excitedly to a box of supplies. “Uh, thank you. I think I have to go—”
“Of course. Go cook dinner for your husband.”
“Oh, no, I’m not married.”
“But you’re so pretty!”
And so on.
My big breakthrough came when one of the ladies, a Mrs. Jameson, challenged me to a game of canasta. I organized a group of six, but I didn’t know the rules, and she didn’t remember them. In the end, we made them up.
“Hearts!” one gentleman shouted, and we all laid down our cards, groaning.
Betty walked by, nodding approval. On my suggestion, she’d gotten another group of octogenarian residents around the table, coloring like kindergarteners.
By the end of the day, I had a list of ideas for her, including casino night and more senior aerobics. Several gentlemen requested the return of Jenny White the fitness lady. She was good for their moral. Or, at least, her tight, spandex clad ass was.
I didn’t realize how many hours had passed until Mrs. Jameson started clapping in excitement. Cole stood in the doorway, casual in jeans and a t-shirt. My heart skipped a beat.
“What a handsome man! Is that your husband?”
“No, ma’am. But he is my ride.”
She nodded knowingly. “You better go home and cook him dinner. You don’t want that one to get away.”
“Did you have a good day?” Cole asked as I ran up to him. I nodded and blushed as one of the residents shouted, “kiss him!” and let out a wolf whistle. I grabbed his hand and pulled him outside before Cole got any ideas. A visit from the local sheriff was another idea for Betty’s Calendar of Fun. Cole would be a big hit with the residents. If all else failed, I could just make out with him in front of everyone.
“What are you smiling about?”
“Nothing.” I smoothed my features.
“I guess you had a good day.”
“It was all right.” I let my thoughts wander, and Cole let me. We got home, and I put on my costume without him asking, and made dinner.
After the meal, he set down his fork and caught my hand.
“What’s on your mind, Regina? It’s not like you to be so quiet.”
“Maple Grove…how much does a place like that cost?”
“A lot of money.”
I sagged in my seat. “Figured.”
“Don’t tell anyone this, but I heard that some employees get pretty substantial discounts.”
I glanced over at him sharply. It sounded too good to be true. “There aren’t any positions open. Betty told me that.”
“Yes, but Betty wants to retire.”
I went still. It sounded too good to be true.
“Do you think if I volunteered there for a few months, I’d be a good candidate for the job?”
“I think you’d be a shoo-in.”
I closed my eyes. I wanted this so badly for my mom I couldn’t breathe.
“It won’t work. I need money, now.”
“My guess is that Betty might hire on someone part time sooner rather than later. As for the rest…it just so happens I need a live in maid for the next few months. It pays pretty well.”
I smiled. “Does it now? I hear it’s worth it just for the other…perks.”
“Is that what we’re calling orgasms now?”
“If you like.” My smile fell away. “I can’t ask you to pay me.”
“You didn’t ask. I offered. What’s more, I’ll pay your bills directly, and order you to accept it.” He rose and cleared his dishes and mine. I stared at the woodgrain on the table, wondering if things could really get better, wondering if I dared to hope.
“If your mom moves there, you could sell the trailer. Move in permanently. Maybe even go back to college, finish up your degree. They have a commuter program. I checked.”
I closed my eyes. “Cole, I can’t.”
“Course you can. I’d pay for it.”
My eyes flew open. The handsome man across from me offered a smile that looked almost shy. And I realized that for the past few days, I’d been living in a dream.
Time to wake up.
“Why?” I asked. I made my voice hard.
“Why?” He frowned. I noticed his cheeks were
“Of course. Go cook dinner for your husband.”
“Oh, no, I’m not married.”
“But you’re so pretty!”
And so on.
My big breakthrough came when one of the ladies, a Mrs. Jameson, challenged me to a game of canasta. I organized a group of six, but I didn’t know the rules, and she didn’t remember them. In the end, we made them up.
“Hearts!” one gentleman shouted, and we all laid down our cards, groaning.
Betty walked by, nodding approval. On my suggestion, she’d gotten another group of octogenarian residents around the table, coloring like kindergarteners.
By the end of the day, I had a list of ideas for her, including casino night and more senior aerobics. Several gentlemen requested the return of Jenny White the fitness lady. She was good for their moral. Or, at least, her tight, spandex clad ass was.
I didn’t realize how many hours had passed until Mrs. Jameson started clapping in excitement. Cole stood in the doorway, casual in jeans and a t-shirt. My heart skipped a beat.
“What a handsome man! Is that your husband?”
“No, ma’am. But he is my ride.”
She nodded knowingly. “You better go home and cook him dinner. You don’t want that one to get away.”
“Did you have a good day?” Cole asked as I ran up to him. I nodded and blushed as one of the residents shouted, “kiss him!” and let out a wolf whistle. I grabbed his hand and pulled him outside before Cole got any ideas. A visit from the local sheriff was another idea for Betty’s Calendar of Fun. Cole would be a big hit with the residents. If all else failed, I could just make out with him in front of everyone.
“What are you smiling about?”
“Nothing.” I smoothed my features.
“I guess you had a good day.”
“It was all right.” I let my thoughts wander, and Cole let me. We got home, and I put on my costume without him asking, and made dinner.
After the meal, he set down his fork and caught my hand.
“What’s on your mind, Regina? It’s not like you to be so quiet.”
“Maple Grove…how much does a place like that cost?”
“A lot of money.”
I sagged in my seat. “Figured.”
“Don’t tell anyone this, but I heard that some employees get pretty substantial discounts.”
I glanced over at him sharply. It sounded too good to be true. “There aren’t any positions open. Betty told me that.”
“Yes, but Betty wants to retire.”
I went still. It sounded too good to be true.
“Do you think if I volunteered there for a few months, I’d be a good candidate for the job?”
“I think you’d be a shoo-in.”
I closed my eyes. I wanted this so badly for my mom I couldn’t breathe.
“It won’t work. I need money, now.”
“My guess is that Betty might hire on someone part time sooner rather than later. As for the rest…it just so happens I need a live in maid for the next few months. It pays pretty well.”
I smiled. “Does it now? I hear it’s worth it just for the other…perks.”
“Is that what we’re calling orgasms now?”
“If you like.” My smile fell away. “I can’t ask you to pay me.”
“You didn’t ask. I offered. What’s more, I’ll pay your bills directly, and order you to accept it.” He rose and cleared his dishes and mine. I stared at the woodgrain on the table, wondering if things could really get better, wondering if I dared to hope.
“If your mom moves there, you could sell the trailer. Move in permanently. Maybe even go back to college, finish up your degree. They have a commuter program. I checked.”
I closed my eyes. “Cole, I can’t.”
“Course you can. I’d pay for it.”
My eyes flew open. The handsome man across from me offered a smile that looked almost shy. And I realized that for the past few days, I’d been living in a dream.
Time to wake up.
“Why?” I asked. I made my voice hard.
“Why?” He frowned. I noticed his cheeks were
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