Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash (9 page)

Chapter Nine

“Tea? Lemon? Really, sir, you are too kind.” Jenna stared in delight as Burke placed a teacup, complete with a slice of fresh lemon, on the table beside her stack of files.

The corner of his mouth lifted in a familiar twitch. “If it makes rebellious employees call me ‘sir,’ I’ll bring fresh lemon every morning.”

“Really? But I’m starting to like the name Burke.”

“So am I, Jenna.” He reached down and flipped through the files, not looking at her. “Actually I have a favor to ask.”

“Oh, of course. Hence the tea.” She leaned back in her chair, hiding her disappointment with a flippant smile.

“The big horse’s owners are flying in next week for a tour of Three Brooks,” Burke said. “They’re a brother and sister team, but according to my sources the brother makes all the decisions.” He dropped a brochure on the table. ‘Ridgeman Racing Stables’ was splashed in glitzy gold letters across the front.

“Ah,” she breathed, staring in admiration at the chestnut with the imperious head pictured on the front cover. “Then the Derby horse must be Mr. Nifty. He’s coming here? Oh, my.” She lifted both hands, waggling her fingers in anticipation. “I can’t wait to touch him.”

A low noise sounded and she jerked her head up. Burke was actually laughing, a deep sexy laugh that softened his chiseled jaw and made her forget all about horses. He circled the table, still chuckling. “We do this tour right, you’ll be able to touch him all over,” he said.

Touch him all over
. She swallowed, yanking her gaze off Burke’s beautiful mouth, and staring instead at his ridged forearms. But that wasn’t wise either. She feared she might lick her lips. It had been a little too long since she’d stopped seeing Colin, and she’d always had a thing for muscles. Probably a natural fixation developed from working with big horses. Completely understandable.

She cleared her throat. “So you want me to help take the owners around? No problem. I’ve done quite a few tours.”

“Yes, that’s what the receptionist said.” When he turned around, his smile had been replaced with a customary scowl. “I’m not exactly sure what Frances does behind that counter besides crossword puzzles. I expected she could look after some tours. We may have to make a position adjustment.”

There was no doubt what he meant. “She’s fine,” Jenna said quickly. “Just a little set in her ways. She keeps the feed room clean and the staff washroom. Beside, I always do the tours with Wally. Usually I look after technical questions and he looks after the business side.”

“Really? Wally doesn’t know the technical side?”

There it was again and she took a hasty sip of tea. First a threat to Frances and now obvious disapproval of Wally. All in thirty seconds. Burke was so damn attractive, she sometimes forgot he was also dangerous. Big mistake. She set her cup on the table, hiding her slight tremor.

“Of course, Wally knows the technical side,” she said. “But it’s just the way we did things. He’s great with people. And smart. You might want to consider using him for the tour. After all, he’ll need to build a relationship with Nifty’s people.”

Burke stepped closer and abruptly dropped three green files in front of her. One ‘N’ and two ‘M’s.’ ‘Murphy, Jenna’ included. She couldn’t believe her luck.

“You want me to work on these now?” she asked, trying not to stare at her name. “And once I check everyone’s certificates, their salaries are adjusted?” She kept her voice neutral, almost bored. This was way too easy.

“Not quite. Anyone you find eligible for a pay hike, based on educational qualifications, will then sign a document testifying validity. Employees are automatically terminated for falsehood, so it provides us with recourse…in the event action is required.”

She swallowed a lump the size of her fist but crossed her arms and shrugged, pretending the topic was all rather amusing. “Terminated? What a ridiculous word. Why don’t you just say fired? And nobody’s going to fake something so easily checked. Gosh, don’t you trust us?”

He turned, crossed to the large window, and studied the workmen. Silent. If he were trying to intimidate her, it worked.

She forced a disdainful sniff and flipped open a file but couldn’t resist a cautious peek. He still stared out the window, his broad back to her. Everyone had an outlet, and it was obvious construction was his. That fresh piney smell showed he’d been working with wood again. His hard hat had been tossed on the corner chair, the battered white hat that had been so misleading on his first day.

Sometimes she wished he were a simple laborer. A saw whirred from outside and someone laughed, but it seemed like hours since anyone in this office had spoken. He hadn’t answered her question, and it was painfully apparent he
didn’t
trust them.

