Page 14 of Misadventures With The Mistaken Twin
Jack paused for a moment, gave me a sinister look, and then stepped up to Goldie, leaning in close. She tilted her head up, eager for whatever he had to say. “Well, I told you I know how to satisfy a woman.” Jack winked at Goldie. “I'm not usually one to kiss and tell, but this isn't really kissing, so I guess it's okay.”
Goldie nodded.
“I know how much—firsthand, mind you—Veronica likes to use a paddle on a guy.”
What? He was turning it all around. Changing some home invasion situation into a sexcapade. “Reid,” I said angrily.
Goldie swiveled her head around to me like an owl, questioning the story I told her the day before about knocking him out. I glared at her, daring her to believe him over me.
“So, I figure,” Jack continued, “if this makes her happy, I should get a bag of items that can satisfy the both of us. You know what I mean, don't you, Miss Goldie?”
Goldie nodded again. It was like Jack had thrown pixie dust in her face. She was hanging on his every word. I knew what I wanted to throw in his face.
“If the woman likes kink, I like kink. Right, Miller?”
“Jesus,” I muttered. He was egging me on and I wasn't falling for it.
Jack straightened back up, smiled. “Now, Miller, I didn't know you were religious,” he said, all sweet and sly. “Or were you just thinking about our time together yesterday? If I remember correctly”—he scratched the back of his head where I'd whacked him—“I remember you were saying: Jack, Jack!” The last he said in soprano.
Goldie's mouth dropped open. She quickly shut it with a click of her perfectly capped teeth. “Don't worry. I don't judge. If you and Veronica like it kinky, that's fine by me. I'll send a box of toys to the house. So, what brings you back to Bozeman?”
Goldie's quick change in topic could give you whiplash. I was still processing Jack's libelous words and how I wished I had that paddle in my grip again.
Jack winked at me before he said, “Um...my uncle told me he was sick, too sick to finish up his renovation project. From the way he sounded on the phone, I was worried. I had some time off from work so I decided to come back and check on him.”
Goldie cackled, tapped one manicured finger in Jack's chest. “Coughed a bunch, sounded winded, weary?”
Jack scratched his head, clearly embarrassed he'd been duped by an old geezer like his uncle.
“He got you good, didn't he?”
Jack clamped his lips together for a moment. “I guess he did. What did he do, run up and down the steps a few times before he dialed? That man's like that battery bunny. He just keeps going and going.”
“Sounds like him!”
“Arizona seems to be doing wonders for his health,” Jack replied sarcastically. He'd visibly relaxed since the sex portion of the conversation was over. “Although, I can't say the same for the remodel.”
“Well, I'm sure come tomorrow when all the workers get back to the project”—Goldie gave me a sly look—“things will get moving again.”
“Hopefully he doesn't have shoddy workers on the job. I need the project done. I have to be back in Miami as soon as possible.”
Shoddy worker! Ha! Kink! Ha! I was going to kill the man. It was only a matter of when and how.
“Oh?” Goldie asked.
“Yeah, oh?” I copied.
Jack got that cold glint back in his eye. A look that told me there was more going on in Miami than sunbathing and boating. “Let's just say I have things that need to be resolved at work.”
“All right-y then. What can we help you with today?” Goldie always knew when to stop her grilling.
“I'm just here to pick up the bags Mike arranged for his party.” Jack looked at me.
“Right.” I moved the bags to the front counter area. “I thought Mike was picking them up.”
“So did I,” Jack said, peeking in the different bags. “Shit,” he whispered when he got a look in one. Obviously, he didn't want to know the erotic details of his friends' lives. “Mike got called in for surgery.”
“You’re going to walk to Violet's house carrying those bags of sex toys—in this weather?” Goldie pointed at Jack's attire. “In that coat?”