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.”

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 familiar grumbling of my stomach forced me to hold my tongue. I needed the money

Glancing at the clock before turning back to glare at him, I answered smartly, “It’s three minutes after the hour, Gabe. What are you going to deduct, fifteen cents?”

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

you should understand it. If you

love that. Gabe hadn’t always been the owner of Abberly’s. His mama, God rest 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

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

a half hour for his drink.” Gabe shot me a smug look when I immediately jumped into action.

didn’t you say something instead of tearing up at me?”

dark hair into a messy bun and secured

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

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

“You alright?” he replied gruffly.

I had heard any number of rumors about him over the years. The people in Otterville Falls loved a

town on his big motorcycle and stopped at our trailer, I knew what was going on. But I

money?” he asked in his gruff way.

I answered the same way I always did. “Nah, I’m doing fine. Thanks, Maxie.”

his drink. But I didn’t miss the slight twitch to his lips that

grabbed my notebook out of my apron and

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

the regular or do you want to

pursed her lips wickedly. “Unless you have found 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.”

a little.

fake seriousness I warned her, “Alice! That’s sexual harassment.” Lord knew that Gabe got a kick out

would like to harass him—sexually,” she licked her old lady lips lewdly,

let me stand in your way,” I said, pointing to the office.

menu. “Maybe tomorrow. I am not feeling up to a workplace tryst.”