Of Bishops And Pawns (Ridge Rogues Book 2)

by Renee Harless

  “It’s just for tonight, okay? I don’t want you to expect sunshine and rainbows in the morning.”

  Callie nodded as she leaned forward, trying to seal her lips against mine. I quickly turned my head away. Kissing wasn’t part of the plan either. Luckily most of the women I brought home forgot about that part of intimacy when I put my hands on them.

  “I’m ready for you, Archer,” she purred, her lips rubbing against the shell of my ear.

  Grabbing her hand that was slithering up my chest, I tugged her behind me as I entered the building and moved toward the third floor.

  Jolee and Ford were cuddled on the couch when we entered and I tried to slink past them without receiving their condescending glare, which was downright hypocritical from Ford, who used to play the same games I did. Instead, I caught Jolee’s eyes and she shook her head before turning back to whatever they were watching on television.

  “Hi, I’m Callie!” my partner said as she giggled and I yanked a bit harshly on her hand to have her follow me to my room across the way.

  “Don’t talk to my friends,” I growled as I shut the door and locked it. “Now, let’s get started.”

  Chapter Four – Sarah

  Standing in the open space, I measured the distance from one wall to the other, noting how much furniture I could possibly fit in the studio. The room was small, just enough for a bed and probably a couch and table, but I was determined to make the space feel as homey as I could.

  During my walk-through this morning, I checked out the updated bathroom and was surprised to find new tile, shower, sink, and toilet. The landlord explained that the previous tenant had destroyed everything when he left. It was unfortunate for him, but it was definitely a gain for me. Using a bathroom that someone else had once used always sort of freaked me out.

  The kitchen was small, with just a few cabinets, a sink, and appliances, but I didn’t need much room for storage.

  Turning in a circle to take in the entire space, I raised my arms above my head and stretched. My bones and muscles ached in places that I didn’t know could ache. My first night on stage had started off less than stellar. The music didn’t sync correctly and I had tripped as I walked on stage, but after that fiasco, the rest of the evening had gone well. I danced four times on the stage and then did one private dance. I made more cash with the private dance than I ever would have expected and I hoped that Alice would let me do more of them.

  When she had told me that I had been requested for a private session, I had panicked. I had no idea what to expect, but she explained that there was a no-touch rule and a bouncer was located in each room. That knowledge set me at ease and I easily earned the eight hundred dollars that the older man had paid me.

  Overall I came home with roughly two thousand dollars and a new found respect for the women working at Phoenix’s Fire. Not only were they supporting themselves, but they were in great shape. I worked out daily, but I had put myself through the wringer working just one night.

  Luckily, I wasn’t scheduled to work again until Tuesday and Thursday. If I could continue to make money like I had made last night, or at least close to it, I should be able to cover my tuition before the due date.

  As much as I wanted to pass out and sleep for the next few hours, I needed to go buy a bed and look around some thrift stores for furniture. Grabbing my phone, I sent a message to Jolee asking if she wanted to join me on a shopping trip. She responded quickly and said that she would be down in a couple of minutes. That gave me just enough time to grab a granola bar and a bottle of water. That was another stop that I needed to make; I needed to get groceries.

  I had just opened my suitcase and began hanging a few of the clothes when a knock on my door sounded.

  “Come in!” I called out without checking the peephole, but I knew Jolee was coming over.

  “You should really lock your door, Sarah.” Jolee was very strict about safety after she was assaulted on campus as she exited the library last year. She was lucky that Link, one of the ridge rogues, had been passing through and fought off her assailants.

  “I know. I’m sorry. I’ll be better about it.”

  “So, this is it?” she asked as she took in the space, flitting over to the bathroom and kitchen to give them a once-over.

  “This is it.”

  “I love it. The landlord did a great job remodeling the bathroom. I’m glad you were able to find a space here in the complex. I like having you close by.”

  “Me too. I’m just glad that the rent isn’t outrageous.”

  Hooking the hanger on the tension rod in the closet, I turned to find Jolee inspecting me, her eyes trailing up and down my body in concern.

  “How did it go last night?” she asked.

  “It was good. Actually, it was great. I made way more than I thought and I was even booked for a private show.”

  “Private?” she questioned in alarm. “Is that safe? I mean, this just seems so unlike you, Sarah.”

  “I preferred it to the stage. And there was a bouncer in the room with me so he enforced the no-touching rule.

  “I know that it’s hard to imagine me dancing for money, but it’s something I need to do to make ends meet right now. And I love to dance. It’s been nice to get back into it again.”

  “I know and I realize that I’m being small-minded about the entire thing. I’m all for women's empowerment. I just don’t want something bad to happen to you. Especially since you’re riding public transportation to get home at that crazy hour.”

  Walking over to Jolee, I wrapped her in my arms and comforted her as best as I could. She was a concerned friend and I had no reason to be upset with her reaction. It wasn’t much different than my father’s had been.

  “I’m fine, Jolee. Sometimes we have to do unpleasant things to reach our dreams. And I promise, Alice, my boss, really does take care of her employees. Our safety is her top priority.

