“Wyatt!I’m taking my lunch break!”
“Forty-five minutes today,” he called out, his head stuck under the hood of a car.
That just wasn’t going to do. I’d been taking shorter lunches all week to accommodate him. But today, I needed the full hour.
Rushing over to him, I prepared to beg. “I need the full hour today. I have some errands to run, and?—”
“Does this have to do with your long-awaited date tonight?” he asked, pulling his head out from under the hood. Pulling the rag from his back pocket, he wiped his hands as he gave me a pointed look.
“Maybe.”
“Bailey, we have a shit ton of work to do today. I don’t give a shit about your plans. When there’s work to be done?—”
“When I was hired, you told me I would get an hour lunch break,” I interjected. “Every time you’ve told me to be back early, I’ve done it without complaint, and I have never once said anything about the factthat I don’t get paid for those extra fifteen minutes. Nor will I. But today, I need the extra fifteen minutes, and I’m taking it.”
I had the unfortunate habit of being too outspoken at the worst times, but it couldn’t be helped. Those fifteen minutes were absolutely necessary, and I was not backing down.
Even to Wyatt Callahan.
I held my breath in anticipation as he glowered at me with his green eyes. He had a way of intimidating everyone around town with his less-than-stellar personality and the charm of a box of razors.
Not to mention, his whole family was well known around town for being rather difficult to deal with. But I’d never given in to the gossip about him and his family. Yes, he could be a bear to work for, but he’d never given me cause to dislike him.
“Fine. An hour.”
“Thank you. I promise I’ll be back on time.”
He nodded, and I didn’t waste another minute on him, already sprinting for the door. But before I could reach it, he called out to me.
“Bailey!”
Cringing, I turned back to him. “Yeah?”
“Take an extra half hour.”
Stunned, I just stared at him. “Huh?”
“You’re right. You have been giving extra time to me. So, just this once, take an extended lunch. But be back here at one-thirty, and not a minute later.”
I could have kissed him, but wisely, I kept my hands and lips to myself, smiling as I ran out the door.
By the time I made it toThe Last Best Place For Style—a play on Montana’s uncommonly known nickname—Cheyenne was already waiting for me.
“It’s about time!” she snapped, dragging me into the store. “We don’t have much time left, and you’re all sweaty!”
“I had to run, but Wyatt gave me an extra half hour.”
“That’s surprisingly nice of him.”
“Yes, but there’s no time to talk about my rake of a boss. Where’s Ellie?”
“She’s already got things waiting for you in the dressing room. And I got wipes for you to…clean up as best you can,” she grimaced, running an eye over me.
“Relax, I wore my coveralls. I’m just sweaty. It could be worse.”
“It could be better,” she sighed. “Oh well. Better get moving.”
Ellie popped her head out of the dressing room, smiling brightly at me. “So, a date with Liam Parker. That’s quite the catch. I heard he shoved you up against his truck last night and had his way with you.”
