Page 7 of Mr. Infuriating (Mister #1)

Gretchen

“They sent what?” Laura exclaimed when I sat down on the barstool next to her at Flannigan’s.

“A notice of intent to sue.”

She slid one of the two Cosmopolitans in front of her to me, then took a sip of hers.

“That’s kind of bullshit, don’t you think? I mean, they just notified you what, like, two weeks ago your cabinets were done? I’d think that, legally, they’d have to give you a little more notice than fourteen days.”

“From what the foreman’s texts (okay, texts, voicemails, and emails) said, they’re taking up too much space in their shop, so they’re going to have to put the cabinets in storage.

Which means they’re going to try and charge me for that, too, so they’re giving me one more chance to take possession before going that route. ”

“What did Andrew say?”

I shook my head as tears filled my eyes. I couldn’t repeat his advice out loud. Hearing it in my own voice would make it too real. I’d poured my heart and soul into that house while imagining my son growing up in it. The idea of losing it was more than I could bear right now.

Laura wrapped an arm around my shoulders and touched her forehead to my temple.

“Come on. What did he say?”

Taking a deep breath through my nose, I squared my shoulders and sat up taller .

“A couple of things, some good, mostly bad. He’ll do what he can, but thinks if it goes to court, I’ll lose. But , just because we’re divorced doesn’t mean Troy is off the hook, since he signed the contract, too, and it was never spelled out in the divorce decree that he’s not responsible.”

“Well, that’s good news, right?”

“Not really. I called Troy, and he said, ‘Let them take me to court,’ so he’s not going to be any help. But Andrew suggested I have the cabinets installed and have them put a contractor’s lien on the house.”

“A contractor’s lien? Isn’t that only good if the house sells?”

One tear trailed down my cheek as I nodded once, then gulped down half my drink.

“No! Gretch, there’s got to be something you can do!”

“I don’t know what. I can’t afford the interest rate on a credit card, and I’m not going to ask my parents for the money.”

“What about a home equity loan?”

“Maybe. But between my student loans and daycare costs, I’m not sure the bank will think I’m a good risk.”

Laura spun her barstool to face forward and took a drink from her glass.

“I fucking hate Troy. You should not have to struggle and do this alone.”

“I’d rather it be this way than have to worry about fighting him for custody someday.”

“Maybe you could work out a payment plan with the cabinet company?”

I cocked my head. “I hadn’t thought of that. ”

Laura shrugged. “You never know until you ask...”

“I guess. But they’re still going to have to put the cabinets in storage because I’ll have to wait until summer break before I can have them installed.”

“Maybe if you schedule it, they won’t charge you.”

“Maybe, but I doubt it. Their attorney’s letter was pretty aggressive.”

In fact, it’d made me wish I was rich so I could have their stupid cabinets delivered, then smash them with a sledgehammer and send them back to Mitchell Cabinets and Woodworking in little pieces. Because fuck them. They hadn’t needed to escalate things so quickly.

“Okay, you’re going to ask the Universe to fix it, then you’re not going to think about it for the rest of the night so the Universe can do its thing.”

I looked at her skeptically but muttered, “Universe, fix it,” because I had to begrudgingly admit her woo-woo had worked on more than one occasion. “I’m not so sure I can just quit thinking about it, though.”

My BFF shot me a grin. “That’s what alcohol is for.”

I downed the rest of my drink just as Derrick, the hot bar owner, appeared.

“Hey! Good to see you!” He nodded toward my glass. “I see you’re going with something stronger than Coca Cola tonight.”

“Yep,” Laura answered for me. “And they’re all on me, so make sure her glass is never empty.”

I shook my head. “Don’t listen to her. If I drink more than four of these, I’ll be dancing on the bar.”

“So, we’re shooting for five, then,” he said with a wink as he scooped ice into two tumblers then filled them with water and set them in front of us. “But you should be drinking water, too, otherwise you’ll really hate me in the morning.”

“Thanks,” I replied and gratefully took a sip while he poured the ingredients for another Cosmo into a cocktail shaker.

As he shook the metal container, he looked over at me with a grin. “I’m assuming you’re not driving?”

“No, I’ll take an Uber home if I need to. I could lose my teaching certification if I got a DUI, so there’s no way I’d risk that.”

He set a cold fresh martini glass in front of me, then placed a strainer over the shaker and emptied the pink contents until my glass almost overflowed, then added a lime slice to the rim. Without asking Laura if she wanted more, he poured the rest of the shaker’s contents into her drink.

