Tempt Me! (Panty Dropper Series Book 2) Read online

  “Fair enough.”

  Kenneth stuck his head out from the kitchen. “I can vouch for that. No one wants to have to tell their boss that they had to use a magnifying glass, do they?”

  Chapter Four

  “Hey Chris, do you have a minute?”

  “Sure.” Chris frowned as Rob Stephens, the owner of the building, leaned against the counter. “Do you want to go upstairs?”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Becca, are you right here for a bit?”

  Becca rolled her eyes, “Sure am. Do you want Kenneth to watch me again?”

  Chris bit back his reply and ignored the snicker from the kitchen as he turned and led Rob up the stairs to his apartment. He pushed the door shut behind them and turned to face his landlord. “What’s up?”

  “Nothing really major but I need to have a quick chat about the lease. You’re due to renew in a couple of months and I want to make a change.”

  “That sounds ominous.”

  “Depends on your point of view, I guess.” He sat on the couch and Chris took a seat opposite. “I want to do some renovations. Smaller stores are getting harder and harder to rent and I’d like to join your side with the laundromat next door.”

  Chris frowned as he quickly ran through what this could mean for him. “So you won’t renew my lease? The laundromat is due to renew at the same time aren’t they?”

  “You’re right, they are. But they’ve decided to move further out into one of my other sites. The rent is cheaper and they don’t have a lot of room to grow their turnover.”

  “Okay.” He ran his hand over his face. “I really have to get back downstairs so can you give me the short version of what you’re proposing?”

  “I want to join the two sites and have you expand the cafe. I’ll pay for everything, of course, and I’m prepared to give you a small allowance for any changes you need to make to your setup. Expanding the kitchen—things like that, but it means higher rental for you.” He looked straight at Chris, not breaking eye contact as he spoke.

  “Right. How much are we talking about?”

  “Next door is the same size as this place.”

  “So, double?”

  “Not necessarily. As I said I’m prepared to make some concessions for you. I’d rather you stayed than I had an empty location.” He stood up and reached out a hand to Chris. “Don’t decide now, obviously. Run the numbers and let me know next week. Then we can talk specific details.”

  Chris followed him to the door and for a second he considered seeing him out and taking a few minutes to run the math straight away. Instead, he followed Rob down the stairs and wished him a good afternoon.

  “So, are we all unemployed?” Kenneth stuck his head out of the kitchen. “Time to start looking for a new employer to annoy?”

  “Of course not, idiot. It’s nothing major. We might be getting some renovations, that’s all.”

  “Renovations? Oh, no biggie then.” He pulled his head through the door and pots and pans immediately started banging again.

  The familiar sound of the kitchen should have soothed Chris but thoughts of any possible changes played on his mind the rest of the day. Becca glanced at him several times and once she even opened her mouth, as if to question him. She closed it again without speaking, though, and he was left to wonder what was on her mind.

  ***

  “So you can work five nights?”

  “Yep. Any five you choose. I don’t mind doing weekends if you need me. I’m doing an online course and I need to keep two days free each week to complete my assignments. Besides that, I’m all yours. If you ever get stuck during the day I can fill in, too.”

  Chris sighed. He’d normally ask so many more questions than he had today, but the visit from Robert had thrown him. Here he was interviewing for a new position when he didn’t even know if he’d have a business by the end of the year. “Would you be happy to start on a trial basis? Paid, of course. Maybe for a month?”

  “Sure. If you’ll give me proper hours and not just bring me in for a shift here and there.”

  “It’s proper hours. I just want to make sure we’re a good fit, plus I’ve had some news today, which could mean we have to close for a short period for renovations. I don’t want to give you the wrong impression and then have you let down.”

  “That’s fine. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just find something else. When would you like me to start?”

  “Tomorrow night?” He stood up and they shook hands.

  “Sound good.”

  “If you can come at five o’clock, just bang on the back door, since the front will be locked up. Let me introduce you to everyone.” He led her to the kitchen and waved his hand, “Kenneth, this is Kylie, she’s starting tomorrow night.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Kenneth was elbow deep in soapsuds. “Sorry I can’t shake!”

  “No problem.” She smiled and backed away from the kitchen.

  “And this is Becca. She’s only been here a few weeks, too. But you’d never know it.” He smiled at them as the women shook hands. “Okay, let me show you the back entrance and I’ll see you tomorrow.” He led the way and was soon back, sinking down into a seat against the wall. “Phew. I’m glad that’s over.”

  “Here, I made you a coffee,” Becca said as she placed a steaming mug by his elbow.

  “Oh, I have to get ready for tonight.” He moved to stand up but she placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

  “Sit. You get no down time at all. Drink your coffee and I’ll start cleaning out the cake cabinet.”

  “Thanks. That’s nice of you.”

  “I’ve watched you worrying all day about the renovations you talked about. Are you sure that’s all they are?”

  “Well, they could be. It will all depend on my bank. The owner wants to join this place with the laundromat next door, and he wants to do it when both our leases expire later this year. But I’m not sure that’s what I want.”

  “You’re comfortable here.”

