Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 134830 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134830 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
“Your call, of course. But we already rescheduled them once, so they’ll push your job to the bottom of their priority list. That’ll put concrete probably a month, maybe five weeks, out,” I reply, glad for once for all of the Harrington business knowledge I absorbed by osmosis growing up. Including how to negotiate. “They’ll require full payment up front to hold the spot since you’re a bad risk for their books. The delay would also mean the inspection would have to be redone, and I quote for one inspection because I know my jobs pass the first time like we just did, so a repeat would be at your cost. Plus, I’ve got other jobs lined up, back-to-back, so getting Wayne and the guys over here? Hmm, might have to send in my secondary crew to finish this out.”
I look back at the pool, nodding slowly as I scrub a hand over my jaw. “Yeah, if that’s what you want to do, and you don’t mind looking at a big hole in your back yard for a lot longer, I can make it happen.” I pin her with an icy glare. “Or you could move your car in the morning to get to pickleball.”
I’m making all that shit up. There’s no secondary crew, or need for reinspection, or prepayment requirement with the concrete guys. But if she can fuck things up with a lie about a racoon, I feel zero guilt in doing a little bit of the same to get her to do something as minor as move her fucking car.
Apparently, I created enough potential discomfort in her world that she’s willing to give in because she huffs out a displeased harrumph. “Fine, I’ll have my car out before eight.”
“Sounds good. See you then.”
I stride around the side of the house, listening for Kathy to close her door. Once I hear that, I hop the fence and shortcut up to Dani’s front door.
“Knock, knock,” I call though the screen.
“Hey!” she answers, and I take it as an invitation to come on in.
Stepping into the house, I can see her in the kitchen at the big table in the middle of the room. She’s working with some type of dough, punching and kneading and rolling it out. Her hair is piled on top of her head, her bun still fresh and neat in the relatively early morning hours. Her face is bare and has a slight sheen of sweat from her work and the heat, and she’s wearing a tank top and bike shorts that end mid-thigh.
“G’morning. Whatcha making?”
She smiles, her hands never stopping. “Rollitos. One sweet and one savory for lunches today. What’re you doing?”
“Giving Kathy shit so I get my way.” That gets her attention, and though she keeps working, she cuts dancing eyes my way that say ‘tell me everything’.
I give her the quick recap of my conversation with Kathy, knowing she’ll appreciate the lie I told and how it played out.
“Well done,” she praises, and I beam, as happy that it worked out as I am that Dani approves. “So, what else are you doing today?”
I scoot around the table, coming to stand behind her with my hands on her hips and bending down so my chin rests on her shoulder. “I could hang out for a while.”
She tilts her head over, resting it against mine. Her hands even still, and I feel her body relax, but too soon, she takes a loud breath and stands back up, her spine going stiff and straight once again. “I need to get this dough done and covered so it can rise while I make the fillings. I don’t have time for… a friend today.”
But even as she’s turning me down, there’s a teasing smile on her face. I was afraid she’d be having second, third, and fourth doubts about last night, but she seems okay, comfortable, and not biting my head off, which is sometimes a bigger win than you’d think.
“How about tonight? I can come by later, help with the dishes and clean-up duties, and then eat your rollito.” I have no idea if that makes sense. I’m assuming a rollito is some type of roll, given the way it sounds, but regardless, I make it clear what I’m offering with the grumbly, rough tone of my voice.
Dani laughs. “That was awful.” I shrug, not offended when she’s smiling that brightly. I raise my brows questioningly, and she rolls her eyes. “Fine, come by later. But you have to get out of here or I’m not gonna get my work done before my first customers.”
She bumps her shoulder against my chest, playfully pushing me back, and I let her, enjoying this new side of Dani. I might’ve been right… a couple of orgasms and she’s downright nice.