Page 41 of Beat around the Bush
“Jacey’s covering your shift. You need to rest and get your heater going in your house. We can stop by there on the way to the rental car place.”
“I can’t call out of work, Lennon. I just started working there.”
I frowned. I was her fucking boss.
“Then consider this me giving you the day off.”
She mirrored my frown. “But then Jacey will only have one day off.”
I shrugged. “Nothing she isn’t used to.”
“She’ll hate me.”
I scoffed, turning around to rinse out my coffee mug and place it in the dishwasher. “Jacey doesn’t hate anyone.”
Oakley sighed behind me.
“Ready to go?” I asked as I closed the dishwasher and turned to face her.
“My jeans-”
“Are in the dryer. You can keep the sweatshirt. That denim jacket doesn’t do shit against the cold.”
Fucking hell, Lennon. Keep the sweatshirt? Really?
“I already have one of your coats at home,” she stated.
I shrugged. “Keep ‘em both.”
Her eyes narrowed, then she stood, aiming for the hallway. She paused, not turning to me. “Where’s the dryer?”
“Laundry room is the second door on the right,” I said, a smile pulling at my mouth.
Her legs started moving again, her tiny hands holding up my sweatpants as she went.
I released a long breath, shaking my head.
I was in for it.
***
“Heater’s on,” Oakley said. She got in my truck and shoved the coat I’d given her after that night at the bar into my hands.
“I said you can keep it,” I grumbled as I shoved the coat off of me and onto the middle seat between us.
Her seat belt clicked into place. “I don’t need all your clothes in my closet like you live with me or something.”
I raised an eyebrow as I pulled back onto the road and headed for the rental place.
She saw the movement and crossed her arms.
She was still wearing my sweatshirt.
The corner of my lips threatened to tilt up at her in my clothes, but I forced the smile away.
About thirty-five minutes later, we were pulling into the rental building. Bell Buckle was too small of a town to botherwith a car rental business, so I had to take her to the one in the next town over.
Thankfully, it wasn’t snowing yet, but the snow from last night still stuck to the ground at a height of about six inches. The roads were plowed, but still sludgey.
