work.” She cupped his cheek, brushing her thumb across it, savoring the rasp of stubble. “Sorry about all this.”
“Nothing to be sorry for.” He rested his cheek in her palm for a moment before straightening. “You’ve got some time off after this job, yeah?”
She nodded, and he leaned forward to brush a soft kiss across her lips, a fleeting touch that left her wanting more, so much more.
“Good, because once your work is finished, I have every intention of making that time count.”
24
Manny kept a close eye on that creep Jock McKell over the next two days. He’d wanted to punch the guy in the mouth for laying a hand on Harper. He’d hazard a guess she wasn’t the first woman who worked for him who he’d tried it on. Bastard.
He abhorred jerks like McKell who used their power to intimidate women into wanting them. He’d worked with a neurosurgeon once, a chief of neurology, who’d made passes at every nurse, physical therapist, and doctor, regardless of their marital status. The guy had been a prized sleazebag, and Manny hadn’t been surprised when the son of a bitch got a sudden transfer interstate, probably after the hospital had to field one too many sexual harassment cases.
But Jock had kept his distance from Harper while they’d worked the last forty-eight hours. Manny had no idea if Harper had factored him into a discussion with the chef, because the dickhead kept casting glowers his way the entire time.
Now, with the job wrapped up, Manny could focus on more important things, like wooing Harper.
He hadn’t been proud of how he’d turned Neanderthal on her when he’d seen Jock coming on to her. He’d all but dragged her back to his room. Yeah, he wanted her that badly, but sex that night would’ve been about possessiveness as much as lust, and he didn’t want to be that guy.
He wanted her to want him, and that meant wooing her properly.
Starting with a lakeside picnic at dusk.
“So that’s a wrap?”
She flopped into the chair next to him and groaned. “Yeah, all done. I can’t believe we pulled it off.”
“You did most of the work. I was just the hired muscle.”
“Who technically wasn’t hired because I’m not paying you.”
“Oh, I’ll make you pay all right.” He wiggled his eyebrows and she laughed.
“Right now, I’m too tired to slap you for that lame-ass comment.”
“Are you too tired to be romanced?”
A spark of interest lit her eyes. “What did you have in mind?”
“A picnic by the lake.”
“That sounds wonderful, but I really am exhausted. Rain check?”
“Tomorrow at dusk it is then.” He tapped his temple, pretending to think. “So what shall we do tonight then, with the whole evening stretching before us, that doesn’t involve being upright?”
He snapped his fingers. “I know. We could lie down. I’ve heard getting horizontal is excellent for tired muscles.”
“You’ll do anything to get me into bed, won’t you?”
“You got that right.”
They smiled at each other, reinforcing how in sync they were. After their less-than-auspicious first meeting, he hadn’t held out much hope for them becoming civil, let alone this, and it made him want to punch the air in victory.
“Jock kept his distance.” He made it sound like a conversational observation when he really wanted to make sure the creep had left her alone.
“Thanks to you.”
“What do you mean?”
Her expression turned sheepish. “I might’ve implied you were my boyfriend and you had a black belt in tae kwon do.”
He laughed. “While I like the boyfriend label, the closest I’ve come to martial arts is my first and last kickboxing session at the gym a few years ago.”
“He doesn’t know that though and it worked.” She screwed up her nose. “I hate sleazy creeps. And I hate him for disillusioning me. I’ve admired his work for years, have watched reruns of his shows countless times, and he’s spoiled that.”
“Asshole.”
“Ain’t that the truth.”
He had no right to delve into her past, but there was something in her eyes that prompted him to ask. “Has that happened to you before, being harassed?”
“Yeah, at my first catering job. I took care of it.” She smirked and mimicked a sharp jab.
“Dare I ask how?”
“Let’s just say a kitchen is full of sharp and heavy implements that can slip from my hands and end up almost castrating someone.”
He winced. “Ouch.”
“It worked though. The jackass didn’t come near me again.”
“Good for you.”
“I can take care of myself.” She squared her shoulders and flexed her biceps into a superhero pose. “So