The look on her face said it all. Once again, she’d embarrassed herself and I could practically see the wheels turning in her head. I wondered if she’d even make it through the day. I looked at my watch and said, “Bobbie Jo, take these three down to see the animals and I’ll wait for Pepper. We’ll meet you there.”
“Sure, Gabe.”
The group followed Bobbie Jo, but David gave one last look at Pepper and said, “I think you look great.”
Pepper sighed and slid the oversized shirt over her shoulders. She pulled a ponytail holder off her wrist and piled her blonde hair on top of her head in a messy bun. To me, she looked sexier now than when she’d strutted around in her sequined bikini. She pushed her glasses up on her head. “I think I’m going to put these shoes up too. Be right back.” The reluctant intern came back after a minute and I could tell she’d been crying.
“Don’t let Bobbie Jo bother you. She’s not much of a people person. Come on, it’s this way. We’ll stop by the gift shop and get you some flip flops. The training area is nothing but concrete and you’ll tear up your feet if you walk around barefoot down there.
“I asked you what I should wear. You didn’t say anything about a one-piece.” I tried to ignore how good she smelled—like vanilla and strawberries and something else, something sweet and overwhelmingly sexy.
I chuckled, “Sorry, I’m not the guy to give fashion advice, clearly. The glasses are great though.”
“You’re making fun of me too?”
“Haven’t you ever been to Sea Lab before?” I sighed and wondered how someone so beautiful, and somewhat intelligent, could be so disconnected from reality.
“Yeah, when I was a kid. But, I wasn’t watching the people who worked here to see what they wore.”
One of the girls in the gift shop recognized me, “Hi, Gabe! How can I help you?”
“Hi, Anita. Pepper here, needs a pair of flip flops. What size do you wear?”
“A six—oh, those are cute.” She ran to the wall where all the shoes were on display, but we didn’t have time for shopping so I thought I’d better cut this off right now.
“Oh my God! Is that Pepper Anderson? Isn’t she?…didn’t she?…”
“Yes,” I whispered, “but please keep it to yourself.” Anita nodded, wide-eyed, “Great, she’ll take those. Send the invoice to my inbox please. Thanks. Let’s go, Pepper. We’re getting behind.”
“I’m not sure what color to get,” Pepper chewed a nail while she tried to decide. I walked to the wall of flip flops, reached for a size six pair and handed them to her.
“I don’t mean to be a hard-ass, but we have to go.” She took the shoes out of my hands and tore off the string that held them together.
“Really? Blue? So not my color.” I walked out of the gift shop and she tagged along behind me as she slid into her shoes. “Hey, wait for me.” She reached her hand out to steady herself on my arm while she slid her toes in the left shoe. I couldn’t help but notice her perfectly pink polished toenails. She smiled up at me, “I’m ready.”
By the time we’d made it to the training area, I could tell the girl in the gift shop hadn’t followed my instructions about keeping quiet. Employees were coming out from every corner to see the spoiled heiress who’d managed to nab a slot as an intern. It didn’t take long for Pepper to notice either and I heard her muttering to herself as she pulled her sunglasses down over her eyes. Her face was like stone.
“Hi, Pepper. I’m Louise, I work here too. So nice to meet you.” Where had she come from? I kind of felt sorry to see Pepper have to deal with this kind of craziness. She shook the girl’s outstretched hand and looked up at me like, “Are you kidding me?”
“Excuse us, Louise. Right this way.” I eased her away from new found friend and led her by the shoulder. “Sorry about that. I guess you must get that a lot.”
“Sometimes, I really hate it,” she whispered. No one else intercepted us and we joined the other group. Unfortunately, they’d also put two and two together and had a different attitude about their fellow intern.
“Okay, boss. Is this some sort of reality show we don’t know about?”
“Let’s deal with this now. No, there is no reality show, no hidden television cameras. Miss Anderson is here, like the rest of you, to be a part of our internship program.”
“As PR for the Sea Lab? Because unless I missed something, she’s not accustomed to swimming with dolphins—except in fountains, and those are the concrete kind,” Tracee scoffed. I liked her less and less the more I heard her, not because she had questions, but because she obviously had a chip on her shoulder.
