Can't Stop the Feeling (Whispering Bay Romance 6)

“No! I mean, there’s no need for that. Obviously, I was mistaken. The important thing is that Rachel is all right.” The smile she gave Zeke made Ben want to vomit. She’d tried that move a couple of times on him when he’d first hired her, but he’d ignored it and she’d eventually given up.

Enough of this bullshit.

“Go upstairs and pack your things,” Ben said. “I’ll call you a cab to the airport and have Gavin make arrangements to get you on a flight back to Miami tonight.”

“But—”

“You have until the cab shows up to get the hell out of this house. After that I can’t be responsible for what I might do to you.”

“Are you kidding?” She looked to Zeke for help. “He can’t do that!”

“You heard the man,” Zeke said. “The fact that he’s offered to call you a cab and is getting you a ticket home seems mighty generous to me. You’re lucky I don’t press charges for attempting to file a false police report.”

“But…but I have a contract!” she screamed at Ben. Then as if she’d just remembered something, she narrowed her eyes at him triumphantly. “You can’t just fire me like this. There’s a clause that states I get three months’ pay if you decide you no longer need my services. So I want my money right now.”

“You’re right, it’s below the clause that says if I catch you in any deceptive behavior I can kick your sorry lying ass out the door. Page three, paragraph five. I’m a lawyer, remember?”

Greta’s face went pale. “Fine. The truth is I was going to quit anyway. This job is nothing like I expected.”

“Sorry to disappoint you,” Ben said.

His sarcasm was obviously lost on her. “I mean, having to take care of that little brat is one thing, but this town! There’s not a decent spa within twenty miles of the place. And you,” she spat, “you’re the biggest disappointment of all. You’re the most boring single dad I’ve ever worked for. I thought if that didn’t work out I’d at least get to meet Tiffany McAdams, but obviously all those tabloid stories about the two of you are just a publicity stunt.” She looked at him like she was trying to figure something out. “Hey. Are you, like…gay or something?”

Zeke choked back a laugh. “I guess boring means you didn’t hit on her, huh?” he asked Ben.

Ben shrugged. “I guess so.”

* * *

Luckily, the cab came fast. Greta was packed and out the door in under fifteen minutes. She didn’t bother asking if she could say goodbye to Rachel, which was just as well because Ben wasn’t about to let her within ten feet of his niece. Zeke waited around till Greta was gone.

“Thank you for everything.” Ben handed Zeke his business card. “If you ever need a lawyer, I’m your man.”

“No problem.” He nodded toward the back of the house. “But it’s Jenna you should be thanking. And I’m going to have to follow up on this, you know.”

“I don’t expect anything less.”

The two men shook hands, then Zeke left. Ben dialed his assistant. As usual, Gavin was on top of things. “I got your text, sir, and Greta’s flight is already booked, but I just don’t understand. Her recommendations were excellent.”

“Not your fault,” Ben said.

“I can have another nanny out there first thing in the morning.”

And risk another potential Greta? No thanks. “That won’t be necessary.”

“But who’ll take care of your niece?”

“My mother and I will work something out.”

“I feel that somehow I’ve failed you, sir. If only I’d thought to triple check everything. I have no idea how I can make this up to you but—”

“I don’t have time for this right now.”

“Oh, yes, so sorry,” Gavin stuttered. “Um, is there anything else you require?”

Ben asked him to email over a few files, then hung up.

Compared to the tension of the last hour, the big house now seemed overly quiet. The sound of soft laughter and little girl giggling drifted over the silence.