Boyfriend Maintenance Read online

  Sliding my palms to either side of his neck, I can't seem to get close enough. I slide my tongue against his, tasting a hint of whiskey. Growling, he palms my breast through my dress. I tug at the hem of his shirt, wanting nothing between us. Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door. I jump and Jake takes a giant step back. I look to the door as I hear my brother from the other side.

  “Might want to consider just getting a room.” Levi doesn’t say anything else, so I assume he walked away.

  Still trying to catch my breath, I lean over and turn off the faucet. Jake stands there, almost looking angry, his chest straining against his shirt with each heaving breath. Color me confused because it sure felt like he was enjoying what was just happening.

  I repeat my earlier question, “What was that?”

  He shakes his head. “I don’t know.” He breaks eye contact and adjusts himself through his pants. “But I think it’s time for me to take you home.”

  He brushes past me and lets himself out of our bubble of lust.

  I can tell by his behavior now that he doesn't mean we’ll be continuing this later at my apartment. Whatever he may think that was just now, it most certainly did not feel fake.

  Chapter 12

  Jake

  I glance at my phone as it rings and decide to let another call from Emmy go to voicemail. It’s been a little more than a week since the engagement party. I haven’t seen or heard from Emmy until yesterday. It had been radio silence for the both of us after I dropped her off at her apartment. I wasn’t very gentlemanly about it either. I was so caught up in my head about what the hell had happened with us in the ladies' room that I pushed the door open, helped her out of the cab, told her good night and that was it. I watched from the cab as she made it inside the building and then had the taxi take me home.

  At first, I only received a couple of texts from her, about needing to talk to me about the shower coming up this weekend. Then last night, she called me. She left a huffy message about needing a quick chat. I hate to admit it, but I’ve been hiding from her. I’ve been on call, but I’m not the only one. I’ve asked some of the other guys to take any calls that have been near her floor or in public areas throughout the building. But I need to get over it and find her since the shower is in a few days.

  I guess I’ve been avoiding her because I don’t want to talk about our make out. It was fucking hot, and I was so into it. Until I remembered that she is a Madison resident, not to mention she was paying me to be her fake boyfriend. Clearly, I’m attracted to her, but I needed to put some space between us. I don’t blame her for being huffy at me.

  Cut to today. There’s an issue with one of the elevators, some buttons need to be replaced. Since I’m the only one here right now, I can’t delegate the task to someone else. I’m going to have to stop hiding.

  I don’t even get both feet out of the maintenance office when I come face-to-face with a hopping-mad Emmy.

  “Oh, so you weren’t abducted by aliens?” Emmy stands there in a cream-colored dress. The heels she’s wearing show off her killer legs—legs I had wrapped around me just a week ago. She must be coming from work since I know what she wears around her apartment and this isn’t it. I can’t decide which look I prefer. Her professional look or her laid-back, couldn’t-care-less look. I do know that her “out on the town” look from the other night nearly knocked me on my ass.

  “Nope. Just stupid busy with work.” I pull my gaze away from her sexy figure and walk right on past her. “I’m actually on my way to fix the elevator.”

  She follows me. I knew she would, she clearly has a bone to pick. This should be fun.

  “Right. Well, you’re ghosting me, and I don’t like it.”

  I fight back an answering grin. She’s cute when she’s mad.

  “Whatever. Look, I need to talk to you about the shower. The venue changed last minute, it’s now at my parents’ house. I just wanted to prepare you but since you’re too busy being an ass, that’s fine too.”

  I can’t help it, her sass is fun. I just keep ignoring her as I stop at the elevator in need of repair. I open it up and turn the key to shut it down. The door will be stuck in the open position until I’m done with my work. While I’m in the giant metal box, she teeters right outside. She crosses her arms and pops out her hip when I don’t say anything.

  “I don’t know what your problem is, and I don’t care, but you don’t get to be a jerk to me.”

  I steal a glance at her, and while she looks pissed, I can see a tiny bit of vulnerability in her eyes. She’s hurt by the way I’ve behaved since attacking her mouth. Her fucking delicious mouth.

