AllFreeNovel
Share Us
MAREN
It’s unseasonably warm for the last day of January. Perfect weather for cleaning up the playset I found without freezing my hands off. It won’t last long since February is generally a bitterly cold month.
With earbuds tucked into my ears and the music cranked up, I plunge the scrubbing sponge into the large tub of warm soapy water. The hose removed a lot of the excess dirt and I’m pleasantly surprised how easily the rest comes off. As far as I can tell, there’s nothing wrong with the playset at all. With some new chains for the swings, it’ll look nearly new once I’ve finished.
A tall, wide shadow appears on the ground, startling me while I’m squatting to scrub a particularly stubborn spot. Dropping my sponge, I jerk an earbud out while trying to stand and turn around at the same time. My feet tangle and my ass plops onto the damp grass. If it’s a stalker sneaking up to kidnap me, I’m done for. With my palm held up to shield my eyes from the sun, the man hovering over me comes into focus.
Cooper.
“You aren’t a stalker.” The words spill out while my heart slowly decides it doesn’t need to beat fast enough for me to outrun someone. I should probably lay off those dark romance books for a while.
His face creases, and he gives me a curious look. “No, I wanted to talk to you, and your grandfather told me you were out here.”
“He’s just begging for the nursing home.” Getting to my feet, I brush the seat of my jeans off but it’s useless. The chill of the water is already seeping through. He watches me for a second while I locate the sponge and rinse it in the tub. “What do you need?”
My curt question is answered with another. “Do you have a job?”
“Are you serious?”
“I know you do food delivery but that’s usually just a side hustle.”
The audacity of this jerk. Why does he think my job is any of his business? “Have you changed your mind about waiving the rent already? We’ve never been late with a payment.”
“No, I?—”
“What I do is none of your business. But yes, I have a job. Despite what you might think, most of us aren’t selling food stamps and plasma. We work. There are no rich daddies paying our bills.” Well, sugar daddies maybe but that’s not for me.
A frown sits on his face. “I wasn’t insulting you or suggesting that you don’t work. Are you always this contentious?”
“Nope, I’m a delight. It must be your presence. Why are you asking then?”
“I’m looking for someone to help me manage things.”
Now I know he’s crazy. “You want me to work for you? What won you over? My sparkling personality or the fact that I can’t stand you?”
His lips twitch and if he laughs at me, he’s getting sprayed in the face with the hose. “I can pay well and since you have your grandfather to support?—”
“Let me stop you right there. We’re fine. I don’t need any favors from you. And I have a night job.”
“I’m not trying to do you a favor.” He runs a hand over his chin. “Look, people here dislike me.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, I’m sure people everywhere dislike you.”
Ignoring my interruption, he continues. “They don’t trust me and it’s completely understandable. But they trust you. I saw that in the meeting. And they listen to you. I want to get this place fixed up, but that would be much easier with a mediator, a go-between that they know will tell them the truth.”
“Too bad I’m not here to make your life easier. Like I said, I have a job.”
A shout comes from nearby. “I will take your fuzzy ass to the pound, don’t test me! Get back here!” A second later, Twist barrels around the corner of the trailer, his leash trailing behind him. Spotting the big tub of sudsy water, he veers toward it.
Without thinking, I grab his collar before he can dive in. His full weight comes to an abrupt halt by slamming into my thighs, sending me toppling backward into the water. My ass hits the bottom. The plastic tub is deeper than it is long and now I’m folded in half at the waist, wedged in with soapy water up to my collarbone, staring at my own knees.
Cara runs up a second later and stops short. Her mouth falls open. I’m frozen in place for a second, still registering how I got here while Cooper stares at me. He turns to look at Cara and both of them erupt into laughter.
My cheeks burn, and I struggle to try to get out of the plastic tub. The frantic feet kicking is not helping their laughter. “Are you hurt?” Cara manages to get out through giggles.
“No, but I can’t…ugh.” More flailing doesn’t help.
“Okay good,” she says, then whips out her phone to either take a picture or video.
