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)
But she’s wrong. I was here first, this is my neighborhood, and hopefully, I’ll be here long after she’s gone—whether that’s moving away or dying. I’m not wishing ill on her, but she’s older and subsists on bitterness and bitchiness, which can’t be good for your heart.
“You can include us in the people she thinks she’s better than,” Kyle shares with me. “She tried telling Wayne how to dig this morning and is upset the dirt pile is blocking her view,” he reveals, acting like it’s top secret when he glances over his shoulder toward Kathy’s house like she might pop out of the shrubbery that wraps around three sides of her house. To be fair, she might. I wouldn’t put it past her to eavesdrop to satisfy her nosiness.
“It’ll be something else tomorrow, and then another thing the next day. She’ll find something. Get used to it,” I sigh wearily, having long-ago tired out of her constant complaints and shenanigans.
For a moment, Kyle and I lock eyes and there’s a sense of connection, like we’re on the same side of something. Us against the world. Or at least against Kathy. And I think that was Kyle’s whole mission in coming over here. The money gave him an excuse, but he’s trying to find common ground with me for some reason. Probably because he has no intention of moving his damn truck and I’m going to be stuck running my ass off for weeks while he’s working next door.
I break our eye lock first and hold up the money as I lift my chin defiantly. “Thanks for this, but you don’t have to cover Joshua’s meals or his crew. It’s a loss, but I’ll be fine.”
Kyle nods easily and smiles again. “Sure. But you think maybe we could replace those orders? I’ve got Wayne, Zeus, and Frogger here every day for the next six weeks or so.”
Goddammit, he’s stubborn. And it’d be easy to say yes. That’d be three, maybe four if I fed Kyle too, to replace the five orders I lost. But before I even let that thought fully form in my mind, I’m shaking my head. “Nope. Not feeding Kathy’s minions.”
Anger flashes in his eyes, and I feel like for the first time, I’m seeing the real Kyle. Not the handsome as fuck crew leader, or pool installer, or panty dropper. I cut him with that one. “I’m not her anything. She’s my client.”
I smirk, taking the one advantage I’ve found in our verbal battle. “Sure, keep telling yourself that when she’s got you scurrying about like mice over there doing her bidding. Now if you don’t mind, I have work to do so I’m ready for lunch tomorrow.”
Not giving him a chance to answer, I spin around, thinking myself pretty haughty about it too until Kyle clears his throat and calls after me, “Hey, by the way… your flash was on today. But if you want a photo shoot, I’m happy to take my shirt off for you anytime.”
I stop, my heart in my throat as I look back over my shoulder, my eyes wide with shock and a little bit of fear. He saw me?
Kyle is leaning forward with his hands on either side of the door frame, looking like a thirst trap incarnate as he stares intently through the screen to see my reaction to his words. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I spit out the denial by reflex, as if simply denying it happened can erase that he knows what I did. But instead of getting mad, he just chuckles, the cocky fuck. “Yeah, sure. Play innocent all you want, but we both know you were taking pictures of me. You like the jewelry? I’ve had ’em for a while, so you’re welcome to see, touch, and lick them if you want.”
The imagery he’s painting ignites something hot and liquid inside me. I’d like to say it’s anger, and I’d really like to say it’s in my stomach. Truth is, it’s lower, right at my core, and it’s definitely arousal. But I won’t let Kyle know that. “In your dreams,” I shoot back.
His smile melts away. “You have no idea what I dream about where you’re concerned, Miss Becerra.”
His voice has gone husky and rough, and even through the screen, I can feel his eyes drift over me from head to toe, taking his time to peruse every inch of my body. It’s irritatingly sexy. And for some reason, the fact that he called me Miss Becerra makes it that much more ridiculous. And all the sexier. “Call me Dani,” I sigh, “and go away.”
The return of his smile telegraphs that he thinks he’s won this round. Truthfully, I’m not sure he didn’t. But either way, I’ve got fifty bucks I thought I wasn’t getting today, so I’m calling that a win for me.