by Nicole James
“What is wrong with you?”
The front door boomed open, and Ava looked up and through her office door to see the man in question storming in. He spotted her, strode through the empty front office, bee-lining straight for her. He stopped on the other side of her desk.
Her eyes swept over him. Dear Lord, he was so much more attractive in person than he was in those pictures, and that was saying something. Yes, she’d met him once before, but that was across a room, not leaning over her looking ready to grab her by the throat.
“They tell me you’re the one responsible for this benefit bullshit thing. That true?”
She nodded, at a loss for words.
He held up a piece of paper clenched in his fist. “You want to explain how my name got on this flyer?”
The man was gorgeous and intimidating. She’d never been attracted to men with tattoos, and he was covered. Even with all that, there was no denying the man’s appeal. He had it in spades, but he was also pissed—pissed at her. And that made him scary as hell.
Holy crap. She took a step back.
His eyes narrowed, waiting for her to speak.
“I’m so sorry. It was a misunderstanding,” she began to explain.
“No, it wasn’t,” Stephanie insisted.
They both swung their gazes to her.
“Come again?” Jameson growled.
“You agreed to do it. I have your signed consent form.”
“How is that possible, seeing as I never fucking signed one?”
Stephanie took a step back under the man’s forceful gaze. “Your brother dropped it off. I have it right here.” She dug it out of a folder she was holding.
He grabbed it out of her hand and looked at the signature.
“I didn’t sign this.”
“That’s your signature.”
“No, it’s not! Who did you say gave you this?”
“Your brother.”
“I’ve got three. Which fucking one?”
“There’s no need to snap at her,” Ava intervened.
“I didn’t catch his name. The one with the tattoos.”
“That doesn’t narrow it down any.”
“He was built.”
Jameson dipped his head, his eyes drilling into hers, clearly still not satisfied with her answer.
“Big guy, shorn hair, dark beard.”
Jameson blew out a breath.
“Apparently we have a winner,” Ava muttered under her breath.
His eyes snapped to hers. “Maxwell.”
“So you’re saying he signed your name to this form. Why would he do that?” Ava watched him run a frustrated hand through his hair.
“Probably thought it was funny. He’s probably laughing his ass off right about now.”
“You’ll do it, won’t you?” Stephanie asked.
He arched a brow. “Let you auction me off like a prize stud? Hell, no.”
“Don’t think of it like that. Think of it as going on a date for charity.”
“If you think for one minute I’m going to get up on a stage and let women place bids on me, you’ve lost your goddamned mind.”
“Please. You have to.”
“I don’t have to do anything, Cupcake,” he growled, glaring at her.
“But… the flyers have already been printed. We’ve already sold out.”
“What?” Both Jameson and Ava swung their astonished gazes toward Stephanie.
Her eyes darted between them. “We sold out in the first twenty-four hours. That’s a record. And all because you’re going to be the headliner.”
“Not my problem,” he ground out.
“Um, maybe we could work out a deal,” Ava offered hesitantly, trying to find a way out of this without being sued.
His eyes swung to hers. “Deal? What kind of deal?”
“Maybe I could see that you get those parking spots you wanted.”
That had him pulling back, his eyes narrowing as if he just now recognized her.
“You’re that bitch from the city council. It was you that turned everyone against me.”
“She what?” Stephanie asked, frowning.
Jameson ignored her, his eyes still drilling into Ava’s. “You hate that I have a shop on your precious Main Street. I know your kind. You’re afraid I’ll be bad for the town’s image, that I’ll attract the ‘wrong’ type of people, that I’ll drive away your little yuppie, farmer’s market, coffee shop crowd.”
“Ava’s not like that,” Stephanie defended.
His eyes finally swung to Stephanie. “I tried to get designated motorcycle parking in front of my shop, and she shot it down.”
Stephanie’s eyes swung to her boss, questioningly. “Ava?”
“Steffy, stay out of this, please.”
Jameson again pinned Ava with his eyes. “I sat through two and a half hours of that bullshit meeting, and you turned everyone in the room against me. So now I’m on the cover of a fucking magazine, and suddenly I’m the town’s favorite son, and you need me. Seems the tables have turned, haven’t they, sweetheart?”
Ava swallowed, ignoring the endearment he’d used in anything but a flattering tone. She raised her chin. “We may have gotten off on the wrong foot, I admit, but—”
“Ya think?”
“As I was saying, I’m sure we can work something out. It is for charity, after all.”
He glared at her, as if he knew she was trying to pull at his heartstrings. And then his eyes took in the office for the first time. “What is this place?”
“Hightower Staffing Services.”
His chin lifted, considering. “Maybe we can work something out.”
“Name it,” Stephanie offered quickly.
Ava’s eyes flashed to her, afraid she was about to get them in deeper.
“I’ve been having some trouble keeping a receptionist at the shop.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Ava murmured under her breath.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
She rolled her eyes ignoring his question. “So you want to hire us as your temp agency?”