To her credit, Pepper didn’t say anything. She just slid her glasses back away from her eyes and stared at Tracee.
“That was uncalled for, Tracee,” I said. “I imagine we all have moments we’d rather forget, don’t we? You don’t worry about Pepper or her motivation for being here. That’s between her and Sea Lab. I suggest you focus on doing your personal best so you might have a shot at staying on permanently—or at least, leave with a good recommendation.” That’ll shut her up. I honestly hoped I wouldn’t be spending the next six weeks having to answer questions like these. Sure, Pepper being here might raise the profile of our facility, but it could also prove as a distraction if the press got a hold of that information. The way gossip had traveled around here today, it probably wouldn’t take too long.
“Now, let’s get started. Bobbie Jo, introduce everyone to our friends.”
Bobbie Jo clapped her hands and began to interact with the stars of Sea Lab—our dolphins. I let her take the lead while I gave the interns tips on how to work safely with them, what to do, what not to do. I sat on an auditorium bench and watched them work. One at a time, Bobbie Jo called each intern into the pool—it was only four feet deep—and introduced them to each of the dolphins, telling them their names and pointing out their distinctive features.
Surprisingly, Pepper didn’t run screaming when, Singh, our friendliest dolphin, swam up to her and poked his head out of the water. He squeaked and splashed and she laughed. I heard Bobbie Jo ask her a question then Pepper nodded and took a fish from her. She offered it to Singh who greedily gobbled it up and squeaked a thank you. Pepper clapped her hands in delight and Bobbie Jo grinned too. After the introductions, we continued to the other tanks and warned everyone about the dangers that the animals presented. We told them that tanks four through ten were off limits because those creatures weren’t anywhere near as friendly as the dolphins.
Soon, she called all four interns into the pool then she walked out and came to sit beside me. “Well, what do you think?” I asked her.
“About who? Pepper?”
“No, about all of them,” I lied.
“Well, the dolphins liked the blonde a lot. I’m not on Team Pepper, but she’s not as stupid as she looks. Having a change of heart? Can I fire her, yet?” She gave me a devilish smile. Bobbie Jo was a thick, muscular girl with a bad haircut. She wasn’t attractive in the least, but she was every bit my equal when it came to running the Lab. I knew it and she knew it.
“No, you can’t fire her. I just don’t want to put Sea Lab in jeopardy. You know, she has a history of some bad behavior. If something like that fountain incident happens here, I’d have to let her go.”
“Yeah, I read the papers, but like you said, who hasn’t done something they later regret? Come on, she’ll probably quit anyway. I don’t see her getting up early every morning for the entire summer—not with all her friends having pool parties and jetting off to Maui.”
“You’re probably right.” We talked about how to pair them all up and ended up dividing the four with Tracee and David working together and then Pepper and Martin, then I went back to my office to work out a schedule for them. I gave Pepper and Martin a little more tank time since they both did well in that environment and I was almost ready to go home when Pepper tapped on my door.
“You got a minute?”
“
Sure, come on in.”
Chapter Seven — Pepper
Gabe slid his silver-framed glasses off, tossed them on the desk and gestured his hand toward a chair. “Have a seat.” I walked over to his desk and plopped my ass down on top of it, crossing my sleek long legs in front of me.
“I meant on the chair”
“Oh, that?” I giggled. “You’re so funny. I didn’t know you wore glasses.” I reached across to his face and traced my finger along his nose. “You look really smart.” He pulled away a little, but I was Pepper Anderson, and I could have pretty much any guy I wanted. And I wanted Gabe.
He rolled his chair back a little, “What can I help you with, Miss Anderson?”
“Well, Mr. Gregory—oh, that sounds so funny. Like I’m talking to my daddy’s friend or something. Call me Pepper, please.” I brushed a strand of hair that had fallen in my face to the side and licked my lips. “Do you think I should stay home tomorrow? I’m kind of a…well, a wreck, publicity-wise. I know you were trying to help me out, but I think Daddy would understand.”
