The only way to be a maid without letting the job run you down is to take pride in your work. I clean with a purpose, pretending I make a difference by turning a messy room clean again. Yes, I'm an important part of the team. I matter.
While I prefer to clean alone, guests sometimes stick around to make sure I don't steal anything. I can't be sure this is why the college girls don't leave while I remove their trash and add clean towels.
As I'm wiping down the sink counter, Virginia looks at me. Her blonde hair is tied into two tight French braids. When I check them out for too long, she smiles.
"I learned to braid hair growing up," she says, watching me from the doorway. "Do you know how to make a French braid?"
I shake my head. "My daughter has long hair, and I wish I knew how to do braids."
Virginia nods then snaps at her friend. "Come here, Sage. Let me braid your hair."
Her friend sits down in a chair, and Virginia shows me slowly how to French braid one side then the other.
Hours later, I work on Lula's hair. While the braids aren't anywhere as perfect as the ones Virginia created, I'm desperately in love with what I've accomplished. Lula looks in the mirror and smiles, but she's more interested in the purple flowered dress I bought her.
"We look the same," she says when I slide on my purple dress.
"They were on clearance."
Lula doesn't care about that part. She twirls before running to find Pax. As she keeps him busy, I fix my hair and apply lipstick. Except for my still bruised eye, I look damn good. Not as good as Pax though.
He's wearing black jeans and a white tee. Not a thing dressy about him, but he still sets my body on fire. One day, I'll have him buck naked on a bed, and every inch of his fine body will be at my disposal.
"Keep it in your pants," he whispers walking past me to let Folgers inside before we leave.
Grinning, I help Lula with her coat. Pax checks to make sure Folgers has food then follows us to the SUV. The drive involves me discussing how I learned a new trick that day and Pax hoping the trick was something he could enjoy. I spell cuss words at him for being a pig. He pretends not to know what I'm telling him. Through it all, Lula plays with the skirt of her dress.
At the restaurant, Pax opens my door and helps me out so he can cop a feel.
"You look fucking sexy," he whispers, groping my butt before stepping back. "What? You looked insecure, so I figured you needed a compliment."
Smirking at his bullshit, I whisper, "Thanks."
Pax gives my ass a quick pat then opens the back door and helps Lula out of the car. She fixes her skirt and smiles up at me. I feel like the best person when my baby is happy.
"Ladies," Pax says, taking my hand then Lula's. "I made sure we got a nice table. Ford wouldn't do that. He's an idiot."
I roll my eyes. "Isn't he taller than you?" When Pax glares at me, I laugh behind my hand. "Tall is overrated."
"I'm plenty tall."
"Almost too tall really."
Pax glares at me for teasing him, but I only smile since he makes it so easy. Once inside the restaurant, he proves he wasn't kidding about the good table. Lula can't sit still and keeps staring at the fish tank a few feet from her chair.
"I did good," Pax says, patting himself on the back.
"Yes, you did."
His gaze meets mine, and I know he's about to mess with me. He leans forward and sighs. "I'm paying for dinner, so you'll owe me. I'll take my payment in fucking tonight."
"Maybe," I say, focusing on the menu.
Pax's silence forces me to look at him. His expression is hilarious.
"I only said maybe."
"I expected a big fat no. Now I have hope."
I laugh at how he winks down at his crotch. He's in a weird mood, and I can't stop smiling when he grins so brilliantly.
My fingers skim over his busted knuckles, and he loses his smile. Now he simply watches me in an intense way I wish I could turn off.
"I should help Lula order."
Pax says nothing, but I feel him watching me while I look over the menu with Lula. She decides on chicken fingers and corn then returns to watching the fish. After we order, I study Pax, who exhales as if he's been waiting for me to notice him again.
"What's your mom's name?" I ask and Pax flinches.
His face runs through several emotions then settles on annoyance. "Why?"
"I want to know you."
Frown disappearing, Pax looks me up and down then glances at Lula watching the fish tank.
"Tina. I don't know her middle name."
"Do you look like her?"
"I guess. I mean, Ford and I look somewhat alike. I assume we have different dads."
"I don't know my dad either."
"Was he a…" Pax pauses to glance at Lula again. "Was he a client?"
"My mom wasn't sure. She said it didn't matter. The men she served and the men she dated were the same kind of losers. They didn't pay support or want anything to do with a kid. Same with my sister Sabine's dad."
"Where's your sister now? Shay said she disappeared. What does that mean though?"