Page 98 of Tough Nut to Crack

"I think you're too good to me," she whispers, her hand reaching across the center console for mine.

"I think we're good together, baby. As corny as that sounds."

Her laughter is like a balm to my soul, and I know that I'm complete with this woman by my side. I didn't know I was even missing anything until her.

The rest of the drive back to my place is done in companionable silence.

"What the hell?" I ask as I pull up my driveway and notice a van parked there.

"Did you have a delivery scheduled today?"

"Nope," I say, reading the side of the van when I park. "Dust Bunnies?"

"It's a local cleaning service," Riley explains.

"Yeah, I remember Donnie mentioning something about it the other day."

"You didn't hire them?"

I shake my head. "I considered it. The company that came out from Austin didn't do the job to the standard I expected."

"City folk," she mutters, and I huff a laugh, in full agreement with her.

"Let me get the door for you," I say before climbing out and walking around to her side of thevehicle.

I help her down, not missing an opportunity for her body to rub against mine before helping her grab the breakfast from the back along with the supplies she insisted on bringing.

"I have nothing to do with what's going on inside," Donnie says, standing in front of us the second we come around the front of the cleaning van.

"What exactly is going on inside?" I ask, annoyance at having to deal with bullshit first thing in the morning settling inside of me like a ton of bricks.

"Fucking Ronnie," the man mutters before looking at Riley. "Sorry, ma'am. Is that breakfast?"

She waves off his apology. "Just something I threw together."

"How about you go get breakfast served to the guys, and I'll deal with the mess inside the house?"

"I can help you," Ethan says as he walks up. "Let me carry that for you."

Riley hands him the casserole and gives Donnie the bag with the paper plates and plastic utensils before looking back at me.

"See you soon, baby," I tell her, loving the way her cheeks turn pink with the promise in my tone.

I don't know what I was expecting when I walked into my house, but it sure as hell wasn't Ronnie Tate and Callie Drocer staring each other down as if they were moments from murdering each other.

"What is going on here?"

Ronnie smiles as if the look Callie is giving him is some sort of sexual role-playing they're participating in.

"I'm not a hooker!" Callie says the second her eyes land on me.

I hold my hands up at my ears, turning to Ronnie for an explanation.

"I never once suggested sex," Ronnie says, looking at her rather than speaking to me.

"What am I supposed to think when you tell me the bathroom is over there so I can change into my French maid costume?"

"Jesus," I mutter, looking at my employee. "You hired her and expected her to come clean in a costume?"

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