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.”

hated the stupid son of a bitch. I hadn’t been late in over two years. I was so tempted to tell him what he could do with this job, and the stick lodged in his ass. But the

clock before turning back to glare at him, I answered smartly, “It’s three minutes after

wage, I wasn’t bringing home the big bucks. I could see by his reaction that I

we pay you to be here at three, not three minutes after three. This isn’t a difficult concept, so even you should understand it. If you are unable to be on time for your shift, you can find somewhere else to

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 of the tracks, but the wrong side of the blanket.

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

a half hour for his drink.” Gabe shot me

of tearing up at me?”

dark hair into a messy bun and secured

Thinking that Max had already sat there for thirty minutes, I went ahead and poured another drink. Then I carefully balanced the tray on one arm and strode across the old wood planks completely unaware that my shoe was untied.

wink, ignoring his growl

he

I had heard any number

was going on. But I also knew that Mama never cried in the morning when Max stayed over, and there were often groceries in the fridge when he left.

asked

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

miss the slight twitch to his lips that indicated a smile was lurking somewhere under all of that gruff demeanor.

grabbed my notebook out of my apron and moved

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. The ladies were in Abberly’s nearly every

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

found a way to get that boss of yours to lose his boxers, I

a

drawn-on eyebrows, causing me to laugh. With fake seriousness I warned her, “Alice! That’s sexual harassment.” Lord knew that Gabe got a kick

lady lips lewdly, and I couldn’t control snort of laughter that escaped

“Don’t let me stand in your way,” I said, pointing to the office. “Go get

back to her menu. “Maybe tomorrow. I am not feeling