A Bargain with the Boss by Barbara Dunlop

be able to use Margaret as a reference.
    She hoped Tuck wouldn’t be vindictive and spread word around the company that she was fired. But she really had no idea how he’d handle it. He was pretty angry right now.
    There was a sudden knock on the front door.
    â€œExpecting someone?” asked Jade.
    â€œNot me. You?”
    â€œNobody knows I’m here.”
    Amber went for the door, suspecting it was a neighbor, maybe Sally Duncan from next door. She was on the town-house council and loved to complain. Perhaps old Mr. Purvis was barbecuing on his patio again.
    Amber had voted to repeal the prohibition on barbecues at the last council meeting. Sure, the smoke was annoying. But who in their right mind would ban hot dogs and hamburgers?
    She swung open the door, startled to find Tuck standing on her porch. He was frowning, eyes narrowed. Worry immediately clenched her stomach.
    â€œWhat do you want?” she asked him.
    â€œTo talk.”
    â€œI have nothing else to say.”
    â€œAfter you left, Jackson pointed out the error of my ways.”
    She didn’t want to hope. But she couldn’t help herself. Was Tuck offering her job back?
    â€œI came here to give you another chance,” he said.
    She waited.
    â€œYou being gone helps neither of us,” he said.
    She had to agree with that. But she doubted he cared about helping her.
    â€œAnother chance to what?” she prompted.
    â€œWhat can you tell me about Dixon?”
    â€œI’ve told you everything—”
    â€œWell, hello there.” Jade arrived, breaking in with a breezy tone. “Are you one of Amber’s neighbors?”
    Tuck’s brow shot up as he took in the pregnant Jade.
    â€œHe’s my boss,” said Amber, instantly realizing it was no longer true. But before she could correct the statement, Jade was talking again.
    â€œReally? Very nice to meet you. I’m Amber’s sister, Jade.” Jade stuck out her hand.
    â€œJade, this really isn’t a good time.”
    â€œTuck Tucker,” said Tuck as he shook Jade’s hand.
    â€œAre you hungry?” asked Jade.
    â€œNo, he’s not,” Amber quickly responded.
    â€œI need to borrow your sister for a few minutes,” Tuck said to Jade.
    â€œDoes she need to go back to work?” asked Jade.
    â€œNo,” Tuck and Amber answered simultaneously.
    â€œI just need to speak with her,” said Tuck.
    â€œOh,” said Jade, glancing between them, obviously picking up on their discomfort. “Then, I’ll leave you two alone.”
    As Jade withdrew, Amber moved onto the porch, pulling the door closed behind her. It was cold outside, but she wanted to get this over with.
    â€œThe job market’s very tight out there,” said Tuck.
    â€œAre you trying to frighten me?”
    â€œI’m asking you to be realistic. I need to talk to my brother.”
    â€œI promised him I wouldn’t tell a soul. That included his family.”
    â€œSo you admit you know where he is.”
    â€œI don’t know with any certainty where he is.”
    â€œWhy are you talking in riddles?”
    She reached behind herself for the doorknob. “I’ve told you what I can.”
    â€œI can’t imagine Dixon wants you to be fired.”
    â€œI can’t imagine he does, either.”
    Dixon had always given her top-notch performance evaluations. He’d praised her work, often saying he didn’t know how he’d live without her. She liked to think he wouldn’t want her fired.
    â€œDon’t make me do it,” said Tuck.
    â€œI’m not making you do anything.”
    â€œIgnoring an order is gross insubordination.”
    â€œBetraying a confidence is worse.”
    He leaned in. “Circumstances have changed since you made that promise.”
    She knew they had. But she also knew Dixon’s doctor had told him to get away from the pressures of Tucker