Moonrise by Cassidy Hunter Page B

tall but not overly so, his body compact and muscled as opposed to the lean slimness of her ex. But then she realized there was one thing the two men had in common. Danger.
    It covered this man like a cloak, and he wore it well. Even Robert would have second thoughts about tangling with this man.
    She wasn’t sure what it was about him, but this man was dangerous.
    But his eyes. His eyes were wild and almost nonhuman. Exotic looking with their slight tilt, it was the color that held her spellbound.
    They were light, very light, with the black pupil standing in stark contrast. His brows were dark, his lashes long, and she’d never in her life imagined such striking eyes.
    She realized the room was dead silent, and her face began to burn. They’d think she was simpleminded. “I need this job,” she blurted.
    He stared at her for a long moment. She didn’t mind. It gave her an excuse to stare back. Finally, he sighed and glanced at Mrs. G. “Give her the job.”

    Chapter 2

    Mrs. G had argued, but only briefly. The incredible man merely looked back at Selene, then nodded to himself once, then he was gone.
    The room was empty without his presence.
    And Selene could breathe again. “Who is he?” she whispered, forgetting that Mrs. G would be too angry to carry on a conversation with her.
    But the older woman merely shook her head, sighed, and sat behind her desk. “He’s the owner of this place. Sit down, Ms. Morris. If you’re to work here, I’ll need some information.”
    Selene sat with embarrassing quickness. “Thank you. You don’t know what this means to me. I couldn’t have—”
    “I wouldn’t have had a second thought about tossing you out on your huma—your ass. But it’s up to Trey, and I pray he knows what he’s doing.” She shrugged and dug through a drawer. “It’s on him. He always did have an eye for a skinny little blonde.”
    “I—”
    “You’ll have to toughen up if you’re going to stay in this town, I’ll tell you that right now. You might think you just have to be here, but I’m pretty sure by the end of the week you’ll be begging whomever you’re running away from to take you back.”
    Selene blanched. I’ll die first. And she would. If Robert found her, she was dead anyway. She clutched her hands on her lap so hard her bitten-to-the-quick nails managed to cut into her skin. “I’m not running from anyone.” And finally her strength, good sense, and courage rose up to keep her company. After all, she’d lived with Robert Steele for eleven years. This woman was an infant compared with him. “And by the end of the week, I’ll still be here.”
    Mrs. G looked at her for a long moment, and then her shoulders slumped, just a little. She nodded. “All right, Ms. Morris, but don’t come crying to me when you change your mind.”
    “It’s Selene. And I don’t plan on it.”
    By the time she got up to leave, she felt like she and the older woman were, if not friends, at least a little friendlier. Mrs. G had refused her request for an advance, but that was okay. She could sleep in her car until payday, now that she actually had the job. She’d been through a lot worse than uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.
    She left the bar with orders to report the next afternoon promptly at four, keeping her head down and her eyes averted from the few interested, curious stares that came her way. She’d have to get used to dealing with people, but right now, she just wanted to get to her safe little car and let her good fortune sink in.
    She had a good feeling about this town. She would be safe here, and her life was taking a turn for the better. She was okay.
    Hoping no one was watching, she started her car and pulled around behind the building. She drove between some widely spaced trees into the deep woods behind the bar. She’d be well concealed here, and close to work. Right now, this was home.
    She sat for a few minutes grinning into space, her hands on the steering wheel.