Page 23 of Mr. Infuriating (Mister #1)

Gretchen

At five forty-five, I received a text from Gabe that he was on his way.

It was a small gesture, but I appreciated it. Troy had done that in the beginning of our marriage, but slowly got worse about it until he’d just stopped.

At the time, I’d chalked it up to him being so busy at work that he didn’t even have time to break away to call me.

I couldn’t count how many dinners I’d prepared that I’d ended up eating alone. By the time Jake was born, I didn’t even count on Troy to be home for dinner and would be surprised the few times he did show up.

And I’d actually felt bad for him, taking care to reheat his plate for him when he finally arrived home. Even if I were already in bed, I’d get up to ensure he had a warm meal.

I’d been so stupid.

Troy had shown me all along who he was, but I hadn’t wanted to believe it.

I’d been so desperate for him to be the husband and father I’d made him out to be in my head that I ignored all the warning signs: late nights, showering the second he got home, moving his phone so I couldn’t see who he was texting, constantly picking fights.

I’d even chalked our lack of intimacy up as a byproduct of how much he was working to provide for his family.

He did, however, find time to work out on a regular basis.

I convinced myself it was so he’d be a healthy dad.

Even when my attorney told me that Troy wanted to relinquish custody, I’d made excuses for him, wanting—needing—for them to be true. How could he not want at least partial custody of our son? He fought me more for the mattress than he had our child.

I’d been so devastated when I realized he really didn’t care about Jake that I would have let him walk away without having to pay child support. Fortunately, my attorney quickly put the kibosh on that.

In exchange for no alimony, I got the house—and the mortgage. Granted, it was at an enviable interest rate in today’s market, and I had good equity, but making the monthly payment on my salary stretched me thin.

I was awarded child support, although it was the lowest amount Troy could get away with since I had sole custody of Jake.

When my ex relinquished his parental rights, my heart hurt for my son that his dad wouldn’t be in his life.

But as time passed, I came to see it as a blessing.

Troy was the last person my son should look to as an example on how to be a good man.

When it came time to sign divorce papers, I’d finally come to see my ex for what he really was.

I vowed the next time a man showed me his true colors, I wouldn’t try to put a rosy spin on it.

Which was why things between Gabe and I had to end tomorrow morning, after one more night of amazing sex.

I’d tuck away the memories of our weekend together and bring them out for future use with my battery-operated boyfriend.

Gabe had flat-out told me he wasn’t interested in more kids. Jake and I were a package deal, not to mention I wanted more kids. I had no grand illusions that Gabe would change his mind.

But hopefully he’d find a way to work with me about making payments on the cabinets.

A thought popped in my head.

What if he wanted the occasional hookup in exchange for making a deal?

The idea didn’t repulse me like the little voice in my head—the one that sounded an awful lot like my mother’s—said it should. In fact, thinking about it kind of turned me on.

What did that say about me?

That raising Jake in Lancastle is important, and I’ll do what it takes to make that happen.

It was a weak justification for a kink that I hadn’t been aware I had until last night.

And why should I have to justify it? I’m a modern, single woman. He’s a virile, single man. We’re consenting adults…

That annoying voice whispered, I’m also a mom and teacher who’s supposed to be a role model.

Would something like that violate the morality clause in my contract?

Yeah, probably.

So much for that idea.

****

Gabe

It did something to my solar plexus when I pulled up to her house and found her waiting outside with the garage doors open.

She was dressed in those sexy black yoga pants that first caught my attention all those months ago, a teal-green hooded pullover that made her blonde hair stand out, and a bright smile.

It felt nice to have a woman happy to see me. At the end of our marriage, Becky hadn’t even bothered to look up from her phone when I walked in the door. Gretchen had actually looked forward to seeing me.

Derrick and I had only been able to fit a little more than a third of her order in my truck bed, which I was okay with. It gave me a reason to have to come back at least two more times.

Rick had already wrapped the cabinets on Friday for transport because I’d told him one way or another, they needed to be gone by Tuesday. He was going to be beside himself when he found out he wouldn’t have to deal with that.

I was more than happy to take over all communications from now on with the former Mrs. Wainwright.