  I sigh and give her my full attention. “You’re right, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” As soon as I say this, I realize I didn’t specify which reason I’m apologizing for, the “being a jerk and ghosting her” part, or the “making out with her” part. If I’m honest, I don’t know which one either.

  She registers the wording and her expression goes blank. “Good. You have a job to do, so buck up and do it.”

  Of course, a reminder about what this thing between us really is. A business transaction. I roll my eyes as I turn back to the button panel in the elevator. “Look, this will take me just a few minutes to fix. If you wait for me over in the lobby, we can talk when I’m done.” I nod to the plush couches across the way.

  She doesn’t say a word but turns and walks toward them. I pretend to not watch those legs I’ve been dreaming about for the past seven nights as they glide away from me.

  I keep up my end of the deal and head over to the couch once I’ve completed the elevator repair. She’s sitting on a couch, with her legs crossed at the ankles, staring at her phone. I recognize the upwards swipe of her finger on the phone and can’t help the smile.

  She’s playing Digibots for sure.

  “Catching anything good?” I come to a stop in front of her.

  Looking up at me, she gives me a slight smile and shakes her head. “Nothing I don’t already have.”

  She clicks off her phone and stands, bringing us face-to-face. I can smell her light perfume and it's enough to make my mouth water, along with the thoughts of me kissing along her neck and breathing in that sweet scent.

  “I’m going to have to download the game. My brother, Kevin, plays and was just telling me about some kind of new feature.” I’m telling her the truth, but I’m also extending an olive branch.

  “Yeah, you can now fight other handlers, it’s really pretty cool.” Her earlier anger seems to have melted away, I’ll have to file this in my Emmy bank, talking about Digibots makes her happy.

  “So, tell me about the shower. What’s going on?”

  She starts to say something right as I hear an all-too-familiar voice, one I don’t want to deal with. Crazy Sara from the fourteenth floor.

  “Oh, Jake!” her voice rings out from somewhere behind us.

  I suck in a breath, look into Emmy’s waiting eyes and mouth, “I’m sorry.” Then I turn to face a very enthusiastic Sara.

  I’ve been lucky, so freaking lucky that I haven’t run into her since our date. I’ve been avoiding her floor. Granted, I haven’t seen her at all and there haven’t been any work orders come in for her unit, so like I said, I’ve been lucky.

  “Sara, hey, how are you?” She looks do damn happy to see me, I’m at a complete loss for words. I thought it was pretty clear when I faked an emergency that I wasn’t interested.

  “I’m doing great.” Right as she says this, Emmy shifts out from behind me.

  I turn my head to look at her and see a look of pure curiosity on her face. Sara comes to an abrupt stop and throws a stink eye Emmy’s way. Oh no, it’s like the crazy switch was just flipped.

  She looks right at Emmy when she speaks. “Jakey, I hope Grammy is doing well, I hope her fall wasn’t too bad. I was so worried after her last spell.” She drags her dagger-crazed eyes toward me now.

  “Oh, yeah, Grammy is just fine.”


  Emmy steps up next to me now, her interest piqued.

  Reaching out, Sara touches my arm. “That’s wonderful news.”

  I just nod in agreement. I can see it on her face that whatever is about to come out of her mouth is going to be a doozy.

  “So, baby, when can we meet up again?” She starts to caress my arm now. She’s also fluttering her lashes.

  “Uh, do you have something in your eye?” I attempt and fail.

  “Our last date was just so hot, that little handyman of yours has been on my mind. I can’t wait for another go at him.” Her voice is sultry and deep, she winks.

  My mind is blown by the lies that are just falling out of her mouth.

  “And those hands,” she moans as her eyes flutter shut, “those rough hands on my soft skin, it was perfection.”

  She’s completely crazy and I’m not about to let Emmy think this shit really happened.

  Next to me, Emmy straightens.

  I shift a little so I’m out of Sara’s reach, and she finally drops her arm.

  “Sara, that’s not what—” I begin, just before Emmy steps in.

