Melting Point Read online

  Melting Point

  By Nicolette Pierce

  Published by Nicolette Pierce at Smashwords

  Melting Point is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2016 by Nicolette Pierce

  Cover design by Lan Gao

  All rights reserved.

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Dedication

  To my readers,

  Thank you for following me on another adventure.

  Acknowledgements

  To my friends at the Moraine Writers Guild who gave me great feedback on Melting Point, thank you! A special thank you to Lisa Lickel who helped with Russian wordage and grammar.

  Thank you to Lan Gao for a sizzling new book cover.

  To Amber Barry, I truly appreciate your hard work editing this book and giving valuable feedback.

  For my beta reader, Debbie McKinney, thank you for your time and insight.

  And finally, a thank you to Judy Hanson for being the first to look at my work and making sure it was fit for reader eyes.

  Books by Nicolette Pierce

  Mars Cannon Novels

  Deadly Dancing

  Predator Patrol

  Security Squad

  Biker Brigade

  Nadia Wolf Novels

  The Big Blind

  High Stakes

  Cashing Out

  Squeeze Play

  Nadia Wolf Character Novels

  The Last Tailored Suit

  My Traitor

  Metal Girls

  Melting Point

  Critical Point (January 2017)

  Please visit Nicolette on her website at:

  www.nicolettepierce.com

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 1

  Morgan tore into her office at Brennan Metal Works, flying past the front desk as the receptionist waved at her, attempting to flag her down. She ignored Charlene and headed straight to her father’s old filing cabinet.

  Morgan worked her fingers madly to locate a file that would shed some light. By the time she slammed the last drawer closed, the only thing she’d gained was a paper cut and a twisted stomach.

  Nothing.

  There was nothing there. She knew there wouldn’t be. Dad never kept a paper trail when he knew it could mean recrimination. If the authorities ever found out . . .

  Now, she only had her word.

  A fat lot of good that would do.

  There had to be a solution. There had to be! The repercussions were too horrible to think about. At the top of the list, followed closely by the closing of the family business and the disappointment of her grandfather, would be serious jail time for her and possibly the rest of the family.

  No.

  It would be just her. She’d make sure no one else would suffer for her father’s work that she alone carried on after his death.

  “Morgan?” Her grandfather, Walter, knocked on her open door. “When did you get back? I thought you’d be gone for a day or two more.”

  “There’s been a change.” Morgan peered over Walter’s shoulder at a man she’d never met before. He was startlingly handsome, which was the only reason she noticed him. He, like all men, were a waste of her time and energy . . . especially now.

  The stranger was dressed in a tailored black suit. His dark hair was cut like his suit—perfectly. Mocha-brown eyes studied her from under thick black lashes that highlighted his light skin.

  The clash of dark and light was mesmerizing.

  “Is something wrong?” Walter asked.

  Morgan shook her head, refocusing on her grandfather. He had just reached his eighty-fifth birthday last month. She didn’t want to worry him over matters he couldn’t control. While his mind was a sharp as ever, his body was fading into a frail thinness.

  It scared her.

  “Nothing’s wrong, Grandpa. I just have a lot on my plate.”

  “Excellent,” Walter said with a knowing smile.

  Morgan eyed him. “You normally scold me for working too hard, especially when I leave for Vegas.”

  “I do,” he agreed, turning to the stranger. “She’ll work herself into the grave if she doesn’t ease up.” With a sparkle in his faded blue eyes, he swept back to Morgan. “Which is why I hired Liam Hayes. He’s the new manager.”

  “I’m the manager,” Morgan stated.

  “You’ll have to be co-managers for a while.”

  “A while? Why? What’s going on?” She crossed over to inspect Walter’s eyes. “What aren’t you telling me? How do you feel?”

  He waved off her concerns. “You’ll need a manager once you’ve taken ownership of the business.”

  Morgan clapped her hand over Walter’s forehead. “Are you sick? Is there something you’re trying to tell me?”

  “I’m going to die,” he answered. She could feel a petrified expression form on her face, and he immediately chuckled. “Someday. But not today. You’ll need a good support team when I’m gone. I’d like to retire one of these years.”

  “I don’t need support,” she said, finding her voice after the lump in her throat gave way to annoyance. Her eyes met Liam’s for a moment before she pulled Walter inside the office and snapped the door closed.

  “That was rude,” Walter said.

  “He’s not working here!”