“Thanks,” she told him with a flirty smile.

“My pleasure.”

Just then, my stomach growled—loudly, making Laura laugh as she told him, “I think we need menus, too.”

No sooner did she say it than two laminated menus appeared in front of us.

I looked at the selections on the front before flipping it over to peruse the back.

“What do you recommend?”

“Their fries are amazing!” Laura offered, and Derrick looked at her with a big smile.

“Thanks. The secret is the beer batter.” He pointed to the section with their burgers. “But you need more than fries. Get a cheeseburger, too. My favorite is the Western Burger.”

I read the description and handed him the menu .

“Sounds perfect.”

“And what are you having, beautiful?” he asked Laura with a mischievous smile.

She took her time surveying him up and down and biting her bottom lip in the process. She left him no doubt what she was thinking.

Damn, I wish I had her moxie.

Finally, she told him, “Well, since I don’t see sexy bar owner on the menu, I guess I’ll have the sliders with fries.”

He returned her stare with a cocky grin.

“We have a special menu for my favorite patrons. I’ll have to show you that one later if you’re interested.”

“Oh, I’m interested.”

“Good.” He gave her a wink. “Let me put your food order in,” then he moved to the other end of the bar to stand in front of a touchscreen where he proceeded to press buttons.

“I thought you said he slept with Vicky?” I hissed.

Laura shrugged. “That was last year.”

“Okay, but still… he slept with her. I get the impression he doesn’t go home alone a lot.”

My friend seemed undeterred.

“I just want to fuck him, I don’t wanna marry him.” She took a drink, then set her martini glass down with a smirk. “You should try it.”

I shook my head. “That’s not my style.”

“Maybe it’s time for a new style.”

“Well, I’m definitely not fucking him after you and Vicky.”

“I didn’t mean him.”

I could tell Derrick was coming back, based on the way Laura sat up straighter and pushed her boobs out .

“Hey,” she called to him. “Do you have a brother you could introduce to Gretchen? She’s newly single and ready to mingle.”

He raised an eyebrow while I knew my cheeks were beet red.

“ Newly single, huh?”

“Her divorce was final earlier this month. But she kicked him out almost six months ago, so while she’s officially newly single, she actually has been for a while. So, do you have any brothers you could set her up with?”

I shook my head. “I’m not ready to date, yet.”

“Who said anything about dating? You just need to get laid.”

I felt my brows rise when I turned to my friend to find her finishing her drink with a smirk on her face.

“How many of those have you had?”

“Just two.”

“Well,” Derrick interjected. “I have three brothers, but one is married. Either of the other two would be happy to show you a good time, if that’s what you’re looking for.”

His face broke into a wide grin as he looked past us toward the door.

“In fact, here comes one of them now.”

Maybe it was the effects of the alcohol on my empty stomach, but when I turned to see who he was looking at, I felt my breath hitch in my chest.

Walking toward us was the best-looking man I’d seen in a long time. And considering Derrick had been keeping us company for the past thirty minutes, that was saying something .

The grey at his temples suggested he was Derrick’s older brother, and although his hair was darker than Derrick’s, I could see the resemblance.

They definitely shared the same swagger.

But instead of the black, nonslip shoes that Derrick had on behind the bar, this guy was wearing tan work boots and tan Carhartt pants, and his broad chest nicely filled out the maroon Henley he was wearing.

He looked like he’d just come from working all day with his hands.

I could picture a tool belt slung low on his waist.

Damn.

Was there anything sexier than a man who worked with his hands?

As I watched him come closer, I concluded, no, no there was not.

He must have thought I was a crazy lady when he caught me staring at him, because he stopped short, as if trying to determine if it was safe to proceed to the bar where his brother was.

I offered a small smile to hopefully convey I was harmless, and he cocked his head, like he was still unsure, then finally continued toward us.

“Hey!” Derrick said with a big grin. “Good to see you! How was Brayden’s game?”

His brother glanced in my and Laura’s direction before answering, “Great. They won. He scored the winning goal.”

“That’s awesome! First round’s on me.”

The way his brother laughed out loud made me wonder if that was an inside joke.

“Thanks, man. ”

Even though the barstool next to me was vacant, he didn’t sit down, instead, he looked over at me like I might try to kiss him unsolicited or something if he sat by me.

I mean, the idea had merit, but still… I would never do such a thing.

“You can sit down,” I said with a grin. “I don’t bite. I promise.”

“Unless you want her to,” Laura chimed in.