“Tim!” one of the guys at the door yells, and he quickly puts his mug in the dishwasher before coming over to me, grabbing my upper arm again, and searching my eyes. “You gonna be okay?”
“Sure, I’m going to tell Tally you did amazing. Thank you.” I smile at him.
“Gosh, thanks. I’m in the doghouse again. Forgot to bring home the chocolate I promised yesterday.” He cringes.
“Well, that was just dumb.” I chuckle, “I’ll get some before my shift at the restaurant later.”
I will gladly spend my money on her after she sent him to look out for me.
“You’re amazing. Try to survive, and when he bugs you, just tell him…” Tim starts to run to the exit but turns to jog backward and yells as he mimics a loudspeaker with his hands, “… not today, Satan!”
I giggle and open the energy drink, taking a sip. It’s cold and bubbly and everything I need to start the day, so I begrudgingly thank Nash silently for it.
It seems like all the fishermen are out for the day, so I square my shoulders and am ready to tackle whatever will be thrown at me when I turn and nearly walk into a wide chest clad in a business suit.
Speaking of Satan…
“I don’t think I pay you for standing around.”
My tone dripswith irritation as I eye her. Her name alone is enough to annoy me.
Sloan.
No wonder I thought she was a man.
She raises an eyebrow, unimpressed by my snide remark, and takes a slow sip of her energy drink. Her casual defiance grates on my nerves. Her clothes are too clean, too fitted for this kind of job. I can’t help but notice how her white cropped top accentuates her curves, and the hideous blue overalls hug her figure just right. Her big hazel eyes are even more accentuated now that her blonde hair is in two braids on her shoulders. She looks more like she’s here for a photo shoot than to get her hands dirty, just like the Barbie doll I pegged her to be.
I don’t need cute. I need someone who can work without breaking a nail.
What the hell should I do with her here, Hunter?
“I was just waiting for you to show me where to start,” Sloan retorts with a hint of a smirk, her eyes locking onto mine.
The audacity.
I clench my jaw, biting back the urge to say something even nastier. Instead, I turn on my heel and walk toward the row of boats. I look over my shoulder to see her trailing behind me, her braided hair swaying with each step. The image of those braidswrapped around my fist while I pound her from behind comes to mind, and I curse myself for it.
That sure as fuck doesn’t help anything.
As we approach the boats, I don’t bother to look back at her again. “There are three boats that need repairs. I need at least one back on the water by tomorrow.”
Sloan doesn’t respond immediately, and I can feel her annoyance simmering. Good. Maybe she’ll reconsider her choice to work here. She’s clearly out of her depth.
She finally speaks, and her voice is a mix of sarcasm and defiance. “Got it, boss. You don’t have to bore me with all the details.”
I scoff at her snarky comment as I turn around to look at her. “Don’t mistake me for a babysitter. You’re here to work, not to sass.”
She doesn’t say anything else, but I can practically feel her seething and see tears brimming in her eyes. Fine by me. Let her stew in her frustration.
She walks up to one of the boats beside a table with tools on it. Some mechanical parts of the boat are scattered on the table, left there by William when he was trying to fix them. She looks them over, touching some and holding others up to inspect.
I have to suppress a huff. If she thinks she can handle this job, she’s in for a rude awakening.
As I watch her move around the space, a small part of me can’t help but be drawn to her. There’s a fire in her eyes, a determination that’s hard to ignore. It’s infuriating and intriguing all at once. And that thought, as much as I hate to admit it, gnaws at the edges of my irritation.
“What do I—” She starts when she turns back to look at me, but I just turn and walk over to the stairs leading up to my office.
I don’t have time for this shit.
