Rebound Roommate

by Jules Barnard

  Hayden narrows her eyes on Drake. “You know, Mira”—she drags her focus to me—“I’m beginning to believe you’re the perfect candidate for the position.” My jaw drops. Hayden stares at Drake and says, “You’re as qualified for this position as I was for mine.”

  I glance between Drake and Hayden. Something is going on. And I’m sure I want no part of it.

  “Planning to hire someone unqualified as your assistant, Hayden?” Drake taunts.

  Normally I’d take offense at that statement, true or not. But no way am I stepping in the middle of this shitstorm.

  Hayden crosses her arms. “It’s been done before. And you never can tell a candidate’s merit based on a piece of paper. Some have hidden strengths that can’t be predicted by a degree. Wouldn’t you agree, Drake?”

  He doesn’t smile. He glares at her, and I feel the urge to protect her this time.

  I’ve never been the protector. Have always looked out for number one, and to hell with everyone else. Well, except for Lewis. Okay, and Zach too…and the Sallees. All right, there are a few people I care about.

  “Anyone can obtain a college degree, but people with ethics and a moral code are more important,” Hayden continues.

  Drake smirks and brushes invisible lint from the sleeve of his coat. “As you say, Hayden. Come see me when you’re finished.” He walks away.

  Denim Jacket doesn’t immediately follow. He smiles, staring at me. “I’ll see you around, Mira.”

  Ah, shit. Maybe I should reassess the idea of leaving town. It’s sounding better and better.

  Hayden walks across the room and shuts the door behind the men, pressing her back to the wood. “Can I be frank with you?”

  Frank? What have I gotten myself into? I don’t want her to be frank, I want to get the hell out of here. I’m in some warped world. Everything is turned upside down. This place is supposed to be professional, not a hitman hangout.

  Hayden continues before I determine how best to let her down. “I’m new here. Very new,” she says as she makes her way to her desk. “As in, they just hired me to fill in for the last human resources director they fired.” Her words are coming fast, in a rush. “I thought it was strange that I was hired fresh out of business school. This position would normally be filled by a candidate with the degree, plus years of practical experience, but that’s not what they did. They needed someone immediately. And they hired me.” She sits and motions for me to do the same. I reluctantly do as she bids, resuming my seat across from her. “After I took the job, thinking I was the luckiest girl alive, I discovered why the position had opened and why they needed it filled so quickly.”

  She leans forward and lowers her voice. “The casino is under investigation for sexual harassment. The last HR director failed to respond to multiple complaints about one of the employees.” Hayden’s gaze moves toward the door, silently saying what she’s apparently not willing to admit out loud but that I already gathered. That Drake was the employee.

  “Honestly, I’m like you,” she says conspiratorially. “I have the right attitude and drive. I’m scrappy, but I don’t possess the qualifications for the position. Management didn’t care. They hired me because I’m a woman and they needed to quickly clean up their image. And because they thought I’d be malleable.” She smiles humorlessly. “I represent Blue Casino’s PR effort to save the company.”

  “You’re a woman, so they can’t be misogynists if they hire you as one of their directors,” I say, returning her sarcasm.

  She sits back. “Exactly.”

  All this—it’s not what I bargained for when I came in today. I knew things would be awkward due to my lack of qualifications. I did not predict this outcome. Running into Drake—the Drake. Running into my tormentor from the woods. It’s all too much.

  “I’m sorry for you, Hayden, I really am.” I’m about to tell her I can’t work here, even if she truly wanted me to and wasn’t simply taunting Drake, but I can’t help adding, “Maybe you should consider resigning. Seems to me like you work with a bunch of assholes.”

  Hayden laughs. “Mira, you’re perfect.”

  “Excuse me?” I cussed and insulted her employer. Is she nuts?

  “I’m looking for more than an assistant. I’m looking for someone with a good head on her shoulders. Someone who can assume a leadership position when needed, who possesses good judgment under stress. These recommendations”—she taps the paper in front of her—“point to the type of person I’m looking for. Maryanne Boeman is well respected at this casino, and she gave you a strong character reference.”

