Boyfriend Maintenance
by Lauren Helms
Series: 425 Madison, #5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 25, 2019
Emmy
My bad reputation is coming back to haunt me. Now, I need a date for my brother’s wedding just to keep the vultures at bay. I’ve noticed Jake around the building and he’s the perfect man for the job.
The thing is, I don’t actually have what I promised in return for his help, but I don’t want this to end.
Jake
I’ve seen Emmy and she’s out of my league, but that doesn’t stop me from taking her up on her offer and upping the ante. I have rules, however, the more time we spend together the more the lines get blurred.
Her lie made her more like me than I ever thought possible. Too bad liars don’t do it for me.
A little boyfriend maintenance goes a long way…
After all, 425 Madison Avenue is the perfect place to fall in love.
*Each story is completely standalone.
“Oh, well … hello there, hot stuff.” Mrs. Jenkins stands in the open doorway of her apartment.
Her arm slides up the doorframe slightly awkwardly as she leans into the frame. She’s attempting to look sexy in a Japanese silk kimono robe. It’s a red floral print that hangs nearly to her ankles. She has surprisingly good posture for a seventy-year-old woman.
Her husky voice is seductive as she gestures for me to come in. I have to mentally prepare myself every time I have a work order for unit 2007. Which is normally once a week.
Mrs. Jenkins is a retired Broadway actress. She hit her stride when she starred in the hit musical Chicago in the mid-seventies. Dorthy Jenkins is a dramatic, wealthy retiree who just happens to hit on me every time I’m here. She may be a tad lonely, so I deal with it.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Jenkins. My work order says that you’ve got faulty smoke detectors.” Honestly, that seems a bit suspicious since we worked through the entire building updating the detectors less than six months ago.
“Dorthy, darling. Please, stop calling me Mrs. Jenkins. You make me feel like a cougar.”
I raise my eyebrow at that. More like a puma since she’s got to be at least forty years older than me. I set down my toolbox and scan the living room for the unit’s central detector.
“All right, Dorthy. You’re having issues with the smoke detectors? Let’s just take a look. I’ll get these fixed up in no time.” Really, I just want to get out of here. The longer I’m in this apartment, the more cheek pinches I get. And I’m not just talking about pinches to my face. She gets a little bolder with each visit. Not looking forward to the day she takes it too far. Her flirting seems harmless though. She just really appreciates those “hot young thangs.” Her words, not mine.
“Well, no rush. I’ll just pour us a little nightcap.” I don't mention it's only four in the afternoon. “Will two fingers do, Jake? I’ve always preferred two.” She waggles her eyebrows.
I divert my eyes. The sexual reference catches me off guard and I feel my face heat.
Clearing my throat, I shake my head. “I’m sorry, Dorthy, but no drinking on the job.” I pull out my step ladder so I can reach the smoke detector.
“You’re such a good boy, darling. I admire that. I’ll just have a nip and enjoy the show.”
Just like she normally does. Unfortunately, she isn’t the only 425 Madison resident to watch me while I do my job. I’ve worked in this building for nearly three years now. Growing up, I never had dreams of becoming a maintenance man, but I’ve always been good with my hands.
Her arm slides up the doorframe slightly awkwardly as she leans into the frame. She’s attempting to look sexy in a Japanese silk kimono robe. It’s a red floral print that hangs nearly to her ankles. She has surprisingly good posture for a seventy-year-old woman.
Her husky voice is seductive as she gestures for me to come in. I have to mentally prepare myself every time I have a work order for unit 2007. Which is normally once a week.
Mrs. Jenkins is a retired Broadway actress. She hit her stride when she starred in the hit musical Chicago in the mid-seventies. Dorthy Jenkins is a dramatic, wealthy retiree who just happens to hit on me every time I’m here. She may be a tad lonely, so I deal with it.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Jenkins. My work order says that you’ve got faulty smoke detectors.” Honestly, that seems a bit suspicious since we worked through the entire building updating the detectors less than six months ago.
“Dorthy, darling. Please, stop calling me Mrs. Jenkins. You make me feel like a cougar.”
I raise my eyebrow at that. More like a puma since she’s got to be at least forty years older than me. I set down my toolbox and scan the living room for the unit’s central detector.
“All right, Dorthy. You’re having issues with the smoke detectors? Let’s just take a look. I’ll get these fixed up in no time.” Really, I just want to get out of here. The longer I’m in this apartment, the more cheek pinches I get. And I’m not just talking about pinches to my face. She gets a little bolder with each visit. Not looking forward to the day she takes it too far. Her flirting seems harmless though. She just really appreciates those “hot young thangs.” Her words, not mine.
