Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
“Vincent doesn't have women coming and going from his place?” I tease. Okay, it’s not a tease, but still I wouldn’t mind hearing the answer.
“No. Only his mother and me. Not that these things are your business. Don’t make me ask again. What are you doing here?” she asks as we reach the top floor and the doors slide open.
I’m not going to like this girl. She’s been rude from the start. Even before I toyed with her. I almost think she’s acting territorial. My eyes flick to her hand, not seeing a ring there. Vinny could have fake married her if he was just looking for convenience, but he didn’t. That thought makes me feel marginally better.
“I’m here to service Vincent Castillo.” I smirk, stepping off the elevator. She gasps, then suddenly grabs my arm. I spin back around. She’s lost her damn mind.
“Get your hands off me.”
“I will do no such thing because you’re a liar,” she hisses. I don’t know what is wrong with me, but I can’t help myself. I take a step back toward her, and she releases her hand and takes two steps back herself. Rae is the softer one of the two of us. When you grow up like us, you have to show people you won’t let them push you around, or it will only worsen. I’m not going to put my hands on her, but I’m going to make it really clear that she will keep hers off me.
“I’ve lied about nothing. I serviced him just this morning in his shower. I’ll probably be doing it again when he gets home from work later.” Her whole face turns red. “That's why I got a key, after all. I’m very good at my services.” Her eyes go to the key in my hand. I’m guessing they don’t give keys out to random people that are swinging by to do jobs.
“You are lying. As I told you, I’m the one that takes care of all of Vincent Castillo’s home needs. He might have needed you while I was gone, but I’m back now. I came home a day early.” She says it with conviction, which makes me believe Vinny isn’t having random women coming and going but maybe one. This one.
“JJ?” I turn to see Fay standing in the doorway.
“Hey.” I give her a warm smile. “I didn't know you were coming by. Were you waiting for me? I’m sorry.”
“No, I was just in the area. When I talked to Vincent, he said he was working late so I thought I could teach my new daughter-in-law how to make his favorite cookies,” she says. “Hello, Lauren.” Her tone is flat when she speaks to her. She’s polite but not overly friendly.
“I, ah…” Lauren stands there with a dazed expression.
“You okay?” Fay asks but doesn’t actually sound concerned.
“I must have misheard you because I could’ve sworn you said daughter-in-law.”
“You heard right. Oh, you didn't know that Vincent got married?” Now Fay is smiling at her. I go ahead and give Lauren a smile too. When her face falls, I have instant guilt. Damn it. Why do I care? She was a bitch to me, but maybe I would be too if Vincent dropped me like he might have dropped her. Shit hurts.
“I have to go.” She wobbles back into the elevator, not so steady on her heels anymore. Once she steps in, she aggressively hits the button for the doors to close.
As soon as they do, my mind begins to run. Did she and Vincent have something going on? She might be a snotty jerk, but what a hell of a way to find out he married someone else if they did have something between them. Even if it was just casual. Hell, she might feel the same as I am at the moment. Thinking it could be more but really it’s only sex to Vincent. I suddenly can’t call him Vinny anymore. It feels too intimate.
“I don’t like her,” Fay tells me as I enter the house.
“Why don’t you like her?”
“She’s fake and wants Vincent to wife her.”
“Really?”
“Trust me. I’ve gotten good at reading them. Vincent doesn’t pay attention to any of it.” She rolls her eyes. “But I suppose it doesn’t matter because he doesn’t fall for them. He got himself a real one.”
Damn, I don’t know what to do with that.
“So you want to make some cookies today?” She changes the subject.
“I wish I could, but I have a terrible headache.”
“Oh, sweetie. Do you need anything?”
“I just need to lie down. A nap normally knocks them out for me.”
“All right. Then I’ll leave you be.” She gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “If you need anything, you call me. Got it?”
“Got it,” I say before she’s out the door, leaving me alone in this giant house. I wasn’t lying about the headache. Whenever I get worked up, they hit me, and I feel one creeping up my neck right now.