Page 27 of Shep
Colt stepped close as I turned to stare at Frankie, now settled on one of the stools, watched as Ma clucked over her like she was one of her newly adopted baby chicks.
Like I had been.
“I saw the light on in the back when I drove by,” Colt murmured so only I could hear. “Figured you left it on by mistake at first, then I saw someone moving around. Went in and checked it out.”
Pops and the others had ditched the card game and Buck had stirred from his food coma, but settled at the table like spectators at a gladiator arena, probably waiting for Ma to rip me a new one for neglecting my girl in such an appalling way. Not that she evenknewshe was my girl. Still, she was my employee and there was no way I wouldn’t give someone who worked for me, hell,anyone,shelter.
“Said her brother bolted on her a few weeks ago. Took the money that was supposed to go to rent.”
She said they were estranged. Meaning the fucker robbed her and left her high and dry?
“Landlord kicked her out on Sunday.”
I turned to face him. This story was getting worse by the second. “Sunday?” I hissed. The day after we met. The day after I took her virginity. “I only gave her the door code today. She couldn’t have stayed in the shop before.”
He shook his head. “She didn’t. She works at one of the hotels out by the highway. Stayed in a vacant room.”
I looked at him, appalled. “She has asecondjob?”
How the hell was she homeless when I gave her three grand on Sunday night?
Molly grabbed the loaded plate from the microwave and set it in front of Frankie. Ma pulled a napkin from the holder in the center of the island and set it beside a glass she’d just filled with water. Watched Frankie tuck into the food like she was a small child and needed supervision.
She didn’t have a place to live, worked two jobs now and sold her virginity.
Holy fucking hell.
“She told me not to arrest her,” Colt added.
I spun back to face Colt. “Arresther?”
He looked to me, his mouth in a straight grim line.
That was it. It. Line crossed.
I’d kept my hands to myself when she was just a woman working for me. I’d woo her or get to know her or whatever Colt suggested. Now?
The timeline had shifted. Everything changed.
I stalked around the island and squatted down beside Frankie. She put down her fork and turned to eye me warily. She was just a little taller than me with her perch on the stool.
“Cherry, why didn’t you tell me?” I murmured.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Molly duck out of the kitchen as inconspicuously as a woman who’d swallowed a basketball could. Ma, thankfully, got up and went with her. We were alone in the kitchen, but with the dining area making the space one huge room, we had a slew of chaperones.
“I’m sorry, Shep. I didn’t know where else to go. I’d never steal from you. But I’m not your problem,” she whispered.
I blinked, wide eyed. “Not my–”
“You’re my boss. Nothing more. Employee lunch, remember? Not a date.”
Nothing more? Fuck that.
I popped to my feet, yelled. “Ma, she’s not staying here.”
“Please don’t fire me!” Frankie said, her voice frantic as she took my hand in a tight grip.
I squeezed in reply. “Fire you? I’m taking you home with me.”
