Page 12 of Flirting With Forever
“No.”
“A boss who wanted favors to come with the job?” Cole asked next.
Gage scowled at that and glared at his brother. He knew there were plenty of sleaze ball bosses out there, but he hoped that was a made-up story like the other for Sloane’s sake.
“That one was true,” she said with a nose scrunch. “I worked as a maid for motel a few hours from here.”
“Which one?” Gage growled.
A huff of laughter emerged from her. “It doesn’t matter. Look, I’m sorry I don’t meet your expectations of the perfect new hire, but I need this job. And we agreed to a trial period,” she said to Cole.
“I won’t be lied to by my employees,” Cole said.
“I haven’t lied to you,” she said to Cole.
Gage took a step toward them. “Tell us your story and tell the truth. Otherwise, you’re done.”
As though emphasizing Gage’s words, Cole used his foot to scoot a stool toward her, indicating she’d be there awhile.
Sloane’s shoulders sank, but she grabbed the top and pulled it back even more, distancing herself from them both before taking a seat atop.
“I told you the roommate story because it’s easier than admitting my car is my current home. Shoot me for having some pride. The ex-boss story is true. Doesn’t matter who he was or where it happened, it did, and I left.”
“How long have you been in Carolina Cove?” Cole asked.
“Just a few days. I stayed downtown in Wilmington the first night because I got in so late, but the next day I drove to Carolina Cove to see the beach, and…it seemed like a really nice area. That’s when you saw me. My first night here.”
“What about family? You have nowhere else to go? Stay?” Gage had moved closer to them, leaned against a nearby wall as she told her story and made note of how her foot suddenly started popping on the lower rung of the stool.
“The truth, Sloane. You are of legal age, right?” Cole asked with a sudden scowl.
She laughed softly at that. “Yes, I’m legal. I look young because of the freckles and crazy curly hair, but I’m twenty-six.”
“You got ID?” Cole pressed. “And answer the question about your family.”
Gage shut his eyes briefly. Had his brother seriously not checked her ID before hiring her? Granted, every now and again they’d give a homeless person a few bucks to clean up trash outside to help them out without asking for more than a first name, but this was different.
Sloane inhaled and lowered her gaze. “I have ID. But if you check it, my…last name is different than what I told you. I lied about that, okay? My family situation is complicated. Once I could get out of there, I left and I haven’t been back, but they…like to keep tabs.”
“Which is why you asked me to pay you in cash,” Cole said.
Gage frowned at that. No wonder he hadn’t been able to find any paperwork on the new hire after Cole had left the night before. This just kept getting better and better. No ID, no paperwork or new employee forms….
“Yeah, it’s just easier. It keeps me under the radar,” she said, lifting and lowering one shoulder in a shrug. “I want to stay no contact with them.”
“Easier for you maybe, but that cash thing isn’t going to work.” Gage shot a glare at Cole but couldn’t read his brother’s expression. “You know we can’t pay her in cash.”
“I figured a few days wouldn’t hurt to see how she did and help her out,” Cole said to Gage. “She’s earned every penny, too, and God knows we need the help in here. Sloane, when did you leave? How long have you been…traveling?”
The woman in question inhaled and bit her lower lip before saying, “I went to college but dropped out right before I was to graduate. I’ve been moving around ever since.”
“Why? Why drop out if you were that close?” Cole asked.
She squirmed atop the stool, and Gage knew his brother had hit upon a particular sore spot.
“I have my reasons. Like I said, it’s complicated. Look, do I have a job or not?” Sloane asked.
Cole didn’t hesitate. “You do.”
