Page 26 of Delicious Surrender
He looked at her like she had two heads. “He doesn’t have to tell anyone what he wants.” His gaze hardened. “I would hate to think you’ve forgotten that already.”
“Um, no, of course not. Sorry Bill.”
“Get going, Tink, and have a good night.”
“Thanks, same to you.” Dread plagued Brynne as she went down the back steps. What on earth had she been thinking? She was a rookie playing with a professional.
She knocked and waited, ringing her hands. The door swung open, and he stood there, looking her over. She instantly regretted not changing out of her uniform before coming to see him. Her hair had come undone, she had no lipstick left, and food stains marred her skirt.
“Please come in, Miss Larimore. I’d like a word with you.” He stepped aside, and she went toward the chair opposite his desk. “Not there. Take a seat on the chesterfield.”
She perched on the edge of the cushion and waited for the inevitable.
Gage was leaning on the edge of his desk with his arms crossed. “Tell me, do you like working here?”
“Yes, I do. I like it very much, sir.”
“I presume you read all the employment documents thoroughly and you understand what we expect of you?”
She stammered, “Yes, I understand. I want to apologize for being impertinent before. I—”
He interrupted. “Do you know what I hate, Miss Larimore?”
Her eyes widened. “Disrespectful behavior and dis-disobedience?”
“No. Guess again.”
“Um, cold food?” She didn’t think that was it, but her mind was blank.
“No, but that is on the list. I hate insincere apologies, especially when I know the person isn’t truly sorry. It’s like a lie,and I hate lies as much as meaningless excuses.” He went over to his bar and took down a bottle of scotch and a glass. He was lifting the lid on the ice bucket when Brynne croaked. “Wait. Please.”
He turned. “Excuse me?”
She wrung her hands in her lap. “I had a moment of insanity earlier and I—I put salt in your ice bucket.”
He looked awestruck and stared at her. “Salt?”
“Yes, I truly am sorry. I was angry, it was stupid.” She looked down, unable to meet his eyes. “And I guess you’ll want to fire me.”
“That’s one thing I want to do,” he said under his breath. He poured himself a straight scotch and perched on the edge of his desk. After a healthy swig, he shook his head, his mouth a hard line.
Brynne waited for the ax to fall, her teeth worrying her bottom lip.
“Let’s try this again. I’m going to ask you some questions. Your answers, and your honesty—or lack thereof—will determine if you have a job when you leave here.”
She gazed at his rigid jaw and shivered. “Okay.”
“Were you sorry that my food was cold?”
She swallowed hard. “No, but I didn’t miss the lids on purpose. I missed them because I was in a hurry.”
He nodded. “What possessed you to put salt in my ice?”
She exhaled, knowing she was damned if she told him the truth and damned if she didn’t. “When I went to get the water, Mel asked why I wasn’t helping, and I explained I was getting you dinner and then water and ice. She said you always have a supply in your office, so I felt like you were punishing me by making me run up and down the stairs for things you already had in here.”
His eyes narrowed. “Maybe I wanted to test whether you would behave properly when exasperated.”
“And I failed the test,” she murmured.