Page 27 of The Handyman

A tinge of is comfort wrapped around my ribs. “You don’t really care if she’s prettier, you just wanted a compliment, which I gave you. Even if she’s prettier, you’re better.”

“How am I better?” Genuine confusion lilted Riley’s tone.

I twisted to rest my head against the seat. My mind whirred at a frantic pace, drawing on everything I knew about her and her life.Excluding the recently discovered drama. I don’t want Riley getting wind of that shit. Despite how bad it smells.“You just are? I don’t know how I’m supposed to answer these questions, Riley. I guess, the most straightforward answer is that I know you, but I don’t know anything about her. You can only draw on your own experiences with people to judge them. I’m not saying Delilah’s a straight up bitch, but she’s also not better for me than you are.”That sounds so stupid. I cringed internally.

Riley seemed completely caught on my answer as silence descended on us.

Thankfully, the back passenger door swung open, and I twisted as some random, young woman climbed into the back seat. “Delilah?”

“That’s me! So, how’s this going to work? I just stay at the hotel, or. . .? To be honest, Darren’s overreacting, but I promise to try to be as unobtrusive as possible.” Turning back around as she spoke, I glanced at Delilah in the rearview through narrowed eyes. Objectively, she was gorgeous, but—she’s not Riley.

She went on, “I’m not sure why he’s even doing this. It’s not like Makovich can get to me. After how he treated everyone, I’m shocked, he just left without incident.”

Her voice is annoying.Delilah was bubbly and talkative and obviously very peppy, and I shot Riley a wary look as my car rumbled to life.

My girl was still reeling from what I’d said, staring under furrowed brows at the dashboard with a thoughtful expression painting her face.

“You’re gonna be sleeping on my sofa.” I had to back up to get out of my spot, and I spoke up once I was in the proper lane and cruising. “You can grab your shit from the hotel and check out.”

“Y-your—couch? Why can’t I just stay at the hotel if you don’t have a place to put me?”

“Security risk.” My curt answer earned me a noticeably frosty glare at the back of my head. “If you don’t like it, call your boyfriend and tell him to call it off. Of course, on theextremelyslim chance that he does get assassinated, and someone comes after you, manages to slip through the net…I’m not gonna be around to save your ass.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.” Grumbling as she buckled herself, Delilah flipped her vibrant, blonde hair from my view in the rearview mirror. “I appreciate that you’re doing this—”

“I’m gonna stop you right there, okay. I’m doing this becausesomeoneis paying me to. It’s not a favor. It’s not optional. You’re my client and I wasn’t given any instructions on what liberties to take or where you’re going to be. So, one can only assume that you’re expected to stay with me, where it’s safest…on the couch. I’ll reiterate. If you don’t like it, call your boyfriend and tell him to call it off. I still get paid either way. Here’s a thought.” Rolling to a red light behind another car, I twisted to glare at Delilah as she watched me, wide, green eyes glistening at my rough tone. “Shut the fuck up about it if you’re not going to try to fix it. Your boyfriend never said I couldn’t tape your fucking mouth shut and hang you from the ceiling until he gets here. Technically, that’d be adhering tomyside of the contract. Your comfort is the issue up in the air, here, not whether or not you’re crashing on my sofa. Good? Good. Now. . .”

Fuck.Delilah’s eyes reddened before I turned back around— from frustration or fear of my outburst, I didn’t know, and I didn’t care. This just set the tone for the whole gig, and I gripped the wheel tightly even as Riley’s lips puffed out of the corner of my eye. I could tell from the wrinkle in her brow that she was trying not to laugh, and my mood picked up considerably.

Really, I wondered if she ever believed me when I said I treated her different. I wasn’t going to be a dick to Delilah to make my point, but she hadn’t been in the car a total of five minutes. The silence was deafening, my blood drumming louder in my ears as the light turned green.It’s gonna be a long-ass drive to my place.

“What do you want for dinner?” Riley spoke up to shoot me the most satisfied, smug, almost smarmy look of feminine pride I’d ever been blessed with.

I flexed my hands on the wheel. What was I feeling right now, food wise? Rarely did I eat lunch; I usually had a big breakfast and whatever for dinner.At least it’s a distraction.

“You know what I haven’t had in a long, long time? It’s something my mom used to make when I was little. It’s called Rice and Meat, and it’s basically like. . . rice. . . and ground beef, and, like, a packet of that Lipton noodle stuff. I have to stop and get some.”

Happy surprise drenched her features.

I smiled as I reached a stiff hand across the center console. “That sounds really good, actually. I eat pretty well, but I could do a cheat meal.”

“It sounds like a plan, then.” Riley bopped her head in a nod, covering my hand with hers.

My lips twitched up. Warmth suffused my chest, my bad mood vanishing completely as I tried to think of where the nearest grocery store was. Rice and Meat was simple, quick, and filling; it didn’t have a lot of nutritional value, but I wasn’t exactly keen on cooking when I got home.

20

Riley

Staring at the ceiling, I couldn’t seem to close my eyes for more than a second or two. Excitement trilled in my veins, and the near constant urge to just giggle from the happiness sparkling in my chest was almost overwhelming.

“Reece?” Tilting my head, I rolled over.

Reece popped his head out of the bathroom. Shaving cream smeared all over his face, and he arched a brow quizzically at me.

I rested my cheek on my arm. “Do you wanna get married?”

“Huh?” His expression blanked out, and he dropped his razor with a smallclatteras his brows nearly flew past his hairline.