Bedding the Billionaire

Sutton

“You’re late, Sutton.”

I winced internally as I listened to my boss chastise me for being late. Flinging my bag under the dingy counter at Abberly’s bar, I looked up from my crouched position to see Gabriel Reece glaring at me.

Rather than answer him, I yanked my apron out of my bag and went to work tying it on. Sadly, the next time I glanced over at him it was just in time to see his nasty ass staring at the way my t-shirt pulled tight across my chest as I tried on my apron.

Perve.

“We have a start time for a reason, Sutton” he stated in that lofty tone of his.

Seriously, who was the man kidding? There wasn’t another soul in town who would put up with his shit and we both knew it.

“I’m sorry,” I grit out between clenched teeth. I knew better than to give an excuse, even if it was a valid one. Gabe didn’t care if I had an excuse, he just liked riding my ass. It started in Kindergarten and he hadn’t got bored of it yet.

“Look, this is getting to be a problem,” he began, scratching his chest. I didn’t even want to know what the stains were that currently decorated his shirt. There had been a time when Gabe was somewhat attractive. That time was long gone.

“I’m never late,” I started, but he cut me off with a raised hand.

“Sutton, Sutton, Sutton.”

I hated the way he said my name. It was as if he were speaking of dog poop or erectile dysfunction.

“Yes, Gabriel?” I answered frostily.

I could swear that there was a glint of smugness that entered into his cold eyes as he continued to stare me down. Finally, he spoke, “You are late—again. I told you the next time you came in here late I would be taking it off your wages.”

stick lodged in his ass. But the familiar grumbling of my stomach forced me to hold my tongue. I needed the money that this terrible job provided. It was the reason, the only reason, I agreed

him, I answered smartly, “It’s three minutes after the

could see by his reaction that I wasn’t far off the

not three minutes after three. This isn’t a difficult concept, so even you should understand it. If you are unable

her soul, had always been good to me. Ruth Ann treated me like gold. Which was saying something in this town, where I not only came from the wrong side

Pushing my way past Gabe, I took in the current customers. I smiled when I saw two of my favorite older ladies glancing surreptitiously over their menus, clearly trying to eavesdrop. As my eyes continued to scan the room, I saw a few of the other tables were taken. Nothing too stressful. This would be an easy-peasy kind of

a half hour for his drink.” Gabe shot me a

didn’t you say something instead of tearing up at me?” I grumbled just loud enough for

Max was another of my favorite people in Otterville Falls. In a rush, I wound my long dark hair into a messy bun and secured it with a pen.

ahead and poured another drink. Then I carefully balanced the tray on one arm and strode across the old wood planks completely

I called out with a wink, ignoring his growl of disapproval

“You alright?” he replied gruffly.

of someone that lived hard. I had heard

had a special kind of relationship. I can’t even begin to tell you what that meant because honest to goodness I have no flipping idea even to this day. Max knew what Mama was, and when he rolled into town on his big motorcycle and stopped at our trailer, I knew what was going on. But I also knew that Mama never cried in the morning when Max

“You need money?” he asked in his

way I always did. “Nah, I’m doing fine.

I didn’t miss the slight twitch to his lips that indicated a smile was lurking somewhere under all of that gruff

my notebook out of my apron and moved

I greeted Alice and Reena. The two elderly ladies couldn’t have been a day over seventy- five. Best friends, roommates, and having never married, you rarely saw one without the other.

“What will it be?” I asked. “Would you like the regular or do you want to spice things up?”

a way to get that boss of yours to lose his boxers, I am betting that there is nothing spicy around here going on at all.”

gagged a

Gabe

licked her old lady lips lewdly, and I couldn’t control snort of laughter that

in your way,” I said, pointing to the office. “Go get your man.”

and turned back to her menu. “Maybe tomorrow. I