Down for Her by Melissa Chambers (best e books to read txt) 📗

“What about after the two weeks?”

“You can come back here or we can see what else is available around the resort.”

I grip the kickboard, the excitement shooting through my arms. “Really? It’s that easy?”

He chuckles. “Yeah. Didn’t they redistribute staff at your last company? I checked out your resume earlier. Hope you don’t mind.”

My chest constricts with guilt. I listed my dad’s company on my resume and application and gave one of the HR women who I used to chat with as a reference. Her husband had cheated on her once and she was more than willing to help. I scratch my forehead. “Uh, sure.”

“So you’re in?”

I nod vigorously. “Yes. Absolutely.”

“Come to the business office on Monday morning.”

I shake my head. “I can’t believe this.” I open up my arms. “Thank you.” I start to give him a hug, and then I pull away, quickly. “Wait, that’s inappropriate…isn’t it?”

He smiles. “I suppose it could be construed that way. Especially since you’re in a bathing suit.”

I give him a thumbs-up with a cluck of my tongue against my cheek. “Right.” I punch him in the shoulder lightly. “Thanks a bunch.”

He chuckles. “You’re welcome. Hey, some of us are going out for darts and pool tonight if you want to come. Bailey will be there.”

“Thanks for asking, but I’m taking Brett and Tori out to dinner.”

“Ah, well, I’d say bring them, but I doubt they’d want to be there if I’m there.”

I narrow my gaze at him. “Someday, one of you is going to have to explain to me why you don’t get along with them.”

He steps back with a contrite smile on his face. “I’ll see you Monday. Business Affairs.”

I point at him. “Enter through the business center, right?”

“Yep.”

I smile. “I’ll be there.”

As he walks away, my mind reels with possibility. This is my chance. It may only be a temp job, but if I show them I’m the best damn temp worker they’ve ever hired, maybe I can parlay this into an actual real job.

When I get home to Tori’s unit, I find her on the couch painting her toenails. She’s decked out in a skirt and top that’s super cute on her, and her hair appears to have been pulled straight then curled. She almost always wears it in that bun on top of her head. It looks good that way—her signature style. But she’s practically glamorous with it down.

“Wow. I better up my game,” I say.

“Hey,” she says, focused on her toes. “I’m bailing on the two of you tonight. Hope that’s okay.”

It would have been nice to have had her there, but it may be even nicer to have Brett to myself. “That’s cool,” I say. “What’s up?”

She hesitates, then cuts her eyes at me. “I’ve got a date.”

“Nice. Who with?”

She winces. “This…man.”

“Okay,” I say, taking a seat on the chair next to her.

“He’s actually a dad of one of the kids who spent some time with us about a month ago. He and I talked a few times, and he was cool and all, but I didn’t think anything about it.”

“Clearly he did.” That gets a hint of a smile from her and a blasé lift of her shoulder. But I can see she’s impressed with herself. “Does he live here?” I ask.

“No, he’s in town for business.”

I try to imagine what business would bring someone to this town, because it’s pretty much only a tourist town.

She glances up at me. “He’s not married.”

Is she a mind reader? “Okay,” I say like I hadn’t even thought about it, but I suppose my momentary silence spoke volumes. She inspects her toes, wiggling them. “Nice color,” I say.

“Mmm.”

I’m not sure I’ve seen her in this good of a mood since I’ve known her. “Do you mind if I grab a shower?”

“Knock yourself out. I’m leaving in just a bit. Y’all have fun.”

“You, too.”

I shower, shave, blow-dry, and curl, and then find some dressy shorts and a blouse that ties at my belly, exposing just a hint of skin on my waist. The last time I saw him, I was doing laundry and scrubbing floors, so I’ve got to remind him I’m a girl.

I lock up and head over to his unit, my stomach flipping as I knock on his door. Why am I nervous? He kissed me Monday night, not the other way around. I just wish I would have heard a little more from him this week.

He opens the door and blinks. “Hey,” he says, like he wasn’t expecting me.

“Hey,” I say, giving him a curious look. “Are you still up for dinner?”

“Yeah.” He looks past me. “Where’s Tori?”

Crap. I just assumed she told him. Now this is weird. Should I have canceled the whole thing? “She’s got a date. She bailed on us.”

“Who with?” he asks, more like a curious older brother than a jealous boyfriend, I think.

“A dad, actually, from about a month ago, she said.”

“Really?” he asks.

I wince. “Maybe I wasn’t supposed to say anything.”

“It’s fine.” He looks around his living room like he’s lost for a minute, and then he meets my gaze with a look like he’s given up. “You ready?”

I can never leave well enough alone. “Is everything okay with you?”

“Yeah. Of course it is.”

“Okay, because if this isn’t a good time, we can totally reschedule for a night when Tori can come, too.”

“No,” he says and closes his eyes, shaking his head, and now I know something’s up. He runs his hand through his hair and then steps back and looks me up and down. “I’m sorry. You look really good.”

My belly goes giddy. “Don’t be sorry about that.” I peruse him in his button-down shirt with shorts, looking almost preppy, for him. It’s so cute that he’s made an effort. “You look good, yourself.”

He takes my hand, and my nervous stomach trembles as he rubs his thumb along my knuckle. “I’m just kind of new at this.”

I’m super confused, because I know