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  “Damn! Do we have any casuals left?”

  “Yeah. Judy, the single mom, still works here, but when I found her number and called to see if she could work, she told me her daughter was sick and she was taking her to the emergency room.”

  “Have you heard from her? Is her little one okay?”

  “Yeah, she’ll be fine. Apparently she’s scheduled to get her tonsils out tomorrow morning.”

  “So Judy won’t be coming to work for at least a week,” Nic said to himself more than Brent.

  “She’s asked for two weeks and I couldn’t very well say no.”

  “You did the right thing.”

  “So what are we going to do?” Brent asked. “I can’t work in the kitchens and the bar, plus I need my people to feed everyone coming in for meals.”

  “We had an advert online for a manager and after going through some of the applicants, I think I found the perfect candidate. I’ve set up an interview for tomorrow. If this person works out and can start right away, they can start hiring some more people and take care of things.

  “We’re also going to be working the bar at night until we have more staff.”

  “Okay. I hope this person works out for you.”

  “Me, too, and thanks for looking after things tonight. You all will be getting a bonus in your pay for going above and beyond your job descriptions.”

  The kitchen staff cheered and Brent stepped forward to shake Nic’s hand and then he hurried out to the bar.

  When he saw that the place was nearly empty he glanced at his watch and noticed it was nearly eleven o’clock. He hadn’t realized how much time had passed. Gabe and Tom were wiping down the bar and putting the clean glasses from the dishwasher back up in the racks.

  “Everything okay?” Tom asked as he emptied out the slosh bucket into the sink.

  “Yes. In fact, things couldn’t be better, besides Toby, of course.” Nic sat on a barstool and took a swig from the beer bottle Gabe passed him.

  “What’s going on?” Gabe asked.

  “I think Toby must have known he was sick because when I checked the e-mails there were a couple of hundred applicants for a hotel bar manager.”

  “He changed the ad? Shit! I feel really bad for not spending more time here and talking to Toby. If we had, we could have gotten him medical treatment faster.” Tom placed both his hands on the bar and leaned forward.

  “Tom, you have vacation time up your sleeve at the club, don’t you?” Nic asked.

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “I want you to call Turner and ask for time off.”

  “Okay? Why?”

  “Because we need to work here until we have more staff.”

  “How the hell are we going to do that?” Gabe bit out. “We have our landscaping business and sometimes we start before dawn. If we burn the candles at both ends we’re going to end up burned out.”

  “It’ll only be for a couple of weeks, Gabe. If we talk to our clients I’m sure they’ll understand if we start a bit later.

  “Plus, I think you are both going to want to be here.”

  “Why?” Gabe snapped.

  “There was an applicant I think you’ll both agree to want to hire on the spot.”

  “Who?” Tom raised an eyebrow.

  “Joni Meeks.”

  Tom exhaled long and loudly and the tension eased from Gabe’s face and body.

  “Are you shitting me?” Gabe asked skeptically.

  “Would I joke about something like that?” Nic was the one raising his eyebrow this time.

  “Have you set up an interview?” Tom asked as he moved around the bar and began putting the stools up on the gleaming wood surface.

  Nic stood up and helped him.

  “Yes. Tomorrow at ten.”

  Tom pulled his cell out of his pocket and dialed. “Hi, Turner, sorry to call so late, but I’m going to need to take some vacation time.” He paused while he listened to the club owner’s response.

  “Yes, I know its short notice but our bar manager is sick and we don’t think he’ll be coming back. We need to work here until we can get more staff in.” Tom paused again. “What about Sonny?

  “Okay. Thanks heaps, Turner. I’ll let you know as soon as I’m available. Take care.” Tom disconnected the call. “I’m in.”

  “We’re supposed to start landscaping the Simpson’s yard tomorrow,” Gabe said.

