Chapter 7
The low hum of an approaching golf cart made me glance up from the clipboard in my hands.
Aunt Ronni was headed in my direction, which meant she’d already heard about the incident with Chad.
Fuck me running. I scrawled my signature at the bottom of the authorization form to have my sweet Sadie hauled to my family’s preferred body shop, not that there was much hope for her.
Harland had a reputation for being a wizard with cars, but he wasn’t a real magical being who could wave a wand and fix the massive dents and shattered windows.
The repairs would cost more than Sadie was worth.
To save money, I’d recently cut back coverage on my car insurance policy to liability only, so I’d have to pay for physical damages out of my pitiful savings or sue Chad for damages.
While I had a clear case against him, airing our dirty laundry in a courtroom didn’t appeal to me.
I handed the clipboard to the driver, whose name tag identified him as Hermie. “Thanks for getting here so fast.”
“No problem. I’ll get the car loaded onto the trailer and clean up the glass and debris for you,” he said.
With that taken care of, I could no longer ignore the woman who’d stopped her golf cart at a respectable distance and waited to speak to me.
Aunt Ronni had pulled her hair into a low bun and wore a visor to shield her face from the sun.
As I approached, I noticed she’d dressed for a morning of golf.
Her nearly flawless face was a neutral mask, and her dark eyeglasses prevented me from seeing the expression in her light blue eyes.
But she couldn’t be happy with how my tenure at Silver Maple had started.
“What a clusterfuck,” she exclaimed.
Aunt Ronni, my grandmother’s much younger sister from her father’s second marriage, was closer to my mom’s age.
In fact, they acted more like sisters than aunt and niece.
Her salty language didn’t surprise me one bit because I’d grown up hearing my grandmother refer to her as eccentric or a free spirit.
It took me a while to realize that Nanna used the term to define every aspect of Ronni’s life that she didn’t approve of, including but not limited to her radical activism, thumbing her nose at societal norms, and lesbianism.
I loved Ronni more than life itself. Hell, I wanted to be just like her when I grew up.
I had the gay part down pat, so maybe I was off to a good start.
“I’m so sorry I’ve disappointed you, Aunt Ronni.”
She pulled her sunglasses down low so I could see her blue eyes twinkling with mischief. “Are you kidding me? This is the most excitement we’ve had around here in ages. First that hot-as-hell security guard, and now this? Tongues will wag for days, maybe weeks.”
“I’m still sorry Chad caused a scene,” I said. “I don’t want to embarrass you and make you regret getting me this job.”
Aunt Ronni waved off my concern. “We need to get a few things straight. First, I didn’t get you the job.
I only got you an interview, where you earned the position on your own merit.
” Of course she’d say that to spare my feelings, but the twinkling expression in her eyes turned steely, shutting down further discussion on the issue.
“And second, you’re not responsible for that asshole’s actions.
” Ronni pursed her lips together tightly.
“I never liked that Chad. Not even when you guys dated in high school.”
“He didn’t like you either.”
“Of course not. I could see right through his bullshit.” Ronni pinned me with those shrewd blue eyes. “Demand better for yourself, Atticus.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Another vehicle approached, and my heart lurched when the RAVEN Securities SUV came into view.
Ronni perked up too. “I wonder if it’s the hottie I met this morning.” The bright sunshine created a glare on the windshield, blocking our view of the driver. “What was his name? Hayden? Holden?”
“Rayden,” I replied absently. “He goes by Ray.”
“Ah, so he’s the one who went into the pool?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Bet he looked amazing wet,” Ronni said. “His clothes clinging to that body.”
“Yeah.” I turned and looked at her. “Since when do you get worked up over a man?”
She swatted playfully at my arm. “Not for me, dear. I have your best interests at heart. The best way to get over that dickhead Chad is to get under a hunk like Ray.”
I wanted to scream, “I tried,” but I kept my mouth shut. The last thing I needed was Aunt Ronni playing matchmaker when Ray couldn’t construct that brick wall fast enough to keep me out.
The SUV got close enough for us to see the driver, and we both sighed our disappointment that it wasn’t Ray.
“He’s smoking hot too,” Ronni said under her breath. “Is that like a prerequisite to get hired at the company?”
I looked over at her. “Smoking hot?”
“Isn’t that what the kids say these days?” Ronni asked.
“I hear smoke show more often, but it means the same thing.”
