"Take me home, Jeeves!" a woman slurred. She smelled sweet, like candy and dessert wine. I of course didn't eat sugar.
I turned around in my seat to see another woman stick her head into the car. "You're Arnold, right? Here to pick up Willow?" she asked.
"No, I certainly am not," I said.
"This isn't the Uber?" Willow, I supposed, unless she used an alias, asked uncertainly. I flicked on the overhead light and turned on the hazards.
In the yellow glow, I saw the girls from the vegan shop. I felt a scowl settle on my face. "This is not an Uber; this is a private vehicle. Remove yourselves immediately."
"I can't!" Willow said, gesturing helplessly to her friend. "I think she's asleep. Josie, wake up!"
"She's probably just drunk," I told her. I heard a slight snore from the girl who had covered me in chocolate sauce. Her curly hair spilled out of its clips over the back seat.
Josie's friend halfheartedly tried to pull her out. "Sorry!" she puffed. "She's under a lot of stress right now."
I heard athunkas the sleeping girl's arm hit the center console. I winced. If that girl ended up with some sort of life-altering injury in my car, my schedule would never recover.
"Just stop. I'll do it," I said, unbuckling my seat belt and going around to the passenger side. I easily pulled Josie out of the car. Cradled in my arms, she felt warm and soft. I asked Willow, "What do you want me to do with her?"
"I think that's our Uber." Willow pointed to a car that was pulling up.
Josie murmured and snuggled into my chest.
"Don't get too comfortable," I told her as I deposited her into the vehicle.
"Thank you! Sorry about your suit!" Willow called as I walked back to my car.
I didn't have time for idle chitchat. I checked my watch. Delayed another six minutes. This evening was going downhill fast.
Back in the car, I had to roll down the window because I reeked of sugar and chocolate and the faint sweet scent of the girl's hair.
Before I could drive off, my phone rang, and my brother's voice came through the speaker system.
"Hunter, you're making me late," I said to my older brother.
"Mace, it's good you're not home yet," he replied, ignoring my complaint. "Another one just came in. Can you pick him up? I'm still on the road and won't be back for another half hour."
I sighed and mentally recalculated my schedule. "I suppose. My schedule is already shot."
"You need to be more flexible," Hunter said.
"Is there anything else? I can't talk and drive," I reminded him.
He made a disgusted noise. "Right, that law. I can't believe Meghan did that.”
“It's remarkable that she's managed to hold a grudge for years and is still finding ways to mess with you. Garrett said he would be impressed if it wasn't such an inconvenience." I told him.
* * *
The train stationwas busy when I pulled up. Ever since Svensson PharmaTech had become one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world, it had spurred investment in the formerly run-down rust-belt town of Harrogate.
A couple hours outside of New York City by train, Harrogate boasted a bustling main street, was fully run on hydroelectric power, and had some of the best schools in the state. Lots of research startups were clustering here. And of course my brothers' investment firm was cashing in on all of it.
One would think I would be living the life of a playboy billionaire, but even if I wanted to, I couldn't because of the kids.
Susie, one of the town's police officers, was waiting at the train station, holding the hand of a small child.
"Officer," I greeted her. She was friends with Meghan, and as such, she did not like Svenssons.