I must have made him a little nervous, because he stood up and walked toward the big picture window. He turned back to me and my eyes scanned the whole package. I silently wondered if he could fuck me as hard as Church did. He must have seen something in my face, because he turned back around and put his hands in his pockets. I knew what that meant. He was as excited as I was. “What do you think? Can you handle it? I won’t be able to babysit you.”
“Babysit?” I laughed. “Do I look like a baby?” I asked, and slid the old t-shirt off and stood in front of him in my bikini.
“Well, uh—you know what I meant.”
“GG, I’ve been dealing with this kind of crap all my life—”
“—wait! GG?”
“Yeah, GG. Gabe Gregory.”
“Don’t ever call me that again, please.”
I smiled and held up my hand in a mock salute, “Yes, sir!”
He smiled at me and said, “Thank you. Now what were you saying?”
“Well, as I was saying before I was interrupted, I’m used to the staring and the whispers, but if you feel like it puts Sea Lab in a bad light, then I totally understand if you don’t want me to come back. But, I’d really like to. Here’s the t-shirt I borrowed.” I handed the shirt back to him and I could have sworn he was staring at my body. I stayed in good shape considering I had some pretty curvy hips.
He had dark brown, expressive eyes that seemed to search for what you weren’t saying. I wondered what it would be like to kiss his very kissable mouth, to touch his warm skin. I sighed. He was a cool drink of water on a very hot day.
“I just wanted to…uhm…check with you before I left.”
“I want you, Pepper.” I froze for a second. That was a bold thing to say. “I mean, I—uhm, we want you to come back.” He blushed under his tan and looked a little uncomfortable. “Let’s go ahead and get this out in the open.” He walked toward me, his dreamy eyes focused directly on me and I wondered what those dark waves of hair would feel like between my fingers as I ground on his now very hard cock.
He cleared his throat and wiped his fingers across his stubbled chin. I loved a man with stubble. “I took you on because your Dad asked me to give you a shot. That’s what you’re getting—a shot. But that doesn’t mean I have to keep you. If you don’t show up for work, you’re out. If you show up in that sequined bikini again, you’re out. If you don’t apply yourself, you’re out.”
“Well, that’s not very nice,” I pouted. “I thought you liked my bikini?” It had worked on Church—I wondered if it would work on Mr. Big Stuff. My heart fell in my chest. I knew what he’d said was the truth, but I was different, for God’s sake! I was Pepper Anderson—daughter of a very rich real estate man. I was the catch of the decade! I looked at him straight in the eyes and twirled a strand of hair in my fingers.
“You know, Gabriel, I handled those stinky fish without gagging. I played with all the animals, scrubbed the pool decks with that big heavy broom and helped out where I was told all day long.”
He glared back at me—he was going to be harder work than I’d previously thought. “Yes, you did, Pepper. You did your job, and you did a fine job, considering…”
“Considering what, baby cakes?”
“Considering you’ve been trying to get out of this by seducing me, and I’ve been standing here this whole time trying to control myself, because I do believe, Pepper Anderson, that you have a lot more to you than just your sassy attitude and perfect ass!”
Bingo! “Great!” I winked at him. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.” I twirled around toward the door and sauntered out. I contemplated going to the locker room to take a quick shower, but decided to skip it—I had him, and I’d never been so tired in my life. Before I’d walked through the massive glass doors of Sea Lab, I hadn’t thought twice about fish or dolphins… or Gabe Gregory for that matter, but now—now that I knew Gabe was watching me, I wanted to nail this. Did I want a job here? Fuck, no! Did I want him to see that I could do it? That I wasn’t just some stupid heiress who liked having her tits photographed? Fuck. Yes!
I threw my gym bag into my convertible and jetted away from my parking spot. I turned the radio up to full blast and nearly ran into Tracee as she backed out in her lame-ass Volkswagen Beetle. What-ever! Fuckin’ tree hugger!
