Free Saint James, Elle - Unbridled and Undone [The Double Men Rider's Club] (Siren Publishing Menage Everlasting) by Elle Saint James Page B

job.
    The unexpected work hours today and in the coming week would give her checking account a nice boost, and she knew she’d come out ahead.
    She operated on pure caffeinated adrenaline right now. She’d slammed down two shots of espresso upon her arrival and figured she had a few more good hours before the effects from the lack of sleep intruded on her late afternoon.
    Internally, she wanted to see Dell and Zachary more than anything. Externally, she didn’t need the distraction since she’d be crazy busy all day. The owner of the chain was on hand to lend assistance during the rush, but one of her first customers had been someone who looked a lot like Dell. She saw lots of cowboy hats in the hotel. Each one made her smile on the inside and remembered the night before.
    Tessa stayed fairly well-focused on making specialty cups of coffee all day, but little threads of memory regarding last night slipped in at odd times throughout her shift.
    It wasn’t that she was embarrassed about what they’d done. She was more concerned about either of them seeing her working as a barista. Her father didn’t approve of any of her part-time jobs. He felt that a job working with her hands was beneath her and their “station” in life. Plus, he wanted her to be a socialite housewife for Arthur, the prick.
    She had news for him. It would never happen.
    Tessa didn’t regret having to put her education on hold or any of the low wage jobs she’d taken in the name of keeping flexible hours. After her mother had died, Tessa had gone to stay with her Gamma Butler. When Gamma had gotten sick, Tessa felt the need to return the favor. She quit school and got a second and then a third part-time job for a while.
    As her illness progressed, Gamma Butler had needed increased care before she died. No one else, least of all her father, stepped up to the task financially or any other way.
    Long ago, Gamma Butler and her father had a bitter argument. Screaming match was the actual term used by the young maid at her father’s house who’d confided the information. Tessa didn’t even know the subject of the fight. But neither her father nor her grandmother ever backed down from their prideful stance to contact the other and resolve the issue. Time spent with Gamma before she died was yet another bone of contention over which she and her father battled.
    Tessa glanced at the clock and was relieved to note that her shift ended in half an hour. She couldn’t wait to get home and slide into a long, hot shower. The other girl working with her this afternoon had stepped away for a bathroom break, leaving her all alone. The most recent rush had ended an hour ago, and the intermittent customers allowed her mind to wander. Of course, her memories were of recent carnal activities.
    She looked up at the building’s glass ceiling and wondered if she had the nerve to go knock on their door once her shift was over. Maybe she’d slip a note under the door and ask them to meet her in the lobby bar again later tonight.
    Thinking about the two sexy cowboys from the night before and planning a future booty call took her mind away from the job at hand. She didn’t notice the familiar man who approached until he stood directly in front of her at the counter.
    “What on earth are you doing here, Tessa?” he queried.
    Arthur looked genuinely puzzled as if she’d only be here because she lost a bet or something.
    Tessa found her voice even though the shock of seeing someone so unexpectedly had rattled her. “I work here part-time,” she finally answered. “Can I get you something to drink?”
    Arthur gave her one of those disillusioned looks with a touch of disgust thrown in as if working for a living was too revolting to contemplate. He was exactly like her father, and that was the main reason she wasn’t interested in him.
    “No. I do not want you to get me something to drink. Instead, you can leave this dismal place, get out of those disgusting clothes,