Xander's Chance

He took her mug of coffee but remained in her space.

"You've got a nice ass," Xander said. "Real women have something back there to grab."

"You're like a junior high jock trapped in a Redwood tree," she replied and planted her hands in the middle of his chest to push him away. He didn't move.

"It was a compliment. It's clear Toni makes you uncomfortable about yourself."

"Telling me I have a nice ass is supposed to make me feel better?"

"I'll do better. I'll show you. You want Monday? I'll move Toni to Tuesday," he said, a glow in his gaze.

"Hell no!"

Xander turned his head to the side. "Gerry, off limits."

"Got it," Gerry replied promptly from somewhere behind Xander.

Satisfied, Xander winked. His eerie red eyes swept over her again before he slid away, out of the kitchen.

"This is the worst job ever," she muttered.

"Wow. He is an asshole," Gerry said.

"I told you!" Jessi poured herself more coffee, eyes going to the blank iPad calendar.

"You're not going to last."

"I'm ready to quit already."

Gerry gazed at her sympathetically. She sighed.

"Tell you what. I'll give you my cell number. When you feel like venting, call," Gerry said and picked up her cell. "Oh, and tell Xander I'm not hitting on you."

"You're afraid of him?" she asked in agitation.

"You've got balls. I wouldn't throw down the gauntlet with him," Gerry said with gravity.

"I want him to back off. I'm here for a week then gone." Hopefully not dead.

"You don't seem to fit this line of work. Why take this job?"

Jessi sighed, uncertain how to answer. Her thoughts went to her cousins. She was doing her damndest not to think about what happened if she failed. Pretending this was a normal job was draining.

She went to the railing again to watch Toni throw herself all over Xander under the guise of conducting an interview.

"I didn't really have a choice," Jessi said when Gerry joined her. "Anyway, thanks for the offer to talk. I'll probably be texting you this week."

"Anytime."

"They're perfect for each other," Jessi said, glimpsing Toni posing provocatively for Xander while Laurencio snapped pics.

"Ger, we're going to do some photos on the beach. I need my other shoes," Toni called.

"Fetch, Ger," Jessi whispered to him. She added a snap of her fingers that pulled a quiet laugh from him.

"Come on, we'll talk more," he said and waved for her to follow as he went to the stairs. She trotted down the steps behind him. Gerry stopped to grab a satchel that was by the door then took it to Toni.