“That’s fine, you can come stay at my place until we figure something else out for you.” I don’t even think twice about the offer before it leaves my mouth.
Her mouth pops open, an argument ready to come out.
“Jill’s there 90% of the time,” I amend, to make the offer more appealing. I know those two are getting closer. “You guys can bake together and shit, I don’t know. All I know is you’re not staying here, and that’s that.”
“Sir, yes, sir,” she mumbles.
I suppress a groan because the words go straight to my dick. Grabbing a laundry basket off the floor, I go to open the top drawer of her dresser to empty its contents into the basket in preparation to take to the car. When I pull the handle, Clover turns around.
“Don’t open that one!” She squeaks out, but it’s too late. The drawer is already open, and I’m peering in at the small pale pink silicone object.
The vibrator is small and innocuous, but I’ve been around enough to know exactly what it is.
“Clover...”
“Don’t you dare. Don’t say anything.”
My eyes flare as I hold up the toy, a smile playing at my lips.
“That includes your face too,” she hisses, trying to swipe it out of my hands. I raise my arm so that it’s out of her reach.
“Oh, we are definitely using this later,” I promise.
“We are not,” she growls before jumping up and taking it out of my hand. I chuckle, and toss a few more things into the basket as she tries to hide the toy.
Pulling out my phone, I send a quick text to Jill.
Me
Don’t be weird about it, but Clover’s coming to stay with me for a while.
Jill
Perfect, I made shortbread.
When we get to my place, the smell of freshly baked cookies wafts through the air. Sometimes I think Jill would be happier opening up a bakery instead of this Hollywood bullshit. But any time I’ve prodded her on it, she shakes it off, some version of “it’s just a hobby,” inevitably leaving her mouth before she changes the subject.
“God, it smells amazing,” Clover groans as she sets down her bag.
“Hi!” Jill grins as she steps out of the kitchen wearing the world’s frilliest pink and white apron, a dusting of flour across her forearms. “I hear you’ll be staying with us for a while?” She unties the apron before placing it on the granite island beside the cooling rack that’s covered in cookies.
I give a lighthearted eye roll over her referring to the place like it’s ours. It effectively is.
“I didn’t realize you were some baking prodigy,” Clover says, giving Jill a hug.
“This? Nothing too special, just my regular shortbread. I’m happy you’re here, I figured I’d get one last round of baking in before I head out tomorrow.”
“Where are you going?” Clover asks.
“Montana,” Jill says simply.
“Location scouting?” I ask.
“Yeah, for theFirefly Ranchmovie adaptation. Apparently there’s a promising spot out there, so they want me to come and see it,” she explains before her eyes go wide with wonder. “And who do we have here?” She coos as she bends down to pick up Smokey. Cat in one arm, Jill wastes no time before grabbing Clover with the other. “Come on, I’ll show you to your room.” She leads her down the hallway to the second guest room beside the one she occupies on a mostly permanent basis.
They spend the next hour getting Clover unpacked, and Jill emerges from the room first, her usual bubbly mood on full display.
I’m expecting Clover to be in a similar mood, but when she comes out, it’s clear that something is off. Her posture has changed, shoulders shrinking in on themselves, and she’s not looking at Jill when she talks. Instead, she nods along absently and tosses the occasional smile out that doesn’t meet her eyes.
