Deliciously Wicked by Robyn DeHart Read Free Book Online

asked.
    Munden cranked his beefy body around to face the lovely Meg Piddington. Gareth gave in to thetemptation to do the same. He couldn’t ignore the green and pink striped dress. It hugged her body in all the right places; the bonnet atop her red curls and the matching umbrella swinging from her wrist gave her an innocent look.
    â€œMiss Piddington?” Munden stammered. “We still have not found those boxes, so I was ridding your father’s factory of a thief. I know he wouldn’t take kindly to a man who steals from him.”
    Her delicate eyebrows arched. “Indeed. Nor would he take kindly to you dismissing someone without appropriate proof.”
    At that, snickers scattered around the factory floor.
    She glanced around, then took a deep breath. “Might I have a word with you, sir? In my father’s office,” she added tartly. With that she turned on her heel and walked off, clearly expecting the manager to follow her.
    Which he did. Rather quickly.
    The spectacle did not end at that moment, however, as Edward Piddington’s office overlooked the factory floor with a wall of windows. The old man enjoyed keeping an eye on things and ensuring he maintained a presence within his company.
    So no one returned to work. With the unison of an army brigade, they all turned and looked up to the windows above them. The door shut behind Mr. Munden, and while no words were heard, it was quite evident who was in charge.
    It gave Gareth the perfect opportunity to study Meg without any questions about his motive. Aside from the obvious gender difference, she was the very picture of his opposite.
    He could practically hear the coins rubbing together as they jingled in her purse. Petite and fair with fiery red hair, while he was tall and dark from far too much sun. Every last inch of her was sparkling clean, from her button-up boots to that tiny bonnet perched on her head. He, on the other hand, was covered in cocoa powder. His fingernails looked as if he worked as a chimney sweep, rather than in a confectionery.
    She held her dainty gloved hand out to Munden. They shook, and Munden nodded his big head. Gareth couldn’t help but wonder if she’d just made a deal with the devil.
    And then as quickly as she blew into the office, she was walking down the stairs. And looking straight at him.
    â€œPlease return to your duties, gentlemen,” she said with a smile. “There is nothing of interest occurring. Now then,” she said as she reached Gareth’s side.
    â€œWhat was that all about?” he asked.
    She gave him a toothy grin. “I saved your job,” she said, clearly pleased with herself. Machines around him started up, and soon the familiar noise surrounded them.
    He wished he could tell her that it wasn’t necessary, that he could take care of himself, but the truth of the matter was he needed this job, and he’d had no idea how he was going to convince Munden to let him stay on. You couldn’t really ally yourself with someone while they believed you to be a thief.
    It was kind of her to stand up for him. Especially to a man such as Munden. She was plucky, he’d give her that. It had been a damn long time since someone had defended him, and part of him wanted to thank her.So long since someone didn’t make assumptions about him based on what they saw or thought they knew.
    But there was a reason for her generous intervention. She’d only defended him because she knew he was innocent. That, and because Meg clearly took pleasure from being in the middle of the action. He could tell that about her from the very beginning. She enjoyed attention. And he was her newest undertaking.
    So he refused to feel guilty for not thanking her, as her motives had not been genuine. So he merely nodded.
    â€œYou’re quite welcome,” she said brightly.
    â€œI could have managed fine without you, Miss Piddington,” he lied, then cranked his machine and