As soon as she walked into the diner, she could see that she needn't have rushed. From the looks of things, Anne was going nowhere. Cyndi must have called in again. She took a seat at the counter until she could get Anne's attention. On her way to the window with an order, she stopped to speak with Mary Elizabeth. “What can I get you, Hon?"
"Nothing for me. I came down to snag you before you left. I wanted to give you these brownies to take home, but you don't appear to be leaving. What happened? Cyndi call in again?"
"Yes, selfish bitch. Oh, I'm sorry, Hon. Pardon my French. It's just that it makes me so mad. She knows Saturdays are our busiest nights. That's why she called. I can't believe the laziness of that heifer. She knows I won't leave Hugh by himself."
"Doesn't he have help in the kitchen?"
"He does, but it takes the two of them to keep up. Listen, I got to go, hon. Orders are coming up. I appreciate the thought, but I'm allergic to chocolate. Maybe one of the customers will take them.” With that she hurried off, greeting a customer that walked in the door even as she set a plate in front of another.
Well, I was looking for something to do. This is as good as anything else. Mary Elizabeth grabbed an apron and went to work. She manned the ten seats at the counter, leaving the tables to Anne. It wasn't much but even the little that she did would help. The jukebox in the corner was blaring out a country tune, making it difficult to hear. The place was packed and the conversations loud, as people got in an early meal before continuing on with the rest of their Saturday night plans.
It got busy and stayed busy until well after nine. Mary Elizabeth had no idea this many people lived in the area. Just when she thought things were slowing down, the after movie crowd came in wanting dessert and coffee. In all her running around, she hadn't seen a movie theatre in Refuge. She didn't know until this moment that there was one.
They chased the last customer out of the door at eleven. Hugh locked the doors, turned the sign to closed, and turned off the outside lights. To the ladies, he said, “Thanks for all your help. You go on home. The guys and I will get this place cleaned up."
Not needing to be told twice, Anne grabbed her purse, said goodbye and left. Hugh locked the door behind her and then turned to Mary Elizabeth, who was still wiping down the counter.
"Leave the counter alone. We'll get it. You've done enough for one night. You keep helping out like this and I'm going to have to add you to the payroll."
"I'm almost done. I'll go home in a minute. As far as payment goes, you can deduct it from my rent.” She winked at him and laughed, showing she was only kidding with him.
Hugh gave it serious consideration. “Deal. I'll deduct a day's wages from your next month's rent. Give me the receipts for the paint and supplies you purchased and I'll deduct those as well."
"I was joking.” Her eyes rounded in shock, a look of sheer disbelief crossed her face. The rag hung limply from her hand.
"I'm not. For what you did, you deserve to be paid. Since I can't legally pay you without adding you to the payroll, this is the next best thing. I'll knock sixty-five dollars off of the rent for your work tonight and another thirty-five for all the painting you did. Give me the receipts and I'll knock off even more."
"That's too much. You can't do this,” she complained.
"Who says? I pay my waitresses six dollars an hour plus tips. You worked seven hours tonight. You can't tell me you paid less than thirty-five for the paint, and that doesn't included labor. You increased the value of my property, therefore, you deserve compensation."
She was steadily shaking her head while he spoke. Stubborn little thing.
"I was bored and you needed help. It's a win-win situation for us both.” She threw the rag back into the sanitizing water. “It's not like I was doing anything else. The apartment I fixed up for me. I'm the one living there and I enjoyed being able to decorate any way that I wanted. That's all the compensation I need.” She grabbed her stuff and the envelope with her tips and turned to go out the front door.
"Go out the back. It's closer to your apartment.” He guided her to the other exit. “I'm knocking a hundred off of your rent. I don't see what the big deal is. It's the least I can do."
"I don't want your discount. I made over fifty in tips tonight. That's more than enough money if that was my goal, but it wasn't. I pitched in to help out my friend. If I were after money, I would have asked for payment that first night."
"Thanks for reminding me. I'll knock another fifty off. Next month, you only pay me half of the rent due.” He opened the door for her.
"Aaargh! Are you big and stupid? You're getting the full three hundred next month. The rent is ridiculously low as it is. How do you keep this diner running, giving away money like you do?"
At her words, he spun her around and slammed the door shut before she could walk out. Hugh crowded her until she was backed against the door, bent down and planted his hands on either side of her, boxing her in. He lowered him face until they were eye-to-eye. “I'm not stupid, and quit being so stubborn. If I want to reduce your rent, that's my prerogative."
"No."
"You're taking the markdown. I won't accept payment from you until you do.” His bear stirred in response to his rising anger.
"No."
"Do you realize how childish you're being? How stupid this argument is? Quit fighting me and accept the price cut.” It was all he could do not to yell.
"I won't and you can't make me.” Then she stuck out her tongue at him.
Hugh let out a snarl of frustration just as her scent hit his nose. Already on edge, he didn't have the control necessary to resist the urge to kiss her into submission. Angling his head, he pressed his mouth to hers. His kiss was dominant and forceful, an expression of the frustration he was feeling. Her taste went to his head like wine, intoxicating him with her flavor.
He growled deep in his chest as he deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue into her mouth, wanting and needing more. He pressed forward and tried to ground his erection against her. She was too short. He lifted her by her hips until he fit perfectly in the notch between her thighs. There he pressed against her, rubbing his cock against her mound. He wanted inside and he wanted in now.
Hugh gathered the material of her sweatpants in his fists and began pulling them off of her body until he'd bared her hips. To take them the rest of the way off, he would have to move back, something he wasn't about to do. He stroked his fingers against the crotch of her panties, zeroing in on her opening. Her panties were damp, but he wanted them wet. He slid his fingers under the edge of her panties and worked her folds open. He would stroke her pussy until her cream filled his hand. Once she was wet enough, he'd rip the panties off her body and take her. He had two fingers poised at her entrance, ready to thrust inside when she whimpered. It shocked him back to his senses. What the hell was he doing?
He snatched his hand out of her pants and dropped her on her feet, pulling her pants up at the same time. Then he jumped back out of reach. She fell against the door, panting, a dazed look on her face. The beast in him scented her arousal and roared, Take her! Take her now! Before he lost control again, he pulled her away from the door, opened it, and hurriedly pushed her outside. “I'm sorry. Lost my head. Promise it won't happen again. Hurry upstairs. We'll talk about the rent later.” Then he slammed the door in her face.
Once she was safely on the other side, he bolted the door, breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back against it. Whew, that was close! A few more minutes and he'd have taken her, and then there would be hell to pay. Alex would have killed him. He was supposed to be protecting her, not raping her. And he hadn't given any thought to the men working in the diner. They could have come back at any time. What was happening to his control?