Chapter 9 Juniper The engine whines as I ease my foot on the gas , hoping the lights at the intersection dont go red .
Im making beautiful time , just as long as nothing else goes wrong and the late rush hour traffic is kind to me .
Flipping caramel apple tortes .
But Im the genius who decided to break out the sweetest treat in Nanas old recipe arsenal .
It took three batches to get thern just right .
I was almost forced to leave without them to meet Mr.
Sweet Tooths life or death deadline .
Luckily , they came out and passed a quick taste test just before the deadline , but it was close , So much for the promise Id be early .
Even now , Im pushing it , grinding through the bustling traffic of a summer evening .
I swear the humid nights bring people out like bees .
I really cant afford to be waiting at the intersection , though .
To my eternal relief , I only whack the wheel once before the light turns green , and then I head down by the Riverwalk , passing the Winthrope KC hotel on the way .
The engines whine morphs into a rattle .
Oh , no , are you joking ? Not now ! I grimace at the windshield .
Just another big ugly repair bill Ill need to scrounge up money for .
Come on , baby .
You can make it .
Ill let you rest as soon as we get there … The rattle shakes through the seat as I stomp the gas and ease off it again .
Ugh .
Ive never been much of a praying type , but I will sell my soul to any deity right now just as long as I make it to this stupid hotel .

Follow new episodes on the CrushnovelS.Com

This dudes order is big enough to cover several big car repairs and then some .
Its so huge that if he didnt reek like money , Id have worried whether he could pay it .
And if he isnt a total scrooge when he tips …..
Ohhh , if he tips , I might actually be able to live on more than home baked banana bread and frozen burritos for a few weeks .
But I try not to get my hopes up .
Hefty tips are never guaranteed , but if theres one thing Ive learned about jackass customers , its that theyre often halfway decent tippers .
Almost like theyre trying to buy off their guilty conscience when nobodys looking .
Of course , that hinges on everything going right , and I have to make this deadline .
Miraculously , I swerve into the hotel parking lot without the van breaking down.
No time for celebration .
After a quick chat with reception , I grab the first set of boxes and haul them into the conference room .
Thankfully , it isnt far from the main door .
To my surprise , Mr.
Sweet Tooth stands in the conference room alone , leering over everything like a general surveying a battlefield .
He leans on the ginormous walnut table with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows , his lips slightly tilted and those cutting blue eyes ready to flay me open for the slightest error .
But I dont think he sees me at first .
He doesnt seem to hear the door or my panicked footsteps ; he just stares out of the long , wall length window overlooking the city basking in the sunset .
Chapter 9 Nobody else coming to the party yet ? This is a lot for one guy , I joke as I set down the first box .
He starts , whipping toward me with that familiar stormy scowl .
Unbelievable .
Youre five minutes late .
He taps his watch in case Ive forgotten the concept of time .
Your desserts better be goddamned ambrosia .
Wheres the rest ? Um , coming right up ! I say nervously , biting my tongue on adding you absolute jackwagon .
It takes him two seconds to realize its just me unloading the stuff .
To my surprise , he follows me outside to the van and helps grab the remaining boxes , stacking them high in his arms .
Cant believe people eat this stuff , he growls once were back in the room , popping open a lid and checking out its contents Nanas famous strudel bites .
Its begging for diabetes .
There are places where sugar bombs like this get a sin tax .
Yikes , talk about opening a can of worms .
So , what ? You think no one should ever be allowed a little sugar ? I ask flatly .
In any sane world , itd be a controlled substance enforced by DEA troopers .
If I were dictator for a day , Id ban the shit entirely .
hes mighty serious about a world without glucose , isnt he ? And I wonder how a man this painfully handsome wound up with the worlds biggest stick lodged up his ass .
Youre hilarious .
I stop what Im doing and stare at him , trying to brush it off as a joke .
Hes hot , sure , but clearly a little okay , a lot- deranged .
Do you hear what youre saying ? I know .
I shouldnt bother debating the merits with someone who makes a living peddling death salt .
Death salt ? Excuse you ? One second later , I bite my tongue and sigh .
His glare cuts right through me .
For the love of everything holy , be nice .
Remember the money .
Um , I mean … Im a little confused .