“No. I don’t want to hire you. I want you to send me over someone with no agency fee.”
She arched a brow. “Really?”
“You want my time for free, don’t you?”
“I’m already getting you parking spots!”
“That remains to be seen, doesn’t it? No guarantee you’ll be able to swing that vote back my way, is there?”
Her hands landed on her hips. “And there’s no guarantee you’ll do that auction, is there?”
He had the gall to grin at her.
“Here’s the deal. You get me those parking spots and you keep someone qualified in the reception position from now until your gala, and I’ll do your damn benefit auction. Deal?”
She cocked her head to the side. “What exactly is your definition of qualified? If you think for one minute that I’m going to rate my candidates based on their cup size, think again, Mister.”
“Get real.”
“I’m being real. If that’s the kind of candidate you’re looking for—”
“If that were the kind I was looking for, I’ve already got a stack of applications.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“Look, I get half a dozen women in the shop every week looking to ‘land’ the man they see on the cover of that magazine.” He pointed to the copy of Colorado Life that was still lying on Ava’s desk.
She glanced to where he pointed and flushed with embarrassment—humiliated that he saw she had it, like she was one of those women that fawned after him like some rock-star groupie.
“They see that and they see dollar signs.”
“I think they see a whole lot more than dollar signs,” Stephanie added with a grin.
“Not helpful, Steffy.”
Jameson twisted to look at her. “Yeah, maybe so. But I’m not lookin’ to date my employees, and that’s all they’re interested in
.” He turned back to face Ava. “What I need is someone with some maturity, who can add two plus two. Someone with some organizational skills, a pleasant phone manner, and yeah, if she’s good lookin’ that helps with the customers.” He leaned forward, getting right in her face. “But despite what preconceived notions you may have about me, that’s not on the top of my list.”
“Okay, got it.”
“Think you can deliver that kind of applicant?”
“I’m sure we have numerous candidates that would qualify.”
“Fine. Have someone in the chair at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.”
“Did you want to interview them?”
“No. I’ll trust your judgment. If I don’t like them, I’ll send them packing and expect you to send over a replacement within the hour.”
“Within the hour? You can’t be serious.”
“As a heart attack, babe. We got a deal?”
Ava glanced at Stephanie, who nodded behind Jameson. Ava’s eyes came back to the infuriating man, and then she stuck her hand out. “Fine. We have a deal.”
He shook her hand, and then stalked out.
Ava collapsed into her chair.
Stephanie threw her hands in the air in victory. “Yes! We did it!”
Ava glared at her. “Don’t be so quick to celebrate. We still have to deliver on our end of the bargain first, and I have a feeling Mr. O’Rourke is going to be a very difficult client to please.”
“Hell, I’ll go over there and do the job myself if I have to.”
“Don’t joke. It may come to that.”
Stephanie rolled her eyes. “You worry too much.”
“One of us has to. You better start pulling files. Find someone to send over tomorrow. And you’d better find at least two backups.”
“Two?”
“Maybe three. How many do you think he can go through in one day?”
“You’re being ridiculous. Why would we need to send three applicants? Have you seen the man? He’s gorgeous. I wouldn’t leave that job if he made me scrub the floors with a toothbrush.”
“Oh, God. Do you think he’ll want them to clean floors?”
“You’re a hoot,” Stephanie called as she walked out of the office.
Ava yelled down the hall after her, “We’ll see who’s laughing tomorrow!”
Chapter Three
At 3:00 p.m. the next afternoon, the intercom on Ava’s desk buzzed.
She pressed the button. “What is it?”
“Cover boy’s on line two for you.”
“What does he want?”
“Wouldn’t say. Asked to speak with you.”
Ava blew out a breath and picked up the phone, pressing line two. “Good afternoon, Mr. O’Rourke. What can I do for you?”
“Find me someone else.”
“Is there a problem with the candidate we sent you?”
“Would I be calling if there wasn’t?”
“Can you be more specific?”
“She’s not working out.”
“Are her computer skills adequate?”
“They’re fine.”
“Her phone manner?”
“It’s fine.”
“Was she on time this morning?”
“Yes. She was fifteen minutes early.”
“Is she respectful? Organized? Able to add two plus two?” Okay now she was just being a smartass, but she couldn’t help it.
“She’s got a stick up her ass. I can’t work with her. Find me someone else or the deal’s off.” The line cut off suddenly.
She pulled the receiver from her ear and stared at it, open-mouthed. How rude. She’d like to shove that stick up his ass!
She pushed the intercom button, and Stephanie’s voice came on the line. “Yo.”
“Who did you send over there?”
“Gail Reece. Why? No go?”
“He said she had a stick up her ass.”
“Hmm. She does kind of have her nose in the air. I just thought she was the most qualified.”
“Did she even want the position?”
“Not really. Took the assignment as more of a favor to me.”
“Did you beg her?”
“Maybe a little.”