  Jesus, how did Gen manage that?

  “Your work experience at a top casino is also helpful.”

  She can’t be going where I think she’s going…

  Hayden folds her hands on her desk. “Mira, I’d like to hire you as my assistant.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  At Hayden’s declaration, I say the first thing that comes to mind.

  “Why would you want to hire me?” I wave behind me. “You heard what Drake said. He called me unqualified.”

  I don’t know Drake, but I got the sense he knows me, or knows of me.

  Shit. Why did Denim Jacket have to be here today of all days? He was casually dressed. I don’t think he works here. Or maybe he does, but not upstairs.

  This isn’t good.

  “Which is why I want you,” Hayden says.

  This is the most bizarre interview I’ve ever had.

  “Look,” she continues, “I’m not sure what Drake is up to, but I suspect things. He’s onsite for a couple of days to hand over the finer tasks of his management position in person. He shouldn’t be here at all, but the CEO has a soft spot for the guy. The CEO feels the charges against Drake will be dropped. But even he can’t allow Drake to work while he’s being investigated.”

  She looks at me as if she’s pleading a case. What she doesn’t know is that there’s no way I can take her up on her offer. This is a waste of both our time.

  “You have a healthy dose of leeriness toward Drake. Right away, that makes you a strong candidate for the job. If Drake gets off in the courts, you won’t be swayed by him, unlike so many of the women in this casino.”

  Whoa, that gets my attention. “Women actually like that guy? After what he did?”

  “As far as I can tell, yes. Quite a few.”

  What is wrong with people?

  I shake my head and focus on the more important issue. I can’t take this job. I can’t be anywhere near these men. But I stick with the practical argument. “You’ve seen my résumé. I don’t have a college degree, and I’ve never worked in an office.”

  “You’re qualified in all the ways I need you to be.” Hayden sits back in her chair with a scarily determined look on her face. “I trust anyone who doesn’t trust Drake. You’re clever and hardworking, or you wouldn’t have risen at the casino where you’ve worked. I can train you, and I’d rather train someone who has my confidence.”

  Oh my God, she’s serious.

  But no. No way. I can’t agree to what she’s proposing.

  “Plus”—she smiles devilishly—“you’re a woman, which should make management happy. Better for the image. And you’re a smart enough woman to remain apprehensive of that man.” She pokes her finger toward the door. “Not to mention the others like him in the company.”

  “There are others?” Gen mentioned something about the possibility. It seemed hard to believe, but now…

  “Oh, many.” Hayden pauses. “Maybe I shouldn’t tell you that.”

  “No, don’t worry. It doesn’t matter. I can’t take this job.”

  Hayden blinks, her expression revealing the first sign of uncertainty before it’s quickly wiped from her face. “Whatever your reservations, I’ll eliminate them.”

  Hayden is pretty and feminine, with a delicate voice, but the girl plays hardball.

  I wish I could work for her. She’d be a cool boss. I respect the fact she’s not
willing to back down to these jerks, but—I shake my head. “I really can’t. Even if I could…”

  I glance toward the door. Even if Drake is on leave, there’s no way I can work in a place with Denim Jacket around.

  “As a director, I have influence, no matter what Drake led you to believe through his intimidation tactics. I’m sorry about that interruption. He likes to make people feel small. But I don’t frighten easily, and the casino has to support my decisions. I’m holding their image together. You and I working as a team would form relationships with other trustworthy coworkers to get the job done.”

  This doesn’t seem professional, it seems crazy. There’s something spectacularly wrong with this place, considering the assault allegations—which I know to be fact—and running into the hitman who attacked me in the woods. But that statement alone—the part about other trustworthy coworkers?—it’s like there’s a war being waged at Blue. Good versus evil. What the hell?

