Shift Work Read online

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Table of Contents

  Acclaim for Christy Gissendaner

  Look for these titles from Christy Gissendaner

  Title Page

  Copyright Warning

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  About the Author

  Also by Christy Gissendaner

  More Romance from Etopia Press

  Acclaim for Christy Gissendaner

  “Christy Gissendaner always manages to write a story that is fun, sexy, and sweet.”

  —The BookChick (Shift Happens)

  “Christy Gissendaner is a pro at keeping this funny, light and entertaining!”

  —Niina's Reading and Reviewing (One Hot Knight)

  “Sizzling, smoking sex scenes”

  —Jeannie Zelos Book Reviews (One Hot Knight)

  “Sin is like chocolate-covered sex on legs!”

  —Place of Reads (A Touch of Sin)

  “The Deed is a book that will have you alternately smiling, crying, and sighing.”

  —Romance Junkies Reviews

  “A Hot Mess is a funny, sexy, page turner.”

  —Author Jackie Weger

  “Overnight Sensation by Christy Gissendaner is a wickedly delightful story about a regular gal caught between two sensational men.”

  —Romance Junkies Reviews (Overnight Sensation)

  Look for these titles from Christy Gissendaner

  Now Available

  The Tybee Island Shifters Series

  In Too Deep

  In Deeper

  The I Heart Shifters Series

  Shift Happens (Book One)

  Shift Work (Book Two)

  As Robin Danner

  Stroke of Midnight

  Straitlaced

  Shift Work

  I Heart Shifters Book Two

  Christy Gissendaner

  Etopia Press

  Copyright Warning

  EBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared, or given away. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is a crime punishable by law. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded to or downloaded from file sharing sites, or distributed in any other way via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/).

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Published By

  Etopia Press

  1643 Warwick Ave., #124

  Warwick, RI 02889

  http://www.etopiapress.com

  Shift Work

  Copyright © 2015 by Christy Gissendaner

  ISBN: 978-1-944138-33-2

  All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  First Etopia Press electronic publication: December 2015

  CHAPTER ONE

  Ty Harris parked his Harley and strode inside Hog Heaven, his pride and joy. The squat, gray building didn’t look like much, but he’d poured his heart into the biker bar. At two o’clock on a Tuesday, there were no customers, but come Friday, they’d spill into the parking lot. There’d be a brawl or two, but fights were the name of the game when a crowd of bikers got together.

  He flicked a couple switches and heard the familiar hiss of the neon lights out front blazing to life. After making sure the letters hadn’t burned out—nope, just as green as ever—he shut the door and went to make room for the Tuesday beer delivery.

  While he waited for the truck, he fired up his laptop and opened the e-mail program he’d created. Jackson Lawrence, a former Blood Wolf and good friend, had sent him a message utilizing the encryption software Ty formulated in high school. The encryption had come in handy when he’d joined the specialized military unit after graduation. Even now, no one had broken it.

  But there was always a first time.

  Ty decrypted the short message and cursed. Someone wanted the firewall he’d created. That was to be expected, since the invention would revolutionize digital security. Unfortunately, they’d made it personal when they attacked his friend.

  His wolf awakened, and a shot of irritation made his voice harsher than he intended when the buzzer sounded at his back door. “Don’t use the fire exit, Harold.”

  The delivery guy never failed to set off the alarm no matter how many times Ty showed him how to bypass it. But instead of the gruff, elderly man he expected, a statuesque brunette strode through the door.

  “You should get that fixed,” she remarked and plopped her luscious behind on an empty crate.

  Ty closed his laptop and set it aside. “We’re not open yet, Tolly.”

  “I know, hence me using the fire door. You need to call the fire department and let them know it’s a false alarm.” She smacked her gum and tapped her heels against the wooden crate.

  He narrowed his eyes at her. She did this shit on purpose, knowing he hated telephones, but he reached for the old-style rotary on his desk and dialed the number. While he waited, he covered the mouthpiece and spoke. “I should make you call. Your brother’s the fire chief after all.”

  Tolly grinned, displaying a mouthful of Big Red chewing gum, and continued tapping her heels. “Bryan hates me.”

  “Easy to see why,” Ty muttered.

  Tolly’s face fell, and guilt filled him. Before he could apologize, she burst into laughter. “Dude, your face. Priceless.”

  “What are you even doing here?” He held up a finger. “Yeah, Bryan. It’s Ty. Your sister set off the fire alarm again. Can you cancel it? Thanks, buddy.”

  After he hung up the phone, he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “Back to my question. What are you doing here?”

  She mimicked his position, mocking the tone he’d used. “Don’t you mean ‘what the hell are you doing here’?”

  “I’m feeling magnanimous.”

  She lifted an eyebrow. “Oooh, big word.”

  “You still haven’t answered the question.” He swore sometimes talking to Tolly was like pulling teeth. Although, he’d probably enjoy the dentist chair better.

