Page 19 of Secret Billionaire

She bit her lip as their eye’s met… the intensity of his gaze took her breath away. He reached out and brushed a crumb from her chin then leaned down and kissed her cheek. She felt his warm breath against her face, his lips a soft caress. She could smell hints of aftershave cologne…spicy. An ache she couldn’t define settled in her chest. Her whole body tingled with longing and she wanted more. Her lips parted and taking it as an invitation, he covered her mouth with his own.

“We shouldn’t,” she whispered against his lips.

“We should.”

She was still perched on the stool as he tilted her back in his arms. He moved to the hollow of her throat, and then licked and kissed his way around to her neck and shoulder. She gasped with pleasure and buried her fingers in his hair. As he was tugging her tee-shirt up, the front door jingled. Jesse groaned, then straightened and reluctantly pivoted to put his body between her and the door.

Glancing back and seeing Faye’s dazed expression, he took over, “Can I help you?”

A young man who looked to be about eighteen, give or take, stood in the doorway. “Yeah. I’m looking for the owner.”

Faye tugged at her shirt then stood. “Hi. That’s me. Faye LeBlanc.”

“LeBlanc?” he said, as his brows snapped together.

Smiling she walked toward him and held out her hand, “Yes, I just bought the bar a few months ago.”

After releasing her hand, he looped his thumbs in his front pockets. “I’m looking for work. Are you hiring?” There was something about him...Faye couldn't put her finger on it.

He was a gorgeous young man. His arms were heavily inked, with tribal tattoos disappearing under the sleeves of his tee-shirt. And, despite the fact that he was the one asking her for a job, he came off as if he’d be doing her the favor, almost challenging her as he boldly met her eyes. Despite his cocky attitude Faye was intrigued.

“Not until business picks up. In another few weeks I’ll be needing some extra hands. What did you have in mind?”

“I’ll do anything. You won’t find anyone as good as me. I’ll bus tables, wash dishes, take out the trash, clean, whatever you need.”

“Have you ever worked in a bar or restaurant before?” she asked, her voice gentle.

His eyes narrowed. “No, actually this would be my first job. But that shouldn’t concern you, I’m smart and I learn fast.”

Faye said, “If you want to jot down your name and number, maybe we can talk in a couple of weeks. How’s that sound.”

He lifted his shoulder in a half shrug, “Whatever. Is this a nice way of blowing me off?”

Jesse had already walked over to the bar and grabbed a notepad and pen. Handing it to the kid, he watched over his shoulder as he jotted down the information. Despite the kid’s outward bravado his hand shook slightly as he wrote.

“Tyler huh?”

“Yeah.”

“You have references?” Jesse asked.

His eye’s flashed, “Sure. I can get those for you.”

“You can bring all that with you when we sit down and have a real interview,” Faye said.

“Thanks Ms. B-LeBlanc.”

Smiling she said, “Call me Faye. It’s casual around here.”

He lowered his head and nodded, “Most folks call me Ty.”

“Okay Ty it is. Thanks for stopping by, and no I’m not blowing you off. You’ll get an interview.”

For the first time since he’d arrived the corners of his mouth turned up. “You won’t regret it, ma’am…I mean Faye.” She held out her hand and he shook it.

“What’s your tat say?” he asked.

Faye showed him the inside of her forearm. Ty cocked his head and read the delicately scribed words out loud, “Don’t dream your life, Live your dream. Sick.”

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