  “I hired him, so he is.”

  Morgan didn’t want to explain why she didn’t want to bring on another employee. They really did need the help, but hiring a manager would be a mistake. He’d want all the account and business information. There were some things that were better kept secret.

  “I won’t work with him,” she said, knowing she sounded like a petulant child, but she couldn’t explain truthfully either.

  “Give me one good reason.” He leveled her with a parental stare and stiff upper lip. His combed-back white hair added to his authoritative look.

  She couldn’t think of one that she could say out loud. And all of the other reasons would be lies that Walter would see through. There was plenty of work and money to hire Liam.

  “Can we change his job title?” she ask
ed. “There can’t be two managers.”

  “Is that what you’re upset about?” he asked. “Are you afraid he’ll try to take over?”

  Possibly. But she doubted anyone could take over while she was in charge.

  Before she could stop the intrusion, Liam opened the door and walked in. “Sorry to barge in, but I can hear your conversation from the hall.”

  “You’ll have to excuse Morgan,” Walter said. “She’s been the queen of the hen house these last few years. A new cock in town has her feathers standing on end.”

  Morgan’s mouth hung open, horrified at her grandfather’s choice of words. He must have been spending time in the shop again. It was the only explanation.

  Liam smirked. “Perhaps she hasn’t let the right cock into her hen house yet.”

  If she could have dropped her jaw any lower, it’d be dragging on the floor. That comment alone would have the boys in the shop on Liam’s side instantly. They loved a quick tongue, especially if the jab was directed at her.

  The “boys” loved to tease. No one was spared. Morgan gave it right back twofold. But this guy could turn the tables. What was once fun ribbing could turn into a power struggle. Just looking at him had her itching to spar. The fact that Liam was handsome only added to that itch. It irritated her.

  But Morgan knew that was his shell. She could tell by the way he held himself so tall and straight that he was guarded. Instinctively she knew this tall, dark, handsome frame held a secret. She supposed she should be afraid. Men with secrets were not to be trusted. But it gave her hope, because men with secrets could be controlled.

  She smirked back at him, happy to notice a spark of surprise before his features slid back into place. “The hen house was quite content without a strutting cock.”

  “Only content?” he drawled. “What a shame.”

  As their eyes locked, he baited her. What was it about this man? He was so perfectly put together yet guarded. He didn’t seem the type to verbally spar. And yet, it was almost instinctive the way his barbed words targeted her.

  Before she could respond, her grandfather cleared his throat. “Before you two start a pissing match, let’s get down to the particulars.” Walter turned to Liam. “I pity you, son. A ballbuster, this one. I wouldn’t blame you if you ran out of here by the end of the day.”

  “It’s two o’clock,” Liam said. “I think I can manage a couple of hours.”

  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “You should probably leave now,” Morgan said, holding the door wide open.

  The louse only smiled and sat down in a chair, gesturing for Walter to take a seat as well, which he did. They both looked expectantly at Morgan to do the same.

  Just who in the hell did he think he was offering Walter a seat as if he owned the place?

  Grudgingly, she let the door swing closed and took her post behind the desk, a barrier to protect the two men staring smugly at her. Within a short time, Walter and Liam had somehow bonded. That did not bode well for her.

  “Looks like I’m outnumbered on this, so let’s begin.”

  “Excellent,” Walter said. “I knew you’d be reasonable.”

  She felt anything but reasonable. “Since this was your idea, you might as well start.”

  “It’s quite simple, really. You’re overwhelmed with day-to-day operations. Let Liam take over some of those duties.”

  Morgan turned her gaze to Liam, who looked as if he was categorizing her features. His stare was so intense, she blinked.

  “What is your area of expertise?” she asked.

  “Everything.”

  His answer didn’t shock her.

  “No one is good at everything.”

  He leaned slightly in. “I am.”

  Morgan’s lips curved. Oh, this was going to be interesting. If the puffed-up man thought he was good at everything, she’d have fun proving him wrong. If she had to work with him, at least there’d be some amusement too.

  “I’ll leave you two to sort out the particulars,” Walter said, standing to leave.

  “Before you go,” Morgan started, not taking her eyes off Liam, who stared back at her with challenge written across his face, “Where will he work?”

  “In here, of course. You know we don’t have an extra room.”

  “I’m sure we could find him a corner somewhere in the main office.”

  “He’ll have to work closely with you for the first month or two.”