  “I am.” He looked up at her with a frown. “You make it sound like it’s a bad thing.”

  “Not at all, but being comfortable can mean you’ve settled. You’ve reached a certain level of success and you’re not aiming for anything new.”

  “That’s true.” He sipped his coffee and thought about her words. “I think this will need a lot more self-examination than I can be bothered with right now. I plan to do the sums and see my accountant first. Then I’ll decide what I want to do.”

  “Do you have the option to keep things as they are?”

  “Nope. That’s the only option I don’t have. Change or bust, it seems. I know what it cost me to set this place up. I don’t particularly want to invest that money somewhere else and start over.”

  “Fair enough. Change or bust, then.” She grinned at him from behind the counter where she was packing up the desserts. “We should get you a t-shirt made with that slogan.”

  Chapter Five

  “Oh, oh. You’re in trouble now.” Kenneth sang quietly from the kitchen a few days later. Becca frowned at him and turned to see what he was talking about. A uniformed policeman stood behind her and she blinked.

  “What can I get you?” she asked, pen poised to write his order.

  “Are you Becca James?”

  “Yes.” She met his eyes and the blood drained from her face.

  What does he want with me?

  “Is there somewhere private that we could talk?”

  “There is, but I’m working and my boss isn’t here.”

  “Yes, I know Chris. When will he be back?”

  “About ten minutes. He rushed out to do the banking while we were quiet.” She waved her hands at the full tables. “As you can see we didn’t stay quiet for long. Can it wait until he gets back?”

  “I think it can.” His eyes on her made her nervous and she wiped her hand against her pant leg. Damn Chris for always looking at her legs. She wore pants every day now since it seemed
to help him stay focussed. A small fact she was sure he didn’t realise she was aware of. “Can I get a coffee? Black, no sugar.”

  “Sure.” She stepped to the coffee machine that Chris had shown her how to use last week. “Is it something bad? I’m not putting off you notifying me that someone has passed away or anything, am I?”

  He finally smiled at her. “No, nothing like that. You’re not in trouble either. Just wait for Chris to get back and then we’ll chat.”

  Relief washed over her. Thank goodness. There was only one person she worried that something might have happened to. As long as she was safe, Becca could press on.

  The door opened and her eyes automatically moved to find Chris. No matter where he was he caught her attention, sometimes sucking the breath from her. His black hair and dark brown eyes set off a physical reaction in her and made her heart beat faster. Every. Single. Day. He seemed unaware, although she was sure Kenneth knew. Several times she’d caught him smirking at her, or smirking at Chris behind her back. If he didn’t make her laugh so much, she was sure that she and Kenneth would not get along.

  “Hey Ed. Long time no see. Came for the best coffee in town?” He shook hands with the tall policeman and Becca noted they were the same height. Somehow policemen always seemed to her to be taller than they were, or maybe they were just intimidating because of the uniform. Thinking about Chris being the same height set off a dull throb deep in her belly.

  Stop that right now, young lady. You are not getting involved with anyone. Especially not your wildly attractive boss. Not when you really love this job!

  She’d hoped to take a break and not have Chris find out that the officer’s visit was to her. Ed’s words dashed that plan. “I’m here to see Ms James. Could you spare her for a few minutes?”

  Chris glanced at Becca and guilt washed over her. A faint blush crept up her neck and the heat increased until she was beet red. She stepped away from the counter and ushered Ed toward the back of the cafe, willing herself not to stumble over her words. “I won’t be long, Chris.” She didn’t dare meet his gaze. What was he thinking about her visitor? She almost didn’t want to know.

  When she was seated across from Ed, she waited for him to enlighten her about his visit. He cleared his throat and pulled a small notebook from his pocket.

  “Do you know a Rodney Pillick, Ms James?”

  “I do and you can call me Becca if you want.”

  “And Mr Pillick is what, to you?”

  “He’s the brother of my ex husband. Well, not really my ex husband. My husband died.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.”

  “It was nearly two years ago now. No need to be sorry.”

  “We arrested Mr Pillick earlier today.” He watched her face as he delivered the news.

  “What? Oh my God, I had no idea. What did he do?”

  “You may or may not know that he has ties to one of the local motorcycle gangs.”

  “I didn’t know for sure, but I suspected. He offered me a receptionist job a few weeks ago at his tattoo parlour, but I was too scared about who the customers might be, so I said no.”

  “So you’ve never worked for Mr Pillick?”

  “No, never. I started working here the same day that he offered me that job.”

  “Hmmm…” he tapped his fingers on the table and made notes in his book. “That’s interesting.”

  “Why are you here, officer?”

  “We’ve started going through his books.” Again, he watched her, waiting for a reaction of some sort. “Your name is listed as an employee.”

  “What? How? Why would I be listed as staff?”

  “That’s what we’d like to know. We suspect money laundering.”

  Her eyes widened and she pushed her chair back and sat up straight. “So, I was right! That’s why I didn’t start working there,” she explained, the words rushing out. “There were lots of bikies as clients and groups of people that would hang around at all hours of the day and night. Besides the fact that I didn’t want to get involved, it was scary.”

