Page 61 of Lost Kingdom

“A good boy?” I search her eyes. Her fuckin’ sass. “Really?”

“Would you prefergood little slutinstead?”

20

AUBREE

FIREWORKS — LITERALLY OR FIGURATIVELY.

Istride into work Monday morning, three coffees in hand and my backpack dangling off one arm, only to skid to a stop when I glance through the floor-to-ceiling glass walls of Minka’s office and find Daddy Mayor sitting in her visitor chair.

Or, well… Mayor Justin Lawrence.

Minka sits on her side of the desk, her elbows on the mahogany and her fingers stabbing her eyes. Almost. The energy is there, anyway. Because she loves the dude, but she hates that he tries to parent her.

Curious, I carefully set the coffees on my desk and drop my bag into my chair, then I pick up the phone and dial the lab. Since Doctor Raquel is my favorite accomplice inside this building when I want Minkanotto pay attention to me.

“This is Raquel.”

“Hey.” I keep my voice down, though god knows, it’s unnecessary. It’s not like the duo can hear me. “Daddy Mayor is here.”

“Yeah?” She perks up instantly, bouncing on her chair so the frame squeaks. “Are the veins bulging in her forehead yet?”

“No. But her eyes are doing that crazy lady thing. And her steel ruler is on the desk. She’s not holding it yet, but it’s near. Just in case.”

“Well, of course. Stabbing the mayor, any mayor, is her thing. Always gotta be prepared.”

“I got you coffee.”

“I’m on my way!” She slams the phone down and kills our call, so I do the same and swap my bag for my butt. I turn in my chair so I can see both the elevator and Minka’s office, then I wait for my colleague and practice my lip-reading skills.

‘Stop babying me!’

‘Stop working yourself to death. Janine and I worry.’

‘I took the weekend off and attended a gay wedding. Chicken skewers. Rainbows and unicorn farts.’

‘Gobble-de-goop. Where are you?’

The elevator light dings on my right, and immediately, Raquel bursts out. “I’m here! What are they saying?”

“Uh… well… I think Minka is discussing the wedding menu. And the mayor said, ‘Please accept my ever-lasting love and affection. Can I adopt you?’”

She snatches up the coffee labeled LAB and sits her ass on the edge of my desk. “He really said that?”

“I mean… my skills aren’t razor sharp, so…”

“How was your weekend, anyway?”

I give up on reading lips when I think I see‘poop poop magoop’, and instead turn in my chair and focus on the only person who doesn’t know my business.

Nor do I intend to tell her.

“My brother got married. The wedding was lovely, my parents behaved, and life went on. Yours?”

“I had a date and got laid. Like, six times,” she sniggers. “Best orgasms of my life.”

“Where’d you meet?”

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