“Come on little mouse,” he says as he nods toward the door and then to me.“I suppose I should introduce you to the rest of the staff.”
Maverick’s good mood slips a bit, and he doesn’t appear happy with this chore.
“You don’t have to.I’m happy to stay here if you’ve got some more work for me.”
“Nah, it needs to happen.”He stands up from his desk like an idea hit him.“Hang on, I’ve got what you need.”He walks over to the closet door and grabs a black shirt out of it.“Here’s a uniform.”Maverick hands it to me, and I glance down at what I’m already wearing.It’s basically the same thing, and when I look up at him, he points to the bathroom.“Go ahead and try it on.”
I duck into the bathroom to remove my other shirt before putting the new one on.It’s black with nothing on the front, but across the shoulders on the back in bold letters is his last name.Is this a uniform?What do I know?I slip it on, and it practically swallows me whole.It’s massive, and I step out to show him.
“May I?”he asks and nods to the shirt.“I can fix it.”
“Sure,” I tell him before he gets down on his knees in front of me.He manages to tie it on the side, and though it’s still pretty big, it’s a lot better.
“I’ll see about getting you smaller ones,” he says, and I’m about to tell him he doesn’t have to when he keeps going.“We’ll go get your smoothie first, and then I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
“Smoothie?”
“From next door.You said you wanted one.”
“Oh!No, I was going to say they have a sign up that they’re hiring.I thought, depending on the hours I work here, I could get a second job.”
“Juliet, whatever hours you want, you can have them right here.As many or as few as you like.You don’t need to go anywhere else for work.”
“Are you sure?”I ask, trying not to fidget nervously.
“Yes, I’m more than sure,” he says, his deep voice low and soft.“I want you right here.”
“Mmkay,” I find myself agreeing, and the flutter inside of me hits harder than ever before.
CHAPTEREIGHT
MAVERICK
My good mood begins to sour as soon as we step out of the office together.Why did I think having her around all these guys was a good idea?I mean, I know my guys are good and they’d never do anything to hurt her.The fight last night wasn’t the usual crew that’s here all the time, and that had me worried, but the men that work here I trust with my life.But suddenly I’m looking at them in a new light, and it’s like it’s show and tell and I’ve brought my favorite toy from home.Now I’m not so sure I want them looking at it after all.
Juliet looks beautiful with her red hair piled up in a messy bun and my name stretched across her back.I’ve never felt so possessive of anything before, and I don’t know why it’s happening now.Something about the way she blushes shyly when she smiles and scrunches her nose when she laughs.Every little motion of her hands when she’s nervous makes me want to memorize her like an instruction manual.I’ve got a burning desire to know everything about her and then some.
“Let’s go to the training ring.Kincade has a couple of regulars this afternoon,” I say as I force myself to walk beside Juliet and not take her hand.As much as I want to, I don’t want to embarrass her in front of all the guys here and have them talking shit to her.They can do that to me all they want, but I’ll do everything I can to shield her from it.
“Boss,” Kincade shouts when he sees me coming his way.“Last night’s cut is in the safe, and one of the guys—” He stops talking when he glances beside me and sees Juliet standing there.
His eyes widen like he didn’t know there was someone with me, and maybe he didn’t.I’m so much bigger than she is, my body probably blocked her from his view.I don’t miss the way he puffs his chest out and flexes his arms as he leans against the ropes.
“Well, who do we have here?”His grin is playful, but I’ve been to bars with him.I’ve seen him flirt and pull women without so much as a word.All he has to do is flash that pretty face, and they follow him home like lost kittens.
“She’s mine,” I grit out before I can stop myself or think better of it.My back tenses, and then suddenly I feel Juliet’s small hand on my back, and the touch does something to me.It eases the beast inside of me roaring to get out.As soon as I have my flash of anger under control, I clear my throat.“She’s my new office girl.This is Juliet.”
“Hello there, Juliet,” Kincade says in a smooth voice that is far too familiar for my liking.“I see you’ve got the big man riled up.I think you’re going to fit in here nicely.”
His eyes move up and down her body, and I’m two seconds away from climbing in that ring and knocking his teeth out.
“Really?”Juliet flashes me one of her pretty smiles before she looks back at Kincade.“He was in a great mood until he laid eyes on you.”
Kincade and I both let out a bark of laughter as Juliet elbows me playfully.
“Oh, I like her,” Kincade says, and that sobers me up.
“Check the name on her shirt, and keep your distance,” I tell him before I take Juliet by the elbow and lead her away from the ring.If I’m not mistaken, a little giggle escapes her as we go toward the strength and conditioning area.
