Page 14 of Hard to Hold
Wolfe’s tone was soothing when he spoke again, the deep rumble of his voice reassuring. “The job’s yours if you want it. You can start whenever you’re ready, but the sooner the better.”
“And the pay?” That was what it would all boil down to.
“We’ll start you out at twenty dollars an hour if that’s good for you.”
Twenty dollars an hour? Wow. I wasn’t expecting more than thirteen or fourteen. And that had been more like wishful thinking on my part. I didn’t even know what the going rate for an office manager was.
Nodding, I tried to calm the pounding of my heart. “I’ll … uh … need to give notice at the diner.”
Wolfe nodded, then pulled open a drawer.
My eyes flew to his hand, watching intently.
He pulled out a packet of paper and slid it over.
“I’ll need you to fill out the paperwork.”
My palms started to sweat. This was the part I was dreading. I'd managed to convince Reagan to pay me cash. She had agreed since most of my earnings were from tips, anyway. The diner had been a little more difficult, but they finally agreed, with the warning that if I stayed for more than a couple of months, I would have to go on the payroll. The day I had walked in, the place had been in chaos, their last waitress having bolted after a heated argument with the cook. Luck had been on my side that day.
It wasn’t that I didn’t have the necessary documents for employment. I had a birth certificate and a driver’s license. The birth certificate had been in a safe deposit box, which had allowed me to get another driver’s license after…
“That gonna be a problem?” Wolfe’s tone didn’t change.
“No,” I lied, wringing my hands together in my lap. “Can I fill it out at home?”
“Of course.”
When Wolfe didn’t say anything more, I got to my feet, smoothing my dress down and picking up the papers.
Ever the gentleman, he moved to the door and opened it for me.
This time, when I passed him, I breathed in deeply. He smelled like sawdust and something spicy. It was a smell I could get used to.
Not that I would.
“Just let me know when you wanna start,” Wolfe said as he followed me back down the stairs.
“I … uh … will.” I didn’t look back at him, instead keeping my attention on the door.
I thought I was home free when another looming presence filled the space.
Sheriff Trevino.
I fought the urge to look at Wolfe, to question whether this was a setup.
The sheriff’s deep blue gaze swerved to me, following as I traipsed down the stairs. If I wasn’t mistaken, he was checking out my legs.
I was okay with that.
Well, more okay than if he’d come here to corner me.
Deep breath.
I continued toward the door, half expecting the sheriff to lunge for me.
He didn’t.
In fact, he didn’t move, but he did remove his hat and offer a smile.
