Page 29 of Hard Evidence
“Didn’t Ridge seem nice when you first met him?”
“Well, yes, but?—”
“I’ve sent you two hundred bucks, and Kevin has a set of golf clubs in storage that he hardly ever uses.I just need to find someone who can pick them up and list them for sale.They’ll go for at least five hundred bucks, and that’s your security deposit right there.”
“Don’t sell his golf clubs.This place is beautiful, and Justin isn’t even charging me rent.”
Saylor sucked in a breath.“Are you serious?Jessie!If he isn’t charging rent, that only means one thing.”
“He has a good heart?”
“No, dumbass.He expects you to pay in a different way.”
“I offered to cook for him.”
“Do I have to spell it out?Sex.He wants sex.”
My heart thumped.“What?No, he said he’s quit dating.”
“That’s even worse—he wants to get his rocks off without the commitment.”
“But…but he’s handsome and rich.He could date practically any woman he wanted.”
“What he wants is a bangmaid.You mark my words.”
“He has a housekeeper.She comes three times each week.”
“Rich people are cheapskates.He’s probably looking to save a few bucks.Don’t give in to his advances, and start looking around for another place to live, okay?Stay strong.You’ve got this.”
“I’ll try Craigslist again.”
“And I’ll call you in the morning.Evening, your time.Tillie, ohmigosh, what’s that on your face?”And to me, “Hell, it’s either eyeliner or Sharpie.”
“Good luck.”
“You too, sweetie.”
I’d left her to clean up her little girl and hurried downstairs.The harsh buzz of a blender made me jump out of my skin, but I managed to regain my composure before I walked into the kitchen.A bangmaid?Could Saylor be right?The pieces of the jigsaw fit, I had to admit.And the worst part?I didn’t even hate the idea.
Justin was standing at the counter, pouring green gloop into two highball glasses.He pushed one in my direction.
“Here.Spinach, peach, pineapple, banana, and matcha.”
“You made me a smoothie?”
“It tastes better than it looks.”
“Uh, thanks?”
“We have plenty to fit in today, so I figured we could pick up breakfast after we introduce Shiro to Shadow.If they don’t get along, I’ll have to find a screen door and divide the house into two.”He tapped a list on the counter.“My PA’s taking a personal day, so I’ve probably forgotten something.”
I read through the items.
- Dog/cat intro.
- Police report.
- Meeting with loss adjuster.
