Read Online 2 Queenie Baby - Out of Office by Christina A. Burke - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christina A. Burke
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"He ran two temps off yesterday and has called me every hour on the hour with complaints."
I shrugged. That sounded like The Count. I had been working for the cape-wearing Mr. Vann Pyres for a couple of weeks. In that time, I had managed to type up about two hundred pages of spindly hand-written notes for his book on medieval husbandry and was helping him find love online. Not bad if I did say so myself.
"He's bugging me to check his dating accounts," she continued. "He says he and Betty have an open relationship. He's ready to 'explore all his options.'" I pictured her face scrunched up in disgust.
"Well, he was your vampire first," I reminded her.
She snorted. "Well, he's yours now."
"So are you still thinking about taking Ed up on his offer?" I asked, changing the subject. Ed wanted to retire and sell the staffing agency to Carol. I thought she'd be a perfect fit, but she seemed overwhelmed by the prospect of being a business owner.
"I'm still thinking about it. I have enough trouble managing the agency. I can't imagine how many more headaches I'd have as the owner. Besides, I'm not exactly rolling in money."
"Ed knows all that. I'm sure he'll work out a deal for you."
"I'm not sure I want a big loan hanging over my head. I'm going to meet with the accountant this week and take a hard look at the numbers. I'll keep you posted," she said with a sigh. "So how's it going down there?"
"I'm by myself in a beautiful suite. I've already destroyed an expensive guitar, almost been arrested, almost been kidnapped, and performed a duet with a pirate," I said, ticking off the last twenty-four hours. "Oh, yeah, there was a fire last night at the hotel, and we ended up sleeping on the beach."
"That sounds romantic at least." You could always count on Carol to put a good spin on things.
"Yeah, you'd think." I sighed. "But all I got was sand in my underwear."
Carol laughed. "Yuck! Any luck tracking down David?"
I brought her up to date on all the new developments and promised to check The Count's online accounts and send her an email update. I spent the next hour nibbling at my breakfast, catching up on email, and trolling for Mr. Pyres' online dates.
As I glanced at the profile for yet another cleavage heaving, twenty-something looking for a sugar daddy, I thought about how nice it was not to be on the dating scene. Now if only Mark and I could finally get to the good parts…
* * *
The limo arrived promptly at eleven. I was waiting on the curb with my bags and guitar case, dressed comfortably for the long ride in cargo shorts, flip flops, and a light cotton T-shirt.
Andre stepped out and opened the door for me. For once he wasn't wearing his expensive suit and white shirt. He was wearing shorts and a polo.
He gave me a big smile. "Carlos hasn't stopped talking about you since last night. It's going to be an interesting day."
Carlos greeted me with, "Ahoy, matey!"
As my eyes adjusted to the darkened interior, I noticed he was bare-chested and wearing a pair of swimming trunks. Those six-pack abs were impressive.
"I'm suddenly feeling over-dressed." I looked back at Andre.
"No worries, m'lady. We're going to take a wee detour on our way to Aguadilla."
"Detour?"
"Carlos wants to take us to the secret waterfall in San Sebastian." Andre looked resigned.
This was news. "What secret waterfall?"
Carlos leaned in like he was about to tell us the location of his pirate hideout.
"Only the locals know how to get to the secret waterfall," he said mysteriously. "I haven't been there for years. When I was a child, I made a pirate's map so I would always know my way back."
He pulled a dirty scrap of lined notebook paper from his pocket and handed it to me. I opened it up. A map drawn and illustrated in childish writing detailed the path down to the secret waterfall of San Sebastian. A big black X marked the spot.
Surprisingly, I felt my long-forgotten girlhood fascination with Nancy Drew reignite. A hidden
I shrugged. That sounded like The Count. I had been working for the cape-wearing Mr. Vann Pyres for a couple of weeks. In that time, I had managed to type up about two hundred pages of spindly hand-written notes for his book on medieval husbandry and was helping him find love online. Not bad if I did say so myself.
"He's bugging me to check his dating accounts," she continued. "He says he and Betty have an open relationship. He's ready to 'explore all his options.'" I pictured her face scrunched up in disgust.
"Well, he was your vampire first," I reminded her.
She snorted. "Well, he's yours now."
"So are you still thinking about taking Ed up on his offer?" I asked, changing the subject. Ed wanted to retire and sell the staffing agency to Carol. I thought she'd be a perfect fit, but she seemed overwhelmed by the prospect of being a business owner.
"I'm still thinking about it. I have enough trouble managing the agency. I can't imagine how many more headaches I'd have as the owner. Besides, I'm not exactly rolling in money."
"Ed knows all that. I'm sure he'll work out a deal for you."
"I'm not sure I want a big loan hanging over my head. I'm going to meet with the accountant this week and take a hard look at the numbers. I'll keep you posted," she said with a sigh. "So how's it going down there?"
"I'm by myself in a beautiful suite. I've already destroyed an expensive guitar, almost been arrested, almost been kidnapped, and performed a duet with a pirate," I said, ticking off the last twenty-four hours. "Oh, yeah, there was a fire last night at the hotel, and we ended up sleeping on the beach."
"That sounds romantic at least." You could always count on Carol to put a good spin on things.
"Yeah, you'd think." I sighed. "But all I got was sand in my underwear."
Carol laughed. "Yuck! Any luck tracking down David?"
I brought her up to date on all the new developments and promised to check The Count's online accounts and send her an email update. I spent the next hour nibbling at my breakfast, catching up on email, and trolling for Mr. Pyres' online dates.
As I glanced at the profile for yet another cleavage heaving, twenty-something looking for a sugar daddy, I thought about how nice it was not to be on the dating scene. Now if only Mark and I could finally get to the good parts…
* * *
The limo arrived promptly at eleven. I was waiting on the curb with my bags and guitar case, dressed comfortably for the long ride in cargo shorts, flip flops, and a light cotton T-shirt.
Andre stepped out and opened the door for me. For once he wasn't wearing his expensive suit and white shirt. He was wearing shorts and a polo.
He gave me a big smile. "Carlos hasn't stopped talking about you since last night. It's going to be an interesting day."
Carlos greeted me with, "Ahoy, matey!"
As my eyes adjusted to the darkened interior, I noticed he was bare-chested and wearing a pair of swimming trunks. Those six-pack abs were impressive.
"I'm suddenly feeling over-dressed." I looked back at Andre.
"No worries, m'lady. We're going to take a wee detour on our way to Aguadilla."
"Detour?"
"Carlos wants to take us to the secret waterfall in San Sebastian." Andre looked resigned.
This was news. "What secret waterfall?"
Carlos leaned in like he was about to tell us the location of his pirate hideout.
"Only the locals know how to get to the secret waterfall," he said mysteriously. "I haven't been there for years. When I was a child, I made a pirate's map so I would always know my way back."
He pulled a dirty scrap of lined notebook paper from his pocket and handed it to me. I opened it up. A map drawn and illustrated in childish writing detailed the path down to the secret waterfall of San Sebastian. A big black X marked the spot.
Surprisingly, I felt my long-forgotten girlhood fascination with Nancy Drew reignite. A hidden
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