  She lowered her arms and leaned forward. He tried to ignore the way her tank top clung to her large breasts. “Can I pull a couple shifts this week? Business has been slow at the travel agency this month, and Margaret can’t afford to pay me until next week.”

  “When are you going to get a real job?”

  “I have a real job.”

  He tapped out a rhythm on his desk with his right hand. “I meant a job that pays.”

  Tolly bounced off the crate and approached him. Her jeans hugged every curve of her hips. A bit plump, with an ass that put the Kardashians’ to shame.

  Even Kim’s. And that was saying something.

  With her dark hair and doe eyes, Tolly could belong on the reality star’s family tree. But instead of manicures and expensive fashion, Tolly drove a motorcycle and enjoyed fishing. That didn’t stop him from envisioning her in a sexy scrap of lace and satin…

  Shit. No! Tolly was off-limits. Besides being a pain in his ass, she was his friend and sometimes-employee. B
esides, she had no clue he was a wolf, and he planned to keep it that way.

  “Sooo,” Tolly planted her hands on the desk and bent down to his eye-level. “Greg told me Lucy dumped you.”

  He jerked his gaze from her breasts and reined in the impulse to lunge across the desk. “What are you doing talking to Greg?”

  “He called me. He’s thinking about taking a vacation.”

  Ty blinked. “Greg?”

  “Yes. Your brother. Gregory Harris. Name ring a bell?” She chuckled and swatted his arm. “Stop changing the subject. Why didn’t you tell me about Lucy?”

  Still reeling from the thought of his hermit brother going on vacation, he took a moment to answer. “Lucy doesn’t like the hours I work.”

  Tolly’s full lips tightened in a moue of disapproval. “You own a bar.”

  “Exactly.” Ty slapped his hands on the desk before throwing them over his head. “I can’t drop everything to take her to the movies every weekend.”

  “I never liked her anyway.” Tolly slid the phone aside and propped her hip on his desk. “Too much of a church slut.”

  Ty choked. “Excuse me?”

  Tolly rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean. Little Miss Holier-Than-Thou who sits in the front pew on Sundays after screwing behind a bar on Saturday night.”

  He fidgeted in his chair. “We did that once.”

  Tolly lifted an eyebrow.

  “Okay. Maybe twice.” He laughed away the embarrassment. “You weren’t supposed to see that.”

  Tolly smacked her gum. “Believe me, I wish I hadn’t. Anyhoo, I’m glad you’re rid of the Bible Thumper. That means you can go fishing with me Sunday.”

  “You want to borrow my bass boat.”

  Tolly grinned with a definite lack of repentance. “That too. I’ll bring the beer.”

  “I may not be able. An issue’s come up, and—”

  Tolly blew a raspberry. “Issues always come up with you.”

  “This is important though.”

  “So’s fishing.” She snitched a sticky note from his desk and discarded her gum in it before landing a shot into the trashcan. “Stop being a pussy.”

  “Tolstoy Frederica Hollister, language!” a new voice boomed.

  Tolly shot to her feet and gave a wave to her grandfather. “Papa Harold, didn’t see you there.”

  “Hmm.” Harold steered hand trucks through the door and deposited a case of his local brew. “S’pose it’s to be expected when you hang out with the likes of him.”

  Ty rubbed a finger over his lips to hide a grin. “Good to see you too, Harold.”

  Harold grunted and went back for another load. Ty wheeled the chair backward and walked over to the pile to count. Tolly followed with a clipboard and battered number two pencil.

  “You’re not on the clock yet,” he reminded her.

  She shrugged. “I have nothing better to do. Margaret closed the office for her weekly book club meeting.”

  “What are the old gals reading this week?”

  Tolly shuddered. “Don’t ask. They discovered the library’s collection of erotic romance.”

  “Geriatrics and bondage. Sexy.” Tolly gagged, and he continued, “Fifty Shades of Granny.”

  “Oh, yuck!” Tolly held up a hand. “Not a vision I needed in my head, thank you very much.”

  He laughed, but sobered as Harold came in the door. The aging brewer had never liked him, but he put up with him because Ty was his best customer. After counting all the boxes and seeing Harold out, Ty went up front to prepare to open.

  Tolly followed him, cinnamon scenting the air as she wiped down the counter and straightened the liquor bottles. “I should go home and change.”

  Ty eyed her. She looked fine to him. Tight jeans. Shit-kicking boots. A low-cut tank top that displayed ample cleavage.

  Nope, he wouldn’t look. “Business won’t pick up until eight. Come in then.”

  “And miss Happy Hour?” She winked at him. “I’ll see you at five.”

  He glanced at his watch. He’d have time to meet with Jackson before the regulars and Tolly arrived. The shit had hit the fan because of his invention. Damned if he’d let Jackson handle it on his own. If there’d been time, he’d go for a run in the stand of pines behind Hog Heaven, but he wasn’t sure when Jackson would arrive from Atlanta.

  He spent the next couple hours restocking the shelves and loading Harold’s brew, the local’s favorite, into the coolers. He carried the boxes into the back and flattened them to put in the recycling bin by the Dumpster. Someone called his name, and he returned to the bar.