“Hello again, Kit.” Archer smiled as he approached, but it lacked the flirty punch from earlier. “I’m sorry about your car.”
“Hi, Archer. And thank you. I’m going to miss this old girl. We’ve been through a lot together.”
“A few wars, it seems,” Ronni said, injecting a bit of snobbery into her voice. She stepped forward and extended her hand to Archer, which he politely shook. “I’m Veronica Poole, one of the board members and residents at Silver Maple.”
“Archer Stone. It’s good to meet you, ma’am.”
“I’d heard about the ruckus and wanted to see for myself what happened.” She tsked and shook her head. “Things like this rarely happen around here. Thank goodness one of your men was here to prevent things from escalating.”
“I’m glad we could assist.” Archer turned his attention to me. “Do you need a ride someplace?”
“I, um—”
“I’ll give him a lift in my golf cart,” Ronni said. “Some of the board members want to meet with the executive director, and they might have questions for Kit about the incident.”
And just when I thought my mood couldn’t get any lower.
“All right,” Archer said. “I’ll see you around.”
“See you,” I said.
Ronni strode to her golf cart like a woman on a mission, and her rigid posture commanded that I follow without delay.
“Hang in there, Kit,” Archer said. “It’s going to be okay.”
I tossed him an appreciative smile as I walked away. Ronni’s face was an expressionless mask once again as I boarded the small vehicle, and she accelerated before my ass hit the seat.
“In a hurry for me to go before the firing squad?” I teased.
“Don’t be silly,” she hissed once we were out of Archer’s earshot. “The board is comprised of sensible people who will realize this wasn’t your fault. But this needs to be a onetime incident, Kit.”
“I don’t have any other ex-boyfriends, and no one else hates me enough to cause such a scene.” I regretted not calling Chad after he left a message with my mom. Maybe none of this would’ve happened if he’d been able to vent his frustrations, misguided as they were.
“Of course you don’t. You’re the sweetest damn kid on the planet.
” Ronni patted my knee, then veered her golf cart to the right instead of continuing toward the administration building.
“You’re going to need something to tool around in today since your Sadie is heading out of here on a flatbed truck.
” She parked next to the property service garage and angled her body toward me.
“Sign out a golf cart to use. It’s part of the perks that come with your job, so take advantage of them.
What are you going to do for transportation to and from work? ”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“I know you love that car, but I think she’s destined for the junkyard,” Ronni said.
“Yeah, I’m afraid you’re right.” Sadness pressed on my shoulders and squeezed my heart. Poor Sadie.
“Kit,” Ronni said firmly. “Do you have money to buy something else? If not, I can lend—”
“No.” The word blasted from my mouth with more force than I’d intended, and I apologized.
“It’s time I stood on my own two feet. You already helped me get this job.
” I held up my hand when Ronni looked like she was going to protest. “You did help, whether you just secured an interview or twisted Caitlyn’s arm until she hired me. ”
Ronni rolled her eyes. “I did no such thing.”
“I can’t ask for more.”
Reaching over to pat my cheek, Ronni said, “You don’t ask for enough from the universe, Kit.
That’s part of the problem. Stop shrinking yourself down to fit into someone else’s mold.
It’s okay to take up space and demand a better life.
Manifest more for yourself. Envision what you want, and go after it. ”
An image of Ray came to mind, his beautiful blue eyes staring into mine.
Oh no. Nothing but trouble lay ahead in that direction, and pursuing him wouldn’t get me out of my old bedroom.
Well, maybe for a night or two if I were lucky, but it would be a temporary reprieve that would lead to more awkwardness at best and heartbreak at worst. Ugh.
I’d had one nightmare workplace romance, and I didn’t need another.
Aunt Ronni’s giggle yanked me back down to reality. “The blush on your cheeks betrays the direction your thoughts had taken.”
I shook my head to deny the accusation, but my stupid mouth acted of its own volition, curving into a devious smile.
“Ray looked so good soaking wet. Muscle upon muscle.” I sighed and shook my head.
“But no. It was a fleeting thought.” One I’d take home and use as often as I wanted.
“A relationship is the last thing I need right now.” I held up a hand before Ronni could interject.
“And this job is too important for me to risk it with a casual hookup.” Even if I were willing to risk that kind of rejection again.
Ronni arched a brow. “Even with that smoke show?”
“Yes. The hotter the man, the deadlier the burn. It’s best I keep my distance.”