“Why didn’t you just go into the construction industry?” she asked quietly, unable to remain silent.

“My family would have been appalled.”

“You like this instead?” She gestured at the files in frustration. “Searching for weak links, entrapping employees, firing well-meaning staff? Frances and Wally are good people.”

He spun from the window and stalked toward the door, his voice clipped. “Better get to work. This isn’t efficient use of company time.”

The door closed behind him with a controlled click. Heck, he didn’t even slam doors. She picked up her tea, trying to warm her cold hands, trying to ignore the fact she’d just been given a very clear warning.

It would be risky to sign a paper, but it was too late to back out now. Besides she and Em needed that eighteen-percent raise and since she was stuck in Burke’s office, laboring over boring files, there should be some type of reimbursement. Or at least that’s what she tried to tell herself.

She dropped her head in her hands and sighed, wishing Burke wasn’t her boss, wishing she wasn’t grade-eleven stupid and wishing the expensive lemon didn’t leave such a bitter aftertaste.

***

Jenna patted the chestnut gelding on the neck and nodded at the handler, pleased with his progress. “Guess he’s returning to the track tomorrow. Is he scheduled for the saltwater spa?”

“Going there now.” The wiry man holding the gelding paused, his gaze darting to the floor then back to her face. “Jenna, I was wondering if you’d ask Mr. Burke if…well, I was hoping you’d ask if we could take a break at ten? You know, we might need to use the bathroom, have a smoke, and, well it’d be nice to have a regular break.”

“Just take it, Jim.” She shook her head in exasperation. This was the third time today someone had asked her to approach Burke. “He’s actually very reasonable as long as you do your work. Besides, you never worried about smoke breaks before.”

“With Wally, we just took them when we wanted.” Jim had the grace to flush. “It never really mattered.”

“Well, I’m afraid those days are over.” She gave a rueful smile. “This place is going to be quite busy.”

“Wally said if we banded together, we might be able to force Mr. Burke to re-install him as manager.”

“Wally said that?” She shook her head at the ridiculous notion Burke could be forced to do anything. “Where is Wally anyway?”

“Out back, doing inventory. A little pissed about it too.”

Of course. Wally wasn’t accustomed to grunt work. She nodded, pushed open the swinging door and walked down the aisle past the reception area.

“What’s another word for superfluous?” Frances asked, poking her head up from her crossword puzzle. “Nine letters.”

“Redundant.” Jenna paused. “Maybe you should spend less time with your puzzles and work at the computer a bit more. Sweep twice a day instead of once.” Annoyance darkened Frances’s round face. “Just until Burke goes,” Jenna added. “Just to be safe.”

“But I smile at him now. And I answer the phone.”

“But it hardly rings.” Jenna softened her voice, trying to be tactful. Frances could be quite spiteful if annoyed; conversely the woman’s feelings were easily bruised. “Everyone uses cell phones now. I’ll continue to do the tours but why don’t you tell Burke you’d be happy to do some of his typing?”

“Maybe.” But Frances flounced back in her seat, clearly resentful. “By the way, I saw your sister’s boyfriend on Facebook,” she added snidely. “They seem to be having a good time. Take a look.”

Jenna leaned over the counter. Emily’s face flashed on the screen followed by a black sports car. A skinny, nondescript guy leaned against the fender, one arm around Em’s shoulder, his other hand splayed over…her breast. The self-satisfied leer on his weasel face was nauseating.

“Are there any other pictures?” Jenna asked, but it was an effort to work the question past her tight throat. “And can you tell me where this was taken?”

“A little town somewhere. Look at the cheap motels. Good grief. Aren’t you Facebook friends with your sister?”

Jenna shook her head. She barely went on Facebook; her ancient computer was much too slow.

“I can see why.” Frances snickered. “There’re some raunchy pictures here. Maybe you should sweep the feed room first. Then I’ll let you see them. All I can say is your sister deserves her reputation.”

Jenna lunged over the counter. Grabbed a pen and rammed it into Frances’s hand. “Watch your mouth. Now write your password down. Or else I’ll have my buddy Burke kick your useless ass out that door.”

Frances shrank back, the chair squeaking in protest. “I didn’t mean it. And I shouldn’t have said that about Emily. You’re both skinny and pretty and you’ve both been nice to me. I’m sorry.” Fear blanched her face as she scribbled down her code. “Please don’t tell him to fire me. I’ve worked here for fifteen years. I deserve this job.”

