Page 10

Harlee

Badass Chicks Text Thread

Talia – I swear I’m going to smother my brothers in their sleep.

Me – Need any help?

Lila – What did they do now?

Talia – Inserts screenshots.

Me – *laughing emoji*

Lila – *puke emoji*

Me – Carter is swinging by later. His back is acting up again. Wanna sneak in and take care of it?

Talia – Tell him to go home and offer that to Ethan... I am all for it.

Lila – Oh, while I’m thinking about it.... Harden asked about you today.

Talia – Me? Why?

Lila – Not you. Harlee.

Me – *puking emoji*

Me – Anyone who drives a Mini Cooper is a no-go.

Lila – My little sister does.

Me – Your little sister is cute. He. Is. Not.

Lila – ... So, I should tell him you're not interested.... right?

Me – That’s a big 10-4, good buddy.

Talia – You watched your second favorite movie last night. Didn’t you?

Me – You know it.

Lila – I got your back. I’ll tell him.

Me – Thanks.

Talia – Okay, I gotta get back to work.

Me – Smooches.

Lila – xoxo.

Everly – I swear, I always miss these texts.

Everly – Just read the screenshots. I’ll help.

I had just cued up my favorite relaxing playlist when I heard a knock on my door.

I set my bottle of water down on my island and headed to it.

Stepping up on my tip-toes, I peered into the peephole.

I smiled when I saw Carter.

I was never going to mention my maddening crush on Talia’s oldest brother.

We had made a pact when we met in kindergarten.

I could only be her best friend if I didn’t like one of her brothers.

And at five and a half years old, boys were gross.

..... But now.

Just the thought of this man had my lady bits tingling.

Shaking my head, I flipped the lock, then opened the door and smiled at Carter.

“Hey, you ready?”

He winked, “Yep.”

I nodded. “Want anything to drink first?”

He shook his head, “Nah, thanks though.”

I nodded, then headed toward my guest bedroom, where I had a smaller setup compared to my office.

Carter knew the drill, so I turned my back and got the oil he had gotten for me heated up.

Then I got to work on his back with a deep tissue massage.

And at the first press of my hands, he moaned.

Thankfully, with his face buried in the padded cushion, he didn’t see me squeeze my thighs together.

I kept working on his back, even though I desperately wanted to work on something else with him.

Stop it, Harlee.

You’re a professional.

Act like it.

Once his massage was done, and he was able to get his clothes back on, I said, “If it starts to hurt, take a hot bath and some ibuprofen. Or take a hot shower, stretch your muscles out, and then take some ibuprofen.”

He nodded, then followed me into my kitchen, where I plated the mashed potatoes and the roast.

Sitting down at my kitchen table

***

“Mr. Olson scheduled another appointment with you. What do you want me to do?” Everly asked.

I sighed, then shuddered a breath.

Normally, I adored Mr. Olson.

But lately, like the last four months, he had been asking me to give him a happy ending.

Apparently, Mr. Olson and Mr. Alvarez thought some dirty thoughts about me.

I shivered at that.

“Schedule it, and please figure out a document that all clients have to sign about our practices and things we won’t do. If they refuse to sign, drop them as a client, and if they sign and disobey, drop them as well.”

She nodded, “Can do.”

I never thought I would have this problem, working in a small town, but I guess there are crazies out there.

It was two hours later, and I had met with four more clients; I needed a drink after this day.

I had just walked Justin Winston to Everly’s counter when he looked at me and said, “Thank you, Ms. Murray. Wanted to ask you something.”

I smiled at him and nodded, “Of course.”

Thinking it was in regard to the services I had just offered.

But it wasn’t. No, it definitely wasn’t.

“Would you like to have dinner with me on Friday?” he asked as he paid for his massage.

Everly shot big eyes at me.

Today was Monday.

Then it hit me, on a Friday. The start of the weekend. Two days that I didn’t work here.

Not saying that was his innuendo or anything, but I had a type.

And it wasn’t the pretty boy next door.

My type consisted of.... Carter Alexander Griggs.

Therefore, I said, “Thank you for the offer, but I already have plans.”

And then he said something that crossed so many lines, I couldn’t even begin to think about.

I gave a firm, resounding no.

Then I looked at Everly and said, “Definitely make him sign the document.”

And with that, I walked back to the rooms to clean them up, Justin had been my last client of the day.

I pulled my phone out and texted my bestie.

Me – Cancel any plans you have for Friday. We’re going to the movies.

She answered back almost instantly.

Talia – Done. Explain to me later.

It was finally Friday; Talia and I had just paid for our tickets as we walked into the movie theater.

With popcorn, M her mouth dropped open, her brows raised, and I nodded.

“Gross. Love you. More power to people who like that, but that ain’t us.” She said.

I nodded.

Oh, and apparently, I didn’t need to worry about dropping Justin as a client.

He had decided to do that, after Ethan, Alec, Garrick, Dominik, and Carter had heard him talking about me in some nasty ways.

I was informed by a video of the altercation when I woke up Saturday morning.