Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 130673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 523(@250wpm)___ 436(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 523(@250wpm)___ 436(@300wpm)
“Sorry, I didn’t order this.” I pasted on an apologetic smile.
“Didn’t order what?” The delivery guy tilted his head sideways.
“A package of red flags.” I gestured toward my upstairs neighbor.
Rhyland barked out a laugh, clearly delighted to be the bane of my existence. He tucked his phone into his pocket and strolled inside—not before plucking the package from the clearly bemused delivery man and slamming the door shut with his foot. I followed him, narrowing my eyes at the nape of his neck in the hope he’d catch fire.
“Actually, I have something to give you too,” Rhyland announced, placing the Amazon box on the island.
“Not interested in your chlamydia, but thanks.”
“Lies.” His nonchalant grin stretched wider, revealing perfect white teeth. “You can’t wait for me to give you chlamydia and any other STIs I picked up along the way.” He shoved his hand into his front pocket, producing the key to Jimmy and tossing it into my hands. “In other news, your car’s driving like it’s brand-new.”
“Was it the spark plug?” I didn’t even know what a spark plug was, to be honest. I just wanted to participate in a grown-up conversation about something that wasn’t unicorns, fluffy animals, or Cocomelon.
“Among other things.” The bastard took a sip of my drink without asking, scowling at the mug. “That’s some weak-ass coffee. Anyway, I also changed the brakes, the oil filter, the alternator, the battery, and the water pumps.”
I blinked in shock. “Did you keep anything at all? The Little Trees air freshener on my rearview mirror?”
“Changed that one too.” He glided like a swan over water toward the fridge, flinging it open and peering inside. “No offense, but it smelled like the underside of toenails after you cut them.”
“You’re depraved,” I announced with a scowl.
He shrugged. “And you’re still interested.”
“Did you do this all by yourself?” I dangled the key in my hand.
“Yup.”
That seemed excessive for someone who wasn’t a mechanic. “And are you sure you knew what you were doing?”
He sucked in his teeth. “Guess we’ll find out.”
“That’s reassuring.”
“I believe the words you’re looking for are ‘thank you.’”
Regrettably, he looked like he belonged in a Ralph Lauren catalog. The only thing he was missing was a horse and the Hamptons as his backdrop. He wore a chunky gold watch, slim green chinos, and beige sneakers. His man bun was haphazardly tied, the silky strands of pale and dark blond locks begging to be smoothed back.
Grav chose that moment to careen from the hallway, fisting three Barbies by their hair. She football-tackled Rhyland’s legs, slamming into them in a hug. “Uncle Rhyrand!”
His spine snapped straight and he grimaced, physically repulsed. My hackles went up.
“Now, now.” He patted Gravity’s head as if she were a Yorkshire terrier, untying her from his legs. “Ever heard of the term ‘personal space,’ kiddo?”
Oh God. What a jackass.
My sweet bundle of joy peered up at him innocently, her chubby arms still encircling his knees. “No. What’s that?”
“It’s when someone is a soulless ghoul, so they act like a donkey in front of literal toddlers.” I hurried toward them, scooping Grav up and hugging her close to my chest before she got her first rejection. What kind of animal was this rude to a child?
Rhyland appeared undaunted by the daggers of hate I threw his way with my eyes, flipping his brown leather briefcase open. I didn’t even know why he had the damn thing. He was a boyfriend for hire, not a lawyer.
“Hey, kid, I got you something.”
“Oh, I love somethings!” She clapped excitedly. “What is it?”
He produced a stuffie of a white sheep with a pink tutu, face, and ears. Grav wiggled out of my hands, rushing toward the stuffie and hugging it to her chest.
“Aw, I love it!”
“Does that mean you’re going to get rid of Mr. Mushroom?” he enquired.
“No!” she said cheerfully. “I love Mr. Mushroom.”
“I’m sure Mommy does too.”
I swatted his shoulder, grateful for the chance to touch him. No doubt I needed to stock up on good vibrators and some Jade West books to spice up my life. I mean, I propositioned the man within my first twenty minutes in New York. After he humiliated me when I was eighteen.
“And there’s something else.” Rhyland reached for his briefcase again, producing a small puzzle. “It’s a twenty-piece puzzle of your face. Do you like it?”
“Yes!” Grav pumped the air with her fist.
“Good. Go do it somewhere else and give Mommy and Uncle Rhyland some privacy,” he said flatly, tossing the puzzle at her, again as if she were playing fetch.
I tried to tame my visceral reaction to how cold and offhanded he was with my daughter, despite buying her gifts. He had just fixed my car. Grav ran back to her room with the puzzle, and I forced myself to turn to him with a tight smile.