  “Yes, but we are actually ahead of schedule already. We thought we wouldn’t have that yard ready to start landscaping until the day after tomorrow. We’ve cleared everything out and just need to draw up the plans and then we can start on the garden beds and the planting. I’m sure Mrs. Simpson wouldn’t mind if we call and explain first thing,” Nic said.

  “Okay. You’re right, but you can call her. If she’s going to be pissed off, you can take the flack.”

  “Done.” Nic smiled and rubbed his hands together. He had a good feeling about this, but after the way Joni had scurried away last night, he wasn’t sure she would take the job. And that made him wonder why she was even looking.

  He’d heard her talking to Kara at the club about how much she loved working at the restaurant, but that was a question he would have to ask her tomorrow. He was so excited, he knew he was going to have trouble sleeping and, from the gleam in his friends’ eyes, they were just as exuberant as he was.

  Chapter Four

  Joni was so nervous her palms were damp. She sat outside the Three Comrades Hotel and tried to calm her breathing. She was fifteen minutes early and although she wanted to go inside and get her interview over with, she wasn’t sure anyone was here, yet. The doors were closed and although the hotel wouldn’t open for another hour, she would have thought someone would be here by now.

  Maybe they were keeping the doors closed in case people tried to walk in before opening. When she realized what she was doing, she took a few more deep breaths and exhaled slowly, pushing all thoughts from her mind. She grabbed her purse, CV, and accreditation certificates as well as the reference Gerrard had given her and got out of her car. With her held high and her shoulders back, she dug down for the confidence she had with her work and walked toward the door. She didn’t bother knocking but gripped the handle and opened the door. It opened so easily she had to take two small side steps so she wouldn’t fall on her ass and then she entered.

  The interior was dim after the bright spring sunshine and she had to blink a few times to accustom her sight to the darkness. When she saw three men sitting at the bar she headed over to them. As she got closer, her steps faltered when she saw who it was. Heat filled her cheeks as she slowed her walk and stopped a few feet from the men she’d met at the BDSM club.

  Tom got to his feet and smiled as he held his hand out to her. “Hello, Joni. It’s good to see you again.”

  Joni cleared her throat as she clasped his proffered hand and hoped her face wasn’t as red as it felt. “Hi, Tom.” She quickly withdrew her hand and hoped the shiver working up her spine wasn’t noticeable as she tried not to shudder.

  “Joni, you look lovely.” Gabe eyed her body up and down as he grasped her hands.

  She mentally cursed when she felt her breasts swell and her nipples bead into tight little buds. “Thank you.”

  “Hey, beautiful.” Nic nudged Gabe aside and then he was holding her hand but he didn’t shake it like she expected. She nearly sighed when his thumb caressed over the skin on the back, but quickly tugged it away from him.

  “Have a seat, Joni.” Tom drew her gaze and patted the seat of the stool he’d pulled out for her.

  She sat down and when she realized she was almost panting she drew another deep breath, holding it for a moment before releasing it.

  How can these three handsome men affect me so much? Why do they arouse me? I’ve seen other men just as good looking and never reacted this way with them. Why these men and why now?

  “So.” Gabe’s voice was so close and she swore she felt his breath brush against her ear
, but when she turned her head and met his gaze he wasn’t as close to her as she thought.

  For God’s sake, get it together, Joni.

  “Tell us a little about yourself.”

  Joni told them how she’d worked from the age of sixteen as a kitchen hand at a small, local restaurant and after finishing high school how she’d gotten her hospitality degree doing online schooling. She told them how she’d hired staff, ordered stock, and done the bill of materials on the computer.

  “From the sound of it you pretty much ran that restaurant,” Nic said.

  “Um…” Joni hesitated and nervously licked her lips. She didn’t want to sound too big-headed, but as she thought about it she realized it was true. She had run Gerrard’s Restaurant and made it what it was today. “I suppose you could say that.”

  “So why do you want to leave?” Tom frowned.

