Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“No.” I shook my head. “But I’ve watched her deliver other people’s packages. None of them have been delivered to the front doors. Always to the end of the yard so she doesn’t have to get out.”
The boss sighed. “It’s so hard to hire good help now-a-days.”
The door to Calliope’s house slammed again and I watched her come down the length of her walk with her feet shoved in fur-lined monstrosities she called boots.
I wasn’t aware of what the boss was doing.
I also wasn’t aware of Searcy coming to stand beside me.
No, my entire focus was on the siren coming toward us.
Calliope may be a pain in the ass personality wise, but fuck, was she something to look at.
She wasn’t super tall, about five-foot-five. But her red hair the color of Ariel’s, that never ceased to be styled perfectly in loose waves always drew my eye. Paired with her beguiling blue eyes, and fuck, was I lost.
But, like always, I had to admit to myself that she was way too fucking young for me.
Way too young.
Ten years too young.
At twenty-one, she was by far the youngest of the group of adults. Though, she didn’t act like it.
Calliope acted like she’d seen the world, by being dragged around it, and had come out swinging on the other side.
And, by comparison, my forty years of life was just too much to ever consider going there with her.
That didn’t mean that I didn’t like being in her presence, though.
Because, my fucking god, did she take my breath away.
She was fun to tease, and she got angry at the drop of a hat.
Speaking of angry, Calliope said, “What are the requirements for a UPS driver?”
“You have to be able to lift fifty pounds,” the boss started listing things off.
Calliope nodded her head along with the requirements and said, “I’m looking for a job while I look for my real job. I won’t promise that I stay for very long—the job that I really want is supposed to come open in the next six months—but I’ll be a fuckin’ awesome worker in the meantime if you want me to apply.”
My gaze flicked to Searcy, who was watching the entire interaction with her arms crossed over her chest.
She did, however, nod right along with Calliope as she promised that she was a good worker.
“She worked her entire way through high school and college, while also maintaining a part-time status at our family’s diner,” Searcy confirmed.
“Then come by the office tomorrow and we’ll get you situated.” She sighed. “I seem to have a critical opening that needs filled immediately. Eight in the morning sharp, and sucks to say, but we are working overtime through the holidays.”
The boss left, leaving the four of us standing there watching her go.
“You already have a full-time job at that mechanical engineering company in Plano. Why’d you get a job now? You could’ve cruised through the next six months until it started. You have money.”
“Because I don’t like being idle. It gives me too much time to think,” she admitted. “Plus, I’m not touching that money. It can go to my nonexistent kids.”
“Why?” Searcy threw up her hands. “It’s not a bad thing! I gave it to you because I think you deserve it!”
Years ago, when Doc and Searcy had just started out, Searcy had been given a lottery ticket as a tip while she was working at the diner her mother owned. Then she’d forgotten about it for months until one day Anders, Searcy, and Calliope’s little sister had made the connection.
Turns out, she’d won a fuck of a lot of money in the lottery, giving them their first break in their entire lives.
“I don’t deserve anything, and you know it,” she said as she walked to her truck and pulled out her wallet and keys. “Kent, if you want, when you’re done, you can drive my truck home. I have another set of keys in my kitchen drawer. If not, will you make sure to lock up before you head out?”
Kent nodded. “I’ll be eighteen in the spring. Make sure you leave this job on good terms so I can apply. Also, I plan on eating the rest of your cereal before I leave. Make sure you don’t plan on having that for breakfast in the morning.”
The two sisters left without a backward glance, and I was left standing there wishing she’d stayed for just a little bit longer.
I had to get my hit somehow.
If I wasn’t going to pursue her, then I had to get the fix somewhere.
“What’s going on with it now?” I asked, pulling myself together.
Kent groaned. “I tried to work on the carb myself, but clearly I still have no idea what I’m doing.”
Four
So about those murder hornets. Can I send them a list of names? Or what?