Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
We reached the end of the hallway and headed down yet another set of stairs. Justin glanced back at me as he reached a landing. “So you don’t work in one of those chains that operate out of strip malls?”
“Not anymore.”
“You used to? Why’d you leave?”
“Lots of reasons. They cut my pay. Cut my hours.” And acted like I was complete scum, though I didn’t say that part. “It’s kind of hard to explain.”
“Sounds like they were mistreating you.”
I thought about that as we trudged downstairs. I didn’t want these guys to think I was going to complain all week, but still, I couldn’t help agreeing. “Yeah, that’s the bottom line.”
“We know a bit more about that than you might think.”
Before I could ask him what he meant by that, he led me into a huge dining room. Seriously, my entire apartment could’ve fit in one-half of it. The table itself looked like it could comfortably seat two dozen people. The chairs on either end were so far apart that people sitting there would probably have to text if they wanted to communicate.
Instantly, I felt underdressed. This room was set up for a royal family to dine in. Who wore capri pants in a room like this? Of course, Justin looked like he was heading out to play basketball, but that was different. He belonged here in this magnificent house. I was just the help.
Justin scowled as he stared at the table, though I wasn’t sure why. Then there was movement at the far side of the room.
A tousled head of hair appeared. “We’re eating outside, doofus,” Tye said. Presumably, the doofus part was directed at Justin.
“I didn’t know that,” Justin protested.
Tyler was also dressed casually. He had on a pale blue t-shirt and khaki shorts. “We’ve eaten there every day since we got here.” He shook his head. “Did you show her the spray?”
“I will.”
Tye left.
“The spray?” I asked as I followed Justin across the room. “Like the ocean spray?” I’d seen the water shoot up in the air when it hit a rocky patch on the beach.
Justin chuckled. “No, not that kind of spray.” He opened the door to a huge bathroom. Wait, was it still called a bathroom if there wasn’t a bathtub? It was obviously for the use of dinner guests. In addition to a toilet behind a partition, there was a small sofa, a double sink, ample towels, and…
“Oh. That kind of spray.” On a mirrored tray were several bottles of bug spray and sunblock.
“Every bathroom here is stocked with these babies,” Justin said. “Very important in Florida.” He grabbed a can of bug spray and doused himself. You’d think, in a bathroom, the scent of the spray would be overwhelming, but there were vents in the ceiling that seemed to suck up the excess. Plus, it was high-end stuff that actually smelled kind of pleasant. Hopefully, the Floridian insects wouldn’t feel the same way. I followed his lead and sprayed my arms and legs.
“I didn’t even know that bug spray could come in such a fancy bottle.”
Justin grinned. “Everything is fancy here. You get used to it after a while.”
That caught my attention. If he’d been a baseball player, that meant he had to have lots of money, right? “So you weren’t used to this kind of thing at some point?”
“At most points of my life. I grew up with five siblings in a three-bedroom house. We couldn’t even fit around our kitchen table—one of us had to eat from a TV table.” He looked lost in thought for just a moment, and then his eyes focused on the present. “Want me to spray your back? I bet the mosquitoes will find you quite tasty.”
I stared at him for a second, trying to figure out if he was being flirtatious or factual. Or maybe both? Then I nodded and turned around.
Mist settled on my calves and then the back of my arms.
“Lift your hair.”
I did so, scooping it up, but then I felt Justin’s free hand next to mine. “There’s just so much of it,” he commented. Then the cool blast of spray made me shiver. It was almost a disappointment when the warmth of his hand disappeared.
“Thank you,” I said as Rocco put a plate in front of me. He’d served the other three first. Apparently, his theory was ladies last. But the food smelled so good I didn’t really care.
We were seated at a table on yet another terrace. As far as I could tell, the entire back of the magnificent house was made up of nothing but terraces and balconies. Tye sat across from me, and Justin and Dominic were on either side of me. Justin had insisted that I face the water to get the best view.
“It looks really good,” I said once Rocco had left.