Help me out .
Youre the one who ordered this stuff extra sweet , right ? I rip open another box a little too forcefully and frown at the raspberry and white chocolate cheesecakes inside .
Please dont tell me youre some sort of health freak .
If health freak means I actually take care of myself , then yes , sue me , he snarls .
Oh , that would be the day , I huff under my breath .
His glare just got ten times hotter .
Putting all the samples out on the tables and arranging them neatly clearly isnt his talent , so after I tidy them up a few times , he gives up and watches me with an unwavering stare that makes me sweat .
Dude , could you let up on the evil eye ? Its a minor miracle I dont drip all over the dessert spread .
When I turn around , hes folding his arms .
I hate the way the shirt tightens around his biceps like a second skin .
Nope , not staring .
You want to know the truth ? If it was up to me , wed have mandatory tracking and weekly workout times to offset every gram of this stuff , he grouches , looking past me at the treats .
So , hes not just a sugar hating prick then but a prick whos anal enough to obsess over the metric system , too .
I ignore his insanity and step back to examine my handiwork .
Not a bad presentation , if I do say so myself , especially considering the time crunch .
Well , were lucky its not up to you .
Too many control freaks already in power , I say with a sunny smile I hope hides my total contempt .
Anyway , sorry about the five minute delay .
Id be happy to knock fifty bucks off the price for your trouble .
I lay on the emphasis real thick and his scowl deepens .
But everything is here and customized to your liking .
A smirk escapes before I can bite it back .
I mean … clearly not to your liking .
But customized to your order , I should say .
9.5 % Chapter 9 His eyes flick around the room , probably searching for something else he can blame me for .
He looks like that kind of walking horse dick .
Nothings ever good enough .
Theres always something to complain about .
But theres nothing wrong with what Ive put out I triple checked- and after a breathless minute , he nods .
Grudgingly .
As ordered , he admits .
Torget the discount , Ill pay you in full .
Holy crap .
I stagger back a step .
Im not used to things going right .
Great ! I shove the paper bill and the credit card reader at him before he can change his mind .
He raises his eyebrows at the bulky plastic reader pushing fifteen years old .
Jerk .
I half expect him to make a pointed comment about convenience and I wouldve been half tempted to take the cherry pie and shove his face in it- but he just scrawls a signature on the bill and jabs his black credit card in the reader like a knife .
Like he just cant wait to get rid of me .
Right o .
The feeling is mutual .
While he stares at the screen and waits for it to finish processing at a speed slower than molasses , I stick my tongue out at the back of his head and that thick dark hair .
Childish , yes , but it makes me feel better .
Then the door opens .
We both look up to witness the Kingpin of All Money swaggering in .
Hes a bear of a man , probably in his fifties .
Sweet Tooth is built and lean , yes , but he looks almost small compared to this older guy with thick limbs and a penguin belly .
Sweet Tooth immediately stops scowling .
Oh , is he nervous ? Interesting .
So maybe Kingpin is Sweet Tooths boss or something ? Makes sense .
Doesnt every shark answer to a whale ? I turn back to face my tormenter with a saccharine smile .
As you can see , everythings here and perfectly in order , I announce loudly while he gives me a look that tells me to scram .
Its kind of delicious , the way his eyebrows sink low above his eyes .
They heat with a blue fire rage he cant indulge , not while hes in front of this other guy .
And extra sweet , just like you asked for .
Im not sure if you have any allergies , but just to be sure , the items with nuts were baked separately and are off to the left , over there , and- Yes , Sweet Tooth clips through gritted teeth .
Understood , maam .
Kingpin stares across the spread with raised eyebrows and a shit eating grin on his face .
Rory , color me impressed ! Or should I be thanking our lovely delivery gal ? Sweet Tooth inhales sharply and glowers at me .
Thanks , he grinds out without an ounce of sincerity .
This all looks … great .
Lame , dude .
You arent even trying .
I smile innocently .
You dont think its too sweet , do you ? He shoves the bill into my chest and guides me to the door with one big hand pressed against my back .
9.8 % Chapter 9 All right I say , rubbing my face , Lets find out how crappy s tipper you are , Dexter Rory 1 skim down to the tip line and my eyes nearly exit my face .
My jaw drops