Daddy's Sweet Girl (Montana Daddies 3)

“What?” Gloria snapped down the phone.

“Um, Gloria, it’s Abby.”

“Abby, bunch of rumors being spread around about you. Think you better come in early so you can put them to rest. Also, Rachel needs to leave soon so you can cover her shift. So, see you at one.”

Her shift didn’t start until three. Suddenly, she didn’t feel so bad about calling in to take the day off. Gloria had no problems with making her start early or work late or work thirteen days in a row.

“Actually, I’m not coming in today.”

“What do you mean you’re not coming in today?” Gloria screeched. “You can’t just call in and tell me you’re not coming in!”

“You’ve heard about what happened to my house—”

“So what? So, you got a few broken things? I got a business to run! I can’t run it if my fucking staff are all fucking unreliable little bitches—”

Kent plucked the phone from her hand. His lips were set in a firm line, anger had tightened his body.

“Abby will not be in today and you will refrain from calling her such names in the future, understand?”

There was silence on the other end. No doubt, Gloria was in a state of complete shock. Abby couldn’t feel sorry for her. How dare she call her unreliable? She never took a day off, she was always there early. She worked damn hard and this was the thanks she got? If she had any other prospects for work, she’d tell Gloria where to shove it.

“Well, when will she be in?” she heard Gloria say.

“When I can be assured of her safety, and only after you give her an apology for the way you just talked to her.”

Abby gaped up at him. What was he doing? While she might dream about telling Gloria she was quitting, she actually needed this job.

“An apology?” Gloria let out a cackling laugh. “She’s not getting a fucking apology from me. Tell her she’s fired. I might consider changing my mind if she comes begging, but it’ll be for less pay and worse conditions.”

Oh shit. Crap.

“That will happen when hell freezes over. Good day. Oh, and don’t expect anyone from Sanctuary Ranch to use your diner again.”

He switched off the phone on Gloria’s screeching.

“Oh God, Kent, what have you done?”

Chapter Twenty-One

Kent was furious.

Otherwise, he might have found the way Abby paced up and down the room, unmindful to the fact that she was half-naked really quite cute. She’d kicked off her pants and panties so she could move more freely.

But he was too angry. He couldn’t believe the way Gloria had spoken to Abby. Far as he was concerned Gloria should have been thanking her lucky stars to have an employee as hard working as Abby.

His girl was far too good for that place.

“Kent!” Abby wailed.

He glanced up, saw the very real panic on her face. Right. Her job. Money. Her house. Shit. No wonder she was in a state. Her whole world had collapsed around her.

“Abby, come here,” he said in a low voice.

She shook her head, tugging frantically at her hair.

“Little girl. Get over here. Now. You do not want me coming to get you.”

“I can’t lose my job,” she cried as she walked towards him.