I hold my hand out. “I know you didn’t, but they won’t care. If I take it in, they’ll likely give me the money back as well as a new ladder for the inconvenience.”
She huffs, mumbling about the patriarchy and shitty men. I have to bite the inside of my lip to keep from laughing.
“Fine. Whatever. I need to clean this mess up anyway.”
I suddenly remember I’m on a horse and don’t have my truck. Lifting my hat, I run my fingers through my hair before settling it back on my head. “I rode Sir over here. I don’t have my truck.”
Farrah gives me a droll look before grabbing her keys from a bowl on the counter. “I’m only giving these to you because I don’t want to deal with assholes today. One is plenty.”
I frown down at her hand. “You think that ladder will fit in your tiny car?”
She rolls her eyes. “No, you dolt. My truck is parked on the side of the house. I traded my car after I bought the house.”
I don’t bother to respond, taking her keys and then carefully lifting the ladder out of the paint splatters. Farrah hands me the broken pin before turning her back on me to assess the paint mess.
As I carefully put the ladder in the bed of Farrah’s truck, I stand there wondering,what the fuck am I doing?
* * *
It takes me over an hour to get back to Farrah’s house. As annoying as it was to drive someone else’s vehicle, I enjoyed not being recognized by anyone. I was able to slip in and out of the hardware store without getting stopped. The thing that took the longest was that the two idiots who manage the store had to decide what to do with the broken ladder.
I made it quite clear that I didn’t care what they did withit, but if they didn’t give me the money back, I’d make their lives hell. They rectified the situation immediately and then let me get an even better ladder than the one Farrah originally bought.
Did I have to strong-arm them for that? A little, but no one will have any idea that I was doing it for the woman who gets on every fucking nerve I have. They’ll just think I was being an asshole like always.
I carry the ladder into Farrah’s house, noticing that Sir now has a bucket of water and has been moved into the shade. He looks as pleased as punch, which tells me he’s conned a treat from Farrah. He probably fell for her sugary personality just like all the other fools in town.
I make my way back to the kitchen, surprised to see there’s not a speck of paint left on the floor. She’s also been busy painting the rest of the cabinets the same yellow that had been spilled on the floor.
It makes me blink a little, as if I’m staring directly into the sun. I focus on getting her ladder set up instead of speaking my mind.
Grayson would be proud of me.
Until she decides to open her mouth. “That’s not the same ladder I had.”
“No, it’s better than that one.”
“I liked the one I picked.”
“This one is lighter and easier to use. And you didn’t have to pay for it.”
Farrah huffs. “But the other one had all the features I needed. Why didn’t you just get the same one?”
“Fuck, Princess. Why can’t you just say thank you? I got your money back and a free ladder. Take the win.” Where the fuck that nickname came from, I don’t know, but I revel in the way her eyes spit fire at me when I use it.
“Stop calling me that. And I don’t likeowing people.”
“Did I say you owed me something?”
“You hate me, Knox. Why the heck would I believe you’d do something for me out of the kindness of your heart?”
I sigh. “I don’t hate you.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
“Look, take the damn ladder. Be careful. And fucking call me if you’re going to do something stupid again.” I stomp out of her kitchen, feeling like I’m about to crawl out of my skin. It isn’t until I’m outside, unhitching Sir’s reins, that I realize my heart is pounding.
I swing up into the saddle, kicking Sir into a run.