  Hayden’s not backing down, so I’m going to be blunt. “Really, Hayden. I appreciate you offering me the job. I know it would be a huge step up for me, but it doesn’t matter. The reason I can’t work here isn’t only because of Drake. That man he was with…I shouldn’t be near him. Matter of fact, I need to stay as far away from him as possible.”

  “I see,” Hayden says, though her expression says otherwise.

  Of course she doesn’t get it. I’m not making sense. I haven’t given her any of the pertinent information. And I’m not going to.

  A gleam takes over Hayden’s eyes. Shit. I don’t like that look. “Scrappy” is right. “Mira, Drake will be out of the picture for a while. What if I made sure that other man didn’t return either?”

  I shouldn’t encourage her, but I’m curious. “You can do that?”

  “Yes.”

  I can’t really be considering this job. With Drake potentially stopping in from time to time, a man with a connection to Denim Jacket?

  I shake my head. It’s no good.

  “And I’ll offer you a signing bonus,” she adds. “How does five thousand dollars sound?”

  Ahhh, crap. Just—crap.

  Of all the things she could have said to convince me to take the job—things I could easily shoot down—she has to say the one thing that makes a difference.

  I return to the cabin to find Tyler pacing the small living room the way Lewis was the night Tyler brought me here. Worse, Tyler is dressed and his hair is combed.

  All is not right with the world.

  Tyler’s hair is perpetually disheveled and he rarely wears a shirt around the house—or maybe that’s just since I arrived. It wouldn’t surprise me if he walked around half dressed to antagonize me. But today he’s professional-looking? Something’s up.

  “Where’ve you been?” he asks, as if he doesn’t already know the answer to that question.

  I set down my ratty purse. “You suffer a brain injury while I was away? You know where I was. I had an interview.”

  “At Blue. You were there the entire time?” he asks disbelievingly.

  What is this, the Inquisition? I’m still coming to terms with what went down at the casino. I don’t need Tyler pestering me.

  “Yes,” I say, and shake off my heels, padding barefoot into the kitchen for a glass of water. When I turn around, Tyler is directly in front of me, crowding me at the sink.

  I draw in a breath, which has me inhaling his scent—Tyler and soap mixed together. The scent I love.

  For once, Tyler steps back, as if realizing he’s standing too close, or maybe he detects the sparks my body is shooting off. “You were there a long time. Did something happen?”

  I shrug. If I say no, that would be a flat-out lie, and for some reason I don’t want to lie to Tyler. He’s good at sniffing them out. Funny, no one else is.

  “You’re shrugging. What does that mean?”

  “Nothing.” I brush past him and head toward my bedroom. “Just, yes, stuff happened, but it’s no big deal.”

  Tyler follows me and braces a shoulder against the doorframe after I enter the room, his expression severe. “Let me decide if something’s a big deal or not.”

  My fingers pause on the top button of my blouse. Part of me is turned on by his words, the manly protector bit. There’s no hesitation. He actually thinks he knows what’s best for me. But I miss gentle Tyler, especially when this alpha side is in my way.

  “You mind? I’m trying to change here.”

  Tyler’s stare drops to my hands on my shirt and he blinks. He turns around, crossing his arms stiffly. “Don’t try and spin the conversation in a circle, Mira. I don’t have time for it. Interviewing at Blue was a stupid idea. Then you go and stay there for two hours? I want to know why.”

  I finish pulling on jeans and a T-shirt, and glare at his back. “What do you mean, you don’t have time for this? You’re jobless. I think you have the time. And why do you want to know? Were you worried about me, Tyler?”

  I’m being sarcastic. Obviously. Tyler would never worry about me.

  He turns slowly, his face twisted in a grumpy, sardonic smile that is somehow extremely sexy. My mind flashes to memories of that mouth on mine, and I shake my head, rattling it out of my brain.

  “Of course I wasn’t worried,” he says. But there’s something faltering in the way he says it. “But I won’t be held accountable if something happens to you. So you need to stop making stupid decisions.”

  I hold up my finger. “Did you just call me stupid?”

  He taps his thumb on the doorjamb, but offers no apology.

