Page 9 of Scorched

I gave her another light pat on the shoulder. “Well, listen, a part on your filter’s broken. I’m gonna finish up shortly, but I’ll have to come back and fix it. I’ll knock next time.”

When she smiled, it looked more genuine.

It was beautiful.

“Yeah,” she said. “That sounds good.”

“I think I have one in stock, so if you don’t mind, I’ll come tomorrow. Around the same time?”

“Sure. I’ll be here. I don’t really have anywhere else to be.”

I gave her another sympathetic look.

She took a deep breath and nodded. “Well, I’ll let you finish your work. Do I need to pay you or anything?”

“Nope. Mr. Raynor will send a check. Don’t worry about it.”

“Okay. Well, have a good day.”

“You, too, Cassie.”

I watched her walk back into the house, taking a long drink of her Cosmo as she went.

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