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Darko—
By midafternoon, I’m delivered the list of past due bills.
“Thanks, Lizzie.” I nod to the restroom. “The cleaning company came. It’s all good now. If you want to take a break, go ahead. The drinks in the machine are free. Just push the selection, and it’ll drop down.”
“Thanks.”
I watch her cross to the vending machine. She’s one of those girls who has a sexy walk even when she’s not trying. My gaze travels over her body. She’s got curves in all the right places and an ass that’s got my dick hard with the thought of taking it in my hands. Spearing a hand through my hair, I clench my teeth. She’s your employee, Darko, not some club girl for the taking.
Lizzie gets a cola, then steps into the alley to drink it in privacy. I’m not worried about her safety; I can see her through the windows. Besides, no one messes with my shop.
Studying the list she gave me, I have to admit, she’s doing a great job so far.
She’s taken a couple of calls already today and did a good job of taking information and relaying it to me when I wasn’t in the middle of something.
I wander over to the office and peek inside. The top of the desk is cleared off, and the old catalogues are relocated to a neat row in the bookcase against the wall. It looks like she gave the place a wipe down. I don’t see a trace of dust. She even made an effort at the grimy window.
I step to the tall filing cabinet and pull the top drawer. Where I once had it crammed full of half sticking out papers, it’s all neat, and every file has been renamed. Supplier Invoices paid. Supplier Invoices due. Personnel files. Client files. Utilities. Tax forms. Sales receipts. It’s all got a place.
I wander toward the alley to give her a compliment on everything she’s accomplished. She’s definitely surprised me. Stepping through the door, I see a fire engine ride past the side street, sirens blaring, on its way to a call.
“Sorry, it’s not usually so noisy back here. I like to come out here for some peace now and then.” I turn and find her eyes glassy. “I, um, wanted to let you know you’re doing a great job.”
She swipes at her cheek with her hand and slides to a squatting position, leaning against the brick wall.
“Hey? You okay?”
She nods, her motions jerky and agitated. She’s got a cigarette in one hand and is repeatedly flicking her thumb on the filter, but there’s little ash to shake off.
“Lizzie, if I pushed you too hard—” I begin to apologize, but she cuts me off with a palm up.
“I just need a minute, okay?”
“Sure.” I squat, my elbows on my knees. “Can you tell me what’s wrong? Did I do something to upset you, babe?”
“I’m not your babe,” she snaps.
I drag a hand through my hair. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a woman throw sass at me. “Did Rob do something?”
She huffs a breath. “Did Kate tell you nothing about me?
“Just that you needed a job and had done office stuff before.”
She rolls eyes. “Great.”
Okay then. “Well, are you going to tell me what the hell is bothering you?”
She surges to her feet and flings her cigarette. “No.”
I watch her retreat inside and slam the office door. Coming to my feet, I step inside, and Rob and I lock eyes.
“What’d you do?” he asks.
“I didn’t do a damn thing, smartass. Get back to work.”
He chuckles and continues what he was doing.
I pull out my phone and step into the alley, letting the door close behind me.
Kate picks up on the third ring. “Hey, Darko. How’s everything going?”
“Okay, what the fuck is going on with Lizzie?”
“What do you mean?” she hedges. “Is her work not up to par?”
I pace, one hand on my hip. “Her work is fine. It’s fucking great. She was out here in the alley behind the shop taking a well-deserved break, and I came out to tell her she was doing a fantastic job. Instead, she bites my head off.”
Another fire truck passes by, sirens wailing.
“Kate, can you hear me?”
“Is there a fire nearby?” Kate asks.
“I don’t know. That’s the second one that’s gone past in the last ten minutes, but I don’t see any smoke. Could be a car accident.”
“So, what did you say to her that made her snap at you?”
“She was all teary-eyed. I asked her what was wrong, and she got all pissed. Asked if you’d told me about her but wouldn’t say more. So, what the fuck is she talking about, Kate?”
“Okay, look, I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t think it’d be an issue, but she recently lost her husband. He was a firefighter.”
My eyes slide closed. “So… the fire truck, the sirens…”
“They probably set her off. She’s been kind of a mess. She lost her job because she’s been so depressed, she couldn’t even function.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? I have a son who lost his mother, and you thought it’d be good for me to hire a woman who just lost her husband?”
“She was practically a hermit, not wanting to even leave the house. She bleached her hair and cut it. She even got a tattoo. That’s just not her. I had to do something to help.”
“Well, great. Now I have a mess at home and a mess at work. Thanks for that.”
“She just needs time. She needs to get out and start living life again. She needs a distraction from the pain, that’s all. Just give it a couple of weeks, Darko. Please. You said she’s doing a good job. Just let her do it. Eventually, she’ll move past the anger.”
“You sure? She came in here with a chip on her shoulder. If it wasn’t for you, I’d have told her not to let the door hit her ass on the way out.” I blow out a breath. “I thought this was the chick who always dressed like a girly-girl in bright, happy colors, and always had a big smile.”
“That is her. She’s just been hit hard. Losing the love of your life has got to be horrible.”
“Yeah. A real sucker punch, I’m sure. But I don’t know how working in this dirty garage is going to help.”
“It’s new. She needs that. It’ll take her mind off it.”
“You really think so?”
“I do.”
“If I end up with a weeping basket-case on my hands, Kate, your ass is grass. Understand?”
“Fine. So, we good?”
“That remains to be seen. I guess I have to go fix this.”
“What do you plan to do?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Well, good luck.”
Yeah. Luck. It’s going to take more than that to fix my son and my employee.