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One

What an asshole!” Dana Anders huffed in exasperation to her boss and best friend, Zoe Jackson The fact that she was referring to Zoe’s brother-in-law, Asher, didn’t concern her in the least If there was one rule in this world, it was that you always had your friend’s back, even when it got tricky “Since when is it acceptable to ask a woman if she shops in the teen plus-size section? He certainly kno to ht and ht”

“I swear, I don’t knohy he acts like that towards you” Zoe grimaced as they both watched Ash walk out of Zoe’s Place Dana had been the er of the popular hotel coffee shop for several years now, and it was the best job that she’d ever had She loved h the luxury Oceanix-Pensacola Resort as well as chatting with the regulars who came in daily She was a people person, so the work suited her perfectly At least it had until the moment when Asher decided to relocate from the Oceanix-Charleston to their Florida location Dana nor with everyone—she had really never met anyone who didn’t like her, so at first the anian to piss her off What had she ever done to the man to deserve his scorn? It was as if he’d decided within an instant ofher acquaintance that he didn’t like her, and his attitude toward her had only gotten worse But the h she gave as good as she received where he was concerned, she could admit, just to herself, that she ildly attracted to the jerk A hu fact she prayed he never discovered

“Because he’s co a turd,” she snapped “I know the ree with me on this one He’s never had one civilized word to say to me What is his probleback to Ash was that his behavior was hurting her Well, that and the fact that she drea her on the counter of the coffee shop She suspected her boss would not approve of that particular fantasy either, although she was certain that Zoe and her husband, Dylan, had probably succu of Dylan, he was another Jackson brother hoh in their case, the verbal sparring wasvariety she participated in with his brother

Dylan had thought that Dana was a bad influence on Zoe when Dylan and Zoe had finally started to date after years of platonic friendship In the end, though, Dylan hadhe had h thethey both enjoyed

Zoe laid a hand on Dana’s shoulder and squeezed it in commiseration “I honestly don’t know,” she admitted “I’ve asked Dylan about it more than once and he says that it’s really out of character for Ash He’s nor where the opposite sex is concerned, so we’re both rather puzzled over it Maybe I should talk to hiorously shook her head

“No way I won’t let hiine how ive a bully that kind of power”

Zoe picked up the latte that Dana hadto do then?” She gave her a look full of sy your feelings I’ve wanted to beat the crap out of hi that stuff to me”

Stiffening her spine, Dana brushed a hand down her black apron and tossed her head defiantly “It’s about ti fire with fire If he can come into my place of business and insult me every day, then maybe I need to level the same treatment at him”

Zoe gave her a skeptical look before asking, “What exactly does that mean? You two already bicker when he’s here It’s not as if you’re just standing around taking it from him”

“True,” Dana agreed, nodding, “but he gets the last word in because he is free to walk out the door whenever he wants Since I’m always in the middle of my shift, I can’t exactly follow behind him”

“You could signal ested helpfully Dana thought to herself—not for the first time—that she’d hit the lottery in the boss department Not many business owners would volunteer to cover for their employee so she could follow a custoue to the other person Zoe rocked, as a friend and as a boss

Giving her first real smile of the day, Dana shook her head “That’s not necessary, but I absolutely love you for offering No, what I had in ive him a taste of his own medicine He orders lunch and coffee from here almost daily So from now on, I think I’ll irls take care of it”

Dana saw the exact htbulb went on above Zoe’s head Her friend’s lips twitched before a loud giggle escaped “That’s rather brilliant, I have to ad the battle to his doorstep Crap, I’d love to be around to see that the first ti it”