Free He's Got Her Goat by Christine Page A

“Paige. One girl had soapy hands and didn’t want to touch the pump. I helped her get the water going. That’s it, I swear.”
    Her eyes squinted, and he could tell she wasn’t convinced. “That’s not what Julie said.”
    “I’m telling the truth,” Sterling said.
    She rubbed her forehead. “Well, whatever you did to Julie’s friend yesterday, she wants the same treatment.”
    “You’ve got to be kidding.”
    Paige wagged her chin. “She adores my products, and I may need her father’s help when I want to expand. This would be a huge favor.”
    If he said no, the chances of Julie letting his real identity slip would be huge. While washing her hands, maybe he could figure out a way to keep this whole thing under wraps. At least until the end of the weekend, for Paige’s benefit. “I suppose this once wouldn’t hurt.”
    Julie had her rhinestone-covered cell inches from her nose and didn’t lower it until he was standing right in front of her. The shock on her face was priceless. He could see all the way to her tonsils, her mouth was that far open. She gawked from him to Paige and back to him. “Oh, this is too much.” Then she turned to Paige. “So you two are a thing? Paige, I never knew we had such similar tastes in men.”
    “No, it’s only business,” Paige said.
    Julie winked Sterling’s direction. “I know about that type of business. I can see it all over him. So where did you two meet?”
    “Here, actually.” He offered, hoping to circumvent the conversation.
    “That’s kind of romantic, and I love the duds. Are those real cowboy boots?” She seemed to be relishing every minute of this.
    Sterling was having the opposite reaction. “Yup, sure ‘nuff,” he said with a drawl.
    “Cute.” Apparently losing interest, Julie dropped her bag on the floor and dumped her cell inside it. “I’m ready for you to wash my hands now, lover boy.” She wiggled in her seat and smiled with artificially whitened teeth.
    Sterling could hardly believe the minefield around him was intact. Paige still didn’t know he was anything more than a day worker, but one wrong move, and it could explode in his face. He walked over to the pump and grasped the handle. “Do you know what kind you’d prefer?”
    She bit her lip suggestively. “Oatmeal Shea Butter, please.”
    Grabbing one of the bars, he unwrapped it and returned to the pump. Julie was smiling at him like she had something wicked in mind. He pumped the water, which flowed clear. “If you would come right over here and wet your hands, we can begin.”
    Julie didn’t move. “No, I think you should wash my feet instead.” She kicked off her beaded flip flops and strummed her pedicured toes against the cement.
    He glanced at Paige who seemed to be pleading at him with her eyes then back at Julie who was reveling in his discomfort.
    “Let’s do this.” He knelt at her feet and realized he didn’t have the equipment to fulfill her request. In his periphery he caught sight of a large metal bowl at the florist next to him. The older woman was not there. Instead, a pleasant blonde in her mid-twenties gave him a tiny wave.
    “I’ll be right back,” he said.
    He leapt up and asked the girl if he could borrow her bowl. Without asking why, she agreed. He filled it at the pump and set the cool water at Julie’s feet. She clapped her hands in glee and said to Paige, “I can’t believe he’s going to go through with it. You’ve got him wrapped around your little finger.”
    Sterling gently placed her foot in the water and lifted it. Julie whispered in his ear. “Does she even know who you really are?”
    He tried to return her conspirator’s expression. “Not half of it.”
    Satisfied, Julie sat back to enjoy her foot massage and called to Paige. “You better watch out for this one. He’s a real heartbreaker.”
    “I can see that.” Paige’s answer didn’t have the gusto of her wealthy friend.
    Julie laughed. “Well, when you’re done