Page 11 of Love That Sass

“Yep. That’s why I’m here. I need this job desperately, but I swear I will work my butt off. Please don’t think I told you that because I am looking for sympathy. I am a hard worker and I used to tend bar in the city, so I am sure I can keep up,” she blurted.

“Hey, easy girl. Look, I have really good instincts about people, and I believe you, Gwen. Besides, Weylin already said you were hired,” Lucy stated, eyes sparkling with humor. “After he kissed you silly.”

“He kissed her!” Tracey whisper-screamed, and Gwen felt heat rush to her cheeks.

“He did. But it was a mistake,” she explained, tucking her curly locks behind her ears.

“A mistake? How is kissing you a mistake?” Sheila asked loudly, just ashe who should not be namedwalked into the bar.

The girls all giggled from where they sat in the dining room section, and Gwen whished the floor would just open up and swallow her. What was she getting herself into?

He nodded a hello to the table at large, and she felt curiously sad that he didn’t come over to say hi personally. But why should that be? It wasn’t like Gwen wanted him to single her out or anything.

“Alright, let me get this straight. Weylin kissed you when you came in for a job during Sheila’s party and now you are going to work here, but you don’t want him to kiss you anymore—is that right?” Tracey asked.

“Yep. She is here to work, not make whoopee with that redheaded he-slut,” Sheila quipped.

“Is he a slut?” she asked before she could close her mouth.

“Um, no. Not really. I mean, it’s not like any of us are virgins, right?” Lucy asked.

Gwen’s face really flamed then. Seemed like she was way out of her league with these women, and not just because of their attractive boyfriends, but because they understood men on a level she did not.

“Oh my, are you a virgin?” Sheila asked at a decibel that made Gwen cringe.

Seemed the entire bar went quiet at the impromptu announcement, and Gwendolyn steeled herself for the blowback.

“Ladies, that is no one’s business but Gwendolyn’s,” Lucy announced, and her glare seemed to reach everyone in the place.

Thank goodness it was early and there were less than half a dozen folks. Unfortunately, many of them were staff. It wouldn’t be long till the rumor mill got finished hurling that chunk of info around.

Sigh. Might as well own it, Gwenny.

“Yes, Sheila, I am still a virgin. My choice. I made a vow to stay celibate until I found the man I was going to marry. I just haven’t met him yet,” she replied with a shrug.

“But I thought you said you had a boyfriend—”

“I did. In college. We had several very embarrassing discussions about my promise to wait to have sex until marriage that were very painful for me. Then I found my boyfriend in bed with my then roommate solidified my belief that I did well not to partake in anything of the kind with him.”

“What a jerk! I don’t blame you,” Sheila said.

“Yes, he was,” she replied. “But I suppose I should be thankful. If he hadn’t cheated, I might have wasted more time and I would not have returned home, even if it was with my tail between my legs. See, those extra years with Pop still lucid were worth the heartache.”

“Wow. Good for you,” Sheila said.

“Yeah. The heck with him. And I am glad you found your way here,” Tracey murmured, patting her hand.

“Bottom line, I am not here for a guy. I am here cause I need money, and I need it now. Pop’s insurance plan refuses to pay for Hope Springs, they want him in a state home. I went to look at the place nearest us, and I just couldn’t leave him there,” she whispered, eyes filling with tears.

“Oh honey, no, don’t you worry. You already got the job, now we just have to get through the formalities of training and paperwork,” Lucy said, nodding her head.

“But what if Derrick doesn’t think I am right for the position? I haven’t met him yet, and he is the big boss, right?” she asked.

Gwen had to admit, just hearing about the man made her nervous. Meeting him was not something she was looking forward to. But with the job market being absolute crap, she had little choice.

Gulp.

Chapter4

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