“Well, no rush. I’ll just pour us a little nightcap.” I don't mention it's only four in the afternoon. “Will two fingers do, Jake? I’ve always preferred two.” She waggles her eyebrows.
I divert my eyes. The sexual reference catches me off guard and I feel my face heat.
Clearing my throat, I shake my head. “I’m sorry, Dorthy, but no drinking on the job.” I pull out my step ladder so I can reach the smoke detector.
“You’re such a good boy, darling. I admire that. I’ll just have a nip and enjoy the show.”
Just like she normally does. Unfortunately, she isn’t the only 425 Madison resident to watch me while I do my job. I’ve worked in this building for nearly three years now. Growing up, I never had dreams of becoming a maintenance man, but I’ve always been good with my hands.
This is a cute fake relationship romance that had both humor and heart, and even though Jake was not my most favorite of characters, I really enjoyed the overall story and loved the relationships between all of the supporting characters.“Jake, have you ever dated for money?” Her eyes widen and her gaze swings towards Becca as I replay the words back in my mind.
“Excuse me?” My stare hardens on Becca. I’m not sure where this is going. I doubt I will like it.
“Well, Emmy here has a proposition for you.” She crosses her arms, looking like she’s about to start negotiating a big-money deal.
Emmy was my favorite. She’s determined to do things on her own and make her own way and this has caused some issues with her family. I love that she refuses to compromise on what she wants and works hard for everything she has. Jake, on the other hand, was not my idea of the perfect fake boyfriend – he might have done all the right things when out in public, but the way he treated Emmy was infuriating at times. His past had a bit to do with that so some of his attitude was understandable, but overall his attitudes and presumptions had me a bit riled up at times. I was glad he finally came to his senses, but I wouldn’t have blamed Emmy for walking away.
What I really loved most in this book was the supporting relationships between characters. Emmy and Becca were such great friends and I loved how different from each other they were but how those differences only helped create such a strong bond between the two. And seeing Emmy with her brother Levi and watching their relationship become even closer throughout the book brought a smile to my face. I also loved Jake and his brother Kevin and how close they were – and thank goodness Jake had Kevin to set him straight on things and force him to man up and re-evaluate his own thoughts and actions when it came to Emmy.
This was another fun read in the 425 Madison Series. We did get a chance to see a few characters from previous books – the scenes with Sara had me cracking up – and I love how that gives this series a closer connection than just the tie in to the 425 Madison building.
This is the first book from Lauren Helms that I have read but I will definitely be checking out her other works!
About the 425 Madison Series
Welcome to 425 Madison Ave the perfect place to fall in love. Nine delicious romances set in fast-paced & sexy NYC just waiting for you to read.
The series features stories from some of your favorite romance authors: Leigh Lennon, MK Moore, Allie York, Aubree Valentine, Kay Gordon, Lauren Helms, Sylvia Kane, Katy Ames, and C. Lesbirel.
Join these authors as they come together, each with a standalone romance for you to enjoy.
Featuring some of readers' favorite tropes: second-chance romance, best friends sibling romance to a good ol' enemies to lovers romance. We've got you covered with a sports romance, a fake relationship and even an ugly duckling or two. Don't forget a brother's best friend and falling for your soul mate. Maybe a little love triangle as well. Each tale offers you something new, something different. After all, 425 is the perfect place to fall in love
For more information, visit the series website ➝ www.425madisonseries.com
Follow the series on Facebook ➝ https://www.facebook.com/425MadisonSeries
Must Love Coffee by Leigh Lennon, Book #1
A Second Chance Romance
Goodreads ~ Amazon
Let Me Love You by M.K. Moore, Book #2
A Best Friend’s Sibling Romance
Goodreads ~ Amazon
Just Swipe Right by Allie York, Book #3
A Love Triangle Romance
Goodreads ~ Amazon
Two for Holding by Kay Gordon, Book #4
A Sports Romance
Goodreads ~ Amazon
Boyfriend Maintenance by Lauren Helms, Book #5
A Fake Relationship Romance
Goodreads ~ Amazon
Love Under Construcion by Aubree Valentine, Book #6
An Enemies to Lovers Romance
Goodreads
Back for More by Sylvia Kane, Book #7
A Brother's Best Friend Romance
Goodreads
This release event is brought to you by Forever Write PR - Forever your source for all your writing needs.
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