Page 99 of The Assignment: Room 3

“Take a breath, pet. It’s going to be good. I’m looking forward to seeing you and getting to know Gracie. She and I are buddies if you didn’t catch that on churro night.” Could this man be any sweeter?

“I guess your charm works on women of all ages.”

“You think I’m charming?” he teases.

“I love your humble personality, Flex.”

“All I’m hearing is that you love me.” A nervous laugh escapes me, unable to form a coherent sentence. “It was a joke, Celest. You need to chill. We’re just having dinner. I’ve seen you naked already, so dinner shouldn’t be such a stressor.”

“Naked is the easy part.”

“I can get you naked after dinner. Understood.”

“No!” He’s trying to allay my fears, and it’s working. What have I gotten myself into?

Chapter 19

FLEX

It was a bad idea to drive myself out here tonight. I could really use a drink right about now. I made fun of Celest for being concerned, but here I am, sitting outside in my car, my hands sweating.

There’s someone in a car down the street with the lights off. It’s the same one I saw last week. As I open my car door and stand, I stare them down. It could be nothing. You see all the same cars in the street all the time because theylivehere. I’m about to take a wander down the road to check it out, but Celest’s front door opens, and Gracie comes running out.

“Mr. Fex!” She teeters down the steps to meet me on the sidewalk, and I scoop her up into my arms.

“Hey, Gracie. I hear you’re making my dinner tonight.”

“No.” She giggles. “Mommy is making it, but I picked it.”

“I’m sure it’s going to be amazing.”

“Do you like gummy worms?” She smiles so bright it could light up a room.

“Ilovegummy worms, but can you keep a secret?”

Her eyes widen as she nods her head emphatically.

“Pinky promise?” I hold mine out, and she hooks her tiny pinky with mine.

“Yup.”

“When I eat gummy worms, I love to have scrambled eggs with them,” I whisper.

She turns to look at Celest, so happy, and it gets me right in the feels. She wriggles for me to put her down, then shoves her little hand into mine, pulling me toward the house.

Celest leans against the doorjamb, a cute-as-hell look on her face as Gracie and I walk up the front steps. She’s glowing.

“Hello, pet,” I say as I lean in and give her a peck on the cheek. “You look beautiful tonight.”

A blush spreads when my lips touch her silky, soft skin.

“Hi, Flex.” She smiles at the sight of Gracie tugging me inside.

“Your home is lovely.” It’s small and modest, but it has something mine doesn’t—life. Family. You could fit this place in my living room four times over, but it’s a hollow shell. There’s no one to welcome me home at the end of a rough day. Laughter doesn’t fill the air, and the aroma of a home-cooked meal is nonexistent.

“Gracie, go wash up for dinner.” She skips off down the hallway, and Celest doesn’t look happy.

“What’s wrong?”

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