Jenna snorted and grabbed the paper, checking that she could decipher Frances’s scrawl. It was convenient Frances thought Jenna could control Burke—that everyone seemed to think it—but Frances was a gullible fool.

She shook her head in disgust and swung around. The blood drained from her face. Burke stood in the doorway, arms crossed, expression carved in granite.

“Hi.” She forced a flippant smile. “Guess we sorted out who will type your papers.”

She sauntered toward the door. He probably hadn’t heard. Oh, please, God. She prayed he hadn’t heard. But he didn’t step back and she reluctantly stopped, lifted her head and met his hooded gaze.

“I’m heading into town to meet with the hay suppliers.” He glanced over her head at Frances. “We’ll discuss this incident later.”

“Perfect.” She raised her voice so Frances would be sure to hear. “Drop by the usual time. I’ll chill the beer. Make some of my special cornbread.” She added a tight smile before brushing past him and escaping.

At least, Burke hadn’t given her away in front of Frances. Time enough to face the music later. But obviously he’d heard something. What had she said? ‘I’ll have my buddy Burke kick your lazy ass out the door?’

Well, lots of people referred to others as buddy. It wasn’t her fault if Frances misunderstood. Jenna hadn’t specifically said Burke would do what she wanted. She’d merely inferred it. People had to be so careful with words now; it was such a shame. Surely Burke would understand that?

She rechecked the password, tucked the paper safely in her pocket and circled around the building. Her thoughts shot back to Emily. God, what the hell was her sister doing in Philadelphia?

Voices grew louder. Wally leaned against some hay bales, a clipboard tucked under his arm, while two stable hands called down numbers. “Hey, take a break, guys,” he called when he spotted Jenna. “What are you doing out here? You in the dog house too?”

“I’ve got another horse to massage,” she said. “But I just talked to Jim and I don’t think it’s wise to stir everyone up. Burke isn’t going to like it, and…certain jobs might already be in jeopardy.”

“Screw him.” Wally’s voice rose. “He’s looking to push me out and I’m not rolling. There’s already talk in town he doesn’t belong. Doesn’t understand the area. Our hay supplier promised to raise his price.”

Jenna dropped onto a bale, shaking her head. “But Wally, how is that going to help Three Brooks? I can tell you exactly what Burke will do. He’ll find another supplier out of town. Your friend will lose an important contract, our profitability drops, and Burke will be pissed. You don’t want to piss him off.”

“He doesn’t scare me. And if I’m fired, I’ll hit Burke Industries with a wrongful dismissal suit. Even if I lose, the publicity will have to hurt.”

Jenna pulled out a piece of hay and chewed glumly on the stalk. “If you want your old job back, you’re going to have to earn it. Everyone else has stepped up. Come on, Wally. You can too.”

“Just stick close to him,” Wally said. “Let me know what he’s doing. Although maybe you won’t find that too big a chore.” Something ugly stained his voice and she jerked her head up.

“By the way, how was Peanut’s visit to the solarium?” he added. “Want me to keep a key by the statue so you can continue treatments?”

Jenna rose and this time couldn’t meet his gaze. Her breath felt jerky, as though she were being sucked into a vortex completely out of her control. “That would be great,” she muttered. She tossed aside the mangled stalk of hay and walked away.

Chapter Ten

Jenna powered up her ancient computer, groaning as it struggled to connect to the Internet. What a shitty day. She fingered her phone, hating the thought of the hefty bill, but agonizing more about Em’s pictures, about Wally’s future and that she’d been rather mean to lazy, old Frances.

“Five more minutes and you’re junked,” she snapped at the monitor. She checked the oven before striding outside to see Peanut.

He chewed steadily at the grass, not moving as she inspected his skin. No worse than yesterday. Maybe even better? At least, his hair had stopped falling out. He still looked a bit like a Chihuahua, a giant hairless Chihuahua. “We’ll go for another walk tonight,” she promised, patting his neck and hurrying back to the trailer.

Dammit. She hated rushing around for a man, although the cornbread did smell delicious. If
he
didn’t come, she’d keep a loaf and take the other to old Mrs. Parker.