Free Playing With You by Cheyenne McCray Page A

figure out that he was attracted to her more than any woman he’d ever met.
    But that didn’t change the fact that he wasn’t a damned bit good for her.
     

Chapter 9
     
    The moment Garrett walked out the front door, Deena grinned with excitement on her face. “I’m renting a house in your neighborhood,” she told Ricki. “The one with the nice yard.”
    “Wow.” Ricki’s eyes widened. “That was fast. We just looked at it three days ago.”
    “I can’t stand that hotel any longer, so I already put a deposit on the rental.” Deena clasped her hands together. “I’m paying with cash so I’ll be able to move in by next week.”
    “That’s great.” Ricki smiled, delighted to have a friend moving into her neighborhood. “Congratulations.” Maybe Deena could be someone who would watch over her house and check on Xena when Ricki had to go out of town.
    Well, on second thought, that wasn’t likely to work considering Deena and Xena didn’t seem to like each other. She wondered why that was.
    “It’s really a lovely house inside,” Deena was saying. She slipped her purse off her shoulder and set it on one of the tables along the window. “It could use a little brightening, but it works. I can’t wait to show it to you.”
    “Looking forward to seeing the inside,” Ricki said. “I’m glad you found a place you really like.”
    Deena pushed her fingers through her short spiky hair. “I’ve had some of my things in storage, so I’ll move in as soon as the landlord is ready. I didn’t bring a lot here, so it won’t take me too long.”
    Ricki moved around the cases to get the polishing rag. “Do you need help moving in?”
    “I’d love that.” Deena beamed. “If you don’t mind.”
    “Not at all.” Ricki walked back to the table she and Garrett had been sitting at and wiped it down.
    “When do you get off work?” Deena asked. “We could celebrate.”
    Ricki smiled. “I have some things to take care of at home tonight. How about drinks at Nectars after I close the shop?”
    With a nod, Deena said, “That sounds great.”
    When Ricki was behind the cases again, she started organizing the pastries. After the bakery closed, Lettie would take the day-olds to the women’s crisis center and to the police station, depending on how much was left over.
    As she made everything look attractive, Ricki asked Deena, “Can I get you anything?”
    Deena studied the cases. “I’ll take two Easter cookies.” She glanced at the beverage center. “And how about an iced tea?”
    “Coming right up.” Ricki selected two of the egg-shaped Easter cookies frosted with yellow, white, pink, and blue icing. She put them in a bag and set them on the counter before filling a plastic cup with ice and tea. She handed the tea and cookies to Deena over the case. “On the house, in celebration of you finding a place to live.”
    “Thank you.” Deena smiled as she took the bag and the cup. “You’re a sweetheart.” She looked around the bakery, her chest rising as she breathed deeply. “This place always smells so wonderful.” She returned her gaze to Ricki’s. “I don’t suppose you have a job opening? I’m looking for work.”
    “Sorry, no openings.” Ricki shook her head. “I have two employees, Lettie and Poncho. You won’t see Poncho around because he does most of the baking between midnight and six, then Lettie comes in around five.”
    “That’s early,” Deena said. “Is Lettie working out okay?”
    “I don’t know what I’d do without her,” Ricki said, and meant it. “Or Poncho, for that matter.”
    Deena nodded. “I’ve been searching the job ads online but I haven’t run across anything where I can utilize my skills.”
    Ricki tilted her head to the side. “What are they?”
    Deena shrugged. “Managerial.”
    Ricki took the polishing rag and wiped down the cash register. “If you’re in management, why would you want to work in a bakery?”
    “Why would a paralegal want to