A Shot in the Dark

Paige stood in the doorway of the kitchen and knew her mouth was hanging open. There wasn't anything about sex that could startle her. She'd been around the block and back more than once. So it was odd that catching two of her employees fucking on the island in the kitchen threw her completely off-guard.

Granted, it had been an awfully long time since she'd seen any action herself. Her tastes tended to run a bit darker than the vanilla--although public--sex she was witnessing. Mitch and Beth still hadn't been alerted to her presence, which was understandable given they were groaning and moaning loud enough to wake the dead. Mitch hadn't fully removed his pants, and Paige only caught the occasional glimpse of his white ass as he thrust into Beth.

Paige disengaged from the scene unfolding in front of her. It was missing the spark she craved--all surface and no substance. Like watching a porn movie with the sound turned off.

Knowing she couldn't let this go on much longer, yet hating to ruin their fun before she had to ruin their lives, Paige stepped back out of the kitchen and leaned up against the counter. It gave her a moment to get her head straight and her temper under control. Things would only be worse if she lost it and started yelling at the pair.

God, she hated playing everyone's mom all the time. Every situation had her being the heavy, and damn she was getting tired of it.

Ian was forever picking fights with her, pushing her on every decision she made in regard to the business. She loved her brother and would be forever grateful to the little shit for encouraging them to start the store, but he wasn't the one with the business degree. He always questioned why she'd want to do things a particular way. Sure, occasionally he was right. He had solid instincts when it came to what his customers wanted. Ian was also a jerk half the time.

At least Sadie wasn't giving her any trouble. After their mom's death and the mess with their dad, Paige had worried about her sister. Not that Paige didn't still keep an eye on her, but Sadie was now happily settled in a relationship.

A moan from the kitchen was followed by a high-pitched squeak--and wasn't that an embarrassing sex noise--and finally the soft muttering of voices and laughter. Closing her eyes, Paige tried to slip into that place in her mind that gave her strength. It was getting harder and harder to find her center these days, almost to the point where she didn't think she'd be able to get there at all anymore.

Not without help.

Which she would never ask for again.

The sound of approaching footsteps had Paige straighten up and flick her long ponytail over her shoulder. She knew the image she'd be projecting. Ian would have called it her schoolteacher-from-hell glare, and it was something she'd learned to do at a young age. People didn't bully you if they were scared to death.

When Mitch and Beth finally spilled out of the kitchen, their clothing mostly where it should be, they didn't see her immediately. She waited, perversely enjoying the way Beth tensed and Mitch frowned before they both turned to her.

"Shit," Mitch muttered.

"I hope you didn't do that in the kitchen." Paige braced her hands on her hips. "Because it would get us shut down for at least a few days with the cleanup."

Beth sputtered for a moment before stepping between Paige and Mitch. "Paige, oh my God, we're sorry. It was a onetime thing and I...