  “I can imagine.” He slipped his notebook back into his pocket and pushed a business card across the table to her. “If you think of anything that might be pertinent could you call me?”

  “Of course.” They both stood and as he turned to go she spoke again. “Uhh… should I be worried at all? Has he pissed anyone off that might know I was listed and come looking for me?” Her face was white, the skin tight around her mouth.

  “I don’t think so. We’re just following up a lot of leads.”

  “Okay.” She watched him say goodbye to Chris and then she stepped back behind the counter where her boss waited for her. Dark eyes took in her strained face.

  “Everything alright?”

  “I’m not sure. Rodney has been arrested.”

  “Tattoo man?”

  She smiled at the nickname he’d given her brother-in-law. “Yes Mr November, that’s him. Your policeman friend says I’m listed as an employee, even though I’ve never worked for him.”

  Chris let out a low whistle. “That sounds dodgy as hell.”

  “Yep. I just hope it doesn’t bite me somehow. I’ve done everything I could to stay away from him and now this.” Tears welled in her eyes and she brushed them aside with a furious swipe. “I can’t even give him a piece of my mind because he’s in jail.”

  “Do you want to take some time? You could go upstairs if you want?”

  Humour bloomed on her features, the tears quickly replaced with a grin. “You’d let me into the penthouse? You must be feeling really sorry for me.”

  He laughed. “It’s hardly the penthouse and you’re always welcome up there. I’d like to see you up there.” He stopped, the words slipping out before he could bite them back. From behind him he heard a giggle from Kenneth. Just as it had a moment ago, Becca’s face changed again. A faint blush stained her cheeks and she quickly broke eye contact with him.

  “It’s not necessary. I’m fine, really.” She picked up her order pad and moved to a table of four people who had just arrived. And just like that, that tiny spark that had been between them for a moment, was gone.

  ***

  When Becca turned the sign to ‘closed’ just after four o’clock, Chris didn’t have the slightest urge to get ready for the next shift. He’d watched her all afternoon, diligently going about her job, not letting the news of Rodney’s arrest distract her at all. Several times he’d caught her looking at him across the room. They’d shared a smile once or twice and he was back to thinking maybe the imagined spark was there, after all.

  More than anything, he wanted to see if it could be there if they just spent some time together. Which was why, for the first time in two years, he was considering closing and taking the night off. He’d resolved an hour ago to ask her to dinner. If she said yes, that ‘closed’ sign would stay firmly in place for the rest of the night.

  Now he just had to get up the courage to ask her.

  “You’re not rushing to get ready? Jeff will be here soon.”

  “Hmm… we’ll see. How are you feeling about your visitor today?”

  “Not too bad. I had time to think about it, and there’s really nothing I can do.”

  “That’s a good attitude to have.”

  “Well, you might have noticed that I’m full of attitude, good or otherwise.” She grinned at him and he laughed. The banter between them these last few weeks had him feeling more alive than he had in years.

  “I have noticed an abundance of attitude. Between you and Kenneth I don’t know how I survive.”

  “I can’t hold a candle to him.” She collected cutlery off two of the nearest tables and joined him behind the counter. They clattered into the draw and she turned to collect the rest.

  “Leave them.”

  “It’s fine. I have half an hour before I have to go.”

  “No, I mean really leave them.”

  “Why, what’s wrong.” Her face took on a worried expression
as she examined his features. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Are you free tonight?”

  There. It’s done. The words are out.

  “I already told you I couldn’t work nights.”

  “I haven’t forgotten. I’m seriously thinking of taking the night off and I wondered if you might like to get dinner.”

  “You want to have dinner with me?”

  “Kenneth is really crappy company. Jeff will just critique the food of any restaurant we visit.”

  She grinned, though he could tell she tried to keep her smile in check. “Don’t you have multiple invitations from your friends—removalists, police officers and others—for dinner, pool and various other pursuits?”

  “Probably. I don’t take a lot of notice of them because until right now I’ve never planned to have a night off. If you say no, I’ll run the shift as usual.”

  “Oh, that’s a crappy thing to do. Tie your only night off in years to me saying yes.”

  He grinned. “I didn’t mean it like that. I meant I wouldn’t take the night off just to hang out with the guys. I know you probably can’t come, but I’m asking anyway.” He watched her bite her lip, as she considered his offer.

  “Can you give me a minute to make a call?”

  “Sure.”

  “Okay. One sec.” She pulled her phone from her pocket and headed down the hallway to the back door.

  Chris set about emptying the cabinet of cakes and cleaning the display. Either way, he still had to put a lot of things away and get the coffee machine cleaned. He could hear her murmuring down the back and a moment later she rounded the corner.

  “Okay, Mr November, I can do dinner. You’ll get your night off.”

  He couldn’t hide the smile that split his face. A shiver of excitement went through him—whether because of the time off, or spending that time with her—he told himself he wasn’t sure. “Excellent. Shall I pick you up?”

  “No. I actually share a house with Rodney’s mother—my husband’s mother. I want to check on her and I have a couple of things I need to do, so I’ll meet you back here, about six thirty?”