Page 183 of Masters of Pleasure
Smiling, Iris sat down.Andrew and Kate would probably be inside in a minute, too.They were trimming the bushes in the backyard that had gotten a little overgrown.
“Thank you.”Not much tasted better than cold water when she was hot and sweaty.She could practically feel the cells in her body cheering with relief.August was a bitch of a month in Maryland.
“How have you been doing?How’s work?”
For the sake of peace, Iris decided to ignore the odd note in his voice when he asked about work.She knew he was trying.Doing someone else’s busy work wasn’t his idea of a job, but he couldn’t exactly argue with the money.His prediction she would be miserable hadn’t come true.
“Good and good.Mrs.Hill told me she wants to decorate the house for Halloween and Christmas this year.I get to go through all their decorations and decide where they go.”Iris grinned, and her father smiled.
“You always did like decorating the house.You’ll be good at that.”
It was something she and her mom had done together before her mom passed.While it sometimes felt bittersweet, Iris always felt closer to her mom when she was putting up decorations.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what they have and if they’ll let me add to it,” Iris admitted.After their mom passed, things had been tighter financially, and buying decorations had not been on the list of priorities.Before her mom passed, they’d bought at least one new decoration every year.
Living in an apartment, Iris had some of her own decorations and bought a new one every year, but she had a long way to go before she’d have the collection she wanted.She bet the Hills had some epic decorations tucked away in their attic.Maybe even National Lampoon level.
There was every chance Mrs.Hill would give her permission to add to them.She’d already let Iris start ordering fresh flowers monthly for the vase in the entry hall.It was almost more fun spending someone else’s money than spending her own.
Her father’s lips quirked, but he didn’t comment, which she appreciated.
“How is Noelle?You haven’t brought her by in a while.”
“Yeah…” Iris let out her breath on a long sigh.The answer to that question was so complicated.“We’ve been growing apart, I think.”
That was true, but it was also true spending time with Noelle wasn’t as fun as it used to be.Was it because she had new friends she had more in common with?Or was it because Noelle had become less fun?It was hard to figure out.
What she knew was she didn’t enjoy hanging out with Noelle like she used to, but she felt guilty about not enjoying it and not doing it as often.That even her dad had noticed said she really had stepped back.She didn’t feel like getting into the fact she and Noelle weren’t talking since Iris still hadn’t apologized for going out last night.
She hadn’t had much of a chance.She and Noelle had barely seen each other for two minutes before she’d left this morning, but she also hadn’t wanted to.She didn’t feel like she should have to.
The back door slammed open, and Andrew held the door open for his fiancé as they came in from the backyard.They were even sweatier than Iris when she’d first walked in.
“Oh my God, air conditioning feels so good,” Kate said with a little moan, using the back of her arm to wipe her brow.She used her other hand to lift her long blonde ponytail off her back.
“Sit, sit.”Iris’ dad was already hopping to his feet and hurrying over to get them glasses.“I’ll get you some water.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Andrew said, going to the kitchen table and pulling out a chair for Kate before he plopped down on his own.Grasping the hem of his shirt, he pulled it up to wipe his face, flashing his stomach as he did so.Iris rolled her eyes.
There were plenty of women who would have appreciated the view, but she wasn’t one of them.It never ceased to amaze her how her brother could be ‘on’ at all times.She was grateful Kate had come back into his life, and they’d gotten back together.Especially because she adored Kate.
“So, what were you guys talking about?”Andrew asked, letting his shirt drop, now wet and soggy at the bottom.Blech.
“I’m decorating the Hill’s house for Halloween and Christmas this year,” Iris said, pushing a cheerful smile onto her face.While her dad had been trying when it came to conversations about her job, Andrew still had no problem making his opinion known.
“I can’t believe you get paid for that.”He shook his head.
“Says the guy who makes decorations.”Granted, with his carpentry skills, he made a lot more than decorations, but their dad didn’t know Andrew also made BDSM equipment.
“And furniture.”Andrew frowned at her.“I’m creating something.”
“So is Iris.She’s making a comfortable and beautiful home for someone else and allowing them to enjoy their free time when they manage to get it.”Kate shot her an apologetic look before turning a much less pleasant look upon Andrew, but Iris didn’t blame her for not being able to keep Andrew under control.There was only so much one could do when he was determined to be an ass.Besides, as her big brother, he felt morally obligated to give her a hard time, and she returned the favor.“I wish I could afford an Iris.”
“We don’t need an Iris.”Andrew rolled his eyes.“We can do our own laundry.”
Iris scowled at him.She did a hell of a lot more than laundry.
“Because we have the time, but think about everything we could do with our free time if we didn’t have to do things like laundry, grocery shopping, and keeping everything in the house running smoothly.We could just spend our free time enjoying ourselves.Besides, you hate doing laundry.Think about how much nicer the house would be without you bitching through folding your laundry.”
