.
Damn. “Peaches,” I called.
She looked over her shoulder with an expression I was sure she practiced in the mirror. Lips puckered, ass out, it might’ve worked if I didn’t know her.
“You got a boyfriend?” I asked.
“Tal-lon.” She giggled, blushing.
“Because I’ve got a girlfriend now,” I lied. “You should stop bringin’ me food. I don’t wanna make her jealous.”
Her eyes went wide and her mouth formed a perfect O. “Okay,” she whispered.
I winked, pretending not to notice the hurt in her voice. “Glad you understand. Close the door on your way out?” I picked some papers up off my desk and stared at them.
“Okay.” She might’ve sniffled. “Bye, Talon,” she said sadly.
“Bye.” I purposely didn’t use her name because I’m an asshole like that.
I waited until the door closed then I sunk into my chair. My head in my hands, I fought the urge to go back home.
Two seconds later, the door flew open and Kendall waltzed in. “It’s safe to come out, sparkle bunny left. Besides, your pickup for tanks is here. Come do your macho shit. Lifting SCUBA tanks isn’t in my job description.”
“What tank pickup? I didn’t order new ones.”
Kendall strolled over to my desk and hovered over me while she riffled through pink message slips on my desk until she found the one she wanted. “This one.” She pointed.
Sure enough, an order for a dozen tanks. “Fuck.”
“Uh-huh. What’s that? You forgot to order them? Because you weren’t here?”
“Jesus, Kendall.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Good thing I ordered them and they came in yesterday. I’m awesome like that. You’re welcome. Let’s go, hero, you got some muscles to flex.” She sauntered out.