Down & Dirty by Reese Madison Page A

hands gave out. I’ll catch you up on your education. If you don’t make it to public school for a proper graduation I’ll make sure you get the home school equivalent. Okay honey?”
    Michelle picked up her baby and hugged him because he started fussing. “I don’t know what to say.”
    “You don’t need to say anything, except that you’re good with this.”
    She nodded. “I can’t believe you’re all being so nice to me.”
    “This is how it’s supposed to be Michelle.” Salina told her. “What happened to you never should have happened. Tiny should have seen what was going on, but he missed it. Tiny is under Slider’s command, we take care of our business and our family.” Salina looked at me, “How did Tiny miss this?”
    I shrugged.
    Michelle said, “He kept me hidden in his house, nobody knew about me until this run. I guess he thought I looked old enough now to pass as his old lady.”
    I sighed, “Well, it’s over now. Let’s round up some prospects and get you settled in at Jeannie and Bill’s.”
    Jeannie offered to take the fussy baby and Michelle gladly obliged. “I think I can hold a bottle, but diaper changing might be out. Your room needs to be cleaned up too, but that’s what prospects are for.” She looked at Salina, “Thank you Sal. I was really worried about how I was going to take care of Bill.”
    “Come on, let’s go play Martha Stewart and get this girl’s new life started.” So we did. It took up most of the day, but we had a blast. Stacy joined us for a few hours before I gave her the chore of setting up a database on her laptop to track the girls schedules and money.
    Salina and I had driven separately in case one our old men called us off for some reason or another, so I went straight home to shower and catch a nap before Joe got home.
    I laughed when I opened the garage and his bike was already inside. I looked at the clock on the dash of the Mercedes and realized why, it’s after six. Whoops.
    I went inside and found him in the kitchen looking in the fridge. “Hey baby. Hungry?”
    “Fucking starving.” He complained.
    I hopped on my toes and kissed him. “Go sit, I’ll fix you something.” I’m really too tired to cook, but I should fix him something. It’s not that he’s expecting me to, but I feel like I owe him for standing by me during the whole Michelle thing.
    “Why are you so late? And where’s your phone? I called you twice.” He smacked me on the butt and went to sit at the kitchen bar.
    “It was a busy day getting Michelle moved in. I think they can take it from here.”
    “Let me guess, you still haven’t dealt with this birth control you’re insisting on?” He is grouchy.
    “Shit, no. I keep getting distracted by other stuff.” I found the sausage and put it in a bowl to start meatballs for pasta.
    “Take care of it tomorrow.” He ordered.
    “I’ll try. I meant to do it today.”
    “Don’t try, do it.” His tone is not getting nicer.
    I stopped and looked at him, “Give me a break will you? I’m a little busy doing shit I have no idea how to handle. It’s been a crazy week and I don’t need you giving me hell on top of it.”
    “Come here.” He waved me over standing up.
    I sighed and braced myself for his temper as I walked around to him. I looked up, “What?”
    He put one of his large fingers under my chin and lowered, “Go see Doc tomorrow or I’m going to be pissed. I’m leaving in the morning for a job up in Seattle. I’ll be gone about five days. If you’re not on it when I get back I’m turning you over my knee.” He threatened.
    “Okay, calm down. It’s not like I’m doing this on purpose.” I sunk my fingers into his hair and pulled him in for a much better hello kiss.
    His stomach growled making me laugh so I pulled back. “Let me feed you so I can take a bubble bath. I’m dead on my feet after today.”
    He smacked my butt again, he does this playfully, it doesn’t hurt. “Hurry up. I plan to