Page 65 of Mayhem and Minnie

Fucking hell. I’m never going to get rid of her until she meets Minnie, that much is for sure.

“Fine,” I eventually agree. “But remember. She’s just a friend. You will not make her uncomfortable.”

There’s a pause on the line before my mother chuckles.

“Of course, dear. I’ll be the picture of decorum. Just make sure she’s wearing something more…appropriate.”

Shaking my head, I end the call and place the phone in my pocket.

Minnie exits the dressing room and regards me curiously.

“My mother wants to meet you,” I tell her.

She blinks. “She…does?”

“She somehow found out about you and now she wants to get to know you over dinner. But it’s fine if you don’t want to come,” I quickly amend.

What I wouldn’t give to get myself out of this mess, but the truth is that it’s very unlikely I’ll be able to.

When my mother puts her mind to something, it’s impossible to dissuade her. I have no doubt she would make good on her threat to camp outside my home, in a tent no less.

My lips flatten in annoyance.

“No, no. I would love to,” Minnie says, her lips slowly spreading into a smile.

I grunt.

“Let’s go,” I tell her, helping her with her clothes.

She pulls her cap lower to hide her features and follows behind me.

We get to the check-out, but there are at least ten people in front of us.

I curse under my breath.

I should have asked someone else to come shop with her—a personal stylist or whatever women use. Perhaps I should have ordered her something online and be done with it. But it would have taken days for it to arrive and she needs the clothes and shoes now.

I take a deep breath.

I hate waiting.

From the corner of my eye, I spot the Halloween clearance section, and something catches my attention.

A maid costume.

A flash of Minnie wearing that around the house while she cleans appears in my mind, and I hum in approval.

That would not be a bad sight at all.

It would be her work uniform, no?

“Wait here. I need to get something,” I say before I leave the queue.

There are a number of variations of maid costumes. Some are downright skimpy, with skirts that are not longer than the width of my palm.

No, that would not do.

I don’t need more temptation.

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