Page 11 of Rafe: Sins of the Father

“Why are you so set against his employee? What gang are you talking about?” I ask with a frown.

The question draws Ruth’s attention to me. “He’s in a motorcycle gang.”

My mouth drops open, and my eyes widen. “Really?”

“Really.” She shakes a finger at me. “Steer clear of him.”

So, the hot-as-hell man in cuffs really is as badass as he looks.

CHAPTER TWO

Rafe—

“Thompson is venomous against you, boy. He wants you gone.” Bubba shifts gears on the forklift. “Don’t let him get to you. You’re ten times the man he is.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah. Hell, you’ve got better instincts and leadership skills.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Look at the way you’re always keeping on the guys to keep them to task and taking charge. You’d be a better foreman than that asshole any day.”

I wave Bubba forward toward the pallet of boards, and he eases the forklift into place. Once he loads the pallet onto the back of the tractor-trailer, I hand the driver the forms to sign, and he locks the back doors with a clank.

“Thanks, guys.”

We wave him off as he pulls out, the gravel crunching under the big tires.

“So, who was that girl with Sawyer?” I ask.

Bubba grins. “Don’t even think about it, Rafe.” He points toward the house on the hill. “That, son, is the boss’s daughter. Sawyer likes you, but ain’t no way he likes youthatmuch. She’s the definition of off-limits, kiddo, and someone you need to steer clear of.”

I tug my gloves off and shove them in my back pocket, staring at the big white house. “Why haven’t I seen her around before?”

“Heard she was moving back to attend some fancy school.”

“Moved back from where?”

“Hell, I don’t know. What’s with the twenty questions?”

I shrug. “Just curious.”

“Well, don’t be. That girl is nothing but trouble to guys like you and me. She’s way out of our league.”

“Is that school high school or college?”

“College. Same one her daddy attended. Some big deal smarmy place that Ed says cost like eighty grand in tuition.”

“No shit? She must be smart.”

“Don’t think that’s a requirement. I think if Daddy can write a big enough check, they take anyone.”

“I doubt that.”

Bubba shrugs. “Why do you care? Like I said, you need to forget any ideas you’ve got churning in that head of yours about the boss’s daughter.”

Charlie Thompson trudges up with furious eyes pinned on me. I’m guessing he hasn’t gotten over what happened yesterday. A man like him hates being overruled, even if it is by his own boss.

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