Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 1581

Keaton was stumped. He couldn't think of a good solution right away. He rubbed his temples for a moment, looking up at the distant lighthouse. After a long moment of silence, he got up and went upstairs. He changed his clothes, called the cleaning service to come tidy up, and then drove away. He was already far from the neighborhood when he suddenly thought of Winona's dress. It was a form-fitting, cinched-waist dress, hard to take off. In their haste last night, he hadn't even bothered with the zipper—he'd just ripped it straight off her. The image of her in that torn dress, bare shoulder and cleavage exposed, grabbing his collar and tilting his chin up... A goddess, a total knockout—words weren't enough. He had pinned her against the glass right then and there... no time to even think about running upstairs for protection. Thinking back on that electrifying scene, Keaton swallowed hard, his throat tight with a lingering heat. He grabbed a bottle of water and chugged half of it in one go. Then he jerked the steering wheel, making a sharp U-turn back to the villa. The cleaners were already there. Seeing him return, they paused, startled, before quickly greeting him, “Mr. Huber.” Keaton's eyes scanned the floor. Seeing no clothes, he asked urgently, “Where’s the dress that was by the window?” The cleaner hadn't taken out the trash yet. “Is this it?” she asked, holding it up. Keaton took the dress, the soft fabric a ghost of Winona’s presence against his palms. He lingered over it for a moment, the memory of her skin still searing his mind. Scenes from last night flashed through his mind, one after another. His mouth went dry, and a wave of heat washed over him. He swallowed hard, then dashed upstairs with the dress. He hung it in his closet, but after staring at it for a moment, he took it down and stuffed it into his safe. The upstairs cleaner was a familiar face; she'd been working for him for years. She was completely baffled by this bizarre move. Who on earth would lock a piece of shredded silk in a safe like it was a diamond? Keaton offered a casual explanation. “She's got a hell of a temper. If she comes back asking for her dress and I don't have it, she'll kill me. I'm just keeping it, just in case.” The housekeeper nodded politely, a tight, awkward smile on her face. She didn't understand at all. The dress was torn to shreds; who would ever want it back? And even if the girl did ask for it, why put it in a safe? Couldn't he just hang it in the closet? Was he afraid it would get stolen?! It made no sense, but she didn't dare ask, so she just kept smiling awkwardly. Keaton locked the safe and added, “The dress is too torn up to belong in my closet.” The housekeeper was speechless. *So it doesn't belong in the closet, but it belongs in the safe? Since when is a closet more valuable than a safe? He's clearly treasuring it like a prized possession!* The housekeeper couldn't resist. “Are you seeing someone, Mr. Huber?” she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. Keaton shook his head. “No, why do you ask?” The housekeeper smiled. “I've been working for you for seven or eight years, and this is the first time I've ever seen you bring a woman back here.” Keaton wanted to say they were just friends, but after what had happened, the words wouldn't come out. They had slept together. 'Friends' didn't quite fit anymore. Without offering an explanation, Keaton left the villa again, feeling a bit lost himself. The dress was ruined; Winona definitely wouldn't want it back. So why was he keeping it? But then he thought, what if? What if she came back for it someday and it was gone? What if she got upset? Besides, the house was huge. It could spare the space for her dress. Keaton drove, his mind racing, filled with thoughts of Winona. He wanted to call her, but what would he say? He could talk about the dress! He had ripped it, so he should buy her a new one. And her phone—he'd dropped her phone, so he should get her a new one of those, too. Right, they had plenty to talk about. With his excuse ready, Keaton picked up his phone and called Winona.