  She pulls me to her and links her arm through mine. “Sara was it?”

  Sara leans back, clearly offended. “Yes.”

  “Well, unfortunately, another date with Jake and his little handyman and rough hands isn’t in the cards for you.”

  “And why not?” Sara’s fist flies to her hip and she nearly stomps.

  “Because Jake and I are a thing now.”

  Sara narrows her eyes at us, then focuses those crazy things on me, “How serious of a thing?”

  Emmy answers for me, “Dead serious. He met my parents last week.”

  Sara’s eyes go wide at Emmy’s admission. I was worried Sara wasn’t going to believe her, and I was going to have to kiss Emmy again. I know, it’s a hardship, but I’m willing to take one for the team.

  Huffing, Sara shakes her head and looks disappointed. “Well, I guess now just wasn’t our time, Jake.”

  It’s my turn to look at her in shock. She keeps going.

  “I wish you the best of luck in life. If your little handyman ever misses me, let me know. I can be discreet.” With that, she turns and walks toward the elevators.

  My jaw … it hits the floor.

  I can almost see the steam pouring out of Emmy’s ears. She starts to go after Sara, but I yank her back by her arm and place a hand on her waist. “Hey, hey, calm down. You’re better than that,” I say quietly into her ear.

  “That woman just offered to be the other woman. To help you cheat.” She’s glaring down Sara’s retreating form.

  “I know, but I’m not a cheater and never will be. I’m also not interested in her.”

  She shakes me off, my arms drop to my sides. God, she’s adorable when she’s mad. Having to hold her back from a possible cat fight has my body excited. Cat fights are not my thing, but when it’s Emmy trying to defend my honor, it’s a whole different ball game.

  Emmy shakes her head as if to bring herself back to the moment. “Why do I even care?” She gestures between us. “We aren’t real.”

  “Then why’d you get so jealous?” I prod.

  What? It's what men do, we like to push buttons, it can’t be helped.

  “No! I wasn’t jealous! I was trying to help you out.” She’s all flustered now. Adorable.

  “Right, if you say so, Emmy.” I can’t help my smug smile.

  She lets out a frustrated growl. “Well, now your no-screwing-the-residents rule makes sense. You shacked up with the building’s crazy and now you’re playing it safe.”

  “Hey now, be nice. I didn’t fuck Sara.” She shoots me a look of disbelief. “Not for a lack of trying on her end though. Hell, Emmy, she named my dick!”

  Emmy presses her lips together.

  “I found her on some hookup app and didn’t realize who she was until about two minutes after our date started. She drove right on in to crazy town after that.”

  “Then how does she know your grammy?” My grammy will get a kick out of this story later, that's for sure.

  “She doesn’t, she was trying to make you jealous.”

  Emmy’s eye twitches at the comment.

  “Less than thirty minutes into our date, I called my brother and faked an emergency. That’s the story I gave her.”

  She studies me. I think she believes me.

  “The date was that bad?” She bites her lip.

  “The worst. She wasted no time letting me know how hot she was for me. She’s one very horny and crazy woman.”

  She thinks about it then lets out a resigned huff. “I believe you, not that it matters.” She grumbles the last part.

  “It does matter,” I tell her gently. As hot as she is when she’s acting all jealous and shit, there’s no reason for her to be jealous of Sara.

  “No, it doesn’t, Jake. We’re fake.” She looks me right in the eyes when she says it. Her matter-of-fact tone sounds almost sad, and it hits me straight in the middle of my chest.

  “Emmy—” I start.

  “What are you doing on a hookup app anyway? Are you a man whore?” Now she’s pushing my buttons. I roll my eyes. “I should be glad for your no-screwing-the-residents rule. I don’t want any STDs that’s for sure.”

  “Whoa, whoa, hold up. I’m not a man whore and I don’t have any STDs.” This conversation is getting way off track. I continue to defend my virtue, “I just don’t have time to date, so when I need to … you know … I use the app. Wham, bam, thank you, ma’am.”

