Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 99017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
I force a smile, proud that my voice only wobbles slightly as I say, “Doubtful. Pretty sure this is a one-woman job. But maybe I’m just…not that woman, anymore.”
“I’m sure he was going to tell you soon,” Keely says. “Probably on Monday. The approval for the leave only went through this morning.”
This morning…which means Dean waved at me from the front yard while I was heading out to meet Beatrice, knowing full well that he was planning to fire me. That I was already as good as gone, with zero notice. Not only is it a low-down, dirty thing to do, but I’m pretty sure it violates the contract addendum we signed not long ago, when he decided to keep me on full-time.
But that was before last Saturday, before our lapse in the hallway, before he apparently decided he needed to get rid of me so badly that he’s willing to take emergency leave from work to make it happen.
“Okay, well, thanks for the heads up.” I grab their empty beer glasses as I go, tossing over my shoulder, “Another round of these with your quesadilla order, or are you two good with water for now?”
“I’m good with water,” Capo says as Keely asks over him, “Could I have another round, please? The lager? And I’m really sorry!”
I wave a hand, my brittle smile still in place. “No worries, it’s not a big deal.”
But it is a big deal.
It’s a huge deal.
And I can’t even confront Dean about it tonight because it’s late, and he and the girls are likely already asleep. The main house is always dead quiet by ten, and even if I leave right now, it will be later than that by the time I get home.
Home…
I won’t have one of those much longer, either, I guess.
Dammit, and I was really coming to love my cozy studio!
I’m punching the order into the computer, fighting tears, when Tully appears at my side. “Who are they? Friends of yours?” she asks, peeking around me to spy on the once again bickering Keely and Capo.
“Not really,” I say, tapping at the appetizer screen. “More like friends of friends, I guess. Capo’s on Blue and Dean’s team, and Keely works for the Voodoo in the PR department.”
Tully’s jaw drops. “Okay. Wow. So, those players really are all hot as hell. Every single one of them. Maybe I should start going to hockey games, after all.” She makes a hungry sound as she taps a manicured nail to her chin. “I know it’s gross to have a type, but cocky Italian men are my weakness. All that dark, olive skin. That hair, that smirk…” She hums again. “Do you think Capo would want my number? I mean, if he’s not with that woman. He’s not, right? I wasn’t getting romantic vibes from them, but…”
“No, I don’t think so.” I glance back their way to see Keely with her forehead on Capo’s shoulder while he strokes her hair. It’s tender, but not the slightest bit sexual, and they definitely aren’t giving couple energy. “I think they’re just friends, but I can’t be one-hundred-percent sure.”
“They’re just friends,” Tully declares. “Guys that hot don’t date frumpy women in bad polyester suits.” She reaches out, touching my arm gently. “No offense intended, obviously. I mean, I’m a girl’s girl. Wear whatever you want, queen, as far as I’m concerned. I just know guys like that.” She slits her sky-blue eyes Capo’s way with a wicked grin. “They want someone even more put together than they are. Someone who makes them afraid that maybe they aren’t the hottest thing in the room, after all. That’s their kryptonite, and I do look especially fetching in my Clover original jumpsuit tonight.” She skims her hands over the 1970s-inspired silhouette that clings to every curve.
“You do,” I agree, my stomach tied in too many knots to say more.
“Mind if I take over service for them?” she asks. “With the tip all yours to keep, of course. Obviously.”
“You can keep the tip,” I say, “and be my guest. But fair warning, Keely’s pretty drunk and sad. She just found out her ex got his mistress pregnant with twins. In their bed.”
Tully sucks in a scandalized breath. “Bastard! Seriously, what a shitty piece of work. Ugh. Men! Seriously, I hate them. And I hate that I’m straight.” She flips her hair over both shoulders before pulling in a calming breath. “But I am, and it’s been a while since I’ve seen a guy that hot in real life, so…I’m going in. But I’ll be super gentle and supportive and sneaky about giving Capo my number. Keely won’t suspect a thing. Trust me.”
“Of course, I do,” I say.
I do trust her. When it comes to dating, Tully’s a shark, but she’s not the kind to bloody the water with the flesh of the innocent. And she is a girl’s girl. But she’s also coming off a long dry spell, and if Capo’s single, there’s no reason she shouldn’t seduce him to her heart—and vagina’s—content. She has no conflict of interest.