  “I don’t. I didn’t.” She really hated telling them that she was fired because she didn’t want them to think she was incompetent, but guessed the truth would come out if they called Gerrard to check up on her. “I was fired. Ger—ˮ

  “What the hell for?”

  Gabe sounded angry and Joni’s first instinct was to get off the stool and move away from him. When he raised his hand she flinched. He gave her a piercing look but then ran his hand over his face. “Are you scared of me?”

  Joni shook her head no, but she could see skepticism in his eyes. She lowered her gaze to the bar and then met his eyes again.

  “I would never hurt you or any other woman,” Gabe said emphatically and with such sincerity, she believed him unequivocally.

  “Has someone hurt you, Joni?” Nic asked.

  She glanced at him before looking away and shook her head. Although she lied, she wasn’t about to tell these three manly men her life history. She was here for an interview. Nothing more, nothing less. She quickly changed the subject. “I was let go because my boss, Gerrard, decided to hire his nephew.”

  “At least he gave you a great reference.”

  “You looked at it?”

  “Yes.”

  “I haven’t seen it,” Tom said. “Have you got it with you?’

  Joni passed over her CV and reference to him.

  “When can you start?” Nic asked.

  She was shocked because it sounded like he and his friends were going to hire her on the spot and they hadn’t even called Gerrard yet.

  “Um, whenever you want me to.”

  “This is amazing, love,” Tom said as he glanced up from her CV. “Your last boss is an idiot.”

  Joni smiled and felt all her tension drain away. It was nice to hear someone she didn’t really know giving her praise and she liked it, a lot. She sat a little straighter, her confidence in her ability to do a good job causing her to think that just maybe this was meant to be. She would have to be vigilant though and try and keep her attraction under wraps and hidden from them. It would be really embarrassing if her prospective employers worked out that she had the hots for them.

  She glanced at Gabe and Nic and saw they were both studying her intently and had a feeling she hadn’t hidden anything from them. She knew it was ludicrous, but she felt like all three of these men could see right through her walls, straight into her heart and soul.

  “Thank you,” Joni finally remembered to answer.

  “You’re welcome, love,” Tom said. “We always let our employees know when we’re happy with them and when they go beyond expectations we give extra incentives and thanks by paying out bonuses.”

  “Wow, that’s so nice.”

  “That reminds me,” Nic said. “I’ve given Brent and all the kitchen staff a bonus this week for keeping things together last night.”

  “Good.” Gabe nodded. “Joni, will you come into the office and help me compile an advert for more bartenders?”

  “Okay.”

  * * * *

  Gabe took hold of Joni’s elbow and helped her off the stool. He would have kept holding her if she hadn’t moved aside and looked up at him as if she were waiting for him to lead the way. As he looked down at her, he realized how petite she was.

  She couldn’t have been more than five foot three or four, but she had a gloriously feminine body on her with all the right curves. Her blonde hair was up in some sort of knot at the back of her head with a few loose tendrils dangling beside her face which made her look damn sexy. Her white blouse only had the first button loose and he wondered if she had a poor body image, which was utterly ridiculous as far as he was concerned, because she was absolutely perfect in his eyes. He would do everything he could to boost her confidence if that were the case, but that was for later.

  He swept his hand out in front of him, urging her to go first. The first step she took was tentative but she kept going as he directed her verbally. He could tell by the way her shoulders were stiff and her hands weren’t down by her sides that she was uncomfortable being in the lead and that gave him hope. Hope that she was indeed submissive in all aspects of life other than her job. He’d heard how passionate she was about her work and wondered why she hadn’t started up her own place, but guessed that because of financial times being so hard, she didn’t have the funds to do it.

  Maybe if things worked out with her and them in a relationship they could bring her in as a partner. But again that was for the future. He couldn’t help but watch the sway of her slim hips and sexy ass. It was all he could do not to move closer and run his hands over those soft, yet muscular cheeks.

