Page 69 of Spike

He came flyingthrough the drapes with flourish and grinned. “When do you start?”

I chuckled. “Ihave to read through the paperwork, then make my decision.”

“Great. You can dothat while we eat. Give me your keys.”

“My keys, why?”

“Because I had tohaul shit in one of the big trucks, so we’re gonna take your car.”

“Okay, so I’lldrive.”

He smirked. “Ah,no, I drive when we’re together, baby.”

“What kind ofchauvinistic, misogynistic—”

“Not playin’ thatgame, Trixie. You were born to be driven, so I’m drivin’ you.” He held his palmout to me and flapped it.

“I’m not MissDaisy.”

He cocked hishead. “You saw Driving Miss Daisy?”

“Yes. In my socialstudies class. My father flipped his lid.” She smiled. “I loved it.”

“Did you love itmore because your dad flipped his lid?”

“I plead thefifth.”

Spike laughed andI reluctantly handed him my keys and led him out the front door.

** *

“Spike?” Iwhispered.

“Yeah, baby?” hewhispered back with a grin.

“Devlin’s offeringme twenty-grand more than I was making at my last job, plus five weeks paidtime off, plus two weeks sick leave, and full medical and dental benefits. Shealso closes the shop over Christmas and that time’s paid as well. So, that’slike almost seven weeks off a year. How is this even possible?”

We were sitting inhis favorite breakfast place on Mississippi, eating what I’d deemed the bestFrench toast on the planet, and I was reading through the offer paperwork.

“She wants herpeople to feel taken care of so they don’t leave,” he said.

“It’s too good tobe true.”

“We take care ofour own, Trixie,” he said and took a sip of his coffee.

“I don’t know if Ican live up to this, though.”

He frowned,setting his mug on the table. “What the fuck did your parents do to you?”

“I don’t know thatI can blame my parents for everything, honey. I’m inexperienced.”

“And she said shehires for attitude, right? You have a great attitude. She’ll train you for allthe other stuff.” He reached over and squeezed my hand. “Give yourself a breakand take the chance.”

I bit my lip. “Itdoes mean I might actually be able to afford Kim’s place.”

“Good becauseyou’re moving in on Saturday.”

I gasped. “What?”

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