Hailey
“I was applying for a job because I need the money. I’m not making enough at the diner, and I thought I could work a day job and keep my dinner shifts at the restaurant.”
Hailey was more relaxed than she had in forever since before her father passed. Her stomach was full of the best burger and fries she’d eaten in years, prompting her to wonder why a man like Hal ate at her diner when he could eat at a five-star for lunch.
Now they were back at the desk, but the interview was not typical. She almost giggled at that thought. Way not typical! He’d spanked and taken her in the best, most delicious experience of her life by a man she found crazy sexy, and nowhe was keeping his word. When was the last time such a dreamy man had been around? That answer was simple.
Never!
“Earth to Hailey.”
She focused on Hal. “Sorry, Sir. Could you repeat the question?”
Hal offered her a real smile. Not the smirks from earlier, before they had the most amazing sex of her life. Hailey was gone again, thinking of how perfect their time together had been and trying not to go down the rabbit hole of wondering.Would it happen again?
“My question was you had the lunch shifts. When did you get switched to nights?”
Hailey squirmed on the leather padded chair. His question reminded her that despite all of today’s wonderfulness, she had issues and they got her into trouble. What would Hal think about that?
“I was told on Friday. I only work from 4 to 9 pm three nights per week now. Like I said, not even close to enough to live off, never mind my step monster.”
Hal looked like he wanted to laugh, but he cleared his throat instead. “Hailey, why were your hours changed? And…before you give me a song and dance, let me remind you I have a slew of rulers in my desk that I’m more than happy to introduce you to.”
Hailey gulped. It was entirely her fault why her hours had been changed and reduced but she didn’t want to tell him.
“Hailey,” Hal growled with meaning.
“I left early on Friday to pay my bill as you said. If I’d paid online, it would have taken until Monday for them to process the transaction, so I left early to uh pay it.”
Hal eyed her speculatively.
“And did you?”
Hailey squirmed in her chair, wishing the chair would swallow her up.
“You have three seconds to give me a yes or no, Hailey. Hal looked sternly at her as if daring her to not answer in the allotted time.
“No,” she whispered and dropped her eyes to the floor, following the lines in the hardwood. Lines, numbers, and graphs all made her focus.
“Look at me, sweet girl.”
The demand in his voice brooked no denial. She didn’t want to see the disappointment on his face that she’d not done as he’d instructed. Raising her gaze toward his felt like tearing off a bandage, and she flinched, expecting the expression she hoped to avoid.
Hal smiled at her encouragingly. “I’m a safe place, Hailey. I won’t judge you. I may make suggestions and put rules in place to help you, but I will never judge you.”
Hailey’s spirits rose. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Whew,” she blew out a breath, and relaxed her grip on her seat a little. “No. I did not pay the bill. But I have a good reason.”
Hal nodded his head for her to continued.
“Outside of the bank was a veteran, who was old and had no legs and he needed help.”
Hal didn’t look surprised at her confession.
“I didn’t give him the money, well, not all of it anyway. There was a restaurant across the street, so I took him to get takeout. And well I couldn’t just let him get one meal, so I got him muffins and bottles of water and fruit from the store around the corner. He was so happy and appreciative.”