After backing into her drive, I grabbed the work gloves off the front passenger seat and hopped out.

“Hi!” she said warmly.

I knew I was grinning like a fool when I invaded her space and uttered, “Hi yourself.”

We stared at each other for a beat before she finally glanced at the back of my truck.

“Do you need any help?”

“Nah, Derrick should be here any sec. He’s going to help me.”

“That’s sweet of him. Should we invite him to have dinner with us? There’s plenty. ”

I glided an arm around her middle and slipped my hand under her shirt. Skimming my fingers along her bare back. I whispered in her ear, “Not a chance. I want you all to myself tonight.”

I had to admit, the goosebumps on her skin and the way her body shuddered, made me feel like beating my chest. Fortunately, before my inner caveman could come out, I heard the exhaust from my brother’s Porsche as he drove through the neighborhood.

“Here he comes now.”

A few seconds later, Derrick pulled his Agate Grey Metallic Cayman into her driveway and got out.

“Hey, Gretch, long time, no see!”

She gave him a small wave. “Hi, Derrick. Good to see you.”

“How’s Laura feeling today?”

I shot him a look.

When I’d asked him to help me with Gretchen’s cabinets, he’d whined that she was probably going to ask him about her friend and try to feel him out about seeing her again.

“It’ll be so awkward!”

I’d assured him I’d run interference if that happened, yet here he was, two seconds out of his car, and already asking about her.

“Honestly, other than a text to make sure we each got home okay, I haven’t really talked to her. She has a big project that she’s working on for her boss, so she wasn’t available to chat.” The corner of her mouth lifted. “Why? How should she be feeling? ”

The arrogant little shit puffed out his chest. “She was smiling when I left.”

Gretchen giggled. “That’s always a good sign. Better than scowling.”

“Or worse, crying.”

Been there, done that.

That had been the worst hookup in the history of hookups. But it had been a good lesson. Expectations up front.

Exactly like Gretchen and I had done last night. It wouldn’t hurt to go over them again tonight at dinner.

More for myself than anything.

“I don’t think you have to worry about that with Laura. The only reason she’d be crying is if your performance was lacking.”

Derrick barked out a cocky laugh as he told her, “No problems there.”

“That’s what they all say.”

Gretchen’s sassiness surprised me, in a good way.

My brother gave her a chin lift and said, “Ask her if you don’t believe me.”

Her lips curled into an amused grin, like she knew she was getting under his skin and enjoyed it. “Don’t worry, I will.”

I could tell Derrick wanted her to do it right then, like his ego needed the reassurance.

When she didn’t move to retrieve her phone from her back pocket, he subtly rubbed the fingers together on his left hand while chewing the inside of his cheek—one of his tells that he didn’t like something. He’d had it since he was a kid.

Derrick had to know I’d give him shit for acting like a little bitch if he pressed Gretchen to call her friend. I didn’t think he wanted to know because he liked Laura any more than his other “special customers”. I knew it was all about his pride.

Since he was doing me a solid by helping me unload the cabinets, I took pity on him and changed the subject.

“Let’s get these in the garage. I know you need to get to Flannigan’s.”

****

Gretchen

After watching Gabe and Derrick unload the cabinets, I was convinced there was nothing hotter than a guy doing manual labor.

The way the Mitchell men’s muscles moved under their Henleys as they lifted the cabinets off the truck bed made my heart race.

I wasn’t attracted to Derrick, but I had to admit, he was hot. I could understand why Laura had wanted to take him home.

But that was nothing compared to what watching Gabe was doing to my lady parts.

I was glad I’d already given myself permission to enjoy his company—and talents—one more night.

Because even if I’d told myself it wasn’t happening, once I watched him break a sweat, I would have caved in a heartbeat, provided he was interested.

But after what he’d whispered in my ear when he got here, I knew we were on the same page: dinner, followed by a repeat of last night, then maybe breakfast .

After that, it was back to reality. I’d told my parents I’d pick up Jake by noon tomorrow.

Which meant I had one more night with the sexy man in my garage whose shirt was clinging to his muscles and making my mouth water.

The same man who held the fate of my future in my house in his hands.

I just wished he wasn’t so dang likeable .