Southern Spice (Southern Desires Series Book 1) by Jeannette Winters Page A

come into my home, invite people without even asking my permission, and you think I’m arrogant?”
    The look on his face was begging her to challenge his comment, but she didn’t. How could she when he was right? But she wasn’t fighting for herself right now. “Agreed, but at least I’m not an insensitive ass. There are people in this town who have lost everything, and you sit here like you don’t even care. Can’t you look past yourself and see that not everyone has it easy like you do?”
    His nostrils flared, and his hands now were clenched into tight fists by his side. His jaw was locked, and she was sure if she had been a man, he would’ve knocked her onto her butt. Her words were sharp and were meant to be. Someone had to wake him up to reality. Life was not all about him. He had all this money and should be using it to help others.
    “Let it go, Derrick. She’s only trying to do her job,” McLean said firmly.
    She had totally forgotten he was still in the house. Looking over her shoulder, she saw McLean no longer looked as relaxed as he had before. He stood as though ready to defend her. Had she gone too far? Derrick didn’t appear to be so sensitive that he couldn’t take some criticism. Maybe she was wrong.
    “McLean, don’t forget who signs your paycheck,” Derrick warned. There was no hint of joking when he spoke. Then he walked up and bent close to whisper into her ear. “If you want to see how much of an ass I can be, keep messing with my life—you might just find out.”
    Her heart was pounding from his nearness, and she swallowed any possible response, not trusting her voice.
    When he stood upright again, he looked in her eyes. Whatever he saw caused his cold eyes to soften slightly. Then as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, and he brushed past her and went into what looked like an office on the far right. Standing alone again with McLean, she turned red-faced to see him shaking his head.
    “Don’t let him scare you, Miss Casey, he’s not as bad as he wants you to believe. If you saw the man he was before, you would understand.”
    Before what?
    It really didn’t matter. She was only going to be there for another five days and then she would be off to another assignment. “McLean, I’m here for only one thing and trying to understand that man is not it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get ready for whoever Sissie is able to rustle up on such short notice. I want to be ready to answer whatever questions they still have after yesterday’s meeting.”
    There wasn’t anything more she could do without her computer and printer. If she had them it would not only make things easier but also save a lot of time. She couldn’t waste time looking at the negative side of things. Thankfully she’d been able to practically memorize the forms by heart. All she needed to do was pull herself together. McLean might think his boss is not all that scary but what she had seen in his eyes had shaken her to the core. She had no idea what had possessed her to speak to him in such a manner. It was like she lost all common sense when he was near her. What the heck is wrong with me?
    Her emotions were all over the place these last few days, and she needed to get them under control.
    She went to the washroom and splashed cold water on her face. If her suspicions were correct, Sissie was going to be the first to arrive. Casey wished the cold water could wash away the frustrations from her day. If only it was that easy.

Chapter Five

    C asey knew her job inside and out. People asked questions, and she no longer needed to search for the correct response. There was pride in being able to give someone the right answer instead of leaving them to fend for themselves. JT said to direct them to the website where all the information was laid out for them. But Casey had never found it to be as user-friendly as it could be. And she never understood the concept of directing them to a computer when most of the