Or at least they would have. Before the tragedy.
That’s what the people in his social circle started calling it. The tragedy.
“Fine,” he said. “But you call the agency and get a temp out here quickly. I don’t want you doing both jobs.”
“The other PAs will help cover the front desk.”
No, they wouldn’t. Not unless he ordered them too. They didn’t like Thea and they would like to see her fail. Not that he’d let that happen.
You just fired her twenty minutes ago.
Like he’d actually meant it. Although, he should send her away. Maybe Maxim could use her services. Actually, no. There was no way he’d send her over to his younger brother. Maxim was flirt. He went through women like it was an Olympic sport and he was determined to get that gold medal.
“Fine. But if I see you using that hand, you’re going home. No arguments.”
“Yes, sir,” she said impudently.
He just frowned at her as she turned on her heel and walked out. But his eyes lingered over her plump, firm ass in that skirt.
Shit.
When they returned to her office, Maddox was nowhere to be found. Thea walked out into the main reception area. He followed, groaning as he saw his cousin sitting at the front desk, his feet up on the desk, arms crossed behind his head as he spoke to one of the firm’s biggest clients. Melanie Arnold was rich, smart, and a total bitch.
Fuck. Jardin was going to have to do some fast talking and groveling. Then Melanie threw back her head and brayed with laughter at something Maddox said.
“Well, that’s unexpected,” Thea muttered.
“Get that temp here now,” he commanded, stepping forward with a smile and a hidden glare aimed at Maddox, who just gave him a shit-eating grin.
How had this day gone downhill so quickly?
4
Using her fork, Thea stabbed her salad with disinterest. The sun beat down on her shoulders. She probably should have chosen a shady area to sit in. Her hand throbbed with pain as she forced another forkful of the bland food.
“Argh, I’d be looking all sad and depressed too if I had to eat that rabbit food,” a familiar voice drawled. Then a long-limbed body dropped down beside her. His scent reached out and teased her.
It was pleasant. But it didn’t do things to her body the same way Jardin’s did.
Or Carrick’s had.
How could she find both of them so attractive? They were so different. One big and rough-looking but with a surprising sense of humor. The other refined and cold. With a sharp bite.
“It’s not so bad,” she said, peering down at her salad.
“Darlin’, it’s a few leaves of lettuce and carrots. Rabbit food. You need some real food. I’ll get you some pizza.”
“Pizza. I remember pizza,” she replied wistfully.
“Sounds like you’re in mourning, darlin’.”
“I miss carbs. But they’re not my friend. They go straight to my ass.”
He peered down at her bottom. “Nothing wrong with your ass as far as I can see. You on some weird diet?”
“I wouldn’t call it weird. But yeah, I’m not eating carbs.”
“Why the fuck would you want to do that?” he asked incredulously.
“Um, to lose some weight.” Isn’t that why most people went on a diet? “Got to get rid of this fat ass somehow.”
“If you were mine, I wouldn’t let you diet or talk bad about yourself.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?” she asked.
“Nope. I’m too young and hot to settle down.”
She rolled her eyes, pretty sure he was older than her. “Uh-huh, well, let me give you a tip, women don’t like being told what they can and can’t do. That shit went out of fashion a long time ago.”
He leaned back, sprawling on the stairs. It should have been uncomfortable, but he looked completely relaxed. He tilted his hat back and stared up at her with eyes that were piercing. Serious. They were eyes that saw too much.
She resisted the urge to shift around in discomfort.
“Did it? Where I come from, men look after their women. They put them first. Protect them. Care for them. And they also ensure their women know there are consequences for breaking the rules. For putting their health and safety in danger.”
“Consequences?” Shit. Why do I sound so breathless?
“Uh-huh.”
“Like what? They beat them?”
“Hell no. Any man who touched a woman like that would be run the fuck out of town, after being beaten soundly. We don’t take kindly to anyone hurting women and children. All the women are protected by every man in Haven. It’s a safe place.”
Was he for real? Or was he making this stuff up?
“Every woman in town has a male guardian. Someone who watches out for her. Usually her husband, boyfriend, a male family member. The sheriff fills in if they don’t have that. And every woman has rules to help keep her safe and happy and healthy. And if she breaks those rules, she gets punished. Now, if the sheriff is your guardian your punishment won’t be the same as if your guardian is your husband.”
“What would the sheriff do?” she asked curiously. This all sounded so bizarre.
“Dunno. Depends on what you did. He might give you a firm scolding.”
All right. Didn’t sound so bad.
“Aren’t you gonna ask what a husband might do? Want to know what Alec would do if Mia put herself in danger?”
There was a note to his voice that told her she really didn’t want to know. Yet, she knew she was going to ask.
“Alec?” she asked instead.
“My oldest brother. The stick-in-the-mud I was talking about earlier. Mia’s his wife.”
Okay, she was going to give in even though she felt bad for talking about Alec and Mia when she didn’t even know them. “What would a husband do?”
“He’d spank her.”
Her heart raced. “You’re lying.”
He grinned. A perfect grin with a row of white teeth. “Maybe I am, darlin’.” He stood then leaned down. “Then again, maybe I’m not. Why don’t you come to Haven next time with Jardin and find out?”
Her heart skipped a beat. Fuck, was she excited by that idea?
“Who knows? You might like it so much there you’ll stay and find yourself a Haven man. Unless you’re hoping my cousin might get his head out of his ass someday and see what’s right in front of him.”
“There’s nothing between Jardin and me.” Oh, but she’d thought about it. Every night since she’d started working there. But there was no way a man like Jardin Malone would ever look at her twice. Besides the fact he was her boss, he was one of the Malones. Rich and gorgeous, their family had lived in New Orleans for generations. She wasn’t anywhere near his league.
“Well, then, there’s nothing to stop you from coming to Haven, is there?”
The truth was, she was way more tempted than was healthy.
5
By the time the end of the day came around, Thea was exhausted. Trying to do everything with one hand was harder than it sounded.
She didn’t see Jardin much for the rest of the day, he’d been in meetings all afternoon. Her brothers went to her neighbor’s every day after school. Juanita was a godsend. Thankfully, the bus dropped them off not far from her house. Still, she felt guilty as hell about it. She wished she had more time to spend with them.