Chapter 13 Rhett
Chapter thirteen
Rhett
Icircle the block for the third time, cursing this damn place.
Mrs. Lawson casually told me to pick up the check from her, but I knew she was about to leave the country for the summer, so I didn’t want to miss my chance.
It wouldn’t be the first time I was stiffed by one of the rich pricks in this part of town.
She also didn’t believe in paying in anything but cash or check, which wasn’t what annoyed me. It was that I had to pick it up from her on a Friday morning downtown, where the parking was slim. And even slimmer for a truck like mine.
But I needed the money. On the fourth loop around the block in the historic neighborhood with narrow brick-paved streets, I spotted a parking space. With my blinkers on, I inch forward when a large SUV cuts in front of me, sliding crookedly into the spot.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me right now!
” I yell to no one but myself. Out pops a blonde chick with two enormous coffees in her hand.
She kicks the door shut behind her, talking to someone through earbuds, not even looking in my direction before she struts across the street into the Brecken Building.
A car behind me lays on the horn, so I do what I haven’t done in a long time—crank the window and stick my hand out, winding up my middle finger.
Like I said, I hate this city. It brings out the worst in me.
Ten minutes later, after finally finding a spot several blocks away, I made it to the building, buzzing Mrs. Lawson’s apartment.
Tilting my head back, I peer at the six-story building, thinking back to the night on the rooftop.
Thinking about the dance with Audrey at the Bourbon Barrel.
My biggest regret was not getting her number.
She drove away before I could get the chance.
Maybe it’s for the best, there’s nothing a woman like Audrey could possibly want in a man like me, right?
Mrs. Lawson buzzes me in, getting me out of the hot, humid sun, and I take the stairs, needing to get some of this pent-up anger out.
My lungs burn by the time I get to the fifth floor, and I’m sure I’m red in the face when she invites me in.
Mrs. Lawson—which is the only name she ever let me call her—thanked me again for the work in her custom walk-in closet and handed me an envelope with a check that would be enough to sustain me for a few weeks.
Enough to get a new A/C unit. It made up for the way she talked to me—like I was an uncultured swine.
Well, it sorta made up for it.
Eager to get back to the peaceful lull of Roseville, and with the envelope tucked into my pocket, I pull my baseball cap down and take the steps back down. But as I reach the lobby, the elevator doors ding, drawing my attention to the most beautiful woman who wore a scowl that could kill.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Audrey says clear as day, running a hand across the top of her ponytail, and I can’t help but cock my head back and let out a husky chuckle.
“If you’re stalking me and going to murder me, just get it over with, okay?” She stops moving, a hand truck stacked with uneven boxes teetering against her.
“Wow—of all things, that’s not what I was expecting you to say,” I reply, but she continues to glare at me. Even in her annoyed state, she looks impossibly attractive.
She turns her attention back to the dolly, groaning under its weight, her teeth gritted, anger fueling each push.
“I’m not stalking you. I was in the building to pick up my last paycheck.” Drumming my fingers on my thigh, I rack my brain to say something else. But Audrey is paying me no attention as she steadies the dolly that appears way too heavy for her and starts walking backwards towards the door.
“Let me.” I reach out a hand, but she shakes her head, jaw tight.
“No, thanks. I got it,” Audrey snaps back.
I don’t know what the hell I did, but regardless, she’s made me feel like a jackass. I also can’t remember the last time I cared what anyone thought of me, maybe that’s why my heart feels lodged in my throat. She’s pissing me off in a way that’s confusing as hell.
Stepping behind her, I hold open the door, biting my lip as she yanks her uneven boxes over the threshold. “Thanks,” she mumbles as she heads straight towards the big black SUV that cut me off.
Of course. The blonde was Audrey’s friend from the bar.
I watch in complete horror as the hand truck shakes back and forth, the boxes threatening to fall off.
I could leave her there, but I would never do that.
I may be an asshole, but I'm a gentleman.
So, I light a cigarette, inhale, and watch her wave her foot under the bumper, prompting the trunk to open.
She hulks a box into the trunk and my eyebrows shoot up.
She is determined as hell; I will give her that. But it’s like watching a trainwreck…and I gotta intervene.
She reaches up, aggressively tightening her long ponytail, and her chest heaves with the efforts, while she also expertly avoids eye contact with me.
“Let me,” I said again, taking a few strides towards her and lifting the next box into the trunk. Audrey bites her lip and gazes across the street.
