CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Oh my God, was this the Shannon that Larry mentioned yesterday?
Regardless of how strange, even if only to me, this situation just became, I smiled at her and matched her gesture.
“I’m Trish,” I said. Her smile grew bigger.
“I figured. Shane told me Tony’s new girl was out of his league.”
I was stunned.
“Why the hell are you still here?” Shane butted in, in angry tone that caused both me and Shannon to face him.
“Uhhhh… Nigel asked me if I wanted to work overtime,” Shannon responded so low I could barely hear her. Her smile had completely disappeared, her shoulders drooped, and if I wasn’t mistaken, she looked ready to cry.
“Let me guess,” Shane sneered, “you had to work it, right? You show up late to the office every day, every time I walk into your office, you’re either on a personal call or you’re half asleep. I told you the other day, Shannon, and I’m telling you one last time; if you show up late one more time, I’m going to let you go,” Shane finished harshly.
Shannon’s eyes wouldn’t even meet Shane’s anymore. They seemed permanently locked on something outside the window now, but when I checked, I saw nothing.
How could he embarrass her like this?
I could understand having this conversation in private, but not in public. Something was going on with this girl. She was too… scared. She looked lost.
She swallowed hard, either holding back tears or her pride, but I knew instantly that I liked her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I promise not to be late again.”
And then, as if nothing happened, she straightened and continued with her original task, “What can I get y’all to drink?”
Nobody responded for a long moment. It wasn’t until I started to ask for water that Shane decided to speak.
“Are you coming into the office today? I need you there, not here.” At his blunt words, Shannon’s eyes hit mine quickly and then away. It was a movement so slight that only another female would understand. She liked what he said. My guess, she wanted Shane to need her for more than just work.
“I’ll be there,” she responded with a nod, but never made eye contact.
Shane didn’t say anything. His eyes bore into Shannon’s fac, and the silence grew.
I spoke up, “I already know what I want. Can I go ahead and order?”
“Oh yes, sorry,” Shannon said as she fumbled with her pen.
She took our order and I wasn’t surprised when see Shane stared after her as she walked away and disappeared into the kitchen.
“Why were you so rude to her when you obviously care about her?” I asked.
His body tensed. “I don’t care about her,” he said through his teeth. I didn’t bother to correct him. I just gave him my “Yeah, right” look.
“I don’t,” he ground out. “I’m rather sick of her, if you must know. She’s too quiet, nothing to look at, and honestly, I would fire her if there was someone in this small town to replace her… what the hell was that for?” he asked on a shout when I kicked him in in the knee under the table. I missed. I’d aimed for his baby maker.
Shannon had been walking up with our drinks when he’d started talking. She was now stopped dead in her tracks and I could tell by the tears swimming in her eyes that she’d heard everything Shane said.
Shane twisted his neck and he groaned. He knew she heard too. I watched Shannon compose herself in an instant as she continued to our table, set our drinks down and looked directly into Shane’s eyes.
“Consider this my two week notice,” she said softly, but firmly and Shane’s body stiffened further as he stared at her in surprise. “And don’t worry… I’ll help you find someone to replace me and most definitely someone better to look at,” she finished. She untied the small pocket apron around her waist.
“I’m going to head over to the clinic now so I can get things in order for my replacement. I’ll get Jenny to take over here.”
“Shannon, I--” he started, surely about to apologize, but she held up a hand and his mouth snapped shut.
“It’s okay, Shane. I understand. I’d rather lose my house and live on the street than work for someone so… mean anyway.”
My God, she couldn’t even come up with a word better than “mean”.
She faced me, and when she did, her face softened. I already knew that she was a sweet girl by her introduction, but I knew right then that I really, really liked her. Something about her reminded me a little of Lex.
“It was nice to meet you, Trish,” Shannon whispered, her tone so small and sad that she even made me want to cry.
She turned and hauled ass out of there. I’d have done the exact same thing, but with a whole lotta cussing.
Shane jumped up and mumbled, “I’ll be right back,” as he took off after her.
I sat there and contemplated the situation between Shane and Shannon until a new waitress brought out our food. Something was up with her, that much I was sure of, and it was apparent that Shane had no idea what it was.
I ate slowly as different ideas ran through my mind. I was going to find out what Shannon was hiding.
What did she mean when she said she’d rather lose her house and live on the street?
I sighed.
Shane still hadn’t come back and I was so deep in thought that I didn’t hear the footsteps that arrived at my side until it was too late.