Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“I know you have the best intentions—”
Mika cuts Bellatrix off. “My intentions are completely nefarious. I swear, I’m planting secret cameras to get your mom’s reaction the second she sees this place. It’s really all about self-gratification. Your evil doll bear child thing is rubbing off on me. It’s turning my soul into a dark, dark place.”
That effectively silences Bellatrix’s protests. She sighs and is ready to let Mika into the house with all that life-changing wallpaper when she spots me.
Her eyes widen while my brain short circuits. She’s casual today, with her hair down and flowing all around her shoulders and no makeup on. Her eyes are emphasized by her glasses, while tight yoga pants emphasize every bit of her legs and probably outline her bottom in spectacular detail, along with a fuzzy cream sweater that is falling off of one shoulder, sans straps of anything else underneath. In short, she looks as goddess-like as she always does.
My mouth dries out.
My nipples start to tingle.
My abs tighten.
And my cock goes from already halfway there at just the thought of Bellatrix to a full-on rager of a beast ready to tackle painting, wallpapering, and banging Bellatrix up against a wall that may or may not be dry yet.
Fuck.
That last bit was just my brain having a laugh at me. That will not be happening.
“You brought your dad,” Bellatrix whispers.
Mika shrugs, which makes at least twelve rolls of wallpaper bounce up and down. “Yeah, I thought we could use the extra labor. I’ve never put up wallpaper, and it looks like a big job. I know you have a ladder, but I brought everything else we’ll need.”
“I…I can’t let you do this. I don’t have any extra money this month to pay you back.”
“That’s why it’s my treat. Consider it an early birthday present.”
Bellatrix’s throat bobs, and behind her glasses, her eyes get shiny. She launches herself at Mika, hugging her with all the wallpaper between them. Mika laughs, dropping everything between them to hug her back.
“Feel free to give Rowleigh a hug too,” Mika says as soon as she steps back and starts picking the rolls back up.
“Mika!” I hiss.
Bellatrix is far more attuned to Mika’s humor than I am. She just smiles at me shyly and raises her hand in greeting. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“Thank you for coming. I promise not to kill you with manual labor.”
“I make no such promises.” Mika lets loose an evil chuckle.
I set the paint down and get the rest of the supplies. By the time we have everything in the small entrance, Bellatrix has her pink kettle whistling away and three cups on the counter.
“I was going to say that I call taping, but it looks like fussy work. Actually, all of this is fussy. Too much math and precision. I’m glad I brought my dad. He’s good at math.”
How on earth does she even know that?
“You have to be,” Mika says with a shrug. “You run all those hotels.”
“Accountants are good at math,” I state.
“And you.”
I slip my shoes off. Mika told me to wear old clothes, which to me is a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.
Mika studies me as Bellatrix pours the hot water. “You should get some tattoos, Dad. They’d look good on you.”
Bellatrix misses the third cup completely, spilling water all over the counter. She gasps and quickly grabs the tea towel off the stove’s handle to mop it up.
“And drive a bike,” Mika adds.
“Join a gang, shave my head, go around in all leather…” I continue.
“No.” Mika points at the barn-find bear up on the bookshelf in the living room. The condo is small, and you can see from the door through the kitchen to the living room. The stairs to go to the second floor are right at the entrance. “No, don’t let the bear invade your soul and plant dark thoughts. Just a bike and some tattoos would do. No need to become a one percenter.”
How does she even know what that means?
“Don’t have a heart attack, Dad. I’m not interested in dating a biker or getting one for myself. I was joking. Mostly. Tattoos are great though.”
Mika will do what she wants to do, but I’m partly relieved. For now.
Bellatrix repours the one mug full of steaming water and then nods at the cups. “Matcha, so we have the energy to tackle this.”
“What’s the game plan?”
Bellatrix laughs. “First, I have to get changed. Second, I guess look at the inspiration photos, match what you bought, and give it a go.”
“Just like that?”
She visibly bites the inside of her cheek, putting on a brave face. “I think so. If it’s bad, we can always take it off and paint over it, right?”
“Right. And you said you wanted to do the flooring, so we don’t have to worry about making a mess.”