Ava put her head in her hand. Gail was the most qualified office worker they had. The only reason she even needed a temp agency was because she only liked to take short-term assignments if and when she wanted to work. She had a husband who made enough so she didn’t have to work if she didn’t want to and only took jobs to make a little extra spending money and get out of the house.
“Find someone else.”
“Gotcha.”
“He’s going to expect them over there today.”
“Christ. I’m on it.”
Ava hung up the receiver. She had a feeling this was only the beginning.
***
The next day she received another call from Jameson O’Rourke… and every day after that for five days straight. They were running out of candidates.
On Monday of the following week she was in the office working when the intercom buzzed.
She pressed the button. “Yes?”
“He sent another one packing,” Stephanie said.
Ava closed her eyes. “You’re kidding me?”
“Nope.”
“What is with this guy?” Ava muttered, then asked, “Is this one in tears?”
“Yep.”
“I’ll be right there.” Ava stood, shoved her chair back, and marched out of her office. As she rounded the doorframe she could hear the sobbing coming from the reception area. Ava rushed into the front office to find the girl in tears.
“Victoria, what happened? Why are you crying?” She squatted down in front of the chair that Stephanie guided the girl to.
“He’s h-h-horrible.”
“Mr. O’Rourke?”
“Yes. Nothing I did was right. He yelled at me. I don’t do well when people yell. I wasn’t raised like that. I can’t deal with it. I’m sorry, but I can’t go back there.”
“Of course not.”
The phone rang, and Stephanie picked it up. “Hightower Staffing.”
She put her hand over the phone and mouthed, “It’s him.”
Ava stood and marched toward her office. “Put him through!”
She yanked the receiver up and punched the button to connect the line. “Ava Hightower.”
“You’re joking right? That little church mouse you sent had no business working in a shop like mine.”
“Now you listen here, Mr. O’Rourke. There is no excuse for berating an employee.”
“I’m Irish. I’ve got a temper. I blow off steam, and then it’s over. If you can’t find me someone with more backbone by the time the shop opens tomorrow, the deal is off. I don’t have time to train girl after girl on our computer system just to have them quit on me.”
“Quit on you? You’ve sent them all packing!”
“Same difference. You’re wasting my time. Find me someone capable by tomorrow morning or you can forget about me strutting down any fucking runway. I don’t care how deserving the damn charity is!”
With that he hung up.
She stared at the phone in her hand again in outrage, and then slammed it down. “Blast that man!”
Stephanie came to lean on the doorframe with her arms folded. “I seriously didn’t think it would be this difficult.”
“He’s the one being difficult. Why he’s nothing but an overgrown child demanding it be his way or the highway.”
“What are we going to do? I’ve used up everyone we’ve got available.”
Ava shrugged. “Guess you’re going to have to go work for him like you offered to do when we got into this mess.”
“Umm. That’s a problem.”
Ava’s shoulders slumped. “What do you mean? You promised if worse came to worst you’d do it yourself.”
“I got called for jury duty tomorrow, remember?”
Ava dropped her head. “Crap
. I forgot.”
“I can try to get out of it, but I could be there most of the day before that happens.”
“No. Of course you have to go.”
“What are we going to do about Jameson O’Rourke?”
Ava rolled her eyes. “I guess that just leaves me.”
“You’re serious? You’re really going to go work the front counter at a tattoo shop?”
“Why not? It’s honest work. I’m certainly capable.”
“You have a Master’s degree in Human Resources.”
“I need to make the client happy. I can certainly stick it out for…” She paused to look at the calendar. Oh, my God. She’d be there for six weeks.
“Maybe in a few days we can get someone else.”
“Nope. He said whomever I send tomorrow had to stick it out till the end or the deal was off. He was sick of training every new girl we sent.”
“So, you’re saying you’d have to be that girl for the next six weeks?”
“You see any other option? Please tell me.”
“Ava, I’m so sorry. I know you can’t stand the man.”
“I’ll just have to buck up. How bad can it be?”
If only she’d known just how prophetic those words would be.
Chapter Four
The next day, Ava worked at the agency from 7:00 until 10:30. Then she closed up the office and headed down the street the short two-block walk to Brothers Ink on Main Street.
The closed sign was hanging in the window, but she could see some movement in the back of the shop. She took a deep breath and knocked on the glass. A few moments later, she could make out the outline of a big man with a beard as he came to the door and spoke through the glass in a muffled voice.
“We’re closed. Come back in a half hour, honey.”
“I’m not a customer. I’m your new receptionist,” Ava replied in a voice hopefully loud enough for him to hear.
He paused, a frown forming on his face as his eyes skated down her body and back up. Then he reached up to flip the bolt.
The door swung open. “Come on in.”
She stepped in, her eyes immediately scanning the décor. The shop was a two-story brick building that dated from the turn of the century. It apparently had been gutted down to the gleaming wood floors and exposed brick walls and totally remodeled, but still leaving that old character that fit so well in the Colorado town. A huge chrome sculpture of a buffalo sat in the entrance and there was a large seating area.
