Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
A ce stormed into the back, Millie’s confession still ringing in his ears. Thankfully it was the weekend, so his siblings were all off with their significant others enjoying life and not being objectified by their employees. His hands trembled with embarrassment at the same time his body filled with heat. He didn’t know if he was pissed or turned on.
Probably both.
He knew the employees talked about him and his siblings, but there was something about those words coming from Millie’s red, full lips that punched him right in the gut. He’d never entertained the idea of hooking up with an employee before her. The thought that he was tempted now worried him.
He glanced to the side, seeing her distorted reflection in the silvery mirror of the stills as she followed a few paces behind him. The hard cement flooring provided a small echo as the rubber soles of her work shoes squeaked in the tense air. A strong scent of juniper and citrus hung in the air from their latest Gin batch. Normally the aroma of their liquors distilling would soothe him, but he was so frustrated even the comforting smell of the business he worked so hard for did nothing. He kept his brisk pace, not stopping until he was inside his office and heard her close the door. Sealing them off in a modicum of privacy.
“Ride me like a pony, Millie?” he roared as he finally turned to face her. “Really?”
One shoulder lifted in a small shrug, her face a mask of innocence. “What? It was just coworker talk. We were bonding.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and glared. “That is a completely inappropriate way to talk about your boss.”
She mirrored his stance. “I wasn’t saying it to you.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
Her arms dropped to her side. Letting out a heavy sigh, Millie shook her head. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”
A mischievous gleam lit her eyes as she slowly moved across the small room until she was inches in front of him. Reaching out she placed a fingertip on his chest. He swore the tiny touch shot through him like a bolt of lightning, waking up every sensual nerve in his body.
“But I have to ask, are you so cranky about it because you’re mad or because you’re turned on.”
Ace swallowed. His throat uncomfortably dry as those soft grey eyes stared up at him. He took in her round face, those full lips, more tempting than anything he’d ever faced in his life. He could see the tiny blonde roots of her hair where the blue was growing out. How did this woman have such an effect on him? And why?
“I’m not cranky, I’m pissed,” he said, finally finding his voice and purposely avoiding her question. Because what the hell was he going to say? Not the truth, that was for fucking sure.
Her smile dimmed, hand falling away as she took a step back. “You’re always pissed.”
“Am not.”
“Like ninety percent of the time, or is it just me? You hate me so much I bring out the worst in you?”
He frowned. She thought he hated her? The thought didn’t sit right. He didn’t hate anyone, except people who hurt his family, but Millie adored his family, and they liked her too.
“I don’t hate you,” he muttered. “You…frustrate me. But that’s got a lot to do with me and my shit.”
She blinked, as if shocked to hear him admit that out loud. Hell, he was shocked. Normally, he wasn’t a big sharer, especially with his feelings, but something about this woman made him open up without even meaning to.
“Oh,” she said softly.
A thought ran across his mind, the words rushing out before he had time to think them through. “Wait, do you hate me?”
“I’m sorry about what I said to Kelley and Trisha,” she said, avoiding his question. “It was inappropriate. I was trying to get info on everyone to see if I could figure out who’s stealing.”
Right. The thing he was paying her a shit ton of money to do. He leaned against his desk, affecting a casual pose, trying to hide the fact that it bothered him she didn’t answer his question.
“Did you find anything out?”
She nodded. “There’re a few possibilities. Trisha seems to know everyone’s business.”
That was because the woman spent a lot of time listening to the conversations around her. Over the years he’d learned there were two types of service industry workers; those who talked a lot and those who gathered all that talk. Trisha did both. Maybe he should have gone to her to spy instead of Millie.
Ha! Not like he had a choice. He hadn’t asked Millie, she’d snooped, and their fate had been sealed.
“And?” he prompted when she didn’t continue.
Millie squirmed under his stare. “I don’t want to put anyone under suspicion until I know more. Like I said there’s some possibilities, but no proof.”
A sharp throb started behind his eyes. He rubbed the bridge on his nose, willing the pain away, but he knew it wouldn’t until this thing was solved, and Millie’s frustrating tempting self was out of his sphere.
“I don’t have a lot of time, Millie. I need to fix this thing before more money goes missing or my family finds out.”
“Why is that such a bad thing,” she asked, grabbing the photo of him and his siblings they’d taken at Del’s wedding. “Your siblings are awesome. I’m sure they’d want to help figure this out. You’re all co-owners, right?”
He glanced down at the picture. They looked so happy. Del was beaming from ear to ear. Not his playboy smile that got him mega tips when he bartended, but the genuine happy smile of a man who’d found his purpose in life. Charlie was laughing, at what he couldn’t remember, but he’d bet it was a joke at one of their expenses knowing his sister. BJ was staring off into the distance with a longing smile. He knew his twin had been looking at Penny, his best friend and now wife/mother of his child. They all looked so happy.
Then there was him.
Ace had a smile on his face, but it wasn’t as big or carefree as his siblings. He remembered that day. How he’d wanted everything to go perfectly for Del and Cassie. He loved his little brother. He loved all his siblings. He just wanted what was best for them. He never wanted them to stress or worry. They deserved happiness and it was his job as the oldest to make sure that happened.
“They don’t need to be bothered with this,” he said.
“How is solving a work problem a bother?”
She was making sense, he knew, but frustration at her insistence rose within, blocking out rational thought.
“They have their own lives.”
“And what about you?” she asked in that soft voice again. “What about your life?”
His life? His life was Jacks and taking care of his family. They didn’t need him as much anymore now that they all found someone to share their life with. Hell, even his mother had her poker friends who went out on girls’ trips frequently. More and more Ace was finding no one needed him.
Who the hell was he if he had no one to help?
“Ace,” Millie said, taking a step toward him. “You don’t have to solve every problem for everyone by yourself. And no, I don’t hate you.”
The pressure on his chest released as she finally answered his question. He hadn’t even realized it had been bothering him so much. Her opinion of him. But it had.
“I actually think you’re a very sweet guy who cares a lot about the people around him,” she continued. “But maybe instead of taking care of everyone else, you should share the burden and let someone take care of you for a change.”
He leaned back at her words, the mere suggestion of letting someone else help him going against every bone in his body.
“I don’t need anyone to take care of me. I’m fine.”
A soft laugh left her. “Oh please, everyone knows ‘I’m fine’ is code for I’m so overwhelmed but I’d rather drown than admit it.”
Where did she get these sayings? He’d never heard of anything like that in his life.
“Okay, if you want to live in denial that’s your choice.”
He wasn’t in denial. He was fine. And he meant exactly what he said. Though he was relieved to hear she didn’t hate him. Ace might not care what most people thought of him, but no one wanted to be actively hated.
“I’ll look into the stuff Trisha told me and see if there’s any solid leads to follow up on. Once I find out something for sure I’ll let you know.”
“Thank you,” he said, glad the conversation was off him and back where it should be. On their work.
Millie made her way to the door but paused as she grabbed the handle. Glancing at him over her shoulder she grinned.
“And I promise not to talk about riding you like a pony anymore.” She paused, taking a long slow perusal of his body before saying in a low, sultry voice, “I bet you’d be more of a stallion anyway.”
With a sassy wink she opened the door and headed out of the office leaving Ace speechless and more turned on than he’d ever been in his life.