Point of Contention (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Louisa Neil Page B

understood
    that friendship developed over time, and she was just happy to have a
    female friend to talk to occasionally, even if they weren’t to the
    “baring your soul” stage.
    Happy with her job and especially with her performance at it, she
    had fallen into a comfortable routine. Travis lavished her with praise
    often, and even Stuart had stopped by several times to compliment a
    certain lunch or dessert. It didn’t slide past her that he always made a point of doing it when there was other staff present. He still hadn’t
    mentioned anything about her garden and neither did she.
    Travis was using, with regularity, the fresh herbs that she was
    Point of Contention
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    growing. She had small vines of tomatoes and cucumbers growing up
    stakes Hoyt had brought her one day to supplement the chicken wire.
    While he ignored the garden mostly, occasionally he would take her
    aside and give her a tip or suggestion. She welcomed his input and
    even earned an occasional smile from him. Only Stuart kept his
    distance, and she figured it was for the best.
    Kay knew Travis and Stuart often had men’s night out on
    Mondays. She never asked where they went or let on that she even
    knew. Only Martha’s occasional comment gave her inside
    information. She still swam most evenings while the guests were
    eating and had done some research on riding a horse. Kay hadn’t
    mentioned to anyone that the idea was appealing to her.
    The only problem she had to deal with on a daily basis was Jimmy
    Timms. He was summer help, signed on for May, June, July, and
    August to run the fishing boats. As captain, he oversaw the other
    marina staff as well as maintenance on the boats. Her contact with
    him was limited to lunches for their guests as well as the crew. Kay
    had smiled and laughed at his attentions in the first few weeks he was
    working there. It seemed to her he was always in the kitchen, standing
    just a bit too close for her comfort. Many a time she turned directly
    into him. While trying to maintain a professional tone, she’d asked
    him to refrain from being in her space while she was working, telling
    him she’d run him down one day. He laughed and nodded at each
    request, yet always seemed to be too close. He hadn’t been outright
    rude toward her, but she knew the warning signs.
    By the second week, he was reaching to touch her shoulder or
    arm, and she found herself pulling back sharply. By the beginning of
    the third week, she’d had enough.
    She was tired and hormonal and hot. It was her last nerve he got
    on that morning, standing close behind her and running his fingers
    along her neck. It sent a sick chill through her, and she lost her
    composure. Kay swung around so fast his coffee sloshed over the rim
    of his mug.
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    Louisa Neil
    “Don’t touch me, Mr. Timms, ever again. Do I make myself
    clear? I’ve asked you repeatedly to stay out of my workspace, and you
    insist on dogging my every step. Now you’ve made me spill coffee on
    you. Please keep a proper distance!” She’d held his look and waited
    for an answer. His eyes had squinted while he stared at her, deciding
    how to answer. Kay kept her stance, not backing down. Unfortunately
    everyone else in the kitchen had overheard, the noiseless space
    invading their standoff.
    “Sorry, baby,” he started, and she took a step closer, narrowing
    her eyes toward him.
    “I am not your baby or anything else to you. From now on, unless
    you have business that pertains to the guests’ meals, I’d prefer it if you kept your distance from me. Both at work and off.” Kay knew she
    should reign back her tone and didn’t. She’d had enough of the
    playboy and his leering ways and his innuendos that made her feel
    dirty after he’d left. He was always just short of being crude with her.
    Lisa intervened, ending the staring standoff between them. “Mr.
    Timms, is there a problem with the meals?”
    Both Kay and Jimmy had turned to look at her, Kay thankful for
    her