Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
They were intimidating, there was no doubt about that. But… that didn’t necessarily mean that this wouldn’t work out. Despite the frat’s reputation, this had been a fairly normal interview. Sure, Bennett and Grant didn’t seem to understand the reality for working class people, but neither did most of the residents of this town.
All in all, they’d both been fairly professional. Sure, I’d caught them looking me over a few times. Grant, in particular, seemed to like my legs. But it wasn’t like they’d been ogling me. So maybe the frat’s reputation had been exaggerated. Bennett and Grant weren’t going to be my best friends, but that was okay. They were my employers. There was no rule that said that fraternity brothers couldn’t be good bosses. They couldn’t all be horny party boys.
Bennett returned carrying a leather garment bag. Grant sat up straight, looking eager. “Time to see if you’re a good fit,” he said again.
“What do you mean?” I said uneasily.
Bennett unzipped the garment bag, letting it fall heavily to the floor. He balanced a hanger on one long finger.
I blinked, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. Black fabric with flashes of white hung from the hanger. There were puffy sleeves with white lace on them. White lace lined the top of the bodice, as well. And the skirt? It was fluffy and short, almost like a ballerina’s tutu. Black fabric sat on top of layers of white ruffles.
“W-what is… that?” My voice came out in a hoarse whisper as the knowledge hit home. It was a French maid costume.
“Your new uniform,” Bennett said.
2
HAILEY
My jaw dropped open as I stared at the skimpy dress Bennett held aloft. No words came to me as my pulse pounded in my temples, my brain shut down from shock. He couldn’t be serious, right? It had to be a joke.
“You’ll need to provide your own fishnet stockings,” Bennett said with a smirk.
Grant’s smile was equally smug. “If you can’t afford them, I’ll be happy to pay… if you let me watch you try them on.”
My mind was still reeling, but somehow my body knew what to do. I pushed up off the couch, getting shakily to my feet. I’d been wrong, so wrong, about these guys. Desperation could do that to people, but I’d rather sleep on a park bench than parade around in a costume like that for their perverted entertainment.
“I think—” That was as far as I got. The rest of the words seemed to get stuck in my throat. I held onto the arm of the couch for balance as I turned toward the front door. Before I could make a move toward it, it swung inward.
A new man strode inside, his arms swinging until he spotted us and stopped short. “Oh, hey. Is this the woman who’s going to rescue us from a diet of takeout food this summer?” He smiled at me.
“That remains to be seen,” Grant said.
The new guy walked over. He had dark, rather ruffled hair and a short beard. His eyes were dark when he was inside the doorway, but as the sun from the bay windows reached his face, they turned light grey. It was a little disconcerting… he had one of those gazes that appeared to look right through you. But as he was the only one of the three who hadn’t smirked at me so far, I attempted to return his smile.
“I’m Theo.” He held out a hand and I shook it. Even with every cell in my body screaming at me to get the hell out of here, I couldn’t help noting his tan, muscular forearms. “Third year architecture student.”
Wow. He didn’t look like an architect. Or, I guess I’d never met any, come to think of it. But he was better looking than I would’ve expected one to be.
Which wasn’t the most pressing matter.
His gaze had already fallen on the most pressing matter. “What’s that?” His forehead wrinkled slightly as he stared at the French maid costume.
My voice returned. “M-my new uniform.” Except it wouldn’t be. No way would I take a job here now.
Theo from me to the skimpy little dress a few times, and then he burst into laughter.
He moved between the cousins, slinging an arm around each of their necks. “Very funny, guys.” His chuckles filled the room before he shook Grant’s shoulders. “You’re supposed to haze the new recruits, not the summer help.”
For once, Grant didn’t look cocky. Whoever this new guy was, Grant didn’t want to be an arrogant ass around him. “We—”
“He’s the pledge master, you know,” Theo told me before snatching the costume out of Bennett’s hands. He held it out in front of him and ran one finger down the black satin. “Where did you even get this?” He shook his head and let out a low whistle. Then he winked at me. “Not that you wouldn’t look great in this, but these guys are just giving you a hard time. You’ll get used to them.”