Tailored for Trouble (Happy Pants #1) - Mimi Jean Pamfiloff Page 0,66

her gut that Bennett was a passionate man who kept it hidden from the world. Then there were those other undeniably kind gestures: his mother, Candy, the restaurant owner. Really, at this stage she didn’t know much about him, but she knew how she felt. She wanted him.

But how the hell would something like this work?

It won’t, she realized. Bennett didn’t date people he perceived as employees. Even if she wasn’t working for him, he was her client, and she couldn’t argue with that.

Then, it was very clear the man had commitment issues. His own mother had been so desperate to see him settle down that she’d opted for getting him to eat love-cookies—a completely ridiculous idea.

Really, Tay? Because I’m pretty damned sure the seven days aren’t up, and look at you. To be fair, she wasn’t in love with the man; she merely had a thing for him. Oh, look. Now you have a “thing,” too. Match made in…a very, very confusing situation?

She schlepped her way up the portable steel staircase behind Bennett. She was exhausted and frazzled both emotionally and physically.

Candy, who wore a fitted blue Wade Enterprises golf shirt, khaki slacks, and her red hair in a ponytail, greeted her with a warm smile. “Well, good morning, Taylor. How are you on this lovely day?”

“Hi, Candy,” Taylor replied miserably.

“Oh, my. Looks like someone had a rough night.” Candy reached over to give her a quick hug, but then Taylor found she didn’t want to let go. Candy just had a warm, loving, comforting vibe. Taylor could see why Bennett had helped her. She was definitely one of the good ones.

Candy patted her on the back and whispered in her ear. “You okay, darlin’?”

Taylor nodded.

“Just take a deep breath, sugar. Mr. Wade might change his mind and hire you back.”

Taylor pulled away, and from the corner of her eye she saw Bennett staring at her, frowning in a perplexed sort of way.

She looked at Candy, turning away so he wouldn’t see her hobbled expression. “He said he was going to…fire me?” Taylor whispered meekly.

Candy’s mouth pulled down in one corner. Then she made a little nod. “Oh no. Please don’t tell him I told you—I thought he’d already done it.”

Fire me. He is going to fire me. “Fire me for what?” Taylor whispered.

“Ladies,” Bennett barked from the back of the plane. “May we leave now or you two going to chitchat all day?”

Taylor shot him a “thou shall be silent and take your seat now” look. Bennett’s stern expression shifted into something half-docile, half-irritated. Kind of like a kid who has just been told to eat his broccoli or he won’t get dessert.

Being the fiercely loyal and caring person that she was, Candy still felt obligated to make amends. “Yes. My apologies, Mr. Wade. Just telling Taylor here how happy I am to see you found her safe and sound.” Candy looked back at Taylor. “Ms. Reed, if you’ll take your seat?” She gestured to the front row and then leaned in to whisper while Bennett occupied himself with removing his jacket. “I’ve never seen the man so upset. His underpants were in a big ol’ bunch all mornin’, and when he got that alert on his phone that your tracker had gone off. Woo!” She fanned her face.

“He gets alerts when my cellphone signal drops?” Taylor asked.

“It’s his ‘thing,’ ” she replied, using Bennett’s exact word. “And that man’s head nearly exploded right off his big man-shoulders. Said he was going to find you and, I quote, fire. The. Hell out of you.” She made a little shrug. “Guess he decided to wait until after Paris.”

Taylor didn’t know whether to laugh or cry or what. “Are you sure he’s going to fire me?” Taylor asked.

“You broke two of his biggest rules: you made him miss a very important meeting and you turned off your tracking.”

Taylor sighed exasperatedly. “Thanks for the warning.”

Candy gave her a consoling look. “I’ll bring you a mimosa, sugar.”

Sure. Why the hell not. “Make it a double!” she called out.

Taylor grabbed a folded blanket on the seat next to her, covered her tired body, and tilted back her seat. So Bennett had kissed her just to get her into the limo and on to Paris, where he planned to fire her after he got what he wanted. How insane was that? Because as far as he’d been concerned, she’d already quit and had been on her way home.

She looked over her shoulder, contemplating asking him