  “Ick … Whatever. I’m done here.” She waves me off with disgust and heads for the elevators herself. I’m left standing there in the lobby watching her leave.

  “Well, that was one enjoyable shitshow,” Thomas, the daytime doorman, says from where he’s leaning up against the security desk. He must have just taken a break because he’s normally stationed at the doors.

  I chuckle and shake my head. “Yeah, it was.”

  I head back toward the maintenance office and think about her last comment. “I should be glad for your no-screwing-the-residents rule.” Does that mean what I think it means?

  Shit. If screwing Emmy King wasn’t already the number one thing on my mind, it sure is now.

  Chapter 13

  Emmy

  A few days after the Sara incident in the lobby, Jake and I are in an Uber on our way to my childhood home. A place I haven’t been in five years. My nerves are nearly shot and mix in the fact that I can smell Jake’s cologne isn’t helping. I’m still annoyed with him ignoring my texts and call the week following our hot and heavy make-out session at The Rooftop. It was clearly something more than he is willing to admit since he ran and hid from me. Massive man-baby.

  I’d be lying if I didn’t at least admit to myself that I’d like a repeat, but not until after we’ve discussed what was really going on between us. I’m a forever kind of girl but he’s just into one-night hookups. I’m not. I’ve had casual sex plenty of times before. But I’ve never had the connection with them that I do with Jake. I want to be around him. I want to learn more about him. I’ve been happy when I’m with him, aside from that one time when there was a crazy-eyed psycho trying to make me jealous. Which she didn’t, by the way.

  Fine. Maybe a little. Or a lot.

  Either way, I like being with him and I’m thankful he’s here to have my back as we enter the lion’s den.

  Kitty out in public is tame. Kitty in her headquarters is another beast entirely.

  “Emmy, if you don’t stop twisting the strap, you’re going to break it.” I look down at what Jake is referring to, and sure enough, the strap of my clutch purse is wound so tight it’s about to snap. Which ironically, is exactly how I feel right now. As I stare down at the strap, his hand covers both of mine and he weaves his fingers through one of them, gripping it tightly.

  I take a deep breath. I look to him, but he’s looking out the window at the passing streets. I feel the last of my
annoyance with him from the past week slip away as I realize that he isn’t here to calm me, but he does anyway.

  “So, your family home is that bad, eh?” He turns and smiles at me this time.

  I take another deep breath. “Yes, if you thought Kitty was bad at the engagement party, then she’ll be worse here.”

  He nods in understanding. “And Craig … will he be there?” His grip on my hand tightens a fraction.

  “No, I don’t think so, Craig told me he would back off.” I fight off a chill thinking back on that conversation.

  Jake just grunts in reply. “Even if he is, we’ve got this, right?”

  I smile and lift our hands, giving them a shake.

  He chuckles this time. “That’s right, baby.” And brings our clasped hands over to cross his lap. I can’t stop the tingles that shoot up my arm and then continue through my entire body.

  Moments later we arrive at the King home.

  Jake lets out a whistle and I groan, “Welcome to the King mansion. A.K.A. Hell.”

  He steps out of the car first, adjusting his sleeves and buttoning his jacket. It’s the same navy-blue one from last week but today he’s wearing a striped, light-blue button-up underneath it. It all matches surprisingly well with a pair of light-salmon-colored dress pants. I told him he didn’t have to get the pink pants, but he really liked them. His whole outfit matches mine perfectly. I pieced mine together for under fifty dollars, thanks to a few discount stores. The light-pink tulle skirt with a matching shimmery pink top and my favorite new denim jacket. It's definitely a more fun and carefree outfit.

  Kitty will probably hate it which almost makes me giddy.

  He holds his hand out to me as I scoot across the back seat of the car. I take his hand as he helps me out. I brush the back of my skirt down and look up at him.

  He’s watching me intently.

  “You look beautiful, Emmy.” My hand is still in his and he brings it up to his lips and kisses the back of my hand.

  Cue more tingles.

  “Are you ready?” he asks as he lowers our hands but doesn’t let go.