Page 18 of Heat & Deceit
I open the door and step to the side. “Get out, Tabitha.”
She stares at me for another moment before muttering, “You’re such a dick.” Tabitha storms through the back room, and I scowl after her.
“Please wait here,” I say to Carmine before following Tabitha through the shop, biting my tongue to keep from tearing into her for insulting Carmine. The urge to protect Carmine is unsettling. I haven’t felt this way in a long time, but I know exactly why I do. Tabitha tried to get her fired, made up a half-dozen lies to do so.
Tabitha betrayed me.
Both of those are unacceptable. I’ll never let another person’s lies hurt someone else the way lies hurt me, at least not if I can help it.
Tabitha pushes through the door and doesn’t hold it open for me. I catch it with my hand and withhold a growl. When I speak, my voice is deceptively calm. “I need your keys. I’ve already stopped by the bank to change the authorized users.”
Tabitha whirls around. “You know, Javier, I thought you liked me.” Her eyes flick between mine. “We could have had something great.”
Oh, fuck. Now I get Carmine’s “oh” and why Tabitha was muttering about only ever being a good employee.
“I never led you on.” And I can say that for a fact. My interactions with Tabitha were strictly business.
She searches my face, trying to find some proof that I’m lying.
I don’t lie. Even if the truth hurts, I speak it.
“The keys.” I know I’m being a dick now, but I can’t let her think I reciprocate whatever she feels.
Swallowing, she blinks rapidly and removes the keys from her keychain. “There.” She shoves them into my hand, and I quickly retract my arm.
“Good luck.”
“You’re an asshole.”
I arch an eyebrow. “How am I an asshole?”
She doesn’t answer. That’s fine. I know the truth of what happened, and so does she. If anyone is an asshole, it’s her.
Without saying goodbye again, I turn and head back inside. I make my way toward the counter. Randal is busy cleaning the stations now that the line has died down. He glances up and shifts his attention to the front windows for a moment.
“Tabitha has been let go. I’ll explain the situation as soon as I’m done talking to Carmine.” I glance around the shop. “Can you keep things under control until we have a chance to chat?”
“Of course, sir.”
I almost roll my eyes. First, it was Javi, and now it’s sir. I shouldn’t be annoyed by the title, but I can’t help wondering if things have suddenly changed now that I’ve fired Tabitha. Was he loyal to her? He doesn’t appear to be too upset. Then again, I am standing in front of him and staring at him.
“Thanks, Randal.” I nod and head to the office.
Carmine is still sitting in the same spot, holding the apron Tabitha threw at her face. When I enter, she tips her head back to study me. Her stunning hazel-gray eyes are guarded. Apprehensive. There’s a small, angry red mark on her cheek.
A displeased growl rumbles in my chest. “I’m sorry she threw her apron at you.”
Carmine shrugs. “It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not.” I walk toward her and take the apron she’s still holding. “It’s never okay for someone to hurt you.” I quickly add, “Or anyone,” so I don’t come across as creepy.
As a line creases Carmine’s forehead, I grip the apron to keep from reaching out and smoothing it. She reminds me a little bit of myself, before I learned to stop letting people walk all over me. Before I knew how to defend and protect the things I care about. She’s not looking for a savior, though, so I shove the instinct to guard her aside.
“Are you okay? Do you need the day off?” I make myself take a step back.
“I’m fine. I don’t need the day off.”
“Do you have any questions about what happened with Tabitha?”