  “I don’t think that’s necessary,” Morgan retorted. “According to Mr. Hayes, he’s good at everything.”

  “Be that as it may, he’ll work in here. I’ll have another desk installed right away.”

  Morgan watched as Walter bustled out of the office, calling in his loudest voice for Papa Bear.

  “Papa Bear?” Liam questioned.

  Morgan ignored his question. “Why do you want this job?”

  “I have my reasons and explained them all to Walter.”

  “I won’t be easy to work with.”

  “Neither will I.”

  Morgan sat back. “Will it be worth it?”

  “I never do anything unless it is.”

  “Fine,” she muttered. He wouldn’t be her first choice . . . or any choice, but she did need help. She’d just limit what he helped with. Liam could have sales, while she maintained the work floor and her pile of problems that’d take an eon to sort out—if sorting them was even possible.

  “I’ll give you sales for now,” she said. “The work has been a bit slow these last two weeks. The boys get into mischief if they don’t have work orders to keep them busy.”

  “What else? You said ‘for now.’”

  “I’ll give you the accounting later.”

  “Why not now?”

  “The truth?”

  “I expect no less.”

  “I don’t trust you. You can have accounting when I do.”

  “I suspect that’ll be never,” Liam said, his gaze cool. “I could just ask Walter.”

  “Be my guest,” she said with a sweep of her arm, gesturing to the door.

  His eyes narrowed for a moment. She could feel his assessment as his gaze pierced her.

  Why would Walter choose him? Hadn’t he bothered to interview other candidates?

  Thank goodness she’d come back today. The man would have taken over entirely had she stayed the three days she was supposed to. But she couldn’t think about that now, not when Liam was across the desk.

  He didn’t run to Walter. Instead, he just sat there with a sort of elegant strength that put her on edge. He and his fancy suit had no business being here. This was a metal shop, not a Wall Street corner office.

  The door burst open, jarring Morgan from her thoughts.

  “Grandpa said you were back,” Piper said. “I didn’t believe him. You’re normally gone for days. Did something happen?”

  “Everything is fine, Piper.”

  The younger woman stopped short, noticing Liam for the first time. She blushed.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said, turning to leave only to run into Papa Bear, who filled the doorframe with his tall, wide-shouldered stature.

  “Walter said you needed a desk in here,” Papa Bear said, his voice deep and gravelly.

  “She already has a desk,” Piper said.

  “It’s for Liam,” Morgan said, gesturing to the newcomer. “Grandpa hired him as a manager.”

  “But you’re the manager,” Piper said, confused.

  “Now there will be two of us,” Morgan replied, stomping down her frustration. “Liam, this is Piper and Papa Bear. He is the floor supervisor.”

  Liam stood to shake Piper’s hand first. “A pleasure,” he said before turning to Papa Bear. “I’m glad to meet you. Should I call you Papa Bear too?”

  Papa Bear smiled, showing slightly crooked teeth behind his wooly beard. “Everyone does.”

  “How did you get the name?”

  Papa Bear shrugge
d. “Don’t quite know. I’ve worked here for thirty years. At some point the nickname stuck.”

  “Thirty years? That’s a long time.” His eyes flicked over to Morgan. “Especially here.”

  Papa Bear coughed. “You’ll find the way of things pleasant enough. There’s not one person working that hasn’t been here for ten years or more.”

  Liam smiled. “That’s good to hear. It’ll be nice to work with you and your crew.”

  “You won’t be,” Morgan said. “The shop is mine.”

  Liam’s eyes cut to her, challenge set in his jaw.

  Piper stepped in front of Liam, shooting Morgan a look that said, “Behave.”

  Oh, what was the use? No one would understand why she didn’t want Liam around, beyond his unnerving stance. Only Papa Bear had the smallest hint of where she went for days at a time. But even he didn’t know the latest development.

  And that was how it was going to stay. Her staff meant too much to her to jeopardize them in any way. They were her family.

  “Have you had a tour yet?” Piper asked Liam.

  “Not yet,” he answered with a charming smile that Morgan was sure Piper felt all the way to her toes. “Would you care to give me one?”

  “Of course.” She led the way out of the office. “I’ll have him back in ten minutes,” she called.

  “Don’t hurry on my account,” Morgan responded dryly.

  Papa Bear scratched his beard. When they were out of sight, he asked, “How did this happen?”