Angel, with her black-as-sin fur, loves to tangle herself in my legs whether I’m lying down, sitting, or walking. She’s tripped me more than once.
Felix loves to eat and is my lazy orange tabby.
Minnie is my troublemaker Siamese. Her blue eyes are always full of mischief.
Freckles is my scaredy cat. I blame it on the fact that she’s hairless.
I pet them until they’re all purring and falling asleep as I work out my plan in my head. Once I talk to Maddox and explain it all, I’m sure he’ll be more than willing to help me.
Just like he did in Vegas.
My mind replays the memory in my head, and I grin from ear to ear. If Dad wants to play dirty, then I have two words for him.
Game on.
Chapter
Three
NOVA
“Hi, this message is for Mr. Deacon. We met in a bar in Vegas. God, that sounds like a pickup line, but we did. Hopefully, you recall. Anyway, I am in need of your services, and it’s rather urgent that I speak to you. Can you give me a call? It’s Simone, by the way. I swear I have an excellent phone etiquette when I’m not in distress. Okay, bye.”
Shock at the message has had me frozen at my desk all afternoon.
“It’s her,” I whisper as I listen to the message for the tenth time.
I’ve fantasized and hoped for this for so long that I’m afraid it’s a cruel joke. No way is it really her. I shake my head. Nah, Maverick found out her name and had Abel and Lacey make an AI voice to prank me.
I place my phone down and hover my finger over the delete prompt.
“But what if it’s not?” FUCK!
I pull at my hair and push my chair away so I’m not tempted to do anything rash, like call her and beg for exactly what I want.
“Get your ass together and think, asshole,” I growl at myself as I spin slowly in circles trying to find the answer to this particular problem.
She wants to hire me.
Me?
Curiosity, more than anything, makes me get my head in the game and dial her number. If anything else, I deserve to know why she’s chosen now to reach out after so many months.
I take a few deep breaths as the phone rings.
“Hello?” Well, it’s the same voice, so if this is a joke, it’s a good one.
“Simone? It’s Maddox Deacon, returning your call. I believe you wanted to make a business deal with me?” Why does my voice sound so husky?
“Jesus, you even sound like a sex phone operator.” Damn, I forgot she has no filter.
“Everyone has a professional voice.” It’s not an excuse or explanation, but it comes out defensive anyway.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just surprised by it. You must get some interesting reactions to it.” She rambles, and my eyes close, picturing her squirming on my fingers in that bar.
I lick my lips to the memory of her taste on my tongue.
“Mr. Deacon, I have a family situation that I believe you may be able to help me with. Do you remember my state the night we met?” How could I forget?
