Shelter by Dahlia West

Author:Dahlia West
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Dahlia West
Published: 2019-05-16T00:00:00+00:00

Grant wiped his face with his napkin and tossed it onto the plate. “Well, I guess I’d better put on the monkey suit and dance for the nice man.”

Paige stood up when he did. “I’ll take care of this,” she said, gathering the empty muffin plate and their mugs. She headed off, presumably to the kitchen, and so Grant shucked his khakis and replaced them with a pair of black trousers sporting a sharply ironed crease. The suit itself might be unusual for him, but handling a uniform was second nature.

He was buttoning his cuffs when there was a soft knock at the door. He figured it was Paige. “I’m presentable!” he called.

She opened the door.

“Well,” he said, “I guess I’m decent, anyway, if not presentable. I don’t seem to be able to work this tie. It’s not my first time. Or even my first tie. I think I’m just out of practice.”

Paige jumped forward. “I can do it. Here let me.”

She reached up and took the two ends in her hands and began working deftly. Grant could hardly tell what it was she was doing so he just stood at attention as she threaded one end into a knot she’d formed and tugged it down.

“How’s that?”

“I feel like I’m being garroted by a tiny ninja.”

“Sorry! It’s just that you’re so much taller than Landry. If I had something to stand on, this would be easier.”

“I’ll keep that in mind if the bank turns me down and I have to start going door to door asking for donations.”

“I can drive you, now that I know how. But I’m sure you’ll get the loan.”

It felt oddly comfortable to have her helping him dress. Intimate, really. She was standing on her tiptoes, tugging at the fabric, licking her lips as she concentrated on getting it centered.

Grant smelled lavender and lemons, saw cherry red lips, wanted to take a bite, but knew this was forbidden fruit. Suddenly his hands were moving, reaching up toward her. His fingers flexed involuntarily, anticipating weaving them through her dark hair. She’d let him, wouldn’t she? Though, he’d already apologized for it once.

Employee, he reminded himself.

His fingers came to rest on the knot at his throat instead, that she’d only just finished tying. Their fingertips brushed up against each other as they exchanged control of the silver silk threads. He stepped away from her as he adjusted it, putting some much-needed distance between them.

“Anyway, thank you for helping me with the tie. I’m not sure if it’ll help. It won’t change the numbers, unfortunately, but I appreciate it just the same.”

“You’re welcome,” she said with a slight smile that it thrilled him to see. A little too much. “You look nice. You look like a man I’d give money to.” Then she did frown. “I mean…I… I don’t have any money. That sounded stupid.”

He laughed. “I get it. And I appreciate the sentiment. Let’s hope the manager at the bank feels the same way.”

Suddenly she thrust her hand out at him.

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