His Reverie (Reverie #1)(38)

“We’re almost done,” Michael tells her as I shoot her a quick look. I don’t dare stare at her too long for fear she says something to me. Like, you’re fired.

Yeah. I know she’s not happy with me. Feeling’s mutual. I did what she asked me to do and I stayed away from her daughter. What more could she want?

“You. You’re done,” Valerie says as she stops directly in front of me. I’m lighting one of the last torches, holding the lighter to the thick wick before it finally catches. “You can go.”

“Are you dismissing me?” Ah hell, I didn’t mean to talk back but I’m holding on by a thread here. My temper is this close to exploding and I’m not one to explode.

She crosses her arms in front of her chest, plumping up her boobs. I figure she’s doing it on purpose but I refuse to ogle her. I don’t know what’s up with this woman but I don’t like it. “I am,” she says coldly. “Now go. Before our guests see you.”

I feel like a lowly hideous servant she wants to hide. My hand curls tight around the lighter and I feel like I could bust the plastic into a million little pieces with my fist. Instead I turn and leave, muttering a low ‘see ya’ at Michael as I stalk away toward the house.

“You need us to still clean up the pool?” I hear Michael ask her.

“Just you. Let him go. You don’t need him.” The contempt in her voice when she says him is more than obvious. “You can handle everything on your own, right Michael?”

What a bitch. She dismisses me and unloads an unfair amount of work on Michael. God, I hate her. Maybe I should quit. It’s probably what Valerie Hale wants. She treats me like shit in the hopes she can get rid of me and normally, that would make me want to stay even more.

I’m not sure if it’s worth the trouble though. I’d rather give her the satisfaction and get away from her smug ass than have to deal with her every day.

That would also mean I won’t see Reverie anymore, but maybe that’s okay. It’s better for me actually. A couple of days ago I viewed this job as my saving grace. Now quitting Hale House is the perfect excuse for me to get away from Reverie once and for all.

No matter how much I need this job and how much I would miss Reverie I know it’s what’s best. I gotta look out for myself. No one else gives a crap about me. I have no one.

No one at all.

I’m planning my giving notice call to Reverend Hale when I run into her. Reverie. Just plow straight into her slender body so hard I almost knock her on her ass. Her startled gasp reverberates through me and I reach out to grab her upper arms. My fingers tingle as I hold her steady and she finds her footing. “God, I’m sorry. Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

She lifts her head, her gaze meeting mine and I’m stunned silent by her beauty. Fucking corny as hell but it’s the truth. She must be wearing makeup because I’ve never seen her eyes look that intense before and her lips are this glossy, tempting pink. Her hair is slicked back into a tight bun that sits practically on top of her head and she’s wearing a dress that is almost…indescribable.

Short. Strapless. Gold and lace and a black ribbon wrapped around her waist as a belt. Slender arms on display, long legs on display, she’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. A sexy fairy princess who’s come to me in my dreams, only this is my f**king reality.

I let my gaze linger as I drink her in. Slowly I ease my grip on her arms but I don’t release her. It’s like I can’t. “I’m fine,” she finally answers. “Are you all right?”

That she cares about my wellbeing says a lot. I’ve treated her like shit all week and she still asks. When she should kick me in the shins with those sexy shoes she’s wearing and tell me to go to hell.

“I’m fine,” I say as I realize I’m slowly stroking her upper arms with my thumbs. I immediately release her, glancing around to make sure that her mom is nowhere in sight.

“Are you leaving?” She sounds disappointed.

“Yep. Work day’s over.” I offer her a grim smile as I step away from her, creating some much needed distance between us. Of course, all this does is allow me to see her even better and man, is she a sight to see. It’s like a transformation happened in the last few days. She went from sweet, innocent Reverie to sexy, all grown up Reverie.

I don’t know which version I like better.

“I haven’t seen you much this week,” she says, getting straight to the point, as is her typical style.

“Been busy.” I shrug.

“More like been avoiding me.”

I don’t say anything because she’s right.

“Did I do something to make you mad? It’s like we haven’t even talked since…the stable.” She looks worried. I did that to her and it makes me feel like shit. “I was afraid that maybe what happened…wasn’t good. For you. Or whatever.” She waves a hand, her cheeks coloring a pretty shade of pink that reminds me of a summer sunset. “I’m being stupid. Just ignore me. Have a good night, Nick.” She starts to walk away.

“Wait a minute.” I grab hold of her arm again to keep her from escaping and turn her to face me. “I’m not mad at you.”

“You seem mad.”

“Other shi—stuff is making me mad. It’s not you. I’m sorry that I ignored you.” What are you doing, ass**le? “And just to let you know, it has nothing to do with what happened in the stables.”