Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Lucy seemed to think she was beyond that rule. She wasn’t.
And Effie wouldn’t be either.
So considering that his hand was still holding hers, Grady’s next play might piss Steele off.
But that didn’t matter if it was best for Effie. And he had a feeling that what Effie needed most was a job.
Not to end up in bed with the two of them for a weekend. They’d take care of her. They’d show her a good time. But it wouldn’t be permanent.
Because Steele didn’t ever want permanent.
And Grady couldn’t be in any sort of relationship without Steele.
“Did you injure yourself when you fell? And do not tell me that you’re fine, Spitfire.”
“I didn’t injure myself when I fell,” she muttered, looking stubborn.
Steele thought he wanted someone who would jump when he barked. That he wanted instant obedience and no arguments.
But that shit bored him after a day.
He needed someone sweet. But also with a bit of sass. And when Effie forgot to be scared or worried, she had sass.
“She was in pain before she fell,” Grady explained. “Back injury?”
She stared between them both.
“Effie?” Steele pressed. No one denied him when he used that tone, so Grady just waited for her acquiescence. “Tell us. Right now.”
Instead, she looked to the ceiling. “Why? Why me? What did I do? I’m certain I’ve never done something so bad that I’d end up stuck in an office with two cavemen.”
Grady moved his gaze to Steele.
To Grady’s shock, the other man’s lips twitched. “I can see why you’re calling me a caveman, but Grady? Nope. Not a caveman.”
Effie glared at Steele. “When I tried to leave before, he chased after me, picked me up, and carried me back to his office. Before locking me in it.”
Steele’s gaze hit his, assessing. “Did he, just?”
“She was hurt,” Grady told him. “And she was walking along the road in the cold with no gloves, scarf, or hat.”
“Spitfire, it’s fucking thirty-five degrees out there,” Steele rumbled, looking seriously unimpressed.
“I forgot them.” Sort of.
That blue gaze turned icy. “You forgot them?”
“Ah, yep.”
“It’s not even forty degrees out there. What are you doing going out without your hat, scarf or gloves?
“Did Grady put you up to this?” she asked suspiciously.
“What does that mean?”
“Uh, nothing. Just that he said something similar.”
“Did he?” Steele said thoughtfully. “Well, just don’t do this again.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Is this . . . is this some sort of prank? Like, are you filming for some shitty reality show? Because I can tell you right now, I’m not signing any waivers.”
There was a note of panic and hurt in her voice, which made something in Grady melt. Something that he’d long since thought had turned to solid ice.
“No one is pranking you. I promise. Look at me.” He waited for her dark-brown gaze to move to his. “I promise.”
Her rapid breathing slowed. Grady didn’t like how pale she was. She was still in pain, he could see it in the lines bracketing her mouth.
“Then why do you . . . why do you care whether I’m hurt or whether I’m warm or anything else about me?”
That wasn’t something he had a ready answer for. Not a proper one. So he said the only one he could think of.
“Because you’re going to work for me.”
Effie gaped up at Grady.
“She’s what?” Steele asked in a low rumble.
She was trying really hard not to show how much his voice affected her. But sheesh, if it was possible to come from just listening to someone’s voice . . . it would be Steele’s.
“She’s going to work for me,” Grady repeated firmly.
“As . . . as what?” She didn’t let hope fill her. Because she had no idea what this job was. It could be shining his shoes and cleaning his toilet with a toothbrush. Not that she wouldn’t do that. She just needed to know what it was first so she could prepare herself.
Also, because these guys were clearly a few cans short of a six-pack. They seemed to think being bossy and touching her and locking her up was normal behavior.
Speaking of touching her . . . she tugged at the hand that Steele was still holding.
And he let her go.
That shouldn’t have upset her. She should be rejoicing that finally he’d stopped touching her.
But she really missed his touch.
She should probably turn this job down. Except she was desperate. Which is why she was here in the first place.
Desperation made people do things they otherwise wouldn’t.
“My assistant,” Grady replied coolly. “I’m overworked and I need help. As well as Pinkies, I also run several more of Steele’s businesses. And I need an assistant.”
“An assistant?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“How do you know she’s qualified to be an assistant?” Steele asked.
Shit. She guessed that Grady needed Steele’s agreement to hire her, since he was the big boss. Although they didn’t really act like employer and employee. Nope, there seemed to be a whole other vibe to their relationship that she didn’t quite have her finger on yet.