Page 48 of Under Daddy's Spell

Chapter Fifteen

TESSA LOOKED UP EVERYtime the bell jingled. She was anxious to put this long, sweltering nightmare behind her. But the repairman didn’t arrive at nine o’clock as Jordan promised. Or at 9:30 or 10. By that point, she couldn’t take it anymore and called next door.

Seth answered.

“Maybe Jordan got the time wrong or the day. Is he there? Who can we call? I swear, Seth, I can’t take another hour of this. And I’m ever so grateful you got us those portable units. They’ve saved my store, but they’re big and bulky and take up space. Mrs. Chalmers walked into one and almost flipped over it. They’ve got to go. I was hoping you could return them for a refund, but if that repairman doesn’t get here—

“Whoa! Tessa. Slow down. How much coffee have you had this morning, darlin’?”

“Only one double-shot vanilla latte, but if he doesn’t get here soon, I’m gonna need another.”

“Before you OD on caffeine, babe, the repairman is over here. He started in the mechanical room and is now calibrating the thermostat. When he’s done here, he’s heading your way.”

“Oh, thank goodness. I’ve been freaking out. Thanks, Seth.”

“Wait, before you go. You think I got you those portable A/Cs?”

“Yeah, you were the one who told me about them to begin with.”

“I wish I could say I was that thoughtful and generous, but it wasn’t me.”

“But I saw your signature on the invoice.”

“Tessa, who do I work for?”

“You mean...?”

“I do that kind of shit on Jordan’s behalf all the time. He wanted to make sure his girl didn’t— How did you put it? Keel over from heat stroke.”

All along, it was Jordan looking out for her. And he’d done it after finding out she’d tampered with the ducts and called him a brute and, holy crap,honey buns. The spanking he’d given her last night wasn’t enough. Mercy’s sake. Was she always this much of a brat, or did he bring it out in her?

“Tessa? You still there.”

“Yeah.”

“Repairman is crossing our lobby and heading your way.”

“Is Jordan in?” Suddenly, the A/C wasn’t so important.

“He was, but he’s out right now. He’ll be back later.”

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