Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
That’s all this is.
To prove to myself that’s all this is, I stand and stalk back to the living room, planting my ass on the couch to watch SportsCenter. I ignore the beauty on her hands and knees, wiping down my lower cabinets in the kitchen. She’s just here to do a job. She has no effect on me.
I’m doing great, focused on what the sports casters are saying, until she steps into the living room.
“I’m all done with today’s list, Mr. Vaughn. Is there anything else I can do for you? Tiffany said that she sometimes cooks for you. Would you like me to do that before I leave?”
“No,” my reply comes out harsher than I intended. “No, thank you,” I say, this time softening my words. “That will be all.”
“Great,” she says brightly. “I’ll see you on Friday.” With that, she moves to the hallway, gathers her things, and disappears out the front door.
Maybe it’s time to get laid. It’s been far too long. Grabbing my phone to text the guys, I freeze. They’re all married. The last thing they want to do is leave a warm bed with their women to grab a drink with me so I can find someone to lose myself in for a few hours.
I toss my phone back to the couch. Honestly, I’m not feeling it anyway. What’s the point? It’s all empty. That’s why I stopped. Sure, the rush of an orgasm is great, but sex with a stranger is impersonal because I make it that way. I never kiss them, and on the rare occasion that I do hook up, I always take them from behind.
It’s easier to detach that way.
Standing, I move to the kitchen for a beer and strip down to my boxer briefs, letting my clothes fall to the floor. I’ll grab them on my way back inside. Pulling open the sliding glass door, I push back the cover on the hot tub and climb in. I enclosed the tub so that my neighbors can’t see. The guys keep telling me I need to buy a house in their neighborhood, but it’s just me. Why do I need all that space? This condo suits me just fine.
This is what I needed.
Just me.
That’s all I need.
Chapter Two
Eden
* * *
My fingers grip the steering wheel as I pull my car into the parking lot of the grocery store. I’m supposed to be at work in twenty minutes, and it’s ten minutes from here. I’ve got some time, and I need a minute, because I’m about to be face-to-face with Foster Vaughn for the second time this week.
Foster Vaughn.
As in the professional football player. That Foster Vaughn. I didn’t know until I got to his place on Wednesday and saw all the football paraphernalia. I went straight home and looked him up. It didn’t take long for me to make the decision that I need to start watching football. It’s going to happen this year. I had no idea I was missing out on the eye candy. That mistake will be corrected as soon as the season starts.
He’s my new boss—well, not really, but indirectly. The cleaning service I work for serves many high-end clients. There are lots of background checks and nondisclosure agreements we have to sign when we start. My last assignment was a musician who left Nashville for Los Angeles. I guess she’s switching genres, and Nashville isn't the spot for her anymore. She ended her contract with the company the same day Tiffany gave notice because her husband's job was transferred to Nebraska, so they’re moving.
I was happy to have the new assignment. I was told I’d be working for a Mr. Vaughn. I’m to be at his place three days a week, and I’m free to do whatever else on my off days. However, if Mr. Vaughn requests extra services, the cleaning kind—get your mind out of the gutter—I have to be available. I make great money, and it’s an easy gig, for the most part. Very rarely do clients require extra services that end up in overtime, but if they do, the agency pays it without complaint. I can only imagine the bill that gets sent to the client. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not swimming in money, but I have a small one-bedroom apartment, a reliable car, and food in the fridge.
Anyway, back to my new assignment. I didn’t know I’d be working for a Greek Adonis. The man is sexy as sin, and it’s the offseason. That means until football starts up again, I’m going to be spending a lot of time around him, assuming he’s home while I’m there.
A quick glance at the dashboard tells me I’m about to be late if I don’t push this mental freak-out to the back of my mind and get moving. Shifting in my seat, I sit up a little taller, check my mirrors, back out of my spot, and pull back out onto the road. I’m a professional. I’ve been working this job for seven years, having started right out of high school. I was lucky they took a chance on me, and I’ve been working my ass off for them ever since.