Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 69759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
I glance down at the time. It’s nearly time to close up and get out of here, but I want to finish these cakes for tomorrow so I don’t have to come in early. We have an open night tomorrow, so I tend to run out of time if I don’t plan. It’s always a big day, and an even bigger night, so I at least try to get ahead of the game.
It’s only six anyway, I’m sure another hour won’t hurt.
Though a shower and my leftover spaghetti dinner is calling.
I get back to it with a sigh and hear the bell over the front door ding. I haven’t locked up yet, technically we’re not closed for another ten minutes. Sometimes I have a last-minute customer come in and buy the last few cakes in the display cabinet. It’s not usually the case, but today it would seem it is. I wash my hands, wiping them on my apron, and head out to the front.
Carmen is standing at the counter, her arms crossed. She’s wearing a gorgeous dress, her hair is resting neatly over her shoulders, and it’s quite rude how perfect she looks even when she’s mad.
The second she sees me, she tips her head to the side. “Go and lock the front door.”
Her voice is calm, but her demeanor says otherwise.
I’m not certain how dumb she thinks I am, but it would appear she actually believes I’d let her lock the both of us in here. I don’t trust that woman as far as I can kick her, but there is no way she’s doing a runner this time.
I give her a sweet smile. “Hello, Carmen, nice to see you again after our last date.”
She looks pissed.
“Go and lock the door, Evelina, or I’ll make you go and lock it.”
“Lock it yourself,” I say, crossing my arms and staying behind the counter.
I’m not scared of this bitch.
I’m done with her.
“And let you run out the back and disappear, I don’t think so. We have a lot to talk about. You either lock the door, or I’ll start shooting.”
She pulls out the gun from her coat pocket and I exhale. “This again? Carmen? Can we do something more original? I preferred the poison you put in my food, it was much more effective.”
She waves the gun at me and screeches. “Stop messing around and lock the damned door, Evelina.”
Fuck me.
Fine.
I walk over and lock the door. Then I pull the blinds down as instructed. When I’m done, I turn to face her. “Happy now?”
“Give me your phone.”
“Doubtful,” I say, not moving.
“Go and get the phone or I start shooting all this expensive shit you’ve got in here. I’m sure you don’t want to lose any of it.”
She’s right, I don’t.
I have some wicked antique stuff I don’t particularly want to be destroyed. Insurance might cover it, but I can’t get that stuff replaced.
I exhale and walk into the kitchen with her right on my tail. I pick up my phone and spin around, handing it to her. She takes it, glances down at the screen, and then shoves it into her pocket.
“Now, are you going to tell me what you want or do I have to start guessing?” I ask, leaning against the counter.
If this bitch pulls anything, I’ll grab the knife that is within reaching distance and stab her pretty face.
“You and Riggs think I’m stupid, don’t you? I know exactly what you two are doing. You’re trying to lure me out with your fake break up.”
I grin at her. “Funny that you say that because here you are. I guess we’re not as stupid as you first thought.”
Her face scrunches.
Oh, she didn’t think of that, did she?
“Nobody will know I’m here,” she throws back at me.
“Are you sure about that? Riggs calls me every night, he’s going to figure out when I don’t answer that something is wrong and he’ll come over here.”
She looks like she didn’t think of that, either.
“Well, then you’re going to answer him and tell him everything is fine.”
“Yeah, no, that’s not going to happen. Great idea though.”
She glares at me. “Your humor won’t get you out of this situation, Eve.”
“Here’s the thing, Carmen. I’m not afraid of you. You’re not going to shoot me. I have cameras all through this place, and you’d be arrested and locked away for life. You’re stupid, but you’re not that stupid. So, whatever it is you’re here for, can you get it over with so I can go home?”
She looks a little shocked and surprised, mostly at how calm I am considering she’s aiming a gun right at me. I don’t believe she’ll shoot me, though, and I hope I’m right.
“I want you gone.”
I exhale. “We’ve been over this. He’s not interested, Carmen. If you think I’m the reason he’s not taking you back, then you’re seriously delusional. You tried to kill him. I don’t know about you, but that’s enough to turn even the best of us off.”