Servicing the Target (Masters of the Shadowlands #10)(36)

And yes, her heart had undeniably slid into a syncopated jazz beat. Whatever had happened to her proverbial control?





Chapter Eight



Somewhere around noon in Uzuri’s new place, Anne walked through the rooms, surveying the work being done. The off-white living room walls and dark blue tile floors were scoured clean. The small dining area likewise. Linda and Beth were washing down the windows and the white trim.

In the kitchen, she smiled at Andrea. “How’s it going in here?”

Looking like an autumn day with her curly golden-brown hair, amber eyes, and darkly golden skin, Andrea was an inch or so taller than Anne’s five-eight. Cullen called her his Amazon.

Andrea waved her hand at the three high school students in ratty jeans and ripped T-shirts. “I mustered my fastest workers. Cleaning here is done and ready for the unpackers, right, guys?”

The boys all grinned. “You bet.” “Word.” “Sí.”

Anne looked around and marveled at the gleaming blue tile counters, oven, and open cupboards. One boy was finishing up the refrigerator, which positively sparkled. “Amazing.”

Earlier Anne had arrived to find Uzuri in tears. When management had handed over the duplex keys, they’d told her their cleaning service didn’t work weekends. Not having a choice and hoping for the best, Uzuri had accepted the keys.

The best didn’t happen. The place was a disaster. Even meth houses were cleaner. The rooms had garbage strewn everywhere, and the stench of rotting food from the kitchen, urine from the bathroom, and sheer filth was overwhelming. Uzuri’s dark skin had taken on a green tint as she gagged.

Anne had firmly sent her friend back to finish packing up her old apartment, then had called and redirected half the gang to the new location for emergency cleaning.

One more call had successfully summoned Andrea, who’d planned to arrive later to help with the unpacking. But, the woman owned a cleaning business. At Anne’s beseeching explanation, she’d come right away and brought along some part-timers.

“You are all wonder-workers,” Anne told the lads. “I’m so glad you were available.”

They gave her the wide-eyed looks of youths more accustomed to being cursed than complimented, then puffed up their skinny chests. So cute.

She exchanged smiles with Andrea before telling the boys, “Unfortunately, now I have to send you off to do the yucky bathroom.” After smothering a grin at their groans, she added, “However, I ordered pizza to make up for the trauma. By the time you get done, food will be here. You’ll definitely deserve a break.”

“Awesome.” Exchanging fist-bumps, the troop moved on to their next assignment.

“You’re as good at motivating the young ones as you are at keeping your slaves in line,” Andrea said. “By the way, Dan and Ben are outside with a load of kitchen stuff and living room furniture. Ben came in a minute ago with Starbuck’s. One of the cups has your name on it.”

“Does it now?” Her pulse pattered faster—only from the thought of getting some caffeine in her system. No other reason. No. In the long carton filled with cups, only one held a name. “ANNE’S.”

She picked it up and sipped. Mocha coffee. He’d remembered her choice of brew at Z’s house. That was…impressive.

Of course, her slaves had all learned her preferences, but tended to wait for directions from her. Ben’s combination of independence and thoughtfulness could easily grow addictive.

“Hey, Anne, where do you want us now?” Sally asked. Gabi appeared behind her, both women bedraggled. “The bedroom is clean and ready for furniture.”

“Excellent timing. Sam and Holt are in route with the bedroom stuff.” She pointed to the coffee carton. “Why don’t you grab coffee while I get boxes hauled in here? You two can work on setting up the kitchen.”

Gabi took a long look. “Wow, ’drea, your people did a great job. It looks completely different.”

As Andrea beamed, Anne pulled out her phone and took some pictures. “For Uzuri’s lease, I snapped a bunch of pictures when I came. But now you can have before and after shots for your website.”

“What a grand idea.” Andrea smiled. “Thank you.”

When Anne checked out the living room, she shook her head. The men had brought in a couch and chairs and arranged them in absurd locations.

Dan walked past and set down a chair against the wall—in the spot where the television should go.

“Honestly,” Anne said under her breath. After a second of thinking, she rounded up Linda and asked her to direct the furniture placement. “Beth, when the bedroom truck comes, can you do the same?”

“Of course.”

“Grab some coffee while you have a chance and—” Recognizing the footsteps, Anne turned.

Followed by a beautiful golden retriever, Ben carried a heavy armchair into the room all by himself. Every muscle in his upper half was so pumped up that his brown Merle Haggard T-shirt was straining over his chest.

Anne had a craving simply to bite into the curve of his biceps. Yum.

When his gaze hit her, he smiled slowly. “Anne.”

“Ben.” The growing heat in his eyes slid beneath her skin and deep into her core. Fighting the urge to pull him to her, she took a step back.