Page 99 of Tough Nut to Crack

Ronnie shrugs. "Isn't that what they do?"

Callie gasps as if she's never heard of a more disrespectful insult. "Dust Bunnies is a legitimate business. It's respectable!"

"I know it is," I say quickly, although I don't really knowanything about it.

"I was told to come here, that there was some cleaning to do after a kitchen fire, and this idiot says those sorts of things to me."

"I told you that you didn't have to wear a costume," Ronnie clarifies.

"You told me that clothes wouldn't be necessary at all," she explains. "I explained that wasn't how the service works."

"You saidget out of here, you fucking creep," Ronnie mimics.

"And then you mentioned a strip tease on the living room coffee table if I wanted to earn a good tip!"

I feel like I've entered the twilight zone. I'm not sure if these two are even mad at each other. There's a vibe that makes me think this is some weird ass sexual ritual, but maybe my brain is clouded with all the hours I've spent recently with Riley.

"I could sue you for sexual harassment," she says, glaring and pointing a finger at me.

"Me?" I snap. "I didn't hire you, and I'd never say something like that to a woman. I'm in a relationship."

"With Riley?" Ronnie asks, his attention now fully on me.

"It's new, but yeah," I tell him, a wide grin on my face.

"Excuse me," Callie growls. "Can you save your little gossip session for another time?"

"Is there a problem?"

I spin to face Riley, hating the frown on her face as she stands in the doorway.

"Just Ronnie being Ronnie," I mutter, holding my arm out to her until she steps into my side.

"Hi," she says, holding her hand out to Callie. "I'm Riley. What's going on?"

Callie shakes my woman's hand, and I'm grateful at the soft smile she gives her because I'll be damned if any anger is going to be tossed her way, no matter how upset the other woman might be.

"This guy said some disrespectful things to me," Callie explains.

"What?" Riley says, glaring at the man until he literally cowers some. "What would your mother think?"

Ronnie tilts his head. "Are you going to tell her?"

"I might," Riley threatens. "Get outside and get some breakfast. We'll discuss it later."

Ronnie bolts, and I don't know if he is waiting for an escape or if the promise of food made him forget all about the situation in the house.

"I'm sorry. The man is an idiot," Riley explains. "Do you have a business card? I'd like to reschedule on a day when the front yard isn't littered with fools."

"My boss is going to be very upset with me," Callie says as she pulls a card from the back pocket of her jeans.

"I'll give her a call and explain that we just had a misunderstanding on scheduling. Would that work?"

"Yes," Callie says. "It's my first day. I don't want to get fired."

The woman looks at me with sadness in her eyes.

"I really need this job."

---