  When he entered the swinging doors, he caught a whiff of female. His wolf awakened, but a trace of cedar and mint overlay the sweet strawberry. Whoever the woman was, she belonged to Jackson. Something else mingled in her scent. Sulfur, maybe.

  Jackson led the woman to the counter. “Hey, Ty!”

  She was beautiful, blonde and curvaceous, but he preferred brunettes. “Welcome to Hog Heaven.”

  Jackson growled. “Cool it, Ty. She’s with me.”

  Ty ignored Jackson’s warning and leaned his elbows on the counter to give her another smile. “What’s your name, pretty girl?”

  “I’m Ellie. It’s nice to meet you.”

  A blush covered her from head to toe, which solidified it in Ty’s mind. He preferred bold women. Someone like Tolly, who…shit, goddamn it. He had to stop thinking about Tolly.

  To turn his thoughts from his distracting sometimes-employee, he got busy making drinks for the newcomers after asking what they were thirsty for.

  “Did you get my e-mail?” Jackson asked.

  Ty slid Ellie’s soda across the battered counter. “I did. So the bastards want my firewall? They’re going to have a hell of a time getting it. They don’t know who they’re dealing with.”

  “They probably have a decent idea.”

  “You’re probably right. So how is pretty Ellie tied up in all of this? Please say she’s your secretary because I’ve always had a fantasy involving a naughty—”

  “Ty!” Jackson barked his name like a drill sergeant. “We don’t have time for this. The bastards shot up Ellie’s shop with us in it this morning. It wasn’t safe to leave her behind.”

  The knowledge filled Ty with fear for his friend and newfound female companion. “I’m sure safety was your primary concern and not that fact that she’s hot.”

  Ellie gawked at him while Jackson set the bottle of beer on the counter. “I’m not blind. I don’t need you pointing out her attractiveness.”

  Ellie turned her head. “You think I’m hot, too?”

  Jackson frowned. “What did you think I meant when I said you were beautiful?”

  The interaction amused Ty to no end. About time Jackson met his match. And if Ty was right, Ellie was more than human. Since he considered it rude to ask her without confirming with Jackson she knew of their wolf status, he kept silent.

  “I dunno. Maybe I thought you were just being nice.”

  Ellie could clearly hold her own. Maybe she was more like Tolly than he’d given her credit for.

  “Nice?” Ty snorted. “Jackson is many things. Nice is seldom one of them.”

  Ty straightened the liquor bottles, but when Jackson touched Ellie, Ty felt the sparks even from a distance.

  “I’ll take you home so you can get cleaned up. We’ll spend the night in town until we decide on a plan.” Jackson tossed a look at Ty. “Tell Greg to meet us here in the morning. We need to decide what to do about the situation.”

  Ellie stood and waved. “See you later, Ty.”

  “Can’t wait.” He smirked. He heard the wind and smelled rain when Ellie opened the door, and he settled in for a long night. Few bikers would come to the bar if a storm rolled in.

  Jackson lingered behind Ellie, clearly wanting her out of earshot before he said anything more. “I didn’t want to frighten her anymore than she already is, but this threat is real.”

  Ty nodded in
agreement. “I understand. I knew the firewall would cause problems eventually, but I’d hoped you wouldn’t be dragged into it. And now, to make matters worse, Ellie’s involved.”

  Jackson ran a hand over his closely shaven head and sighed. “I fucked up. I let the bad guys get too close to me, but I’m going to fix this.”

  Ty finished straightening the bottles and focused his entire attention on his friend. “You’re not in this alone. Stay safe. We’ll figure everything out tomorrow.”

  * * *

  Figured on the night she worked at Hog Heaven, no one would come in but Old Smokey. The retired railroad worker sat at a table with Ty near the mechanical bull. Ty had his biker boots propped up on the table and threw darts at the target painted on the bull’s forehead.

  “Bull’s-eye,” Old Smokey said and cackled even though he’d made the same joke at least two hundred thousand times.

  Tolly sighed and glanced at the clock. Ten. At this rate, she’d be lucky to earn enough for gas money. Thankfully, Ty always paid her in cash. She’d stop at the twenty-four hour convenience store near the interstate on her way home.

  “Tolly,” Ty called. “Grab a bottle and come sit with us. No one’s coming in tonight.”

  Abandoning her position behind the counter, she hooked her fingers around the neck of a Jim Beam bottle and made her way to the guys. Depositing the bottle on the table, she went back for three shot glasses and something to wash the liquor down.

  “Oh wee, girl,” Smokey said with a whistle. “If those shorts were any shorter, we’d see your kitty cat.”

  Tolly glanced at her favorite pair of cut-off denim shorts with the pockets showing and shrugged. “Don’t look then.”

  She glanced at Ty and caught his attention on her thighs. Her body heated as he moved his gaze down her bare legs and up again. When his eyes met hers, the dark brown irises resembled molten chocolate.

  Holy crap. Even her kitty cat, as Smokey would say, purred with pleasure.