I didn’t know how well I’d do with this intern thing, but Gabriel Gregory made it a lot easier. He was one smart hottie! I wondered why Daddy chose Sea Lab and not someplace else for me to work—like at a fashion house or even a Mercedes dealership. I could so sell Mercedes all day long or at the very least, be a showroom model. Bet they’d let me wear my bikini there. Oh yeah…can’t do that. No modeling. I’d never hear the end of it from Evangeline, my former supermodel mother. She hated it when I called her ‘Mom’, but whether she liked it or not, she gave birth to me.
On my way home, I slowed down at the curve where I’d hit the possum and eventually turned into the long driveway up to my house on Destiny Beach. I loved it here and when I was a kid, I was always at the beach. I didn’t go as much now, skin cancer was not on the agenda, but I still loved it and sometimes went at night. Church and I used to fuck on the beach behind the barrier rocks when we were younger, but we hadn’t done that in a really long time.
Unfortunately, now that I had a job, Church and I probably wouldn’t get back to beach fucking soon. Oh well, Gabe was really nice. I’d have to ask him if he had a girlfriend. I hoped he didn’t, but with chocolatey eyes like that and a hard body as well, I bet I wasn’t the only girl who wanted him.
I looked in the rear view mirror and scoffed. I looked like crap, but I had a job. Albeit a job with no pay and noone liked me, except David—but then, he wasn’t someone I’d hang out with. I was glad I’d paired up with Martin though. I figured if I couldn’t have Gabe, Martin would do. He didn’t hit on me and he didn’t seem to care who I was or even know who I was, for that matter. I just thanked God I hadn’t got stuck with Tracee. She was a hater and she didn’t even know me! Wouldn’t be the first time someone hated me for being me.
Mills was waiting for me at the door when I got home. She was holding her blue Russian cat, Theo. Honestly, I don’t think I’d even seen that cat in all the time she’d been away—he was pretty good at hiding out. He’s going to love me, I thought, I stunk like dead fish! I pulled the car into the circular drive and my sister flashed me a big smile.
“Hey, working girl! How was your first day… and what the hell are you wearing?”
“Oh, so you’re talking to me now?” I grinned at her, grabbed my bag out of my car and walked inside. I rubbed the cat’s head and kissed Mills on the cheek.
She wrinkled her nose, “Oh—and you smell! What is that?”
“It’s my new perfume—do you like it? I’ll be wearing it all summer.” I made a face and climbed the stairs with just one thought on my mind—to get in the shower. She bounded up the stairs after me
and Theo jumped to the floor and ran off.
“What? What happened?”
“That wonderful odor is fish. Dead, fucking fish. I fed the dolphins today and a bunch more swimming things.”
“Yuck. Poor thing. Is that why you’re in that trashy bikini? Bet that went over well with the kiddies. You can’t work in the office or something? With clothes?” Mills’ big blue eyes sparkled and I melted. She was such a great little sister.
“Leave my clothes alone! And no, I don’t think office work is an option.”
“Well hurry up and get your shower. Dad says we’re all eating together tonight. And…you’ll never guess what we’re having.”
I yawned. I’d been up too long. “I’m too tired to guess. What?”
“Fish! Stinky ol’ dead fish!” She laughed as she bounded back down the stairs.
“Yuck!” I yelled after her then went to get in the shower. I peeled off my bathing suit, and then pulled the hair band out of my hair. For a good ten minutes, I stood under the hot water and washed away the smell from my body. My favorite floral body wash was perfect for this kind of stink. Mmmm….It felt so good to be clean again. I wondered if Gabe liked his women floral or fruity. I made a mental note to find out tomorrow—if I made it in tomorrow. I was beat.
I didn’t bother dressing up for dinner since I knew it was just going to be family. I grabbed a summer dress in my trademark black and white and it looked great against my tan. A few minutes later, I walked downstairs with my stomach growling so loudly, I didn’t care if I had to eat fish or not. I was so hungry, I’d eat anything about now.
“Here she is, let’s eat! I’m starving.” Mills sat down at the table and patted the seat beside me. “Look, Pep. Charlotte and Daddy made dinner. It smells delicious.”
“Hi Charlotte, nice to see you,” I smiled and sat down next to my sister.
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