door on her way out and flip up the “Closed” sign. She’d be back in a flash.
After phoning her order in, she hoisted her purse over her shoulder and headed for the door after calling back to Travis that she’d be back in five. She nearly collided with a male body on her way out and pulled up, barely able to stifle the curse that blistered her lips. Marlene was forever trying to make a lady of her.
But when she saw who had nearly run her over, she promptly regretted calling back the obscenities.
Sean Cameron stood in front of her, his gaze narrowed as he stared back at her.
“What now, Sean?” she asked in exasperation. The cop had always rubbed her the wrong way.
“Who’s the new employee?” Sean demanded. “Frank didn’t say anything about hiring someone new.”
Rusty sighed. There was nothing new about Sean breathing down her neck. Life in a small town definitely had its drawbacks. The kid hadn’t been here but two hours and already super cop was coming to check on him.
“I didn’t realize you moonlighted as Frank’s HR manager,” she said dryly.
His frown deepened. Not that that was anything new for her. Sean lived in disapproval of her. It was like he was just waiting for her to fuck up so he could run her out of town and out of the Kellys’ lives.
“Cut the crap, Rusty.”
She scowled at him, her patience snapping. “Really, Sean? Can’t you be a little more original with your insults? We’ve known each other how long now? Five years? And yet that’s your standard reply any time we’re in hearing distance of one another. ‘Cut the crap, Rusty.’”
She shook her head.
“Now if you’ll excuse me, I have lunch to pick up and then I have work to do. I’m sure you have something more important to do than to be looking over my shoulder every minute of the day.”
Sean scowled back. “Who’s the kid, Rusty?”
“If you want to interrogate me, then you’ll have to come with me to pick up lunch for me and ‘the kid,’ as you labeled him.” She’d referred to him as “the kid” too, but not as derisively as Sean had put it.
And then another thought occurred to her. One that had her locking the door as she shoved past Sean. She turned the key, ensuring that he wouldn’t get in while she was gone, and then she whirled, finger up as she leveled it at Sean.
“And you stay away from the kid. Got it? He’s none of your business. You don’t speak to him and you damn sure don’t interrogate him. I can take your shit. God knows I’ve been dealing with it for years. But you leave him the fuck alone or I swear to God I’ll make your life miserable.”
Sean’s eyes flickered, and for a moment she thought she saw actual regret.
“What’s his story?” Sean asked quietly.
Rusty took off in the direction of the sandwich shop, knowing that Sean would follow along. He was too stubborn to just let stuff go. He’d want to hear the kid’s life history before he backed off.
“He’s a kid who desperately needs a job and money,” she said as they walked down the sidewalk.
“And let me guess. Frank doesn’t know you’ve hired him,” Sean said.
Rusty shook her head. Sean cursed beside her.
Rusty paused at the door to the sandwich store and stared hard up at Sean. She always felt smaller around him, but then the beating force of his disapproval could weigh down even the biggest person.
“No, he doesn’t. Yet,” she amended. “I have no intention of keeping it from him. Contrary to what you may think, I love Frank and Marlene. I’d never do anything to hurt them. He just came in today. He’s hungry and broke, and he has sisters to support. And don’t worry, Sean. I’m paying him out of my own money. Not that it’s much. But I figure anything will be better than nothing and it’s a safe job. At least here I can look out for him.”
Sean’s eyes softened, and for a moment he remained silent.
“Look, Sean,” Rusty said, hating how entreating she sounded. Like she needed his goddamn blessing. She sucked in a deep breath before she continued. “He’s me when I was that age. He’s where I could still be if it weren’t for Frank and Marlene and the rest of the Kellys. He needs help and I can give it to him. Just like no one until the Kellys