Page 28 of Maid in Heaven

He looked back up at her and gave a tight grin that didn’t meet his eyes. “I was able to pay down the doctor’s bills and get her medicine this way. And it’s not a bad way to earn a living. I actually enjoy it a lot. I get to meet a lot of really interesting people. The work is easy. Hell, battling my pride was literally the hardest part of the whole thing.”

“I think that’s pretty admirable. You seem like a good dad. She needed something, and you did anything you could to provide it.”

“I think I want to keep doing it, too. I’ve built up a nice little client base and filled out my costume collection.” He smiled warmly at her. “Ithinksoon I may even file for a business license.”

“You got a name picked out for your company?”

“Nah. Maybe something short and simple like…Jessup Cleaning.”

“That’s… a name.” Her eyes widened comically and then went back to normal. “Do you plan on staying a one-man operation?Or do you have goals to expand to, say, a fleet?”She took anothersip of her martini and moaned with satisfaction.

Will cleared his throat. The way she licked sugar from her luscious bottom lip hypnotized him. He felt his dickstir.

“I know a couple guys who might one day be interested,but I’m not sure if I want to grow like thatjust yet. I’m enjoying having it all to myself for now.”

“How do you advertise?” she asked, genuinely intrigued.

“Word of mouth.” He grinned.“Why? Thinkin’about hiring me again?”

She wagged a manicured finger at him. “No. And technically, I didn’t hire you the first time. I ask because I have a bachelor’s in business management with a minor in accounting. Iwasjust curious.”

“This is a date, not aShark Tankpitch.”

“You’re right. Youjust piqued my interest. It makes sense. It’s a low-overheadservice in a niche market. Client’s houses are going to keep getting dirty, so it’s a recurring service with some predictable regularity if scheduling is done correctly. And I’m sure you’re making amintin tips by cateringspecificallyto wealthyclientele who can not only afford to hire a maid but to hire one who cleans in accordance with their tailored fantasies.” She shrugged and took another sip of her drink. “I commend you. It’s a great idea.”

“Thank you.” Will leaned in a little closer. “I appreciate that.Thank you for not judging me or treating me like a stripper.”

“There’s nothing wrong with strippers. Sex work is real work. Plus, you’re not just stripping. You’re scrubbing and vacuuming and scouring, too.”

“It’s a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it.”

“With the way you filled out that cop costume, I imagine it can be averydirty job…”

Will leaned in, closer still. Avacould feel his body heat radiating at such a close proximity. His voice was quiet and flirtatious, barely rising above the sounds of the nearby slide guitar. “You have nooooo idea.”

Sherubbed her fingers absentmindedly along the stem of her glass. “How old isStarla?”

Will smiled brightly, face lighting up with momentary glee at the mention of his child’s name. “She’s six.”

Avaplucked the lemon slice from the rim of her glass and stirred the dwindling remainder of her drink with it. “What happened to her mother?Is she… still in the picture?”

“About a year-and-a-half after Starla was born, my ex, Sarah, decided motherhood ‘wasn’t for her.’She wanted to party and stay out late, drinkingall the time, whileI wanted to be homewith our daughter. We drifted apart, and eventually,she left.Bothof us.”

Ava’s lips curled into a frown, and she rubbed the damp ring on her coaster. “I hate to see someone piss away the giftof being a mother like that.Fires me up. Some women don’t know how good they have it. Some of us,” she bristled, feeling the dam of emotions she could barely contain, “we don’t ever get to be that lucky.”

Her mind flashed to her fertility doctor, to the results of her viability testing, to the tear-filled weeks of wallowing in her own self-pity, to the nurseryshe later converted into an officeafter the official verdict.

Will placed a hand on hers and pressed his lips together with a sorrowful expression. He held it for a moment. She could feel the genuine compassion in the silent gesture.

“Another round?” the bartender cawed from halfway down the bar to Will.

“Yes, please,” Will bellowed.

The bartender nodded, and Ava could have sworn the woman winked at him, too.

“Does Starla know why you have so many costumes?”

“Sheprobably doesn’t care much,to be honest. She’s in her own little fantasy world unless I pull her out of it sometimes. She’s a big reader.”

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