Page 1 of Maid in Heaven

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“No, no, no!” Avashouted.

“Oh, yes, yes, yes!” echoed the voice seeping from Ava’s cell phone.

“Pleasetell me you’re joking!” Ava barked.

Her friend hysterically laughed on the other end. “It’s not a joke. He’s coming over.”

“Oh, for the love of… Madison! Why would you do that? This is, like, the worst day for that. I have a video call with a chairman from London this morning.”

“Well, tell him to start in the bathroom or something.”

“You paid some stranger to come intomyhouse and clean it? Without my permission? That’s so…rude.”

“He’s not astranger. I’ve known him since high school! He’s a good guy and a hell of a maid.”

“By the way… a maid? In Jackson Hole?” Ava’s lips raced as she spewed her protest frantically. “This is friggin’ Wyoming. I mean, I knew the billionaires were kickin’ themillionairesout, but is that even ajobanymore?Maid?Is that even the politically correct term?”

“Slow down. You’re doing that thing where you talk at the speed of sound. You’re spinnin’ out. Take a breath. He callshimselfa maid, so I’d say you’re safe on this one.”

Deflated, Ava sunk into her La-Z-Boy, one left behind by her ex-husband when he moved out months ago. “Madison, I’m gonna send him home.”

“No, you’re not! You’re going to let him clean up your pigsty of a house. I’m tired of coming over there and moving the laundry off the couch just to find a damned place to sit. You’re out of control. This first one’s on me. It’s mygiftto you.”

“Daniel was the neat freak,” Ava growled. His name made her heart pang with sadness and her posture slump with embarrassment. “He’s gone. What’s the point in keeping a spotless place?”

“It’s time you get your house… and yourpipes… cleaned,” Madison joked.

“Oh, fuck off. Nobody says that anymore. Your age is showing.” Ava winced at the realization that there was no getting out of this. “Fine, but he keeps his clotheson. I don’t need these Brits to think I’m some sort of dominatrixor something.” Ava shook her head silently. “I have to go. Catch you later.”

“I’ll be waiting. Spare no detail. What hewore… how hecleaned… if youbangedhim,” Madison teased.

“I’m hanging up now.”

“Wait!”

“What?” Ava snapped, desperate to be off the phone with Madison, who sounded like a hyena with all the constant cackling.

“Do you have condoms? You know… in case?”

Ava pressed theend callbutton on her cell.

Shedidn’thave condoms. She threw them out when she found out she couldn’t have children.

The divorce followed shortly after.

She was left with the house and Kuda, her Staffordshire Pit Bull terrier. His short snout and wiggly body brought her comfort in those dreary, lonesome months.

Trotting in from his doggy door, Kuda made his way through the dining room into the living area. He got a running start and hopped onto the couch, curling up on top of a pile of clean clothes that were folded but not yet put away.

The doorbell chimed.

Ava’s heart jumped into her throat. Dreading the intrusion, she looked at the porch-cam notification on her phone. Selecting the alert, that’s when she saw him…

A God among mere mortal men.

Her eyes nearly fell out of their sockets at the gorgeous male standing on her porch, muscular form bulging out of a Halloween-quality police officer costume. His face looked like it was chiseled from stone, with robust, angular features. His blue eyes peered into the lens. Muscular biceps jutted out from beneath the short sleeves of the faux uniform.

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