Page 37 of Sunshine
“No, I just have to watch my spending.” Another pause and she looks away. “I haven’t been paying myself.”
“What?”
She looks at me, her face guilt ridden. Pulling open her purse she pulls out an envelope, putting it in my hand. “I didn’t want to take anything from you when your assets are all frozen. I’ve been putting everything in this envelope for you after the financial guardian pays me. I do have other clients. They’re just not as successful—although I’m working on that.”
“Why the hell would you do that?” I’m angry and appalled that my life drama is now affecting the only other person besides Gran that’s stuck by me all these years. I shove the envelope back at her.
“Help my littler clients be more successful?”
“No, you know what I mean. Not paying yourself because of my crap. It’s ridiculous. I can handle Gary screwing me over, but I damn well won’t tolerate him screwing with my best friend.”
“It’s okay, I don’t need much. And Tess, that’s just it. Why is it okay for him to mess with you, when you won’t tolerate him messing with others? Maybe you should fight just as hard for yourself. You deserve to be fought for too.”
Her words hit hard, as if I’d been sucker-punched. But I can’t deal with myself now, so I brush the thought away and focus on her.
“Is that why you’re here? Did you lose your condo?”
“God, no. I’ve been fighting with one of my clients and just needed a break.” The corner of Paige’s lip is clamped between her teeth as she looks off at the ducks. “Believe it or not, you’re not the most stubborn client I have.”
“A break?” I ask.
She sighs again. “It’s not fun being on this end of the conversation, Tess.” She gives a little dry laugh before she continues. “I totally get why you avoid me so much.”
I grab her, turn her to face me. Her eyes, so big, brown and doe-like, are shiny. “No way. I never avoid you. I avoid Paige, the agent. Hon, I love you. And I know I’m not the best friend I should be, always caught up in my head, in my own drama, but I’m here for you. And we’re going to a bank right now, and every dime in that envelope is going into your account and then you’re going home to see your parents, and tomorrow, after you sleep in and laze around all morning, because you deserve to, we’re going to go to the beach. We’re going to spend the weekend checking out hot guys, watching movies, eating too much junk food and drinking way too much wine. And you are going to spill the tea, my friend—every last drop.” I cross my arms, giving her my best‘don’t you dare argue with me; I’m the diva’look.
“We could also watch that hottie neighbor of yours,’ she suggests, finally smiling. “But remember I’m here to help my mom with my dad after his surgery so I’ll be going back and forth.”
“Yes, I remember. And I’m in agreement with everything but the hottie next door. He’s part ofmyproblem. And we’re dealing with yours now.” I hook my arm into hers and drag her to the car.
“Yeah, if your problem is being a bitch in heat!” She laughs throatily, tipping her head back before stopping us, and pinning me with her firm, non-negotiable, agent look. The kind thatmakes her the best at what she does and keeps my Diva in check. “But here’s my counteroffer. We don’t talk about my problems, or yourrealproblems — instead, we get up to no good with your hottie neighbor. It’s time the shenanigan sisters make a comeback.”
I laugh, surprised she remembers what Gran used to call us back when we were kids. Opening my mouth to protest her plan, I remember Case’s message earlier. I give Paige a half smile. “Let’s teach him what happens when he threatens Tess Harlow!”
Raising my hand in a high five, she slaps it. She’s right. A fling. A dirty, dirty fling is exactly what I need.
“And I already have a wicked idea.”
Chapter Twelve
Tessa
After Paige drops me off, I do a little research on my neighbor, learning some very interesting things. Apparently, Case Callen is a retired RCMP officer that was undercover in an outlaw biker club for five years, which explains a lot. The information causes a bit of anxiousness since I’ve been messing with him but once I think about it, I decide if he were going to do something about it, he already would have. In fact, I’m starting to think Mr. Biker just might be getting off on our games as much as I am.
Smiling, I tuck the information away and open my word processor to write. And I do actually write. And I don’t stop for a solid five hours. The problem? It’s not the book I should be writing. Instead, I’m swept away in the hot erotic romance that’s been taking over my brain lately. The one that’s been inspired by my sexy-but-annoying neighbor. So naturally, it’s staring him. And the heroine? She resembles the most hedonistic parts of myself, parts I had no idea existed until I met Case Callen.
And the only reason I come up for air is because the hero of that story is banging on my door.
My face burns instantly hotter as I see him. If he only knew the scene that just played out in my head and found its way onto my word processor, he’d be blushing too.
I open the door but leave the screen shut with the eyehook still latched. While it wouldn’t stop someone who really wanted in, it will stop him. He may be big and tattooed but he’s way less intimidating than he looks. Especially now that I know he’s former RCMP. But that doesn’t mean my body doesn’t shiver at his visit though. It’s just shivering for a whole different reason.
“What can I do for you, Case?” I can smell his clean scent on the breeze through the screen. His hair, still a little damp, looks darker. He’s dressed in jeans, tight around his muscular thighs, a thick belt, and that form-fitting blackFoo Fighterst-shirt again. It’s stretched around his substantial biceps, hard pecs and the bump of his nipple ring.
The shivers inside me turn to tremors and then into full-on throbbing as his grey-blue eyes assess me. I need to fan myself, only it’s not hot out and how would I explain that?
Tell me you’re a woman in your dirty thirties without telling me you’re a woman in your dirty thirties.
He places one of those delicious arms up on the door frame which gives me a better view of his muscled form.
