Page 20 of Rafe: Sins of the Father

“This car costs two-hundred-and fifty-thousand-dollars?” I squeak.

He laughs and holds his hand toward the car. “Hit the green button on the fob, and let’s take it for a spin.”

I do, and the doors rise up.This is so cool!

When we return to the house, he leaves me at the door with a gentle kiss on the lips. “I’ll call you. I enjoyed tonight immensely, my little hot-rod.” Then he winks and trots to his car.

I enter, smiling. The house is dark, and I go up to my room and walk to the window I’d left partially open earlier today. The sheers blow with the slight breeze. Before I can shut them, I hear voices below and peer down.

Alex is talking with a man next to his car, and I recognize him as my father’s foreman.

“I’m working on it. That idiot, Bubba, ruined the last thing I planned,” Charlie Thompson says.

“Just get it done,” Alex replies. “Whatever it takes, understand? It’s the reason I put you here.”

“Yes, sir.”

Alex reaches into his pocket and pulls out an envelope, passing it to Charlie. It looks thick, like maybe it contains a stack of bills. Charlie steps back, and Alex climbs in his car and fires it up.

I watch him drive away, and then Charlie disappears into the shadows in the direction of the mill.

I stand in stunned silence, frowning, wondering what in the world those two would have to say to each other, and how they even know one another. What did Alex mean by his words, ‘it’s the reason I put you here’? If Charlie is up to something suspicious, perhaps he doesn’t deserve the trust my father’s put in him. Whatever is going on, I’m determined to find out.

CHAPTER FOUR

Rafe—

Bubba and I are loading boards onto pallets for a shipment that goes out this afternoon. It’s monotonous work, and my mind wanders to Sawyer’s daughter.

Seems I can’t get her out of my head, no matter what I do.

Bubba’s right. I need to stay clear of her. The last thing I need is to let any crazy ideas about the boss’s daughter get into my head. We come from two different worlds. A relationship with her is out of the question. It would never happen.

So why am I staring at her damn window, hoping to catch a glimpse of her?

What I saw last night should curb all ideas she’d want a man like me. Not after seeing her drive that goddamn sports car.

“Hey?” Bubba draws my attention. “Ed said you worked late last night.”

“Yeah.” I turn to stacking boards. “Thompson wanted me to stay and change the drive belt on the other forklift. The thing was a bitch to get off.”

“That old one we never use? What the fuck for?”

I shrug. “Hell, if I know. Maybe he was trying to fuck with me some more. He knew I had plans.”

“Well, you’ll get some overtime, at least.”

I roll my eyes. “Wouldn’t count on it. He’ll find some way to make sure that doesn’t happen, even if he has to send me home early one day.” I work for a few minutes, then pause. “Hey, Bubba?”

“Yeah?”

“There was a guy up at the house last night. Drove an expensive sports car. Took the girl for a ride.”

“Yeah? So?”

“You know of any reason Charlie would have for sneaking up there and talking to the guy before he left?”

Bubba straightens. “Charlie went up to the house?”

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