The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [106]
“I already have a job,” she stated forcefully, when Honey gave her a nudge for sitting there and staring.
Morgan lifted one brow and proceeded to settle himself into the stuffed chair adjacent to the couch. Contrary to how Misty felt, he looked at his ease and without a care in the world. His dark blue eyes were direct, unflinching.
“Now Malone,” he said easily, “you were just telling me that you hate that job, that you planned to look for something else. Why not look here, so you can be close to your…family?”
“I never—” Misty bit her lip, stopping her automatic protest in mid-sentence. How could she dispute his enormous lie without telling the actual truth? He’d cornered her, and he knew it.
After clearing her throat, she smiled sweetly. It always worked for Honey. “I never meant to imply you should give me a job.”
Morgan waved his hand in dismissal. Apparently the big ape was immune to her smile. “Of course you didn’t. I know that. You’d never hint around that way. You’re much too…up-front and honest for that.” His eyes glittered at her and he added, “But I want you to take the job.”
She glanced at Honey, saw no help there and resolutely shook her head. “No.”
“How can you refuse when you don’t even know what the job is yet?”
Through set teeth, she growled, “What is the job?”
Morgan actually smiled, which put her even more on edge. “I need an assistant. Someone to act as sort of a secretary and a dispatcher, when necessary. No, don’t look like that. You won’t need special training. Buckhorn is a small county and we do things just a bit differently. You’d need to take calls, keep track of where I am and forward on the important ones, but make notes for the ones that can wait. Mostly just for mornings and afternoons. Your evenings will be free, and just think, you can spend more time with Honey.”
Honey leaned forward in her seat, already excited by the prospect. “Morgan, that’s a great idea!” To Misty, she said, “It only makes sense, Misty, for you to be with family now. This is no time to let your pride get in the way.”
“Of course it isn’t,” Morgan agreed.
Honey sighed. “Didn’t I tell you he was wonderful?”
Misty almost choked, especially when she glanced at Morgan and saw his amusement. She thought she might throw up again. She drew a deep breath and tried to sound reasonable. “I don’t know anything about working for a sheriff…”
“I’ll tell you everything you need to know, sweetheart.”
There was only so much she could take and remain composed. “I am not,” she said in lethal tones, “your sweetheart.”
Honey patted her hand. “They all use endearments, so you might as well get used to it. I swear, at first I thought they knew my name before I’d even given it to them. Then I realized everything female is a sweetheart or a honey to these guys, even the hodgepodge of animals Jordan keeps around.” Honey gave Morgan a fond smile. “They’re very old-fashioned in a lot of ways.”
Under her breath, Misty muttered, “You mean they’re overbearing, macho, autocratic—”
“What’s that, Malone? I couldn’t quite hear you.” Morgan looked ready to laugh.
“Not a thing.” She stood, and both Honey and Morgan came to their feet, too, as if they thought she might topple over at any moment. Good grief, she wasn’t even showing yet. “I’ll think about the job, Morgan.”
He gave her a slow nod, looking at her from his superior height in a way that made her feel downright tiny. “That’s fine. But make it quick, okay? I need you to start tomorrow.”
Her eyes widened. She didn’t want to start tomorrow! She didn’t want to start at all. If anything, she hoped to make some solid plans tomorrow that would appease everyone so she could be on her way. “But…”
“Will you, Misty? Please?” Honey hugged her close, and Misty had no choice but to return the embrace. Since meeting Sawyer, her sister was deliriously happy and she wanted everyone else to feel the same. Over Honey’s shoulder, Misty glared at Morgan. He winked at her, the obnoxious brute.
Misty pushed her sister away slightly and drummed up a reassuring