Maybe she would be the last person standing. It was just her and life—both equally crazy.
The doorbell rang. Tossing the teabags in the trash, she shuffled her bare feet to the door.
“Hi.” Jillian mustered a smile at the woman standing on her stoop.
“Hi, sorry to bother you. I’m Ryn Middleton. I clean AJ’s house.” She pointed next door. “There’s usually a key under his planter, but it’s not there. And the garage code doesn’t work either. I tried his cell phone but it goes straight to voicemail.”
Jillian laughed a little. She had no doubt that AJ was trying to keep someone out of his house, but it wasn’t Ryn. “He’s had some issues lately. I’m sure it’s just an oversight on his part.”
Ryn wrinkled her nose a bit. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable or get you in trouble, but would you happen to have a spare key to his place? I’ve been cleaning his house for over five years so I’m not a thief or anything. I just have a really full schedule, so if I don’t clean for him today he’ll have to wait another two weeks.”
Jillian smiled. “I do actually.” She held up a finger. “Just let me grab it.”
The woman, to whom the rules did not apply, returned with a small black box. Ryn raised a brow.
“I’ll open it for you. I’m Jillian, by the way.”
Ryn followed as Jillian’s boots squeaked with each step through the dewy grass to AJ’s front door. “Uh … that doesn’t look like a key,”
“It’s a universal key. Comes in quite handy. You should think about getting one. I’m sure this isn’t the first house you’ve been locked out of.”
Ryn replied with a nervous laugh. “I’m not sure what the neighbors would think of me using a lock-picking set to open a client’s door.”
“They’d think you’re ingenious.” Jillian turned the handle and the door opened. “Well, at least that’s what I’d think if I saw you doing it.” She returned the picks to the box and closed it.
“What if he asks how I got in?”
Jillian grinned with pride. “Tell him I let you in. It’s the truth, and trust me, he won’t ask you any more questions after that.”
Ryn gave her an easy nod. “Thanks. I’d better get to work.”
Jillian smiled, took a few steps toward home, then turned. “Are you taking new clients?”
Ryn grabbed two buckets of supplies from the back of her car. “I could probably take on one more, but it would have to be a weekly client. I have a two hour slot on Tuesday afternoons, but it’s not enough time for a bi-weekly job. More dirt. More time.”
“My brother and I could use someone to do some light cleaning, if you’re interested.”
“Your brother?”
Jillian laughed. “Yes. My roommate happens to be my brother, for now. We just moved here.”
“Well, yeah … if you want Tuesdays I could put you on my schedule. When I’m done here, I can come over and give you an estimate if you’ll still be home.”
Jillian didn’t really need an estimate, but it seemed like the normal thing to expect so she went with it. “Sure. If I’m not home Jackson will be. And, just a fair warning … he’s going to like you.” She winked at Ryn.
An uneasy smile formed along her lips. “Excuse me?”
“Just ignore everything he says or does. He’s taken a vow of celibacy. Some days are easier than others.”
*
“We hired AJ’s cleaning lady to clean this pit on Tuesdays, and she’ll be dropping by to give an estimate when she’s done with his place. So be nice and keep your dick in your pants. I’m going to watch Lilith.” Jillian pulled her hair back into a ponytail.
“We hired her?” He loved how his sister made decisions for both of them without consulting him.
“Yes.”
“And why do you think my dick will wander from my pants?”
She insulted him with her lack of trust. He was a changed man.
Her answer began with a sigh. “Because she’s older than you—maybe late thirties, early forties. And she’s pretty.”
Jackson crossed his arms. “Elaborate on pretty.”
“She’s most likely married with kids, two fish, and a dog, so I don’t know why it matters.”
“Elaborate on pretty.” He held firm.
“Five-seven, a hundred and thirty pounds, shy smile, an inverted bob cut with wavy shades of blond, light blue eyes, and freckles. Bye.” She shut the door.
After piecing all the descriptives into a mental image, he looked down at his crotch. “Yeah, buddy, this could be a problem.”
Several hours later, while in the middle of his lesson, a few soft taps rapped on the door.
“Keep playing. I’ll only be a minute.”
He opened the door. “Hello.” The smile that curled along his lips continued to grow as he stole a few extra seconds to just look. It didn’t hurt to look. “You must be AJ’s housekeeper.”