  “I don’t need you to look out for me.” I move to walk past him, but he doesn’t budge, and his body takes up the entire doorway.

  “You mind?” I say to the smooth biceps peeking from beneath his short-sleeved button-up, blocking my path.

  If I wasn’t so pissed, I might be able to admire his muscled arm. But the offending appendage belongs to Tyler, which means I’d like to bite it.

  God, he’s frustrating. “Move it,” I screech.

  Strong hands grab my shoulders and push me back until the backs of my knees collide with the bed, my butt landing on the mattress. “Not until we have a little talk, Mira.”

  A shiver runs down my spine, settling in my lower belly. Tyler sits beside me and I suck in a breath. He’s too close. It’s been a bitch of a day, and I’m weakened.

  “What happened at Blue?” His voice is low, gentle.

  That voice, the way his presence softens me—they were what made me allow him inside years ago. And it’s dangerous. Look how well that turned out for us.

  “Nothing,” I say stubbornly.

  A finger settles beneath my chin, turning my face toward a masculine jawline that no longer hints at the boy I once knew. “Tell me.”

  Up my gaze goes, drawn to eyes I could never resist, the strength and sincerity behind them as mesmerizing now as they were six years ago.

  “I took the job.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Tyler

  The fuck? She cannot be serious. “What do you mean you took the job? You went in for an interview, Mira. Places like Blue don’t hire on the spot. What the hell did you do?”

  “God, Tyler! What are you insinuating?” She squirms away from me and stands, brushing past me into the living room.

  Haven’t lost my touch. Except normally when women make celestial exclamations I’m doing something that gets them going, and they use words like God, and Jesus, Tyler, mixed in with a few cries of more. But that hasn’t happened in a long time, because in spite of appearances lately, I haven’t actually hooked up with a woman in forever.

  I follow Mira into the other room, where she spins to face me. “Is it so hard to believe someone would want me?” Her voice comes out strong, but her eyes are all vulnerability.

  She thinks no one wants her? Is she crazy? Everyone wants Mira.

  I attempt to calm my anger—with her, with myself. “You can’t take that job, Mira.”

&nbs
p; She glares at me, the fire in her eyes lighting up the room. She’s fucking beautiful. “I can. I did.”

  Not what I want to hear. And I don’t need the stubborn attitude either.

  I pinch the bridge of my nose. I’ve got to get a grip. There’s a solution here if I cool my head, think this through.

  Mira needs a better-paying job than the one she has. I get that. I’m trying to not consider the possibility that she took the job at Blue to piss me off. Both Gen and Cali were sexually harassed at Blue, yet Mira takes a job there? She knows it’s the most dangerous place for her to work. But telling Mira what to do isn’t effective either. She’ll do the exact opposite.

  I’ve got to fight Mira on her own playing field. She expects me to boss her around and act like an ass, because that’s what I’ve done so far, which, admittedly, is pretty messed up.

  So I’ll do the opposite.

  Which means I can’t tell her to quit her job. Goddammit, think.

  I need to protect her—I mean—fuck, where did that come from? I need to make sure she’s not doing anything dangerous. The only way to get her out of Cali’s place is to make sure she’s safe.

  I pop my neck and scrub a hand down my face. Fine. I’ll keep my mouth shut about her new job. But I’ve got my own plans. Good thing I didn’t waste time after she left this morning. I made a few phone calls, put some things into motion that will ensure Mira doesn’t get into trouble.

  I grab my keys from the counter and slip on my Vans, tying them.

  Mira’s gaze tracks me. “Where are you going?”

  Hah, wouldn’t she like to know? Fine. I’ll tell her. Let her mull this one over. “Blue Casino.”

  “What? Don’t you dare, Tyler. I need this job.” She scurries after me as I head to my car.

  I jerk open the rusted door and turn to her, taking in the flush of her cheeks, the beautiful intensity of her eyes, which typically melt my resolve, but not today. “Don’t worry, Mira. Your job is safe. I have something else I need to do at Blue.”