Page 27 of Sawyer

“Some asshole sent an overnight courier to my place, and they were buzzing the gate this morning.”

I roll my lips to keep from laughing.“I thought you’d be up early, working on your tan or your six-pack,” I tease him, not feeling bad at all about having the box of soaps shipped to him overnight.

“She must be pretty special if you’re giving me a fucking box of rose-scented soaps.I’m going to smell like a fucking florist.”

I can hear him making a coffee, his machine whirling in the background.

“At least I got them to you in time for your morning shower.”I ignore his comment as I walk into my office, then to my desk and fire up my laptop.

“Yeah, well, my co-star might like them, so I’ll get her to soap up in a minute too,” he says, implying that she slept over.

“Just tell her to tag Gertie’s,” I add, feeling like I’m doing something good.Helping a small business get a leg up, helping Annabelle.

“Now you’re her marketing guy?Damn,” he teases me right back, and I scrub a hand down my face.

“I don’t think she likes me very much.”

“So she’s smart too, then.”

“Ha.Ha.Asshole.”

“I need to go.The shower and soap are waiting.You owe me.”

“Fine.Talk later.”We hang up, and I grin, knowing that the orders for soap are going to increase and hopefully put Gertie’s on the map a little more for Annabelle and Victoria.

Before I dive into my emails, I call Hudson.

“Sawyer?”Hudson says, and I sit forward, his tone sounding panicked.I wonder if I’m the only one fucking relaxed today.My mind briefly flicks to Annabelle once again.

“Bad time?”I hear voices around him, making me think he’s in the middle of something.

“I have no idea how Annabelle does it.”Now he has my interest.

“Does what?”I try to connect the dots.

“Teach these fucking kids,” he hisses to me quietly.“They’re out of control.”It’s then I hear kids giggling in the background, noise from yelling and laughing coming through the phone, and I smirk.

“Why?What's happening?”I lean back in my chair, enjoying hearing our usual unflappable doctor sounding completely stressed.

“She’s late.She’s supposed to manage the class today, and she isn’t here yet, so me and a few other parents are trying to get them all into the classroom.It’s like herding cattle.”I laugh at the image, knowing that Annabelle would have those kids following her every word; she has that way about her.

“Where is she?”

“Car trouble.”

I frown.I saw her car on Saturday.It isn’t new, but it looked in good condition.

“Is she alright?”

“Yeah, flat tire or something.I think she’ll be here soon.”I don’t hear as much noise now, assuming he has walked somewhere quiet.

“So I just spoke to Sutton.”

“Oh yeah, how is that lucky bastard?”

“He said to say hello.”

“Hopefully.we get to see him soon.Ahhhh.She’s here now.You know, I’ve never been more relieved to see someone as I am Annabelle right now.”