Page 38 of The Biggest Secret
“Shut the fuck up, Billy.” I’m working with such aggression that I’m snapping more tiles than I’m laying right now.
I can’t believe I forgot about Chelsea Jo. I’ve had nothing but her and Dominic on my mind for days. She tempted me last night, baiting me and teasing me the way she always did, and I couldn’t stop myself from asking her out. She’s always played tough guy but then would submit to me the moment we were alone. She loved pushing my buttons, working me up to the point I lost control. It only ever happened in the bedroom, and she loved that she was the only one who could break me.
Such a brat.
I even got to the job site early today, to ensure I was out on time for our dinner.
Then the homeowner showed up, saying the insurance money wasnot paying for their hotel after Friday and that the house needed to be livable in forty-eight hours. I started making calls, rearranging the plumber at one site to come here instead. He was able to get the pipes in working order, but my tile guy is out of town at another job and won’t be back until next week.
That left Billy and me. After the plumber completed the upstairs, we got to work. He promised he’d be back in the morning to finish off the first floor, but that just means I have to follow behind him, completing all the tile work and finish in twenty-four hours.
“I love it when you call me Big Poppa.” Billy sings the rap song from the early ‘90s and all it does is grate on my nerves even more.
“Billy. Enough. I know I fucked up. But this shit has to get done. I have a job to do.”
“You could have been doing her tonight, instead.”
I growl under my breath. “So help me God, Billy, you better stop talking right now.”
His phone goes off, and he has the common sense to finally move away from me. I start on the last section, needing the distractions to stop so I can just get this work done.
“Hey gorgeous, what’s going on? Yeah? That sounds like fun. Yup, we’re still here. My boss is a real douche, fucked up his date tonight so now he wants to fuck up my night, too. I know, he works me to death.”
I stand and turn to stare him down, threatening bodily harm if he doesn’t stop running his mouth, only to get his huge smile in return. “A drink does sound good.” He winks at me.
This motherfucker.
“I don’t know if the Principal will be there, but I’ll definitely stop by.”
My hands turn into fists. Principal? He’s talking to Francesca right now. A week ago, I’d have no idea who he was talking about, and I wouldn’t have cared either. But after Chelsea let the cat out of the bag about my siblings’ nicknames for me, I know who they’re talking about.
I step forward, and he quickly hangs up and pockets his phone. I raise a brow and wait.
“Our gorgeous sister is requesting our presence at Moose’s.”
I purse my lips and grunt. “Finish your section and you can go.”
He goes back to the wall he was working on. “Seems all the girls are going out tonight, you know, to make up for your shortfalls. And they still told me to invite you. So, if I were you, I’d show up. Wouldn’t want Chelsea to find a rebound daddy.”
I crack another tile. “Shit!” I stand up, throwing my tools around and kick the pan with the glue in it. I need to go find her tonight, talk to her. I can’t let the night end without seeing her, touching her.
“Where is Dominic?”
“Mom’s keeping him overnight.”
I nod. “That didn’t take long,” I chuckle to myself.
“You really expected Mom to wait more than a day before getting her hands on your kid?”
“No, I guess not.” I pause remembering Mom’s face when she found out about Dom. “She was so happy, Bill. I’ve never seen that look on her face before.”
“I believe it. She’s had enough of our shit over the years, she’s ready for a good Casanova now.”
I smile to myself. “We did give her a run for her money, huh?”
“I think adding Gage into the family is what broke her!” he laughs.
Shaking my head. “You may be right. Come on, let’s pack it up for tonight. But we have to be back here early to make up the time.”
