Page 9 of Stolen By the Hit Man
“Oh my god!” She clutches her chest.
I simply stare at her, open-mouthed.
She recovers her composure and moves past me like liquid, ignoring my open-mouthed gaze. She goes behind one of the desks, rooting around in the metal drawers. “No one warned me we had company,” she mutters as I continue to stare.
She said, “We.”
Of course. Of course, Joaquin has a girlfriend. Or a wife. I gulp as disappointment seeps through me.
Spike-heeled boots, a flawless manicure, and a button-up shirt that reveals impressive cleavage. A slash of red lipstick.
I look down at my dirty overalls. I feel ridiculous. Joaquin has a type, and of course, his type is not me.
And why should it be?
I am a married woman, after all.
Yet, why does that statement persist in feeling so false and hollow, even in my own head?
Chapter Four
Joaquin
Shit.
I totally forgot about the roommate situation.
The one thing I promised Nelly is that I’m supposed to warn her when I have visitors so she can vacate the premises. I already failed months ago with the Georgie encounter.
If I go back in there to try to defuse the situation, I’ll fuck it up worse. I decide that the best thing I can do is let Nelly handle it. She’s a professional. A professional what, I have no idea.
I also eavesdrop shamelessly as I dry off from my shower.
“So. You're a sister? A cousin in from out of town?” Nelly asks.
“I’m Jasmyn. I’m a friend, I guess.”
Nelly scoffs. “You guess?”
“Well, we just met, and I’m helping him with the cats,” Jasmyn replies hurriedly.
“Cats, huh? He does like his strays, apparently.”
I’m not cool with Nelly comparing Jasmyn to a stray animal that I’ve picked up off the street.
Jasmyn takes it in stride, chuckling, “Yeah, I guess I’m kind of a mess. I was working in the barn all morning before, um…”
A silence follows Jasmyn after she trails off.
“Oh, that must be why I smell manure.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t worry, honey, I didn’t think you were here to interview for a position as his new administrative assistant.”
Did I say I wasn’t going to butt in? I’m so pissed at Nelly right now, I’m ready to take her down a few pegs. I’m about to march in there and tell her to apologize, but I’m still wrapped in nothing but a towel. Not that I would mind if Jasmyn sees me, but under no circumstances would I look like this in front of Nelly.
To her credit, Jasmyn bites back.
