Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Hayes studied her closely. “Just the foolish things.”
He turned away before she could think of something to retaliate with.
That . . . that jerk!
Right. She might have been hesitating before, but that was done. She was going to teach him not to mess with her.
This was her chance.
Aaron was distracted and Sondra and Hayes’ drinks were sitting right there. She hid behind the coffee machine and grabbing the salt, opened up the lid of one coffee, pouring the salt in.
Grabbing a spoon, she mixed it and put the lid back on.
“What are you doing?”
Devi jumped as Aaron spoke from behind her. She turned. “What?” Had he just seen what she’d done? Was she going to lose her job?
Of course you’re going to lose your job as soon as Hayes takes a sip of his coffee. He’ll complain and then Aaron will know what you did.
He glared at her. “Watch the way you speak to me. Why haven’t you taken those drinks over?”
“I think you need to remake the americano,” she said.
What had she done?
“Why?”
“It feels cold.”
He narrowed his gaze as his face grew red and blotchy. “It’s not cold. Don’t be ridiculous. Deliver them and then clean the toilets.”
Great. Her favorite job.
Well, on the bright side at least she wouldn’t have to clean the toilets since she was about to get fired.
Devi hurried toward the table where Sondra and Hayes sat. She could feel eyes on her but didn’t look up. No way was she looking at Hayes.
She set the coffee down, then spun around and rushed back toward the counter, crashing into a table on her way.
Ouch!
Her thigh throbbed and she knew that was going to be another bruise.
Why couldn’t she go one day without embarrassing herself? It was ridiculous.
What was worse was that the table she’d crashed into was occupied and two cups of coffee rattled, nearly spilling.
“Sorry, sorry,” she said to the two people sitting at the table, unable to look up at them in case they were glaring at her.
What was wrong with her?
“No problem, Devi,” Mrs. Dearsley said.
Right. Good. At least it was someone friendly. She attempted to smile at her, but knew she had failed miserably.
“Devi, are you all right?” Sondra asked.
She stiffened. She didn’t want to turn and look at them. That meant she risked seeing Hayes.
And if he looked amused or disgusted then she thought she just might cry.
“I’m good, thank you,” she called out. She didn’t look back, and instead headed to the counter.
Aaron huffed out a sigh at her, shaking his head. But right now she didn’t care. There was no way he could make her feel worse than she already did.
Devi couldn’t believe she’d done something so stupid. Why would she risk her job for a bit of petty revenge? What if Hayes got really angry? Sure, he seemed like a guy who had tight control over himself, but who knew whether he would just . . . snap?
“What are you doing?” Aaron asked. “I told you to go clean the bathrooms.”
“Uh-huh. Uh-huh.” She’d get right onto that . . . or not. Because she was about to be kicked out the door.
Hayes took a sip of coffee and her breath caught in her throat. This was it.
She was dead.
So. Dead.
“Devi,” Aaron said from beside her.
“Shh.” She waved her hand at him.
“What the hell are you doing? And why are you waving me off? Have you forgotten that I am the boss of you?”
Hayes set the cup down as she ignored Aaron’s waffling. He was always criticizing her about something. Honestly, he was such a bore that she’d learned a long time ago just to block him out.
Hayes made a face, staring at the coffee cup in surprise. Well, she thought it was surprise, sometimes it was hard to tell with him.
Then he set it down and looked straight up at her.
She sucked in a breath.
This was it. The moment she died.
But he didn’t say anything. Or move. He just held her gaze with his.
“You have thirty seconds to get back to work or you’re fired,” Aaron told her.
Oh shut up.
Couldn’t Aaron see that she was busy?
Then his words hit her.
Oh. Crap.
Finally, she tore her gaze from Hayes to gape at Aaron.
Thirty seconds or she was . . . crap! She could actually keep her job here. Unless Hayes was just waiting until she disappeared to complain to Aaron.
But when she glanced back over at him, he just raised an eyebrow at her.
And Devi decided it might be best if she got out of here. Jumping up, she rushed toward the bathroom. Maybe he’d complain to Aaron.
But then again, maybe he wouldn’t.
So she better clean the damn toilets just in case.
10
Hayes walked into the bar and immediately saw her.
The little brat.
He couldn’t believe that she had dared to put salt in his coffee the other day.