“You’ll be lucky if that’s all I call you,” she muttered.
The sun must have shifted outside, because a beam of light suddenly spilled through the curtains, hitting the locket; the beads glimmered, and he couldn’t pull his gaze away. Clear stones in varying shades of red were anchored together with tiny black ones. Such exquisite detail, each piece glinting in perfect harmony. He remembered seeing similar trinkets in the shop and being impressed by the craftsmanship.
“Did you make this?” he asked.
Silence.
Finally, he glanced up. Brook Lynn’s attention had moved from him to...he wasn’t sure where. She would be totally deaf this week, he remembered Jessie Kay telling him.
He tapped her arm, careful not to linger too long on her softness, and when she faced him, he repeated his question.
“I did, yes,” she said, her pride obvious.
“I—” Love it. “Thank you,” he said, carefully placing the necklace in his pocket.
“I’ll tell her you were pleased.”
“Don’t,” he said. “That will only encourage her.”
Her eyes narrowed to tiny slits. “Sleeping with her also encouraged her.”
He thought he heard irritation mixed with another hint of jealousy. As if. Only hearing what I want to hear.
He gnashed his teeth. “Rest. I’ll be outside if you need me.”
“I don’t have my bell,” she replied with sass.
“All you have to do is shout, and I’ll come running.”
* * *
THIS DAY IS going wonderfully, Brook Lynn thought. And terribly.
She didn’t rest, and she didn’t leave her implants on silent, as ordered; she got started on her chores, listened for Jase and pondered. Her mind was like a playground for naughty toddlers, different thoughts swinging from different parts of the jungle gym.
After her bout of crying last night, she’d picked herself up yet again and decided to put all of her eggs in Jase’s basket. And okay, that was a stupid saying, making her think of female eggs and Jase putting his—
Never mind. Now that she was putting all of her time and energy into her job with Jase—better—she would be able to get a full eight hours of sleep every night. A dream come true! She would get to cook, one of her favorite activities, and still have time for fun. Finally! She and Jessie Kay would be able to eat right because she would ensure Jase and his friends ate right, the four main food groups part of everyone’s daily diet: something fried, something with gobs of butter, something with heaps of sugar and sweet tea.
For the first time in a very long time, she had nothing to complain about. She had hope again, all because of the man interested in seeing to her every need.
So...why do I feel so unsatisfied?
Jessie Kay had taken off before Brook Lynn had awoken, so she’d sent her sister a text telling her she’d be at Jase’s and afterward, Brad’s. It was time to plan the details of their date.
Her sister’s response?
Will U B drinking while UR w/Brad?
No.
Playing strip anything?
No.
Having sex?
NO!
Then why the heck R U going 2 see him?
A woman rounded the corner, her short, dark hair mussed, her cheeks flushed from exertion. Her clothes were wrinkled and her button-up top misaligned. She also had on a pencil skirt and mile-high heels, and she was clearly a professional of some sort, not in the hooker sense, but in the someone-who-worked-inside-an-office sense.
She spotted Brook Lynn, skidded to a stop and scowled. “Who are you?”
“Uh, that would be my line.” The woman was unfamiliar, not from Strawberry Valley.
Professional tightened her hands around the strap of her briefcase. “Beck told me he was single. If you’re his wife—”
“Wife?” she heard from around the corner before the man in question sauntered in and wrapped his arm around Professional’s waist. “Nah. She’s my permanent side slice, so she doesn’t mind sharing me for an hour or two. Isn’t that right, pookie?”
“Not right,” Brook Lynn said with a shake of her head. “Not ever.”
Beck shrugged, unabashed. “She’s just mad because I only ever let her role-play the exalted position of wife in bed.”
“We have never been in bed together,” Brook Lynn gritted out. “Never will.”
“You’re kidding, Beck. I know you are.” His newest conquest relaxed against him. “You have the most amazing sense of humor.”
Gag me. Please.
Beck wore a suit and tie, his clothing as straight and perfect as if they’d just been pressed. Not a strand of his hair was out of place.
He kissed the woman on the temple. “You should take off, pretty. Work is calling your name.”
She turned in his arms, and Brook Lynn thought she responded with “I’d rather hear you scream it.”
Could he even remember it?
O-kay. My cue to vanish. Brook Lynn moved out of the kitchen. But Beck and his lady lover followed hot on her heels. Or rather, Beck followed, dragging the gal with him.
“Though it pains me to say it, there’s no time for a repeat performance.” Beck patted Professional on the bottom. “You know I need at least two hours to enjoy you properly, and that’s only if I’m in a rush.”
The woman ate up the flattery as if he meant it, clinging to the lapels of his suit.
Beck ushered her to the porch and blew her a kiss—just before he shut the door in her face.