The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [134]
She didn’t like it at all.
She stomped down the hall to glare at him, thrust her chin up and said, “No, I wasn’t meeting anyone. I went there to work.”
His confusion was almost laughable. “You’re working at the diner? Since when?”
“Since yesterday. Ceily hired me.” His mouth opened and she said, “Before you ask, yes, I told her about my record.”
“Misty.” He said her name so softly, like a reprimand, and she felt a lump gather in her throat. He took both her arms, his thumbs rubbing just above her elbows. “I hadn’t even thought of that.”
“Bull. You had that look on your face.”
“What look?”
“The one that’s full of doubt.”
“That was just me trying to figure you out.” His mouth tipped in a small smile. “What did Ceily have to say?”
“I told her the truth, that I was innocent but couldn’t prove it, and that the whole thing had cost a lot so I needed to save up more money now. She believed me.” Misty twisted her hands together, once again caught in a worry. Ceily was a very pretty, petite woman with long golden brown hair and big brown eyes. She looked to be around Gabe’s age. She’d been very warm and welcoming to Misty from the onset. “She didn’t strike me as the type to carry tales. She even warned me about telling any secrets to Howard or Jesse. She said they’re both horrible gossips.”
Morgan laughed. “She would know. Jesse is her grandpa.”
“I hadn’t realized. They don’t look anything alike.”
“Considering Jesse is old and cantankerous and Ceily is young and cute, I’m not surprised you didn’t see the family resemblance. But you’re right about Ceily, she doesn’t gossip. You don’t have to worry about that.”
Without meaning to, Misty frowned at him. “You know her well?”
He shrugged. “As well as I know anyone here. Ceily and Gabe went through school together, and she used to hang out at the house when they were younger. They’re both water fanatics. She’s a good kid.”
Misty relaxed the tiniest bit. It appeared her secrets were safe with Ceily, which had been her only concern.
Morgan asked, “Do you mind telling me how you figure on doing both jobs?”
“I knew you wouldn’t understand,” she muttered. He was strong and capable and respected…and it would have been so easy to lean on him and let him help her, to follow suit with the entire town and let Morgan handle her problems. But she wanted to regain what she’d lost on her own. It was the only way she could think of to restore her self-respect.
He let her go reluctantly and fell into step beside her as she headed for her room. “Tell me what I don’t understand, babe.”
She shook her head. “What I do for you can barely be considered part time, Morgan. It’s only six hours a day.”
“I didn’t want you to overdo.”
Why, oh why, did he have to say things like that? “I’m not breakable, you know.”
“I would never suggest such a thing.” He kept pace with her easily, then paused when she reached her door. “No one would ever doubt your strength or determination, Malone. If that’s what this is about…”
Flustered, Misty shrugged. “There’s no reason I can’t work for the diner in the evenings, right? Ceily agreed to put me on at four. That gives me time to grab a bite to eat and then get in four or five more hours. Last night, I made fifty bucks in tips. It’s a good job.”
Morgan propped his hands on his hips, dropped his head forward and paced several feet. When he finally faced her again, he looked grim. “I’m going to let all that go for now.”
“How magnanimous of you.”
He didn’t appreciate her dry wit. “I want to talk to you about something else. Will you ride into work with me?”
She regretted the need to refuse him. “I can’t. I’ll be going to the diner again after we finish at the station. I’ll need my car to get home.”
“I’ll pick you up when you get off.”
“That doesn’t make sense, Morgan. You never know when you might get a call, and I don’t want to interrupt things for you.”
He did a little more jaw locking. Misty wondered why he didn’t have a perpetual headache.
“All right. Then let me take you to my house tonight. I’ve been wanting to show it to you, anyway.