“Pizza should be here in about forty minutes,” Easton says over his shoulder when I walk out to the back deck. I watch as his eyes blaze with desire.
“That sounds good.” I plop down beside him, grabbing the blanket to cover my legs from the evening chill.
“Yeah.” His voice is husky, and I know exactly how we’ll be celebrating the first night in his house together.
We’re sitting outside enjoying our drinks when my phone rings in the kitchen. “I’ll be right back. The only one that could be calling is work,” I grouse.
I scurry into the kitchen, and sure enough, it’s none other than Mary. I swear if she asks me to come in on my day off, I may scream.
“Hello, Mary,” I answer.
“Good, you answered. I need you to come in tomorrow morning. I know it’s your day off, but there’s a meeting to close you out of the concierge position. This way, you can go back to housekeeping. HR is being a real nightmare about this.” She’s almost too nice. I’m used to her being gruff and demanding.
I think nothing of it and say, “Sure, is there a time you would like me there?”
“Can you be here before shift change, say ten-thirty?” she asks.
“I’ll be there. Have a good afternoon.”
“See you then.”
I’ve never been in this position, so I don’t know what to expect, but in the back of my mind, I’m worried they found out about my relationship with Easton. It’s not as if we’ve tried to hide it completely. Though, we didn’t make it deliberately obvious either.
“That was weird,” I tell Easton as I return to him.
“What was? Your phone call?”
“Yeah, that was Mary. She was nicer than her usual. Oh well, at least she’s not demanding I go in tonight to get back on rotation. I need to go to the hotel tomorrow, though.” My body sinks back down beside him, Easton’s arm going around my shoulder.
“I’ll take you, then we can get some groceries afterward,” he offers.
“Yuck, nothing says let’s be an adult like going grocery shopping.” Easton laughs, but I know he’s tired of ordering out and eating hotel food.
“I know, but I think we’re both ready for real food. Plus, you promised to make us your lasagna when we got settled. Now, I have a craving for it.” He wiggles his eyebrows, and I bust out in a fit of giggles. I got his double entendre with no problem, and that’s how we spend the rest of our night. Outside on the patio, wrapped in each other’s arms, and laughing.
Chapter Fifteen
Easton
I’m sitting in the truck, waiting for Cam to come out after her meeting. When she goes back to school and work Monday, I’ll be doing the same thing, minus school. It’s time I get my business up and running now that our house situation is settled. It’s going to be a few weeks of long hours, but it’ll all come together soon enough.
It’s not twenty minutes later that I see her storming out of the elevator and striding to my truck. She looks pissed, but not only that. She looks devastated. I hop out of my truck, moving quickly toward her. I hate the look she has on her face.
“What’s wrong?” My hand goes to the nape of her neck, my other grasping her hip. I stoop down to look into her eyes, hating how she’s hanging her head in defeat. My girl is not one to ever give up, even when life kicks her in the balls.
“I was fired. Can you believe that? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Apparently, the penthouse was trashed after you checked out, and they accused me of sleeping my way to being in the concierge position. Which, hey, I guess they aren’t wrong in that department, but to take my last check away for the penthouse issue? I wasn’t even there. I wasn’t even working that day.” Tears trail down her cheeks, and I wipe them away as fast as they appear.
“You and I both know that’s bullshit. The penthouse was fine when I checked out. You didn’t sleep your way to anything, either. I should spank your ass for even repeating it.” My voice is gruff; I’m trying to hold back my anger as much as possible. I do the one thing I know that will help her and hug her. Cam loves to be held, and right now, she needs it. “We’ll get to the bottom of this. I’ll be looking into it as soon as we get home,” I offer.
“It just sucks. I have some money saved, but I wanted to do my part and help with our house.” Her voice is muffled by my chest.
“You being there is making it a home. You already have your tuition covered for school. You can find something else if you want, but you don’t have to. Lean on me. I want to be there to help you. Take this time to focus on school, and if you still want a part-time job in a few weeks, I’ll need the help at my office.” It’s a suggestion I’m sure she’ll be reluctant to take.