And probably has.
I glare at him instead.
“I always keep my promises,” I say.
“Good to know.” His eyes glint. “Just wondering. If I pay you double, will you be nice to me too?”
“Triple it, and maybe.” I study him a little closer. He doesn't look angry like he did at the lake. He looks… weirdly entertained. “But I’m not so sure you like ‘nice.’”
“Nice is boring,” he agrees.
“Then why pay triple to be bored?”
“Because I’d rather be bored than pissed off. Stay out of freezing lakes and I’ll stay out of your business. Do a good job watching over my son, and you and I can keep things pleasantly distant and professional. Do we have a deal?”
“Deal.”
This is the point at which people usually clasp hands and shake on it. Except that we both seem to notice at the same time that there's no way to do that, because he's still holding my hand from when he helped me up from the chair.
So instead of shaking hands, we both suddenly drop our grip by abrupt mutual agreement.
My palm stays warm where his hand was.
“Monday,” he says. “Be on time.”
He’s usingthattone. The one that says he's used to giving commands. To being listened to. Which he is, of course, by millions of people and probably a whole team of professionals dedicated to him.
Except I’m not registering that tone as professional. Instead, that deep, velvety voice is one I’m feeling run right down my spine. Settling directly between my thighs.
Which is another experience I likely share with lots of women. A fact that’s especially humiliating given that he's my new boss and I've known him for about two hours.
I can’t believe I’m signing up to be ordered around by him for three months straight. This seems like a bad idea.
“Triple the pay, right?” I say.
Those green eyes glimmer. No doubt he’s hearing the hint of sass underneath my words. Maybe he’s kind of liking it, for some reason. “That’s what I said.”
I can’t believe he’s agreeing to this. I mean, he can easily afford it, but still. For me, it’s an astronomical sum. This will pay for a year’s rent for my New York apartment. A new airconditioner for Momma’s trailer. I can even send a hefty donation to the Marble Falls food pantry. Momma and I relied on it for a long time. Now I can finally give something back.
All right. At least I’ll be getting paid well to paste on a smile. I give him one now. Ultra-sweet. “Then of course I’ll be on time, Mr. Rhodes.”
“Walker,” he growls.
I bat my eyelashes. “Walker. You’ll be happy to know I’m very good at following instructions. When they're worth following. Sir.”
I have the satisfaction of watching his jaw tighten, watching him work to keep his expression neutral and almost manage it. Those green eyes go so dark they’re nearly black. It sends a flush straight up my cheeks, and I'm very glad I'm already turning away.
I put a little extra sway into my hips as I do.
It's petty and I know it.
I can practically feel his eyes burning a hole into me from behind. I make it all the way to the door before I realize I'm smiling.
I always did like getting the last word.
I’m not gonna think too hard on the fact that it was to call him “sir” in a voice that was practically a purr.
Chapter 5
