He scowled at her. “I always have a good reason.”
“Maybe in your tightwad skull, but good hosts and waitstaff don’t grow on trees, so you need to learn how to relax and quit being so anal.”
“I know how to relax,” he said.
“Yeah, when you’re not here. At the restaurant, half the staff feels like they have to salute you and the other half is terrified of you.”
His scowl deepened. “Obviously, you don’t feel that way.”
She grinned. “Of course not. I’m indispensable. You can’t get rid of me, which means I can tell you when you’re being a tight ass.
Torin growled at her. “You better hope I don’t find a better manager while I’m out of town or you’ll be out of a job when I get back.”
Addie had the nerve to laugh at him. To his face. “Good luck with that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
“You have a rep, boss. You’re known for being brilliant but nearly impossible to please. The rumors of the five managers you fired before me have spread far and wide. No one is going to risk taking a job they may be fired from within a couple of months. At least no one with real experience.”
She had him there, too. Dammit.
She knew he wouldn’t fire her. She was damn good at her job, she didn’t let his bullshit bother her, and she hired excellent people.
“Fine, so I won’t fire you,” he relented. “But we still need an assistant manager.”
“I know,” she answered with a sigh. “I’ve been looking, but, as I said, with your rep…”
He bit back a wince. Addie got one day off a week, just like he did, because they didn’t have anyone to cover her shifts if she took a day off. Even then, both of them usually ended up at the restaurant for a half day on Sunday to catch up on things they never had time for when it was open.
While he did it because it was his place and he wanted it to succeed, Addie did it because she had no one to help her. Except for him.
“See what you can do,” he said. “Add another ten thousand a year to the salary.”
It was her turn to scowl. “Then, the assistant manager would be making nearly as much as me. You gonna give me a raise, too?”
He thought about the business he was taking care of the next few weeks and the income it would generate.
Biting back a smile, he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned a hip on his desk. “Sure. How about five grand a year?”
Addie scoffed. “I think I deserve at least double.”
“Fine,” he agreed. “Twelve thousand a year.”
Addie laughed. “Sounds good.” She tapped a hand on the door jamb. “Maybe then I could afford a new car.”
She walked away and Torin realized that she thought he was being a smart ass.
Wouldn’t she be surprised when she got her next check?
Chuckling to himself, Torin picked up his cell and made the call to the man who handled his books and payroll. Addie’s next check would hit direct deposit right around the time he rolled back into town.
He couldn’t wait to see her reaction when she realized he was serious.
ChapterThree
Nova had a new job that she loved. No, sheadoredit.
Even when things were crazy and she was swamped, she thrived on every minute of it.
