Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
I was currently dealing with a particularly nasty email from a customer inquiring about the status of his repairs. I was trying—and failing—to find a non-snarky way to remind the pushy customer that the agreed-upon timeline for his repairs was two weeks, and it had only been three days.
I read over my response one last time and hit send.
The man’s questions were just too stupid for me to answer honestly without sounding sarcastic. I’d probably get in trouble, but I wasn’t worried. Rowdy would lecture me even though he was worse, I’d pout, and then he’d kiss me and tell me to behave before sending me on my way. Now that we were dating, the other Kings always let Rowdy handle me, so they wouldn’t say anything either.
“Hello, welcome to Pride of Kings. Do you have an appoint—” The question died on my lips when I looked up and saw who was standing there. “Oh. Hi.”
Jada flashed a dazzling smile that I didn’t buy for one moment. The gesture was too strained, her eyes too assessing. “Hello.” Her shaped brows bunched contemplatively. “Atlas, right?”
Bitch, you know my name.
“Yup.”
“It’s nice to see you again. I, um, I hope you’re feeling better.”
Detecting the first morsel of sincerity from her, I forced myself to relax.
Jada hadn’t done anything to me, so there was no reason not to like her. I just didn’t trust her, and I had no reason for that either.
Jada, Joren, and the rest of the Kings had come to see me during my short stay in the hospital, and she’d acted just as phony and withdrawn then as she had on the lake. Jada and Joren had barely stayed a full hour, but I often caught her studying me like I was a ticking time bomb that could explode at any minute.
“Thanks. I am. Did you want me to grab Joren for you?” The sooner I could get her out of my face, the better for both of us.
Even now, her flawless face was pinched as if she could barely stomach the sight of me.
There were few reasons a woman would act this way toward another woman they barely knew. Usually, when they thought you were fucking their man.
The thought of Joren and I having sex was almost laughable, and it wasn’t because he wasn’t attractive. Each time I tried to put myself in Jada’s head by picturing Joren and I naked and writhing together, my mind instantly revolted, shutting it down while I fought the urge to hurl. I hated him, so it made perfect sense.
Then again, I’d initially hated Rowdy too, and I’d had no problems fingering my pussy to thoughts of him so…
Whatever.
Jada’s life as a trophy wife must have truly been dull to go looking for drama where there was none.
I couldn’t get much out of Rowdy since he wasn’t the type to gossip and had firmly shut down all my attempts to discuss her. Demi, on the other hand, had been all too willing to spill.
I knew Jada didn’t work, and for some reason, in the seventeen years Joren and Jada had been married, eloping straight out of high school, they hadn’t made any kids together either.
It was truly a shame since I knew this freakishly gorgeous and seemingly healthy couple had the potential to make some beautiful babies.
Truly. A. Shame.
“Actually,” Jada responded to my question, “I’m here to see you.”
Errr, what? I tried to think of a polite response and failed, my brows shooting to my hairline and my fake smile becoming even more strained. “Me? Really? Why?”
Subtle, Atlas.
Uncharacteristically nervous, Jada fingered her reddish-brown hair behind a delicate ear. It was then I noticed the tattoo of a lone star—a shooting star—on her right forefinger. “I thought we could have lunch. Get to know one another.” At my blank look, she added, “My husband told me you’re new in town, and since you’re dating Owen now—”
“Rowdy,” I corrected, not caring if I was being petty. She might have known him longer, but he was mine.
“Oh…yeah, sure. Rowdy.” I still didn’t relax, so she reached out and touched my hand. “You okay, sweetie?”
I sucked in a breath and pulled away when it felt like the blood in my veins began to sing. I’d just barely managed to keep from snatching my hand back when I pulled away.
“Fine. Lunch sounds…” Unbearable. Horrible. Awful. “Nice.”
Joren’s wife forced a smile. “Great. Are you free now? I took the liberty of booking us a table for two.”
Before I could tell her that now wasn’t a good time, a masculine voice called out. “Jada?”
Speak of the devil.
Joren, dressed in overalls and hands stained with oil like he’d been hard at work for once, was standing at the Employees Only entrance to the workshop looking shell-shocked.
In the seven months that I’d been working here, Jada hadn’t visited the shop even once, so I knew it must have been even longer since Joren had been graced with a visit from his wife.