I should just leave. The creep took a picture of my ass!
But I know that I can’t. It took me four months to find this job that I’m overqualified for, and I desperately need the money. My one-year-old French Bulldog has cancer and the vet bills are piling up. I start tearing up just thinking about it.
I pull out my phone and look at a couple of adorable pictures of him before texting my neighbor to ask her to let him out. We help each other out sometimes. Jody is a single mother who works full time, so she’s always needing me to watch a kid here and there for a few minutes while she scrambles around. I don’t mind. I like her kids and it lets me ask her for help once in a while without feeling guilty.
No problem, she texts back. Have fun and try to meet a boyfriend!
I sigh as I shove my phone back into my pocket. A boyfriend here? Yeah, right. I’ve never been in a relationship and I don’t think I’m about to start now. Especially surrounded by these three creeps. If anything, they’re going to swear me off men forever.
I’m walking through the trees, kicking leaves and branches as I look for my ball. It’s right there, but I prolong this moment a little. I glance over at my boss and drop my head back with a groan when I see the three of them lighting the biggest cigars I’ve ever seen. Just when I think this can’t get any worse, they assault another one of my senses. I’m going to have to smell that thick cigar smoke all day instead of the freshly cut grass and pine trees.
I wish I could go home. I wish someone would save me from this horrible day.
I glance over at the foursome starting on the first hole and my breath catches when I see a tall muscular man practicing his swing. He’s already got a strike against him since he likes golf, but those broad shoulders and thick arms are just nice enough to let me look past it.
He’s with two other guys his age, which looks to be about late twenties/early thirties, and an older man.
I sneak behind a tree and gawk at him as he says something that I can’t hear. It sends shivers down my spine with the way his sharp jaw moves. Now, that’s a foursome I wouldn’t mind being in. Or, perhaps a twosome would be better. Just me and him.
I can’t take my eyes off him as the old man swings. Now, it’s his turn. He struts up to the tee and I swallow hard when I see his ass as he bends over to place his ball. The irony that I’m gawking at him, but mad because my boss was gawking at me is not lost on me. It’s a double standard, but I don’t care. I’m looking.
He stands up straight, separating his powerful legs and my heart is beating hard when I see the V shape of his muscular back. I guess golf isn’t so bad.
With a hard swing, he clocks the ball… right into the water.
I grin as I watch him walk back to his cart with a shrug. Maybe he likes golf as much as I do.
“Carrie!” Mr. Miller shouts from across the fairway.
I turn to him and he’s got his arms open with a cigar hanging from his lips as if to say, what the hell are you doing?
I quickly grab my ball, hold it up to show him, and then rush over while the foursome behind us waits impatiently to hit.
“Did you guys hit?” I ask, feeling a little better now even though I have to wave a thick cloud of smoke out of my face.
“Right onto the green,” Raymond says with a grin, like I’m going to be impressed.
“He always gets his balls near the hole,” Barney adds with a snort, “but can never seem to find the hole.”
“After it rains, I can,” Raymond says as they all chuckle. “I can always find a wet hole.”
I put my sunglasses on so that I can roll my eyes.
“Let’s go, Carrie,” Mr. Miller says as he walks over to our cart.
“You go on, Edgar,” Raymond says. “I’ll walk with her up to the green. I have a couple of tips for her swing.”
Oh, great.
As soon as Mr. Miller and Barney drive away, I know something is up. He’s wringing his hands as he turns to me.
“I was wondering, Carrie,” he says as he glances around nervously. “Do you have any friends who would like a similar arrangement?”
I just stare at him blankly. “What arrangement?”
“Like the one that you and Edgar have.”
“Oh,” I say with a nod. “Wait. What?”
He starts fidgeting with his white glove as he reluctantly continues. “A sugar daddy situation where I pay for rent and bills in exchange for…”
“For?” I say, staring at him in disgust. I’m going to make this creep say it.
“For sexual favors,” he finally spits out.
“Gross,” I say as I stare at him in horror. “Me with Mr. Miller? Vomit.”
He bites his bottom lip as he quickens his pace.
“Is that what he told you?” I ask as I hurry to keep up with him.
He won’t look me in the eyes. “He said you two had a deal.”
“Oh, my god!” I storm past him and charge right up to Mr. Miller with my heart pounding. I want to kill him.
“You told these guys I was your whore?” I hiss as he looks inside his golf bag.
His eyes darken and he frowns as he grabs my arm a little too hard. “Watch yourself, young lady. I said no such thing.”
“You said we had a deal! What deal?”
“You work for me and I pay you,” he says, finally letting me go. “Some people would describe that as a deal.”
“You led them to believe that the deal was… sexual.” Ew. I can’t even say that without gagging.
“Oh, please,” he says as he yanks out his putter. “Raymond is a verifiable idiot. He’s always making great leaps.”
My heart is still hammering, but the wind has been yanked from my sails.
“You are an employee of Miller Inc, Miss Rivers, and this is a work event. Now, you will knock that scowl off of your face right now and put on a smile or you will be fired. Understand?”
I want to tell him where he can shove this job, but I can’t. Chester pops in my head and I have to fight back the tears threatening to pour out. I don’t want to lose my dog. He’s all I have.
I suck in a deep breath and nod my head. “Yes, sir,” I say with a forced smile that probably makes me look deranged.
“Good. Now grab your putter and meet me at our ball.”
I’m trying to figure out which one is my putter when he turns around. “And Carrie?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Have you seen my phone?”
Chapter Three
Eli
“Nice hit, Nolan!” Mr. Brown beams as my brother’s golf ball soars down the middle of the fairway like it’s got a freaking rocket strapped to its ass. “Eli, you’re up.”
This is the third hole and my score is already almost as high as my age. I hate golf.
But I like money, so that’s why I’m here.
“See, the trick to golf is to keep it on the grass and not in the parking lot,” Mr. Brown’s son Gabriel says with a smirk.
I force out a laugh as I shove my tee into the dirt. Jokes on him. I got it in the water and then in some guy’s backyard, not in the parking lot.
Normally, I’d tell a trust fund baby like Gabriel where he can shove his club, but Nolan and I are committed to professionalism today.