Page 39 of Only One I Ever Wanted

She grabbed his arm. “It’s not worth getting into trouble.”

He grinned down at her. “I like getting into trouble, though.”

Lexi rolled her eyes. “Not over me, you’re not.”

His grin faded. “What do you mean ‘not over you’?”

“Kai, he’s not worth it.”

“Yeah, but you are.”

Her cheeks pinked up, then she focused on the skinny man. “You know what, Milton, I quit!”

Milton’s face went pale. “You can’t quit.”

“I can. And I am.” She went over to a desk and pulled her purse out of a drawer, then she tossed her keys at Milton.

“But yourunthis whole place.” Milton grabbed her hand.

“Should have thought about that before you put your hands on a woman without her consent,” Sullivan said quietly.

Spotting me, he gave me a grim look as if to keep my distance.

Kai, however, grabbed Milton’s arm and twisted it behind him. “I do believe shejustsaid to keep your hands off her.”

“Hey! You can’t manhandle me.”

Lexi stalked over to them. “Doesn’t feel so good, does it?”

Kai pushed Milton away. “Stay away from her. Period. Or I’ll do much worse.”

“You’ll never find another job. I know everyone around here, and I won’t be giving you a reference.”

Sullivan moved between Kai and Milton. “Handily, we happen to need a manager.” He turned his attention to Lexi. “If you can run this place, bet you can handle us. How about it?”

Lexi’s eyes widened. “What? Just like that?”

“Just like that. Sound good to you, Kai?”

“Definitely.”

A throat cleared behind me as we all glanced at the door. “What is going on here?”

Milton started stammering again. “Uh, hi, Jim.”

Lexi shrank back and my eyebrows lifted when I saw Kai settle his hands on her shoulders gently.

Hmm.

History there?

“We finished the two coats of paint on the back office. Unfortunately, we won’t be returning for the front of the building.”

“Why not?” Jim asked. He was wearing a well-cut navy suit, his eyes narrowed as he glanced from Milton to Sullivan. “What the hell happened while I was on lunch?”

“No, Sully, It’s okay.” Lexi tried to rush forward, but Kai held her calmly in place.

“I’m sorry, the Murdock Brothers don’t work with men who treat women that way.”

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