Page 160 of Driftwood Daffodil

“You need a new fence.”

I begged to differ. That thing was a security measure. I lost count of how many solicitors didn’t knock on our door because they couldn’t get it open. If only it would keep out assholes.

I held up my glass as he walked up the steps to the deck, “Want some ice tea?”

“Is it poisoned?”

“I make no promises.” I didn’t know what was in the water here.

“I’ll pass.”

That was probably a good call. Our water didn’t hold a candle to his filtered fancy water. I bet he didn’t even drink out of the tap.

“What can I do for you?”

Atlee reached in his back pocket and pulled out my phone. “Gio asked me to bring this back to you.”

Oh crap. I thought I told him to throw that thing in the swamp?

“Thanks,” I muttered and tossed it on the chair beside me.

Now I had to answer calls.

Wait…

“Did you say Gio asked you to bring it?”

He nodded, “Yeah.”

My eyes narrowed, “Why didn’t he bring it himself?”

“He thought you might need to make some calls before eight o’clock.”

My face dropped, “You know.”

“Of course I do,” Atlee snorted.

And they say girls tell each other everything.

He cocked a brow at me, “I told you to be careful what you asked for.”

That he did.

My head tilted to the side as I studied his whiskey eyes. Maybe this was a blessing in disguise. I did want someone to talk to after all. Atlee might be able to clarify a few things.

“Can I ask you something?”

“You can ask,” he crossed his arms and propped his hip against the banister. “I might even answer.”

My eyes rolled. Great another cryptic asshole. Oh well, it wasn’t like I had a better option.

“What exactly would this deal entail?”

His brow rose, “What do you think it entails.”

Really? He was going to be that guy.

“Pain, misery, and general dread?”

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