Page 22 of Cowboy and the Convict

"It doesn't really have a name, but it's something I ate a lot when I was young." She pointed at the cabinet to her right. "Grab some bowls so we can eat and get back to work."

The older daughter lined four flower printed bowls down the counter and Janie scooped some of her doctored-up macaroni and cheese into each one. Once dinner was all dished out, she picked up her bowl and turned to the still overflowing table. "Where do you guys usually eat?"

The oldest daughter gave her a sheepish smile. "On the couch while we watch television."

Janie opened the silverware drawer and fished out spoons, adding one to each bowl. "Not judging. That's where I usually have dinner too." She carried her bowl toward the hallway. "Come on. Let's go eat." She situated herself on the overstuffed loveseat, waiting until all three girls were seated on the couch before saying, "We didn't really get to introductions. I'm Janie. You probably already figured out your dad hired me to come clean your house on Sundays."

The oldest daughter gave her a little smile. "I'm Riley," she thumbed at the middle daughter beside her, "this is Olivia," then she pointed to their youngest sister, "and that's Gwen."

Janie studied Devon's daughters for a minute. "I'm sorry I was a little hard on you girls. I was just really surprised when I got here. This place is pretty—"

"Disgusting." Olivia finished for her. She grinned, looking unoffended. "We know. Our dad tells us all the time."

Janie leaned forward, meeting their gazes. "If you know, then why don't you help him? He's got a lot on his plate. I know you guys are kids, but—" She stopped short.

What the fuck was she doing? She was lecturing these girls the same way Devon had lectured her countless times.

But it was kind of for their own good. And fuck if she didn't hate that, because now it had her looking at Devon's lectures a little differently.

Janie groaned, flopping back as she shoved a spoonful of macaroni and cheese into her mouth. "Being an adult is stupid."

10

Devon

JANIE'S CAR STILL being parked in front of his house offered some warning about what he was about to find, but it didn't come close to preparing him for the full reality of what was happening in his house right now.

He’d managed to get through the front door, past the entryway, and now was standing in the doorway, without a single one of them noticing. "What’s going on here?"

Four heads swiveled his way and three sets of eyes widened. The last pair narrowed.

Riley was the first to speak up. She gave him a tentative smile from where she sat behind Gwen, fingers twisted in her younger sister’s hair. "You're home early."

Devon shook his head, hooking his keys beside the door as he continued trying to make sense of what he was seeing. "Nope. Right on time."

Olivia, who was currently standing in the middle of the rearranged living room with both hands over her head, grinned. "Guess we just lost track of time."

He took a few more steps into the house, looking over a living room that looked quite different than it had when he left. "Looks like you've been busy." His eyes found Janie. "I didn't expect you to rearrange the whole house."

She angled a brow at him, lifting her chin. "Oh, you mean the house that would have taken me an entire month to clean?" She walked around where Olivia stood. "The house that you told me I could spend just a few hours on every other Sunday?"

She did have him there. He hadn't been entirely forthcoming with the condition of his home when he told Janie she could even out the payment he’d sent to Tukwila by doing a little housework every couple of weeks. It wasn’t that he didn’t think she should know, it was just embarrassing. It was the same reason he made sure not to be there when she came over. He didn't want to see the look on her face when she saw just how bad he'd allowed it to get.

"Don't yell at Janie." Gwen winced as Riley continued twisting her hair. "She's awesome."

He turned back to where Janie stood next to Olivia, looking her over. "Is she?"

Olivia tightened her ponytail and straightened her shoulders. "She's helping me with my backflips." His middle daughter pointed at where the furniture was shoved against one wall. "That's why we had to move everything out of the way."

Gwen piped up. "She's teaching Riley how to braid my hair so it won't get in my face when I'm studying."

Janie stepped a little closer, smirking at him. "And, for the record, not only did I clean your kitchen, but your daughters also cleaned out the front closet."

He'd been surprised to see Janie was still at his house. Even more so to discover what was happening inside. But finding out his daughters helped clean? That shocked the shit out of him.

"Really?"

He looked between his daughters before turning to the closet in question and yanking open the door, half expecting a ton of shit to come tumbling out on top of him. They were notorious for saying they'd cleaned something, when in reality they hadn’t done shit. To his continuing shock, the closet was perfectly organized. All their coats were hung in an orderly fashion. Their boots and the rest of the shoes that had been piled up were now lined in neat rows. Backpacks and purses were hooked on the door. They'd even vacuumed out the debris covering the floor and crusted into the corners.

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