Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 82747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
The rest of the drive back to my place is done in companionable silence.
"What the hell?" I ask as I pull up my driveway and notice a van parked there.
"Did you have a delivery scheduled today?"
"Nope," I say, reading the side of the van when I park. "Dust Bunnies?"
"It's a local cleaning service," Riley explains.
"Yeah, I remember Donnie mentioning something about it the other day."
"You didn't hire them?"
I shake my head. "I considered it. The company that came out from Austin didn't do the job to the standard I expected."
"City folk," she mutters, and I huff a laugh, in full agreement with her.
"Let me get the door for you," I say before climbing out and walking around to her side of the vehicle.
I help her down, not missing an opportunity for her body to rub against mine before helping her grab the breakfast from the back along with the supplies she insisted on bringing.
"I have nothing to do with what's going on inside," Donnie says, standing in front of us the second we come around the front of the cleaning van.
"What exactly is going on inside?" I ask, annoyance at having to deal with bullshit first thing in the morning settling inside of me like a ton of bricks.
"Fucking Ronnie," the man mutters before looking at Riley. "Sorry, ma'am. Is that breakfast?"
She waves off his apology. "Just something I threw together."
"How about you go get breakfast served to the guys, and I'll deal with the mess inside the house?"
"I can help you," Ethan says as he walks up. "Let me carry that for you."
Riley hands him the casserole and gives Donnie the bag with the paper plates and plastic utensils before looking back at me.
"See you soon, baby," I tell her, loving the way her cheeks turn pink with the promise in my tone.
I don't know what I was expecting when I walked into my house, but it sure as hell wasn't Ronnie Tate and Callie Drocer staring each other down as if they were moments from murdering each other.
"What is going on here?"
Ronnie smiles as if the look Callie is giving him is some sort of sexual role-playing they're participating in.
"I'm not a hooker!" Callie says the second her eyes land on me.
I hold my hands up at my ears, turning to Ronnie for an explanation.
"I never once suggested sex," Ronnie says, looking at her rather than speaking to me.
"What am I supposed to think when you tell me the bathroom is over there so I can change into my French maid costume?"
"Jesus," I mutter, looking at my employee. "You hired her and expected her to come clean in a costume?"
Ronnie shrugs. "Isn't that what they do?"
Callie gasps as if she's never heard of a more disrespectful insult. "Dust Bunnies is a legitimate business. It's respectable!"
"I know it is," I say quickly, although I don't really know anything about it.
"I was told to come here, that there was some cleaning to do after a kitchen fire, and this idiot says those sorts of things to me."
"I told you that you didn't have to wear a costume," Ronnie clarifies.
"You told me that clothes wouldn't be necessary at all," she explains. "I explained that wasn't how the service works."
"You said get out of here, you fucking creep," Ronnie mimics.
"And then you mentioned a strip tease on the living room coffee table if I wanted to earn a good tip!"
I feel like I've entered the twilight zone. I'm not sure if these two are even mad at each other. There's a vibe that makes me think this is some weird ass sexual ritual, but maybe my brain is clouded with all the hours I've spent recently with Riley.
"I could sue you for sexual harassment," she says, glaring and pointing a finger at me.
"Me?" I snap. "I didn't hire you, and I'd never say something like that to a woman. I'm in a relationship."
"With Riley?" Ronnie asks, his attention now fully on me.
"It's new, but yeah," I tell him, a wide grin on my face.
"Excuse me," Callie growls. "Can you save your little gossip session for another time?"
"Is there a problem?"
I spin to face Riley, hating the frown on her face as she stands in the doorway.
"Just Ronnie being Ronnie," I mutter, holding my arm out to her until she steps into my side.
"Hi," she says, holding her hand out to Callie. "I'm Riley. What's going on?"
Callie shakes my woman's hand, and I'm grateful at the soft smile she gives her because I'll be damned if any anger is going to be tossed her way, no matter how upset the other woman might be.
"This guy said some disrespectful things to me," Callie explains.
"What?" Riley says, glaring at the man until he literally cowers some. "What would your mother think?"
Ronnie tilts his head. "Are you going to tell her?"