Tangled Fury by Kristen Middleton, Book Cover By Design, K. L. Middleton Read Free Book Online Page B

woman in months.
    Felicia walked over and put a hand on her hip. “Is that right? When was the last time you went on a date, Jungle Boy?”
    “Why? A re you interested?” I teased. “You find yourself thinking about me when you’re testing out your online store?”
    Sinclair and Felicia looked at each other and then both of them burst out laughing.
    “Oh, hell no, you did not just say that,” said Felicia, still grinning as she fanned herself. “And here I thought you were an uptight log-jockey.”
    “A… wh at? A log-jockey?” I asked. “Does that mean you thought I was gay, or something?”
    “No,” she replied, wiping some moisture from under her eyes. “I mean…cause you’re from Alaska. I’ve watched Axmen and those other shows. Guys are always driving big-assed trucks and getting stuck somewhere in the woods. It’s like y’all see a patch of mud or a stream and just have to tackle it, regardless of how deep the damn thing is. Then some big old excavator has to travel twenty miles, through dense wilderness, to pull your asses out. That’s what I call a log-jockey.”
    I chuckled . “Not all of us from the north tear down trees or go off hunting for gold.”
    “ Aren’t you from the Klondike area, or something?” she asked.
    “You’re thinking Canada. The Yukon area. I’m from Anchorage Alaska.”
    She waved her hand. “It’s all relative to me. Ice, snow, and… moose. So, what did you do back home? Let me guess – you were a fisherman? Crab catcher?”
    I snorted. “The only crabs I’ve ever caught were from a girl I met in a bar, back when I turned twenty-one. Let me tell you, the only person paying for those little bastards are the ones catching them.” 
    Sinclair laughed and raised her hands in the air. “Okay , T.M.I, Thane. That’s not an image I need.”  
    I laughed . “I’m kidding. Just wanted to see your reaction.”
    “ Cute. I think you’re just avoiding my original question  of – what made you buy this place?”
    The front bell rang. “You hear that? Sounds like a customer,” I replied, changing the subject. I really didn’t want to get into any details about my past . I wasn’t proud of it. My life in California was somewhat normal, for once. Or as normal as it could be for a man who used to beat the shit out of other guys for a living. So, I kept my private life private. Unlike many of my employees. The things I’d learned when my office door was open, was enough to make me want to wash my ears out with sulfuric acid. I’d always thought that men were offensive and vulgar. These girls often made Lisa Lapanelli sound like Mother Goose.
    Tiffany walked ou t of the backroom carrying her purse and staring down at her cell phone.
    “You done for the day?” I asked.
    She looked up and smiled. “Yes. By the way, how did your interview with Sera go?”
    “It went well . She’s still in my office.”
    “You d idn’t scare her away?” she teased.
    I feigned shock. “ Me? Scare her away? Whatever do you mean?”
    “ You’re kind of a jerk.” She quickly added, looking almost apologetic. “I mean, you said so yourself last week.”
    “I think the word I actually used was straight-forward .”
    “Which also means that you can be a jerk at times,” added Felicia.
    I smiled grimly. “Thanks for clearing that up, Felicia.”
    “Someone has to. By the way, I sell products for men, too. Thinks that will take the edge off, if you know what I mean.”
    I rubbed a hand over my face. “Jesus, the only thing I need right now is a stiff drink. I’m going to check on Sera and then head out early.”
    Felicia handed me a card. “I accept cash, check, or charge. And,” she lowered her voice. “Everything gets delivered in discreet packaging.”
    I handed the card back to her. “No offense, but I don’t need to pay to … get off, Felicia.”
    “Well, then at least let one of us cut your hair,” she said, shoving it back into her purse. “So you do get