Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 101466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
As for the friends with benefits, I didn’t know if Casey was that sort of girl.
Or if I wanted that.
“Too complicated,” I objected.
He shook his head. “Only if you make it that way.”
His phone rang and he chuckled. “Speaking of complicated, my wife needs me again.” He slid from the booth. “See you at the station.”
I lifted my hand in a mock salute, and he strode away.
I got another cup of coffee from Shannon, my mind racing.
Friends with benefits. Casey and me.
Her in my bed, those breasts on display for me. That lush ass of hers wiggling as I played with her. She didn’t seem offended last night when my dick was in her face. In fact, she seemed quite fascinated. Then I shook my head. It was a bad idea.
Lou would kill me. She asked me to watch out for her.
Not fuck her senseless the way I wanted to.
I drained my coffee, putting the idea out of my mind.
Tenant.
Casey was my tenant. A pain-in-the-ass one at times, but just my tenant.
That was all.
Chapter Twelve
JESSE
Iheaded home, stopping to pick up a few supplies at the hardware store. I grabbed some groceries, including a rotisserie chicken, figuring that way, I could at least have something decent to eat. I threw a container of potato salad into the cart and added a coleslaw, pleased. That was a couple of well-balanced meals, at least.
At home, I looked around, but nothing had changed. I heard the “singing” of the wind chimes, as Casey called it, but oddly, the sound didn’t bother me. It was in the background, and if pressed, I might admit it was pleasant.
I put away the groceries and headed to the closet, determined to get it fixed. I opened the door and stopped in surprise. The coats were rehung, the shoes and boots orderly. The boxes that had been knocked down were repacked and slid to the side. It was as if yesterday hadn’t happened. The only difference was the container sitting on the floor. I opened it and read the little note on top of the delicious-smelling cookies.
I’m really sorry.
Miller sniffed around my legs, pawing at the door. I rolled my eyes and knew if I did this once, I was doomed.
I did it anyway.
I pushed the coats out of the way, opened my door, and knocked on hers.
It took a minute, and I heard her pulling on it. I gave it a push, and it opened. Miller tore past me and through the door, not bothering to wait for an invite.
“Hi,” Casey murmured.
I frowned. She looked tired. Upset. None of the usual sunshine she usually showed.
“You okay?” I asked. “Are you sick?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“You cleaned the closet.”
“It was the least I could do. Once again, I apologize.”
I hated formal Casey. Laced-up, upset Casey.
“If I’d known you’d bake me cookies, I would have told you about it sooner.”
“You didn’t tell me. I found it,” she protested, sounding more like herself.
“Maybe I knew you would,” I teased.
“Whatever, Thorne,” she scoffed.
“You know, a coffee would go great with these cookies.”
She stepped back. “I can make you one.”
“Great.”
I followed her in and looked at the armoire. “It does look better there,” I said. “But how are you going to hide this door?”
“I’ll paint the wall and put a little table here.” She indicated the space to the left side. “I ordered a cool little lamp that works on batteries I’ll hang over it. I’ll put a long piece of art or something in the middle of the door. I don’t expect many visitors anyway. It’s just me.”
We walked into the living room, and I laughed at the sight of Miller snuggled with his best friend. “He’ll want access.”
She shrugged. “He’ll forget about it.”
She headed to the kitchen, and I trailed behind her, stopping at her computer. “What are all the hieroglyphics?”
“Code. I’m writing some new software for a client.”
I studied the screen. “I don’t understand it.”
She laughed. “I’m not surprised.”
I sat at the table, astonished how comfortable I was in her kitchen. She handed me a coffee and sat down with one of her own. With a wink, I offered her a cookie. “I think these look delicious,” I teased. “I picked them up this morning.”
She smiled, relaxing a little, but she didn’t take a cookie. I did and bit into it. “Chocolate chip,” I grunted. “My favorite.”
We didn’t talk for a moment, and I ate the cookie with gusto. It was thick and dense, yet chewy. Laden with chips. No nuts, which was good. I didn’t like nuts in my chocolate chip cookies.
When I finished, I rested my elbows on the table. “Casey…”
She looked up, frowning.
I held up my hand. “I’m not upset. I realized last night was a set of unfortunate instances.” I paused with a chuckle. “Something you seem to excel at.”