Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 116708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“Sorry, but Ryan is already gone for the day.”
“Uhhh, was he gone before I spent twenty minutes on hold?”
She ignored my sarcasm and replied with all the charm of a doorknob. “It’s six o’clock. What do you expect? Just give him a call back tomorrow.”
“No, thank you. He was supposed to be here with a whole crew to clear out my restaurant today.”
“And just like I already told you, they got tied up at another jobsite this morning. We’ll get you back on the schedule for some time next week.”
Screwing my eyes shut, I pinched the bridge of my nose. I could not afford another delay. Whether the restaurant was open or not, I had bills to pay. Power, water, insurance. Those things didn’t stop.
“Why were they even at another jobsite today? You told me they’d be here at seven this morning and it’s now six p.m. Eleven freaking hours later.”
“Ma’am, I’m going to need you to watch your language.”
My chin jerked. “Freaking isn’t a cuss word.”
“Oh really? So what exactly does freaking mean, then? Is it something you’ll be doing on your darn way to heck?” She scoffed. “I can read between the lines, ya know.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it incredulously. What in the nonsense hell was this woman talking about? I opened my mouth to give her a piece of my mind that she wouldn’t have to read between any lines but managed to stop myself. I’d always been a firm believer in the whole catching-more-flies-with-sugar-than-vinegar thing. Besides, I was shit at confrontation. I talked a big game but would probably end up sending her flowers and an apology the next day.
Filling my lungs, I held my breath as I did a mental search-and-rescue for my patience. This was not the time to lose my shit, my contractor, and more than likely my deposit too. “Okay, you’re right. I’m sorry. I’m just a little frustrated. That’s all.”
“Oh, hell no!” Lucille exclaimed just before she snatched the phone from my hand. “Listen up. You’ve got exactly twelve hours to get that contractor to my doorstep or I’m calling my lawyer. He’s a real class act with a penchant for courtroom dramas. He makes Perry Mason look like a teacup poodle.”
Oh, sweet Jesus.
“Lucille,” I hissed, frantically trying to get the phone back.
She swirled, swatting me away as she continued her rant. “What do I look like to you? Google? Search up Perry Mason on your own damn time. Right now, you’re on my clock. Twenty-four hours, I tell ya! You’ve been giving us the runaround for too long, and my girl here might be too nice to say it, but when you mess with the bull, you get the horns. And guess what, baby? I’ve been horny my whole life.”
“What the fuck?” I whispered.
Lucille never slowed. “Oh, you heard me right. We expect him here first thing in the morning, tools in hand, shirt off.”
Shirt off? Dear God, forget about my deposit. I was going to have to flee the country after this.
I grabbed her arm. “What are you doing?”
She covered the speaker of the phone and whispered, “This contractor of yours is hot, right?”
“No!”
She looked at me like I’d suddenly grown snakes for hair. “Why the hell wouldn’t you hire a hot contractor?”
“Because I don’t care what they look like as long as they do the damn job.”
“How’s that working out for you?” She shook her head in disappointment and then uncovered the speaker. “Never mind. Shirts are required. However, considering the inconvenience, I think a little discount is in order—say, twenty percent?”
My ears perked and I immediately stopped trying to retrieve the phone. Embarrassment be damned, my deflating checking account could definitely use a break.
“Hey,” I whispered, waving frantically to catch her attention. “Tell her you’ve got connections at the Better Business Bureau.”
She beamed at me with pride. “Oh yeah, laugh it up now, honey. If my lawyer doesn’t bury you, my connections at the BBB will. I’ll wait while you Google that one too.” She paused. “Uh huh, right. Then you already know how damaging something like that could be for a small business. Do you really think Mr. Meeker is going to be able to pay your salary after I flip his business belly up?” She sucked in a sharp breath. “Then as his wife, you really understand the ramifications of bankruptcy. I promise you, I am not a woman you want to mess with.”
I bit my lip to stifle a laugh. Note to self, Lucille could be scary.
With my fingers crossed and my hopes high, I waited anxiously as she listened, her silence broken only by the occasional, “Uh huh.”
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she flashed me a triumphant grin. “Absolutely, I’ll be here at seven tomorrow to speak to him directly. Just tell him to ask for Cooter.” Her face got tight. “Yeah, seriously. That’s my name. Write it down. C-O-O-T-E-R. Got it? Mmhm. You have a good one too. Bye bye, now.”