“No, thanks.” She dug around in her hobo bag for the package she had tossed in there a few weeks ago. “Here,” she said. “I’ve got muffins."
Theo's lip curled. “You’re eating that for breakfast?”
Amber took a bite of the mini muffin and moaned. Spongy, cakey deliciousness. Maybe a little stale, but these things never went bad. That was the beauty of them. “Muffins?” she said around a mouthful. “You know. The breakfast food?”
“You mean those preservative-packed chemical shit storms? No, thanks. I'd rather eat something that doesn’t have a shelf life longer than my car."
"Oh, lighten up. This is the breakfast of champions,” she grinned and waved the half-eaten muffin under his nose.
“Thank you, no.” He turned around and started to make his concoction. Amber hiked herself onto the counter next to him.
“Do you mind?” he asked.
“I like to watch,” she said, flaking off a blue spot from her muffin before she popped the rest in her mouth. She really hoped it was a blueberry and not mold. “So, what’s on the agenda?”
“I have an interview at ten withCityScape Magazine,” he said, pouring a thick, gelatinous mass of green slime into a glass.
The sight of his tanned forearm flexing distracted her. His shirtsleeves were rolled back, exposing the gold-tipped hair and heavy gold watch on his wrist. A hint of heat flared.Down, girl.“And a Zoom call before that.”
“I’d probably be a grouch if I started my day like that too,” she said.
“This is me on a good day,” he said dryly. “There’s still time to quit.”
“I’m not a quitter, Mr. Mayor.” She slid off the counter and beamed up at him. “Your life is going to be so organized, you won’t even recognize it.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” He sighed and held out a set of keys. “Meet me in the garage.”
“I get to drive?” she asked hopefully. No way was she going to get that lucky. Betty was cute and mostly reliable and all, but boring as hell to drive.
“Consider it a necessity. I need to take a call, and I’d rather not break the law.”
“And we both know you’re a rule follower, aren’t you?” She made grabby hands. “Give ‘em to mama.”
She made sure to put some extra oomph in her step on her way to the garage. She rather liked the sound of her heels making noise in the silent house.
His workday hadn’t even started,and he was already regretting hiring her. Ford owed him big time. He did not have time to be distracted by the bit of fluff trying to wiggle her butt into the car and hiking her skirt up her smooth, tanned thighs.
When he first saw her at his door this morning, he had stopped in his tracks and stared at her while she had her back turned, knocking on his door. She was...outrageous. All of her curves encased in that tight white skirt and red top designed to draw attention to her bare shoulders. Some kind of knot caught up her cotton candy hair with pieces tumbling around her face. He had the strangest desire to see if the pink strands were as soft as they looked. And then there were the silly, strappy heels. Theo was gone for a gorgeous pair of legs in high heels. He knew hiring her was a terrible idea.
“Get in, loser! We’ve got places to go,” she yelled, and slammed the door closed.
He opened the door. And held out his hand for the keys.
“Kidding, boss, kidding. It’s fromMean Girls. You know?” She blinked up at him, all innocent and sweet, but he knew better.
He crossed his arms and glared.
She hiked her chin and glared right back.
“Okay, okay. I get it,” she finally said, seeming to weigh her options. “You’re not a movie quote guy. I’m sorry.”
Theo wasn’t fooled for a second. This woman was the most impulsive, reckless woman he had ever met, and it wasn’t a compliment. He was going to be late for two meetings if he didn’t give over the keys, which he did reluctantly.
She turned to him. “It’s a really funny movie where?—”
“Just drive,” he snapped. The less they talked, the easier it would be to fire her. Theo had nodoubt that was going to happen. There was no way she could handle all that the job entailed, but at least he could tell Ford he tried with a clear conscience.
“So, where to, boss man?”
