Evie’s cheeks tinge pink as she nibbles her bottom lip, ‘it’s OK’ she replies softly, ‘we all have bad days sometimes.’
I nod, sipping my coffee, ‘still it’s no excuse to be sharp with you’ I mutter gruffly, ‘you are . . very good at your job uh . . . ‘
‘Iris’ she fills in for me helpfully.
‘Yes, Iris, ‘I repeat, ‘you are an asset to our team, and I would hate for you to leave us because I can be a bit of a grumpy asshole.’
‘A bit?’ Callan’s voice floats out from his office, ‘I’ve seen storm clouds with more sunshine coming out of them than you.’
‘Shut up dick wad’ I growl back, ‘do some work for a change.’
A loud obnoxious laugh is my only reply as I turn back to Iris and force a smile. ‘Yes, as I was saying, sorry for being an asshole, and if I do it again, which I’ll try not to, don’t be afraid to pull me up about it.’
Iris nods, a smile creasing her lips, ‘you really don’t have to worry Mr Hawthorne’ she murmurs, ‘I love working here and I don’t hold a bad day against anyone.’
‘Call me Caleb please’ I reply impulsively, ‘I feel like a goddamn headmaster when you call me Mr Hawthorne.’
Iris giggles, her bright eyes lighting up, ‘Ok Caleb’ she repeats, ‘and thank you for the apology.’
Nodding, I head back to my office to eat my lunch and finish my work, feeling a little better about myself now I’ve cleared the air with the young woman outside my door.
I manage to get everything done by five o’clock and I lean back in my chair contemplating whether to start on the next job or to pack up early and head home. Images of Tessa flicker in the corners of my mind and my body seems to take on a life of its own as I’m out of my chair, and heading toward the door before I realise what is happening.
Stepping outside I find Iris packing up her bag for the evening. She stops what she’s doing to meet my gaze.
‘Mr Cad . . uh, I mean Caleb’ she quickly corrects herself, ‘do you need anything? I was just about to leave but I can stay a little longer if you need me to.’
I shake my head, smiling down at her, the feeling a little foreign to me, ‘no, no’ I reply, ‘I’m actually on my way out myself.’
‘Late in and early finish, what the hell big bro?’ Gage’s voice sings out behind me and I swear under my breath before turning toward him, finding him holding his coat over his arm, no doubt also finishing for the day.
‘I’ve finished planning out the Dresden job so figured I’d call it a day rather than start on Mahara for an hour and then have to call it quits. I need to make sure his detail goes without a hitch so I don’t want to half ass it.’ I narrow my eyes at my brother, ‘not that I answer to you so you don’t actually need a reason to me finishing early.’
My brother grins back at me, nothing seems to upset this f*cker, ‘oh, I thought maybe you were in a hurry to get home’ he replies smoothly. He tilts his head, studying me, ‘I was thinking of coming round, check on Tessa, make sure she’s settling in OK . . ‘
I snarl angrily before I can stop myself, and the appearance of Callan beside him doesn’t help my mood to soften.
‘Let’s just get the f*ck out of here’ I mutter, turning toward the door and yanking it open, waving for Iris to go first before stepping out behind her, my brother and best friend on my heels.
Locking the door securely, we head down to the parking lot, each splitting away to our vehicles with murmured goodbyes. Rounding my SUV I curse loudly when I spot the flat front tyre on the drivers side.
‘What’s Up?’ Gage asks, detouring from his truck toward me, Callan behind him.
‘Got a flat’ I grumble, glancing up at the darkening sky, ‘and it’s too damn dark to change it. ‘F*ck, I’m gonna need to call a cab and arrange for someone to come out and sort it in the morning.’
Iris totters up beside us, glancing down at my tyre before pursing her lips in thought, ‘I could give you a lift home’ she offers shyly, ‘it’s slightly out of my way.’
Gage shakes his head, holding out his own keys toward me, ‘nah, no need to put yourself out Iris, I wouldn’t subject you to more than a few minutes in Mr Grumpy’s presence alone. He can take my truck and I’ll jump in with Callan.’
Our best friend raises an eyebrow, ‘umm, what if I had things to do? Maybe I have to go to the gym, or I have a woman waiting for me to booty call her?’
Gage shrugs, ‘I’ll buy you pizza and beer tonight and we’ll watch the game’ he offers.
Callan’s face splits into a wide grin as he throws an arm around my brother’s shoulders, hauling him in. ‘Now you are talking my language mate, what are we waiting for, let’s go!’
Waving to Iris again, I watch as she walks back to her own car and climbs inside before heading toward my brother’s truck and getting behind the wheel. We work in a pretty safe neighbourhood, but now the dark nights are rolling in, we probably need to start walking her to her car at the end of the day.
Callan beeps the horn at me as he pulls away and I’m soon alone outside of our office building. Sliding the key into the starter, I slowly back the unfamiliar truck out of my brother’s parking spot and head toward home, my mind wandering to what Tessa might be making tonight for dinner. Whatever it is, I hope it was as good as last nights meal, my mouth is watering just from the thought, or is that because of the hot blonde woman who will be making it.
Tessa’s POV
I potter around the kitchen, humming to myself as the scent of the homemade bolognaise I’ve prepared permeates the air. Picking up the wooden spoon, I taste the sauce, bopping my head side to side as I swallow it before reaching for the spice rack and adding a little more flavour.
Beside the frying pan is a large saucepan that’s full of water, I check my watch, five thirty, still a little early to start heating it to cook the spaghetti.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.