Page 48 of Passion at the Lake

Boone checked his watch and stood. “I have to get going. I hope you have a nice day.” The way he said it, he almost sounded like a normal human being—Mr. Nice Guy, minus the no-I-won’t-give-you-an-advance-because-I’d-like-to-watch-you-starve part.

I was too stunned by his cruelty to say anything except, “I’ll get the dishes.”

After he turned he added, “Don’t be late,” as he walked out.

I threw a middle-finger salute at his back.

CHAPTER11

Angela

Drivingmyself to the hotel felt like a relief. At least this was one thing I didn’t have to rely on Boone for.

When I walked into the lobby, Clara was already at the desk.

“I hope I’m not late.” I hadn’t been told what the starting time was, and I’d forgotten to ask.

“No. You’re early enough, but…” She looked me up and down. “You were supposed to get your uniform this morning.”

I probably shrank three inches from embarrassment. “Sorry, I forgot.”

Her eyes softened. “Never mind. You look like you’re about Jeannine’s size. Why don’t we go back to the lockers? She usually kept an extra uniform in there. It isn’t like she has a use for it anymore.”

I followed her down the hall and through a door markedEmployees Only.

“This one on the left will be your locker now,” Clara told me as she opened it. She’d guessed right. There was a uniform hanging inside.

“I’ve got to get back to the desk. You can start in the A wing this morning. Two rooms have already checked out. I’ve attached the room list to the cart. It’ll be in the maintenance room on the far end. Find me up front and I’ll have more for you after you finish those.” She left me alone to change.

I pulled the pink outfit on, but struggled to get it fully zipped up. Clara needed to have her eyes examined. Jeannine and I were not the same size.

Examining myself in the mirror, I found the bust was so tight that if I’d had fishnets on, and the hem had been ten inches shorter, this would make a great sexy maid outfit for Halloween. This had to be what wearing a corset felt like—every attempt at breathing made my boobs bulge up and threaten to hit my chin.

As I closed the locker, I told myself I only had to last today without busting the zipper on this outfit. And who cares? Breathing was overrated anyway.

After I finished the two rooms on the list Clara had left me, I ventured back to the lobby to get further instructions.

The guy I passed in the hallway leered at me like I was on a street corner looking for a pickup.

I needed this job too much to be anything but polite. “Good morning. I hope you’re enjoying your stay.”

“It’s getting better.” Mr. Pervy’s eyes glued themselves to my cleavage for way too long before shifting to the name tag stitched conveniently over my left boob. “When do you get off, Jeannine? Maybe you could show me around town.”

I backed toward the door. “When my husband finishes at the karate studio, we’re heading over to the gun range, if that appeals to ya.”

My response had the desired effect on Mr. Pervy’s face. He mumbled to himself and scurried off.

I’d always wanted to use a line like that but never wore the clothes that got me this kind of attention. My style could be defined with one word:baggy. Instead of following him out, I decided on the other path to the lobby.

Clara’s brows lifted when she saw me. “Maybe that doesn’t fit as well as I guessed it would.”

“Guess not. You said Harper’s carries the uniforms?” The small clothing store had been one of the places I’d visited yesterday in my job hunt.

“That’s right. They’re more expensive than online, but they alter it for you if you need it.”

“How much?”

“Sixty, last time I knew.”

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