Overflow: The Carpino Series by Brynne Asher Read Free Book Online Page A

get you the
address so you can just go straight there.”
    “Not a big deal, we’re both goin’,” he answers with
finality.  Looking at me intensely, he says with authority but it comes out
more like a demand, “Five thirty.”  Then he turns and walks out of the room. 
    Finally pulling myself together, I remember my manners and
run out of the room to follow him up the stairs and to the front door that he
is already opening and call to him, “Jude?”
    He turns, “Yeah?”
    “Well,” I look down and then slowly back up to him.  “Thanks
for today.  All your help, you know, moving furniture and stuff.”
    “Do you have an alarm?” he asks out of the blue.
    “Uh, yeah?” I sort of answer, trying to get used to his
bizarre conversation tactics.
    “Set it when the crew leaves.  Keep it set while you’re in
the house and lock your doors,” he instructs again.  Then his arm reaches out
low, pointing down and to the side, he continues, “And please, look out your
freaking window before you answer the door.”
    I feel myself frowning and say, “Why are you telling me
this?”
    “I’ve got to get to the office, we’ll talk more tonight,
just do as I say, all right?”
    I sigh, thinking locking my doors and setting my alarm isn’t
that big of a deal, does he think I’m an idiot?  “Okay, fine,” I answer with
only a hint of attitude.
    “Good.  See ya at five thirty,” he gives me a head lift and
I stand here watching him turn to jog down my front steps to his silver truck. 
He opens the door to his truck, turns to look at me and repeats loudly this
time, “Lock the door!”
    I glare at him for a second, realize we are in a stare down
and he’s not going to leave until I lock my door.  Fine, whatever.  I move out
of the way, swing my door shut and lock it.  I stand here and stare at my door
and then glance down at Mia, who is sitting at my feet looking up at me.  She
doesn’t look as confused like I feel, she’s complaining that her morning nap
has been interrupted by all the activity and she’s behind on her rest.  “Let’s
go outside, baby,” I tell her, thinking I could use a nap as well.  I let my
sweet girl outside and head to my pantry to see if I have ingredients to make
something sweet for Tony.  I find the fixings for almond vanilla bars.  Tony
deserves almond vanilla bars after answering my every whim for the last two
days.  I get the first layer spread, start mixing up the cream cheese and powdered
sugar topping when I realize that Jude never told me why he came by this
morning.   I didn’t think of it when we were moving furniture and lifting
carpet I was so focused on the task at hand.  He said we’ll talk tonight, so
apparently I’ll find out soon enough.  I put my bars into the oven and set
about making the raspberry vinaigrette for my spinach salad as I hear the
restoration crew coming up the stairs.  They confirm everything Jude told me
about their plans, I find out they will be back late on Monday to check the
moisture levels in the basement and I see them out.  I let Mia back in, finish
my dressing, pull out my bars to cool and head to my bathroom to take a
shower.  I lift Mia onto the bed, she curls up immediately to catch up on her
beauty sleep and I look at her enviously.  Thankful that I have two hot water
heaters so I can still take a shower, I turn on the water to warm up, but
hesitate.  Turning, I walk back to my front and back doors, lock them both and
arm my security system.  Frowning at myself, not really knowing if I’m
conflicted about following Jude’s commands or confused about why Jude commanded
it, I head back to my shower.  As I stand under the hot water in my walk-in
shower that I just renovated the previous year, I try to ignore the tiny little
happy spark I feel deep down that is seriously scaring me more than any of the
crazy ass stuff that has happened to me in the last two days.  Not really
wanting to admit it, but I’m