Take the Fall (Take the Fall, #1)(22)

“Yeah. That girl is always busy.” Jase sits up, rubbing the back of his neck. He won’t meet my eyes. “Would you do me a favor and make sure you invite Piper? She’s been real good to me, and I’d like to thank her in person.”

I level him with a look. “You want Piper Ross, aka my best friend, to come to one of our parties? The same girl who you said walked around like she was afraid of her own shadow?”

“Piper wrote me when other people didn’t give a damn. Bribe her if you have to,” he almost shouts, then lowers his voice. I think it’s completely insane he wants Piper and Giselle at his coming-home party, or that he wants anything to do with Giselle at all.

Then again, she’s a sure thing and she’s someone Jase has a history with, so I guess I can’t be all that judgmental. After all, I sexed up my ex at work.

“I need Piper there, Ro. Promise me you’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen,” he pleads.

“Don’t I always?”

A slow grin kicks up his lip at the corner. “Thank you. And could you pick me up next Friday? Around three in the afternoon?”

“Yep,” I say cheerfully. My cheeks begin to hurt from smiling so big, but I don’t care. “I’ll even drive your car and then let you drive home.”

He nods, grinning. “Awesome.”

“One more thing,” he adds and my stomach flips. The last time that phrase was uttered, Seth kicked me out of his life.

I raise my eyebrows, not trusting myself to speak.

“Invite O’Connor, too.”

—

Seth shows up at the shop bright and early at seven thirty Monday morning. He looks all clear eyed, despite the drive from Jacksonville this morning that probably had him leaving around four a.m. Honestly, I’m surprised he kept true to his word and came back.

Actually, I’m more than surprised—I’m relieved. I fully expected him to say screw it, and not return until he had paperwork from Shaw to sign.

He hands me a cup of coffee. “I picked this up on the way here. Hope you still like it the same way.”

Another peace offering? I’ll take it, but nothing else. I don’t trust myself around Seth. I don’t trust him. But I do give him a friendly smile. Sometimes it’s better to play nice than to start WWIII. “I do like it the same way. Thank you. We’re shorthanded today, so you’re going to cover for Linda at the front desk.”

He looks at me in confusion. “The front desk?”

“I’m sorry. Did you expect to lounge around and watch everyone work while you collected a paycheck?” I don’t know why I come at him like that. He’s not even collecting a paycheck.

Boyd laughs, and a few of the guys join in.

Oh, crap. First rule of working with men: Don’t make them feel less than a man in front of other men.

A muscle in his jaw ticks. “The front desk is great. I’ll get right on it.” He strides away, his hands clenching into fists.

I blink after him. He was well within his rights to mouth back at me or—worse—fire me, but he didn’t. He showed me respect when I didn’t deserve it.

“Hey, Seth,” I call out, trailing behind him. “Let me show you what to do. Linda’s job is super important, so—”

“You’ll put the new guy up front?” With a wry smile, he moves around the counter, hooking his thumbs into the pocket of his jeans. His shirt slides up a little, giving me a glimpse of hard abs and his happily-ever-after trail that I’d followed many times before.

He clears his throat, and I yank my gaze away, even as heat creeps up my neck. “Everyone will love the new eye candy.” I know I do. Not him…the view. “We have a lot of female customers, and Boyd just isn’t as pretty as he used to be.”

“Hey,” Boyd shouts. “I resent that remark.”

Seth merely grunts.

“Look, whatever you plan on doing is out of my hands, but if you want to keep Gardner’s, then the people here need to get to know you again. They’ll need to associate a name with a face,” I point out.

“And I really do need your help,” I add softly.

“Show me what to do, Little Boss,” he says all businesslike and I frown. Where is his big plan to drag me off to bed? Or my plan to sex him up so I can get my way?

Oh, right, I’d insulted him as soon as I saw him. In front of everyone.

Stupid, stupid, Rowan.

I move to join him behind the counter and set my coffee cup down. I brush his hand away from the mouse, my skin tingling at the contact. He sucks in a breath.

“This is where you find the menu for jobs.” I scroll down and begin to type a message to him as I simultaneously explain how to record a transaction.

I’ll be home tonight. Will you?

He glances at me and I smile, letting my hands fall away from the keyboard. “Why don’t you give it a try?”

“All right.”

Yes, he types.

I narrow my eyes at him. He gives me a look. “That’s good, but you forgot this part here.”

Take me to bed and make love to me, I reply.

I look up at him, wanting to apologize but I can’t. I can’t force the words out of my mouth.

“Damn it, Rowan.” His hands shake as he replies.