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I then send a text to Austin.
Do you need anything from me tomorrow at all?
He responds right away.
Austin: I’m good until Monday. The rest of the weekend is all yours.
Me: Thanks.
I breathe a sigh of relief, happy for solitude. Happy that working for him won’t infringe on my plans to go to Josh’s grave tomorrow and do my little ritual.
Adele Carmichael slash whatever her married name now is – she’s a very nice person. She’s attractive and poised, but also down-to-earth, not at all stuck-up and snobby. She always tries to be friendly with me, and that doesn’t surprise me that she’d invite the hired help to hang out with them, but I need to not be near Austin, so I’m going to ensure I’m scarce for the duration of her visit. After all, it’s what I’m paid to do. Be scarce.
I can’t figure out what to make of his demeanor with me earlier, when he was all gallant and, well… human, but I frankly don’t have the emotional capacity after today to deconstruct it. I also have no desire, whatsoever, to think about how it felt when he lifted me up off the floor and took care of me.
I try to watch television, but before long I’ve got my laptop open and yes, I’m working again on that story.
Him asking me about cleaning the windows was like a trigger. I had the urge to do what I did in the story.
I need to write some more smut about him. About him being bossy and sexy and telling me what to do. About him being chivalrous and protective.
I can’t seem to stop myself.
I write a scene where Jada Sweetheart burns herself making him some soup and he kisses the burns better before making sweet love to her.
Not dirty and erotic sex. Lovemaking.
I’m ridiculous.
20
Austin
Lilly and Braeden are asleep, and Jada hasn’t come out of her room since she slipped in there a couple hours ago.
Up until now, Adele and I have been rehashing the Sienna thing. Quietly. Because I don’t need Jada overhearing that.
“If I get my hands on her…” Adele growled earlier, doing an imaginary air-choke hold.
I waved it off. “Don’t. Don’t do anything to jeopardize the case against her. She’s goin’ down for this. I’ve got rock-solid evidence.”
“Good for you,” my sister said. “A lot of guys would let that go because of how it might be viewed in the public, but you are so right to pursue it. So right. She’s such a cunt.”
“Adele Quinn Carmichael-Burke!” I faked a gasp. “That word!”
“Good Audra impression,” Adele laughed. “What can I say, the c-word likes to come out when I’m on my second cocktail, which is a rare occurrence. Oh, speaking of cocktails, I should call Dirk and tell him I got here safe.”
“I do not wanna know what Dirk and cocktails have in common.”
I raised my hands.
She giggled and reached for her phone. “No, you probably do not.”
I decided to check on the kids while she made her call.
Braeden was crashed and Lilly was also out like a light, hands thrown over her head, her little green rubber soother still in her mouth.
I leaned over to kiss his forehead and then went to Lilly and pull the soother out. She pouts in her sleep without rousing. I kissed her head, too.
By the time I slipped back out, Adele was saying goodbye to Dirk and hunting through Aiden’s sparse liquor cabinet. I should get it topped up.
***
I sit down on the couch and lean back, taking another sip of my water after bringing her a bag of tortilla chips and a container of Mexican dip I found in the fridge.
“Can’t believe you’re making me drink alone,” Adele pouts.
“I had food poisoning last night. My gut still isn’t right,” I defend.
“What happened?”
“Just dinner,” I wave my hand. “Probably some bad seafood.”
“She’s really pretty. And sweet,” Adele whispers.
She’s on her third cocktail and she’s slurring a little. Lightweight.
“Who?”
“Jada, silly.” She leans over and slaps my arm.
I shake my head. “Don’t.”
“God, Auzzie, she’s perfect for you. I tried to set her up with Aiden once, only meddled this much,” she holds her finger and thumb aloft with an inch between them, one eye closed.
“But that was all wrong. She wasn’t right for Aiden, so I didn’t push it. I’m gonna meddle this time, this much.” She holds both hands a meter apart and smiles at me. Big.
“No. Absolutely not.”
“Why?”
“I don’t need that right now. I need to focus on getting shit done here at work, making sure Sienna gets taken to task for what she did, then get home and get the fuck on with my life.”
“You’re hung up about that girl from the office that came to the wedding?”
“Stop. I’m not in the mood for this.”
“Carly told me that she talked to Ally, who said that-”
