I turn to her, forcing a smile. “I’m doing okay, just having a hard time right now. You know how it is, Hen. It’s crazy out there with men.”
She nods. “I understand. Young men these days aren’t what they used to be.”
I agree. “Especially if they ride motorcycles.”
I give her a smile and head back to work. She’ll be off telling her friends in no time. I do wonder how long it’ll take Carmen to make contact. If at all.
“Hey!” Ramona says, coming through the back door ten minutes later. “You’re not going to believe the first job I got.”
“Oh, you got a nursing job?”
She snorts. “A carers job. Well, I’m nursing the person back to health, so to speak, but yeah ...”
“Oh, shit, is it an old person? A hairy fat guy? Oh, a really rich man who has been in an accident and needs someone to love him?”
She grunts. “No. It’s Adan.”
I blink. “As in Adan next door?”
“Yep. I’m his live-in nurse.”
I stare, eyes wide. “You’re kidding.”
“Honey, do I look like I’m kidding? I have to fucking help him shower, go to the toilet, whatever the hell people do in the privacy of their own homes. I draw the line at giving him a wank, he’s going to have to figure that one out on his own.”
“Wait,” I squeak. “You’re going to be his hot little nurse?”
She scowls at me. “It’s a real job, we’re not playing here. I can’t even say no because it’s a great chance.”
“Oh, come on, it could be worse. It’s Adan, he’s super-hot and the two of you got it on. There is no ice to break.”
“Exactly, we did, and we haven’t spoken since. It’s awkward, and weird, and I’m fairly certain he isn’t going to take well to me looking after him.”
“Well, he has no choice.”
“This is the worst,” she exhales, leaning against the counter.
“When do you start?”
“Two days.”
I smother a laugh.
“Do not laugh at me, Evelina. This isn’t going to be easy.”
“Oh, sure it is, you get to give him a sponge bath. Touch all those gorgeous muscles. It’s not so bad.”
She gives me a sideways glare. “I’m not sure what it is you think I do, but that certainly is not it.”
I grin at her.
She purses her lips. “This sucks.”
“It’ll be great, you’ll see.”
God, could it get any better than that?
My best friend looking after that hot biker while he’s down and out.
Things are going to get interesting around here, that’s for sure.
Really, really interesting.
20
RIGGS – I FUCKING MISS you.
Eve – Me or my vagina?
Riggs – Both
Eve – Well, it won’t be too much longer before you can dive back into both.
Riggs – I’m going to come over tomorrow night if this bitch doesn’t show. I’m done waiting.
Eve – So impatient.
Riggs – Fuck. Yes.
I smile down at my phone as I flick texts back and forth. I haven’t seen Riggs for a few days. We planned to see each other at night, or I would sneak over to the clubhouse but we ended up deciding it was just too risky. Since then, Riggs and I have resorted to texting and waiting, just a little longer.
If Carmen doesn’t show up by tomorrow, he’s going to come over and ravish me. I can’t freaking wait. It has been a week too long and I need him more than I need this chocolate cupcake batter that I’m currently mixing. It’s good batter, too. The kind that could make you weak at the knees. Still, Riggs is a whole lot better.
I glance down at the time. It’s nearly time to close up and get out of here, but I want to finish these cakes for tomorrow so I don’t have to come in early. We have an open night tomorrow, so I tend to run out of time if I don’t plan. It’s always a big day, and an even bigger night, so I at least try to get ahead of the game.
It’s only six anyway, I’m sure another hour won’t hurt.
Though a shower and my leftover spaghetti dinner is calling.
I get back to it with a sigh and hear the bell over the front door ding. I haven’t locked up yet, technically we’re not closed for another ten minutes. Sometimes I have a last-minute customer come in and buy the last few cakes in the display cabinet. It’s not usually the case, but today it would seem it is. I wash my hands, wiping them on my apron, and head out to the front.
Carmen is standing at the counter, her arms crossed. She’s wearing a gorgeous dress, her hair is resting neatly over her shoulders, and it’s quite rude how perfect she looks even when she’s mad.
The second she sees me, she tips her head to the side. “Go and lock the front door.”
Her voice is calm, but her demeanor says otherwise.
I’m not certain how dumb she thinks I am, but it would appear she actually believes I’d let her lock the both of us in here. I don’t trust that woman as far as I can kick her, but there is no way she’s doing a runner this time.
I give her a sweet smile. “Hello, Carmen, nice to see you again after our last date.”
She looks pissed.
“Go and lock the door, Evelina, or I’ll make you go and lock it.”
“Lock it yourself,” I say, crossing my arms and staying behind the counter.
I’m not scared of this bitch.
I’m done with her.
“And let you run out the back and disappear, I don’t think so. We have a lot to talk about. You either lock the door, or I’ll start shooting.”
She pulls out the gun from her coat pocket and I exhale. “This again? Carmen? Can we do something more original? I preferred the poison you put in my food, it was much more effective.”
She waves the gun