“I overpacked that one.” She points to the bulging cardboard box with probably an entire roll of packing tape keeping its contents in.
I want to blurt out ‘no shit’ but I withhold and put it in the trunk while she holds her scowl.
“You have a body in this one?” I joke, pulling my dangling cigarette from my mouth.
Her long lashes blink rapidly. “No, it’s shoes.” She nearly hip checks me. “Now watch out please, before the trunk decapitates you.” I ducked out of the way just in time as the trunk door came down.
“By the way, cigarettes are known carcinogens. Have you thought about giving them up?” she asks curtly.
That’s fresh, coming from her.
“I hear liquor can kill, too.”
She shoots me a glare that makes me wish I could swallow my words.
Between the parked cars, the tension is as thick as the humid air around us. She clearly wants me to move out of the way, but I’m hell bent on getting my answer. Even though I’m much bigger than her, I don’t doubt she could put me in my place.
“Did I do something to upset you?”
She laughs without smiling. “You don’t even know me.” Audrey grabs the top of the dolly, trying to push it past me but I grip the side, stopping her in her tracks.
Her cheeks blush and hazel eyes dilate as they meet mine.
“You’re right. I don’t know you, but can’t you see I was trying to?”
Audrey cocks her head back.
“Here’s the thing, Rhett. It’s hot as hell today, and I’m running on four hours of sleep.
I’ve spent all morning arguing with movers who clearly didn’t show up.
So, now it’s just me and my friend moving all my stuff out of my ex’s apartment.
” She puffs out an angry breath, leaning into me.
“And you know what I really don’t have time for in my life?
Cheaters. So, if you could kindly move aside, and stop showing up everywhere, I’d really appreciate it.
” Her words could slice, but I narrowed my eyes, doubling down, because I was anything but a cheater.
And even though she is clearly pissed, all I want at this moment is to turn her day around.
Don’t ask me why. There’s something about this girl that won’t stop pulling me like a damn magnet.
Audrey white knuckles the side of the hand truck, so I release it, stepping aside to let her through.
“I’m sorry you didn’t get more sleep, and I can’t change the weather, but I can help you move boxes.”
“What?” she snaps.
Shrugging, I repeat myself. “Don’t pretend you don’t need help.” I smile, which I thought would help but she forcefully shoves the dolly across the bumpy road. Like an ass, I follow her, fully aware the odds are not stacked in my favor right now.
“What would Mabel think of you helping me?” Audrey spat out and now I was genuinely confused. I don’t remember ever talking to her about Mabel. I mean, I had a handful of whiskeys at the Bourbon Barrel, but I have a pretty good memory of that night. It’s been replaying in my head all week.
“Well darlin’, I think Mabel would be okay with it. Last I checked her plans involved sleeping all day.”
My answer somehow only angers Audrey further, and she whips the dolly onto the sidewalk. With a vicious scowl on her pouty pink lips, she stares me dead in the eye, making my heart skip a beat.
Probably not her intention.
“Don’t darlin’ me. And like I said, I have no time for two timing cheats—"
“Wait a minute.” I think I know what’s happening and if I’m right I'm going to lose my mind. Cautiously raising my hand, I slip my phone from my back pocket. I have to bite my lip, so I don’t laugh as I scroll to a photo of Mabel and hold it up silently to show Audrey.
The tightness in her face drops so quickly I actually feel kinda bad.
“So, Mabel is a...”
“She’s a two-year-old bloodhound,” I replied coolly.
Audrey’s cheeks turn bright pink.
“Right. Well, I’m sorry, but you can see why I'd think that. Nothing has really gone my way lately, and I’m beginning to think I only attract complete jerks into my life.
” She gestures around, and my stomach sinks with heaviness as I recall the first time I met her on the rooftop.
She was trying so hard to hide her tears, carrying that champagne bottle like a lifeline.
I wanted nothing more that night than to find the fucker who did that to her.
“Don’t sweat it, it’s an honest mistake. Mabel would be flattered, but I won’t be telling her. The ego of a hound is already through the roof,” I comment, and she gives a tiny nod. “But hey, if you’ll let me, I'd be happy to help.” I put my hand to my chest. “I have no plans until five.”
Why don’t you just scream that you’re a single guy with way too much free time?
“Do you know how to use a dolly?” She glances up at me, still clearly reserved, but I swear to god, my knees buckle.