Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 176012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
“Fix the settings in there while you’re at it,” she fires back. “I don’t like that TruMotion, or whatever it’s called.”
She unlocks the door and steps inside. I start to follow her, but something catches my attention, and I see Farrow Kelly standing at the window of the brownstone next door, shirtless and smoking a cigarette.
He lives next door?
I turn away. Great.
“I’ll be back,” she calls out, heading up the steps.
Drifting through the door and into the foyer, I let my eyes roll around the entire space, taking in all the disrepair—the damaged floors, the broken walls, the ancient electrical running across the ceiling to the chandelier. The house creaks when I walk, and as she moves upstairs, immediately making my heart palpitate. Can her bedroom floor even support proper furniture? She couldn’t have had this place inspected because it wouldn’t have passed. I can already see that. Everything needs to be gutted.
I could start a fight and bring her home.
Or maybe she’ll let me help her. I am an architect, after all.
I see her flatscreen and dip down for the remote on the coffee table. Her old notebook lays open, a pen discarded on top as if she was in the middle of writing, and just as I look away, I notice the page titled Birthday Presents.
I don’t mean to read it, but after the first one, I just keep going.
Blow him while he’s on the phone.
Have sex with him while my brothers are in the house.
Flash him while he’s in a meeting.
Read erotica to him.
Feel what it’s like to have my panties ripped off.
Let him make me come with a rose or a feather.
Wear a collar.
Perform for him.
Wash him.
Be really loud. So loud, I
So loud, she what?
She stopped writing mid-sentence. Breathless, I rise, squeezing the muscles in the back of my neck and feeling sweat. What the fuck?
I see her on my bed again. I’m behind her. Number five…
My cock swells in my pants, and I groan.
I reach over to close the book in case she thinks I read it, but I stop myself. If I touch it, she might know then.
I rise with the remote in my hand. She could’ve made this list years ago. She said she recently dug it out to review it.
But no, she was adding to it. Oh, Quinn.
Flipping on the TV, the moaning hits my ears before the images, and in a moment, I’m staring at two men pumping their fucking dicks into a young woman.
I fumble with the remote. What the hell?!
Quinn!
But I don’t shout. I can’t even catch my breath.
I flip off the television. I don’t tell her I’m leaving. I don’t say goodbye.
In fifteen minutes, I’m back in Shelburne Falls, on High Street.
I climb the stairs to the historical society, whip back the tarp covering Jax’s set up, and snatch the case of small security cameras.
She needs more fucking supervision.
Quinn
“Have a good day tomorrow!” I shout to the back of the bakery. “Stay safe!”
“Bye!” Hailey calls out, followed by the others out the alley door. We should be all set for the Fourth of July the day after tomorrow—pre-orders are ready, cupcakes and tarts baked and chilling, and the booth is set up in the park. The shop will be closed tomorrow to give everyone who volunteered to work the holiday the day off before, and I’m looking forward to it. Maybe I can get some groceries and do some online furniture shopping for my new place. I do have a little money left.
“Codi, do you have a phone?” I ask my remaining employee who finishes cleaning the display case.
She stands up straight. “Yes.”
I take out mine. “Can I get your number?”
I’m not sure if she’s more than a summer employee yet. Somewhere I picked up the impression that she might not be able to commit to a long-term schedule, so we’re taking it a few days at a time. I’ve just been paying her under the table, but I need to get her on payroll. Taxes and such…
“We’ll be all over the place for the holiday,” I warn her. “It’ll make it easier to find each other.” I hand her my phone. “Wanna put your number in?”
Keeping her eyes down, she takes the phone and starts punching in digits.
I take it back and add her as a contact. “Doing anything fun tomorrow for your day off?”
“I have to clean Farrow’s house.”
Her voice is nearly a whisper, but I’m getting used to it.
What does she mean she has to clean Farrow’s house?
“As a…a job?” I ask.
She hesitates, as if thinking, before she nods.
Which makes me doubt he’s paying her. Is she returning a favor or something? Does he help her out in return?
Farrow’s been kind to me, but I haven’t known him long.
I step in closer. “He’s nice to you, right?”