The Rebel Read Online Free Page B

bookcases. To her left, he saw an old photograph of a young family smiling into the camera. Two parents, three children, clothes from the seventies.
    He went over for a closer look but when hepicked it up off the shelf, she snatched the frame out of his hand.
    â€œDo you mind?”
    They were standing close and he became curiously aware of her. In spite of the bangs and the Poindexter glasses, the baggy clothes and the bags under her eyes, his body started to heat up. Her eyes widened and he wondered if she felt it, too—the odd current that seemed to run between them.
    â€œYou looking for someone in your kitchen?” he asked abruptly.
    â€œI don’t know,” she said, clipping the words short.
    â€œYou sure needed someone tonight. You’d have been up the creek if I hadn’t walked through your door.”
    â€œHow about this, I don’t know if I need you. ” She put the photograph back, laying it face down on the shelf.
    â€œYou think I’m not qualified?” He smiled when she remained silent, figuring she probably hated the fact that he’d saved her. “Tell me, just how did I fail to impress you tonight?”
    â€œYou did fine but that doesn’t mean I’m going to hire you.”
    He shook his head. “Fine? Man, you have a hard time with compliments, don’t you?”
    â€œI don’t waste energy playing spit and polish with egos. Especially healthy ones.”
    â€œSo you prefer being around the depressed?” he retorted mildly.
    â€œWhat’s that supposed to mean?”
    Nate shrugged. “Your staff’s so beaten down it’s a wonder they can put one foot in front of the other. That poor girl was ready to work herself to death tonight just for a kind word and George soaked up a little praise like he hadn’t heard any in a month.”
    â€œWho made you an expert on those two?” Her hands were on her hips now as she looked up at him.
    â€œIt’s just obvious, lady. If you took your blinders off once in a while you might see what you’re doing to them.”
    â€œWhat I’m doing to them? I’ll tell you what I’m doing to them.” She jabbed a finger at him. “I’m keeping a roof over Joy’s head and George out of a group home. So you can back off with the judgments.”
    As she glared at him, he wondered why he was arguing with her. The last thing the woman needed was another battle. Besides, why did he care?
    â€œLook, ah—why don’t we start over,” he said. “Can we call a truce here?”
    He stuck his hand out, aware that he’d just decided to take a job he wasn’t being offered. But hell, he needed to spend the summer somewhere and she clearly needed the help. And White Caps was as good as any other place, even if it was sinking. At least he could have some fun and try out some new thingshe’d been thinking of without the food critics chomping at him.
    When she just stared at him, he prompted her by looking down at his hand.
    She tucked her arms into her body. “I think you better go.”
    â€œAre you always this unreasonable?”
    â€œGood night.”
    He dropped his hand. “Let me get this straight. You have no cook. You’re looking at one who’s willing to work. But you’d rather shoot yourself in the foot just because you don’t like me?” When she kept looking at him, buttoned up tight, he shook his head. “Damn, woman. You ever think this place might be going under because of you?”
    The strained silence that followed was the calm before the storm. He knew it because she started to shake and he had a vague thought that he should duck.
    But what came at him wasn’t angry words or a slap or a right hook.
    She started to cry. From behind the lenses, he saw tears well and then fall.
    â€œOh, God,” he pushed a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean—”
    â€œYou don’t