“I really do,” I admit.
“Good.” He bends down and whispers in my ear, “Because I plan on claiming you in every possible way, baby.” He kisses my neck, walks away, and keeps cooking like he just didn’t totally turn my world upside down and leave me a dripping, needy mess all over his barstool.
It is a perfect spring day, and we decided after the incredible breakfast that Remington managed to finish cooking to take a walk around his neighborhood. Once I finished getting re-dressed in what I had on last night, jeans and a tight sweater, he hopped in the shower and said to make myself at home while he got ready.
Remington’s house is exactly the kind of place that I would want in a home. It is not too big, there is room to grow, and he’s put a lot of thought into the finishes and work he’s done. The second bathroom he’s remodeling now will look so nice when it’s complete, but I can’t even imagine how much work it’s going to take. Right now it is all gutted down to the studs, and the only thing in there is a toilet.
I am doing one last wipe down of the kitchen when I hear the doorbell ring. Looking down the hall I don’t see Remington coming, so he must still be getting ready for our walk. Anxiety creeps up and turns my breakfast over in my stomach. Answering a door should not be this hard. What if it is Sutton? Or what if it’s an important package that needs to be signed for?Be a grown up, Laineythat nasty voice hisses,getover it and just answer the stupid door.It’s never that simple, but I want to win this time, I want to be the one in control, not my anxiety.
Taking a deep breath to try and calm my nerves, I plaster a smile on my face and reach a shaky hand toward the door. Opening it I find a stunning woman standing there. She is dressed impeccably in a black, belted sheath dress that matches her long black hair. Her gold, chunky sandals complement her bangles and earrings. She slides off oversized sunglasses down her sharp nose, highlighting her look of annoyance as she takes me in. Her brown eyes don’t hold an ounce of warmth or friendliness the way Sutton’s do.
“Hello,” I say. “Can I help you?”
“Who are you?” she snaps at me. Her voice is shrill and irritating.
“Who are you?” I fire right back, crossing my arms.
“Rem is expecting me. Put down your cleaning supplies and go find him.” She glances at the dish towel I forgot I was holding, gripped tightly in my hand.
“Excuse me?” I say.
“You are the help, right? A cleaner, a maid? Whatever the hell you call yourselves these days.” Letting out a dramatic sigh she continues, “It doesn’t matter. Let me inside right now, and then go get Rem.” She is so aggressive, and there is not a chance in hell I am letting her step one gold-covered foot in this house.
Just as I am about to tell her as much, I hear footsteps come up behind me. Remington bands a strong arm around my stomach and pulls me close to him, my back to his chest. I instantly feel relieved to not be alone with this awful woman anymore until he says ...
“What the fuck are you doing here, Cora.”
20
Remington
As I was pulling my T-shirt over my head, I heard a voice I never wanted to hear again. It was shrill, rude, and being directed at the one person I never wanted it to touch. I stomp down the hallway, reaching Lainey as quickly as I can, needing to have her in my touch to ground me in this moment. I wrap my arm around her stomach and pull her little body close to me. She lets out a sigh of relief and grips my forearm.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Cora,” I say in a very unwelcoming tone of voice.
Cora’s whole demeanor instantly shifts once she has my attention. I see her stand a little taller and stick out her chest a little more, as if it’s going to help her case. “I was telling your maid here that you were expecting me and ...”
The fuck?I cut her off immediately. “No, absolutely not. First of all, this is my girlfriend, not my maid, don’t act so ignorant. Second, I wasnotexpecting you, nor are you welcome here.”
Cora steps back with a gasp, as if I smacked her with mywords. “Rem,” Cora says with a fake quiver to her lip, “what about the deal we made?”
Lainey looks up at me with questions written all over her face, ones I have no answers to. I give her a squeeze, trying to reassure her without any of my words.
“I have no idea what the hell you are talking about. We have no deals. I haven’t talked to you or seen you since the day we graduated.” There is something off about Cora, and it’s making me uneasy. I want her gone. I want her far away from me and more importantly, Lainey. “How did you even know where I lived?” This question slams into my mind and makes that uneasy feeling double down. As a public servant I keep myself unlisted and as private as possible. I don’t take women or dates to my house and have been careful. The only people that know where I live are the ones I choose to let know about it.
Cora rolls her eyes at me and says, “I knew you bought this placeyears ago, Rem. I did your realtor’s little sister’s wedding up on Casterview Lake. Chitchatting is currency in my business. I pick up all kinds of interesting information that people don’t even realize they’re giving away.” She smiles at me in a sickeningly familiar way.
“Doesn’t change the fact that you’re unwelcome and need to leave.” I turn and guide Lainey back inside, then feel the claws of the past grip my shoulder. I hiss and spin back to Cora, batting her hand away. Pointing at her I say, “Donottouch me, Cora.”
“Mmm, I missed the way you say my name when you get all riled up, Remmy.” Lainey sucks in a breath behind me. This needs to end. Now.
“You know I hate when you call me that. Get off my property, and don’t come back.”
“What about our deal,” Cora whimpers at me pathetically.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I say, getting more annoyed by the second.
“We. Made. A. Deal. We said that if we were not married by the time we were both thirty, we would marry each other. We swore it to each other.” Cora is looking at me like we sealed this promise in blood. In reality, we were children saying childish things.
