“Because I knew my life was going to change if I said yes,” she admits, ducking her head. “And I was never ready. And when I was, I said yes.”
“That’s a beautiful story,” I say. “Do I want to know why they call him Temper?”
“Probably not.” She grins.
I shake my head at her. “You’re crazy, but I like you.”
And I mean that. This whole thing is madness, yet somehow I’m enjoying meeting new people, and seeing and hearing about the lives they lead.
She laughs. “All the couples in the MC have their own story. Skylar and Saint have known each other since Sky was a kid and had a crush on him. Renny and Izzy got drunk and married in Vegas before they even knew they liked each other. Skylar said that she knows you.”
I nod. “Yeah, I love Skylar, but we haven’t spoken in a bit. I had no idea she was tied to the MC, either.”
What a small world.
“And that sounds like stories that I need to hear in detail,” I add.
Abbie’s and Skylar’s stories seem to have worked out, but I can’t imagine how dangerous being with bikers is. I mean, kidnapping?
The office phone rings, and Abbie quickly answers it, but I soon realize she has about as much idea as me on what’s going on.
“Sure, we can custom a bike for you. Could you come into the shop?” She pauses. “Not today, maybe tomorrow? Great, thanks.” She turns to me. “Hopefully Cam is in tomorrow. This is my first time even answering a phone in here, so I have no idea what’s going on.”
“I really hope so,” I reply. “Don’t worry, I have no idea what’s going on either, and I actually work here.”
We both laugh, just as Crow walks back in. I can imagine how we look. Abbie is sitting on the desk while I’m on the seat, both of us surrounded by food and drinks, laughing like we’re having a good old time. This isn’t the impression I wanted to give him, considering our interaction this morning, and even though Abbie is here, I know he’s going to be judging the hell out of me. I don’t know why it seems like he’s looking for a reason to dislike me, but it sure does feel that way.
“Working hard, I see,” he murmurs.
And there we have it.
“She’s on her lunch break,” Abbie speaks up, grinning, unaware of the tension between us. “I brought you some food, too. Oh, and someone is coming in tomorrow to design their bike.”
“Cameron will be back in tomorrow,” he says, sitting down on the desk next to her. “She’s finally back from vacation and can handle that. Does Temper know you’re here?”
“Nope,” she replies nonchalantly, leaning back on her palms. “He’s out on club business, and I’m sure he’ll be happy that I’ll be hanging around more, since my beautiful cousin is employed here. You’ll definitely be seeing more of me.”
He looks between the two of us and mutters something about trouble. He and Abbie are clearly friends, and he doesn’t look at her with the same disdain he does me. I have no idea what I’ve done to get this reaction from him, but I pretend I don’t notice.
Abbie stays for another half hour and then heads home, leaving me alone with Crow once more. I miss her the second that she’s gone—the vibe in the workplace changes instantly. I don’t know what he has against me, but I know one thing for sure: I’m going to prove him wrong.
I’m unsure if he does this to all new employees or if it’s just me, but I’m not going to let him in.
He’s met his match.
“You made me start today knowing that I’d be here alone, didn’t you?” I ask, lifting my chin. “Let me guess, there’s probably a camera in here somewhere too.”
He was testing me. Maybe he wanted to see if I was capable, but more likely I think he wanted to see if he could trust me. Abbie’s arrival would have ruined the whole thing, though, and now that she knows I’m hired, he can’t exactly go back on his word.
He says nothing.
“Am I wrong?” I press, watching him as he glances at his phone, all but ignoring me.
“We can’t just let anyone work here; we need to be able to trust you. You’d be surprised by the shit we’ve seen employees do the second they think no one is watching.”
“And I thought I had trust issues. Well, I’m sure you’ll be happy to know that I just saved the company thousands and thousands of dollars,” I say, trying to hide my smugness and failing.
“What are you talking about?” he asks, sounding like he doesn’t believe me for a second.
I’m happier than I should be, passing on the next bit of information to him. But he deserves this after all the shit he’s given me, and for assuming that I was going to do something wrong today.
I didn’t.
I raise a piece of paper. “I was looking at the parts list that you are ordering, and someone was about to accidentally order sixteen of the sixteen-inch ape hangers instead of the one that was required.”
He walks over and takes the document from me, eying it and then glancing at me. “Fucking hell.”
“You’re welcome,” I say, sounding overly chirpy. “I’ve just saved your business over fifteen thousand dollars.”
He clears his throat. “Okay then.”
Okay then? That’s all I get? No thank-you, nothing?
“This is the weirdest first day at a job, ever,” I say to myself, turning my attention back to the computer screen.
“I’d think this would be boring compared to working for a private investigator,” he adds, having to get the last word. Is he going to be here every day?
“Is there anything else you’d like me to do?” I ask, changing the subject. “I saw the folder full of receipts—I can file them for you and add it to the online system.”
“That sounds good.” He pauses and then adds, “And perhaps you could check over the rest of the orders to make sure no one else made any mistakes.”
Ha.
For the next hour I do just that, double-checking someone else’s work. Then Crow tells me I can go home early, and he’ll see me tomorrow.
I don’t know if I’m looking forward to it or dreading it.
* * *
Nadia calls me as soon as I get into my car, asking if I want to come to her place for dinner so she can hear about my first day at work. Considering I had no plans for dinner and was just going to make some two-minute noodles, her offer sounds perfect. Since we don’t see each other at work anymore, we both need to put in the effort to stay in contact, and I appreciate that she’s doing it.