aristocratic sort of one, like Jimmy Carter.
“I’m calling about the job. I don’t have any maid experience, ma’am,” Charlie said, tossing in a term of respect to placate the authority issue. “But I’m a hard worker and I learn fast.” She’d anticipated this question. If she lied and said she had loads of professional experience, Nettie would ask for references, which weren’t easy to fake. And after working with Charlie a few seconds, Nettie would plainly see she’d been lying.
“I see,” Nettie responded.
There was a long and what sounded like judgmental pause to Charlie. She held her breath, hoping she’d at least be asked to interview.
“Do you have any other job experience?” Nettie asked.
Charlie took a deep breath and let her rip. “Actually, I’m a part-time bartender at Perdition.” She knew Axel would secure a reference if she needed it. From what she’d discerned about Beauregard from Axel and Frost, she’d bet he’d want someone in his camp with a club connection.
“You are?” Nettie sounded a bit more interested now. “Hold on a moment, please.” There was a muffled sound, as though she’d set the phone down.
Charlie bit one of her knuckles as she waited.
After another lengthy pause, Nettie picked up the phone once more. “To be candid, this is the first phone call we’ve had about the job, so our options are…limited. Can you be here at 2 p.m.? Mr. Beauregard interviews all of his employees personally.”
Now that , Charlie hadn’t anticipated. She’d figured Beauregard would assign the task to the housekeeper. Charlie didn’t know if she was ready to face her father’s murderer, but she’d have to be. “Yes, I can,” she said. “That’d be great.”
“Excellent.” Nettie’s tone didn’t sound satisfied, despite her words. “Do you need directions?”
“Yes, please.” As Nettle rattled them off, Charlie jotted them down on her palm, since she didn’t have a piece of paper, and then ended the phone call.
She tucked the cell in her pocket and took off for Inferno Firearms. It was time to go high-tech on this bastard.
***
Charlie walked into Inferno Firearms find a gun owner’s version of a kid’s candy store. If the candy in question was lethal. Inferno had long, walnut display cases full of knives, Tasers, and every gun imaginable. Along one wall was an entire display of assault rifles. Even ore rifles lined the wall behind the counter.
And she found another Horsemen hottie standing in front of them. This one had spiky dark hair and warm hazel eyes. He wore a pair of tight blue jeans and his leather Horsemen’s cut with no shirt beneath, just tanned skin and a muscled six-pack.
His gaze swept over her, head to toe and then back again. “Well, hello there. What can I do for you, darlin’?” He winked.
“I’m looking for Coyote.”
He ran a hand down the length of his muscular chest. “Why settle for Yo when you can have some Steele?”
Steele was a good name for him. He looked like he was made of steel—big biceps, hard, muscular body.
Too bad she was just browsing.
She only had eyes for one Horseman and he’d decided to be stubborn. If she couldn’t have Axel, she didn’t want to settle for another one. “That’s sweet, but I’m here on business. I’m Charlie. Did Axel mention me?”
Steele frowned then bobbed his head. “That name rings a bell.”
“It should. I’m working with the club. That’s why I need to meet with Coyote,” she prompted.
“Oh, yeah, thief girl. He’s in the back.” Steele jerked a thumb in the direction of the hallway behind him. Then leaned over the counter. “And when you’re done jawin’ with him, you can come to Perdition with me and have a little drink. For starters. There’s no reason we can’t mix business and pleasure.”
She wished Axel felt that way. Charlie loved to flirt, especially with someone as sexy as Steele, but it was a no-go. “Uh, no, thanks.”
“Did I
“I’m calling about the job. I don’t have any maid experience, ma’am,” Charlie said, tossing in a term of respect to placate the authority issue. “But I’m a hard worker and I learn fast.” She’d anticipated this question. If she lied and said she had loads of professional experience, Nettie would ask for references, which weren’t easy to fake. And after working with Charlie a few seconds, Nettie would plainly see she’d been lying.
“I see,” Nettie responded.
There was a long and what sounded like judgmental pause to Charlie. She held her breath, hoping she’d at least be asked to interview.
“Do you have any other job experience?” Nettie asked.
Charlie took a deep breath and let her rip. “Actually, I’m a part-time bartender at Perdition.” She knew Axel would secure a reference if she needed it. From what she’d discerned about Beauregard from Axel and Frost, she’d bet he’d want someone in his camp with a club connection.
“You are?” Nettie sounded a bit more interested now. “Hold on a moment, please.” There was a muffled sound, as though she’d set the phone down.
Charlie bit one of her knuckles as she waited.
After another lengthy pause, Nettie picked up the phone once more. “To be candid, this is the first phone call we’ve had about the job, so our options are…limited. Can you be here at 2 p.m.? Mr. Beauregard interviews all of his employees personally.”
Now that , Charlie hadn’t anticipated. She’d figured Beauregard would assign the task to the housekeeper. Charlie didn’t know if she was ready to face her father’s murderer, but she’d have to be. “Yes, I can,” she said. “That’d be great.”
“Excellent.” Nettie’s tone didn’t sound satisfied, despite her words. “Do you need directions?”
“Yes, please.” As Nettle rattled them off, Charlie jotted them down on her palm, since she didn’t have a piece of paper, and then ended the phone call.
She tucked the cell in her pocket and took off for Inferno Firearms. It was time to go high-tech on this bastard.
***
Charlie walked into Inferno Firearms find a gun owner’s version of a kid’s candy store. If the candy in question was lethal. Inferno had long, walnut display cases full of knives, Tasers, and every gun imaginable. Along one wall was an entire display of assault rifles. Even ore rifles lined the wall behind the counter.
And she found another Horsemen hottie standing in front of them. This one had spiky dark hair and warm hazel eyes. He wore a pair of tight blue jeans and his leather Horsemen’s cut with no shirt beneath, just tanned skin and a muscled six-pack.
His gaze swept over her, head to toe and then back again. “Well, hello there. What can I do for you, darlin’?” He winked.
“I’m looking for Coyote.”
He ran a hand down the length of his muscular chest. “Why settle for Yo when you can have some Steele?”
Steele was a good name for him. He looked like he was made of steel—big biceps, hard, muscular body.
Too bad she was just browsing.
She only had eyes for one Horseman and he’d decided to be stubborn. If she couldn’t have Axel, she didn’t want to settle for another one. “That’s sweet, but I’m here on business. I’m Charlie. Did Axel mention me?”
Steele frowned then bobbed his head. “That name rings a bell.”
“It should. I’m working with the club. That’s why I need to meet with Coyote,” she prompted.
“Oh, yeah, thief girl. He’s in the back.” Steele jerked a thumb in the direction of the hallway behind him. Then leaned over the counter. “And when you’re done jawin’ with him, you can come to Perdition with me and have a little drink. For starters. There’s no reason we can’t mix business and pleasure.”
She wished Axel felt that way. Charlie loved to flirt, especially with someone as sexy as Steele, but it was a no-go. “Uh, no, thanks.”
“Did I
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