  “Wait!” Gabe waited for her to turn and was pleased when she did immediately. “I want to introduce you to the chef and kitchen staff.” He pointed to the door on his right and again waited for her to precede him.

  When he entered behind her all eyes turned to look at Joni curiously before going to him.

  “Brent, I want you to meet our new hotel manager.” Gabe placed a hand on Joni’s lower back, urging her closer to the chef. “Joni Meeks, meet Brent Prichard.”

  Brent wiped his hand on a towel and then held it out in greeting. “I am so pleased to meet you, Joni. Now I can concentrate on running the kitchen.

  Joni took Brent’s hand and smiled. “Nice to meet you, too. If you have any concerns at all please don’t hesitate to come to me.” Joni drew her hand from Brent’s and looked at the other employees. “Any of you. That’s what I’m here for.”

  Brent introduced the rest of the staff and then Gabe guided her out. They entered the office and he indicated that she sit on the chair behind the desk. He grabbed one from near the wall and carried it over next to her before sitting down.

  “Okay, get yourself familiar with the software programs and if you have any questions, ask.” Gabe remained silent while she did just that. She moved through the different screens quickly and efficiently obviously already acquainted with it all.

  “I don’t have any problems with this. I’m glad to see everything’s up to date, though. That will make my transition a lot easier, not having to catch up on things.”

  “Good.” Gabe reached for a pad and pen that was on the desk and made sure to brush against her arm as he did so. He had to bite the inside of his cheek when he saw her shiver from the corner of his eye. He was glad that she was attracted to him and, if he was right, she wasn’t impervious to Tom or Nic either. When they met the other night at the club they had all watched her intently and seen the signs of interest from her body. Her mind had definitely not been on board, though. He hoped that he and his friends could change it for her.

  Gabe had heard some of her conversation with Kara and knew she’d been hurt. He wanted to ask her who had hurt her and what had been done to her, but knew she didn’t trust him or his friends as yet. It was going to take time to build a rapport with her and gain conviction from her, and maybe then she would be willing to open up and talk to them.

  Over the next hour they mapped out an advert for casual bar and wait staff and he gave her the passwords to access their job site account. She was fast and effi
cient and, before he knew it, she’d posted the ad.

  “Do you have anything else you’d like to show me?” Joni asked.

  “Not right now. Nic and I wouldn’t normally be here as we own a landscaping and gardening business. Tom helps out now and then when we’re bogged down, but he’s normally working nights at the Club of Dominance with security.”

  He watched as she licked her lips nervously and when she frowned he could tell she had questions. He stayed silent without prompting her and hoped she would ask whatever was rolling around in her head.

  “Why do you like hurting women?”

  Gabe tensed up and when he caught movement from the corner of his eye he glanced up and saw that Nic and Tom were standing in the doorway. He quickly averted his eyes back to Joni’s and hoped she didn’t see his friends. He didn’t want her to be uncomfortable, but then he thought that it would be better if she knew they were listening. He didn’t want to hide anything from her because she might feel as if they were untrustworthy and deceptive, and that was no way to gain her confidence.

  “Come in, guys.”

  Joni turned to look Tom’s and Nic’s way before lowering her eyes as her face tinged pink.

  Gabe clasped her chin between his finger and thumb, turning her face back toward his and he watched with satisfaction as her pupils reacted by contracting before dilating.

  “We don’t like hurting women or children in any way, shape or form.”

  “But—ˮ

  “Just listen to us explain before you ask your questions. Okay?” Gabe was pleased when she pressed her lips together and nodded. He released his hold on her and nearly sighed with disappointment when she scooted her chair farther away from him.

  “Don’t ever be scared of me, Tom, or Nic.”

  “I’m not.”

  Gabe studied her body language and was glad that she was being sincere.

  “BDSM is not abuse,” Tom started.

  “Far from it,” Nic reiterated.

  “Have you ever been tired of making decisions? Of wanting to just hand everything on your plate over to someone else to deal with?” Gabe asked.