Tackling Tobias (Big Sky Universe)
An hour later, there’s a pounding on my door. I open the curtains to see a police officer at my door with that crazy bitch behind him.
“What the hell?” I grumble, then open the door. “Can I help you, Officer?” I’ve seen him before, but I don’t know the guy personally. He moved into town while I was playing professional football.
“Mr. Reynolds, does this lady live here?”
“Nope, she’s an ex-employee who was fired today.”
“I have nowhere else to go,” she complains with a baby tone to her voice that grates my nerves. Hell, even the officer’s shoulder cringes upward.
“Well, you should have thought of that before you were screwing one of my men on my bed.” I look to the officer and add, “She can get her shit out of her room, but I want her out of my sight and my home.”
“Is this a domestic issue?”
“What part of ‘she was an employee who got the boot’ didn’t you get? I wouldn’t touch her with your dick.”
“Understood. Miss, I’ll escort you to get your things, but I’m afraid you can’t stay here.”
“Where am I supposed to stay?”
“Not my problem. Maybe your car, or you can ask your lover’s wife if she’ll let you stay,” I bark out, thinking about poor Mrs. Ruiz being married to that cheating fuck.
“You are such an asshole. No wonder you can’t find a wife, you dickless hick.”
“Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have a sandwich to make. The room is right over there. Don’t let her take anything but her clothes and the few little trinkets lying around. All the furnishings are mine.”
“Ma’am. You need to calm down, or I’ll have to hold you in my car and gather your things myself.”
“Fine.” She flips me off and then storms into the housekeeper’s room. I make my sandwich, hating it, but I have to wait for them to leave my house. I eat while standing outside the kitchen and down the hall from the room they’re in.
It takes thirty minutes for her to gather everything, like she brought a lot, and I have to fill out a report of the incident for future reference. I get a copy, which I’m fine with. They asked if I wanted to file a restraining order on her, and I passed because I don’t want to ruin her chances elsewhere. I just don’t want her working here.
About ten minutes later, Dillon and Jessie pop over to take the sheets off the mattress for me. They dump the bedding because there’s evidence of their nasty stains on it, but they keep the mattress, which isn’t stained. Finally, I can hit the pillow and get some sleep.
Chapter 1
Tobias
The sun begins to rise over the beautiful Montana sky as I sit on my favorite rocking chair out on the porch, attempting to savor my first cup of coffee. It’s a cold winter’s morning and the icy chill whips at my face, but I still find this view peaceful. I love living up north, even if winter itself isn’t my favorite.
I take another sip of my coffee, which tastes like total shit so I set it down on the table next to me. After all this time, I still can’t manage to make a suitable cup to my liking. Maybe that’s why I’m a grumpy asshole. Luckily, I’m heading into town in a couple of hours. My first stop will be Drips and Sips for their largest coffee. They have the best in Cunningham Falls.
It’s been three months since I had someone here making me coffee and food every day, but I fired her ass when I came home to no dinner and a scene I clearly didn’t need to see. I shake my head, trying to get that memory out of my mind.
Honestly, I don’t want another woman in my home that isn’t my future wife, but I could really use a cook. It looks like I’ll forever be sneaking off to the bunkhouse for some of Dillon’s cooking. He’s one of the few ranch hands that can make a decent meal. His chili is the best I’ve had in years, but I prefer to eat at home.
After what happened with Nina, I’m a little on edge about bringing another woman in my personal space; it’s not like there’s many men signing up for the job either, so I only have two options: hire another woman, or constantly be at the mercy of my ranch hand cook or Big John’s wife who invites me to dinner often.
Luckily, Big John recommended a company for cleaning that does a good job on the entire house with the exception of my laundry and my bedroom, so I don’t have to worry about that. Those are my own chores that I often forget until my ass has nothing to wear.