Rough Edges by Kimberly Krey Read Free Book Online

digital copies. The second line said something about filing the paper order forms. Create website was third on the list. “Hold up,” he said, pointing at number three. “I already have a website.”
    Allie’s eyes widened. “Oh, you do?” She snatched a pen clipped onto her folder and crossed it out. “Perfect. What’s the web address?”
    “Why?” He had the sneaking suspicion she didn’t believe him.
    “So I can post it on Facebook. Along with pictures of your work.”
    A groan rumbled in his throat. “No, I don’t want any of that … face page stuff.”
    “But it could really boost your business,” she said,  “I’ve seen it myself.”
    Braden took a step back, seeing – what he imagined – the way she must’ve looked at Terrance. A man who was incapable, or a project that needed fixing. Well in her ex-husband’s case she may have been right. But here, where he’d run a successful business for all these years, Braden wanted Allie to know things were far from broken. Just merely out of line was all.
    “Look,” he said, “I don’t want you telling me how to run this business, alright? I’ve done just fine on my own for nearly twenty years. I’d appreciate it if you just stuck to filing and phone calls.”
    She recoiled for a blink, but then straightened back up and hopped off the desk. “Fine,” she snapped. “Where’s your restroom?”
    Aw, heck. Was she upset? “It’s uh, through that door there,” he said. “Place has been remodeled since the last time you were here, but you’ll find it easily enough.” Allie seemed to flinch at the mention of her being there before. Perhaps he shouldn’t have brought it up.
    With her face turned methodically away from his, she dashed around him and through the door leading to the house. The moments following burdened Braden’s mind with layers of guilt. Why had he snapped at her like that? She was only trying to help.
    After pacing the office a few times Braden gave up on waiting. Chickened out was more like it. He had no idea how to fix the damage he’d just done. He wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Allie tore right out of that place and never came back. The idea caused conflicting emotions to storm within him. One part found relief at the thought of having her gone; he didn’t need all the heartache, best if he could bail out early and kiss his hopes goodbye. But the larger part of him was sick at the idea of never getting a second chance, or blowing it entirely by his stupid behavior. Here Braden had been fuming over the way Terrance had treated her all these years and then he goes and snaps at her the first chance he gets. He’d have to apologize, that was certain. It was just… how to go about it.
    “You know,” Allie spoke from behind, her voice quiet but firm.
    Braden spun around to see her leaning against the doorframe, her arms folded across her chest.
    “If you speak to me like an adult,” she continued, “I’m confident we can make a decent team here. I don’t mind you telling me I’ve crossed the boundaries or that I’m doing something you don’t want me to do. But what you said – and the way you said it – bordered on chauvinistic if you ask me, and that’s something I won’t put up with.”
    Chauvinistic? Now she’d gone too far. “Hold up. Just what was chauvinistic about it?” He couldn’t help but ask. Never once had he been accused of such a thing.
    Allie tilted her head as her eyes narrowed. “Phone calls and filing?”
    Braden coughed out a humorless laugh. “Isn’t that what secretaries do?”
    “Sure. But they can do a whole lot more.”
    “Well how about we just start out with the basics?”
    Allie straightened her shoulders, sped right past Braden, and snatched her list off the table. “Fine. I’ll get started.” 
    “Fine.” With a wordless nod, Braden rounded the corner and strode back toward the work area. “Let me know if you need anything,” he added reluctantly over his shoulder.