  “Anyway, what kind of shopping do we have in store?”

  “Well, I don’t know if you can tell, but I need a bit of everything. I’m thinking mostly some thrifts shops that I found close by and Target for some bedding at kitchenware.”

  “What about a bed?”

  “I ordered one online a couple of days ago. It should be delivered tomorrow. I’ll just sleep with some blankets tonight.”

  “Okay. Chance is letting us borrow his truck, so we’ll be able to haul everything back, and hopefully, they’ll help us unload.”

  “I can pay them in beer.”

  Jolee swirled the set of keys around her fingers as she chuckled. “They will definitely accept that offer.”

  As we left the complex, heading toward the spot where Chance’s truck was parked, we overheard some shouting and I noticed Jolee’s frame instantly grow rigid. Leaning toward me, she whispered that it was Archer arguing with his guest. My first instinct was to roll my eyes.

  “But. . .but I made you breakfast,” the woman whined.

  “I never asked you to. I told you that it was just one night,” Archer replied in a tone that sounded as if he been in the same scenario before.

  “But I thought things were different last night.”

  “Seem this is what I’m talking about. You’re already suffocating me.” His voice seemed distant as if he was moving away from the woman.

  “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” the woman shouted at him, the sound of her feet pounding on the asphalt had me believing that she was chasing after Archer. “I didn’t mean to mess everything up. Please give me another chance.”

  They had moved far enough away that I could no longer make out their conversation, but I looked over to Jolee as she climbed into the driver’s side of the truck and sensed that this wasn’t the first time she overheard a similar conversation like that with Archer.

  “That happen often?” I asked as I joined her in the truck.

  “More often than it should. I don’t know what kind of web that boy spins, but no matter how domineering and assholey h
e comes across, the women he brings home always end up thinking that he doesn’t want anything more because of something that they did. I can’t figure it out.”

  As we drove to the first thrift store, I thought about what Jolee has said. It made me think that Archer was more despicable than I originally imagined. It was one thing to laugh at me as I tripped on campus or to run away when you find me standing behind you in line. But to manipulate women on purpose? That seemed like the lowest of lows.

  Hours later, Jolee and I hefted a mid-century modern credenza that had seen better days into the bed of the truck. We’d already scored some second-hand bedroom and living room furniture, but when I saw this piece resting on the corner of a residential street, I knew that I needed to grab it. I had visions of sanding down the piece and giving it new life.

  “Wow, I can’t believe someone was getting rid of this,” I said with excitement, even though I could tell that Jolee was less than enthused. She had called most of the items I picked up junk. “We still need to stop by Target so that I can grab sheets, kitchenware, and some food.” Glancing over my shoulder as I stepped up into the truck, I asked Jolee, “Do you think someone will try to take the things in the back if we go now?”

  Jolee laughed a full-belly cackle at my question. By the time her laughter subsided, she had tears streaming down her red cheeks. I didn’t think it was all that funny.

  “No, I can say with absolution that I don’t think anyone is going to take your haul.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I do. I really do. Let me go ahead and text Ford so that the guys can be ready in an hour or so to help us load these into your apartment. Are there any other stops we need to make after Target?”

  I thought about all the things I needed to get to turn the trash into treasure. “Probably a stop at the hardware store, but I can go later today.”

  “Might as well go while we’re out.”

  Two hours later, I hefted two of the couch cushions under my arms as I followed Ford, Chase, Rylan, and Link up the stairs to my apartment. I was secretly glad that Archer wasn’t here to help. I wasn’t so sure that I could keep my comments to myself after what I witnessed this morning.

  Once all of the furniture was stacked in the center of the room I thanked the guys with a case of beer for each of them, Jolee letting me know their favorite brands ahead of time.

  “Are you joining us for dinner?” Jolee asked and the guys readily agreed.

  Chase chimed in before I could respond. “It’s my night to cook, which means I’m ordering pizza, which will go great with the beer you provided.”

  Remembering that I agreed to Jolee’s invite at the fundraiser, I said, “I’m in. Thanks for the invite.”

  A few minutes later, they piled out of my apartment, leaving me by myself with the piles of furniture that I needed to put my mark on. I may have had an addiction to do-it-yourself shows and I had convinced myself that I could tackle these projects.

  Unpacking the orbital sander I had purchased at the hardware store, I set my mind on the credenza that Jolee sneered at. I was determined to transform this piece just as I planned on transforming myself.

  Since I had already provided the booze for tonight’s dinner at Ford’s apartment, he shared with some of his brothers I wasn’t sure what to bring. While I was on the phone with my weekly check in with my dad, I asked him for his garlic knot recipe. Luckily, I grabbed all of the ingredients at the market across the street and baked the doughy goodness while I finished sanding the credenza.

  I had lost track of time and when the alarm on my phone sounded, I didn’t even have time to take a shower. I figured since the guys had already seen me in my typical oversized T-shirt and cut-off denim shorts, I didn’t need to worry about impressing them further.

  Standing in the bathroom over the tub, I tugged my hair free from the pony tail and shook the dust from the strands. Looking in the mirror, I sighed, knowing that this was as good as it was going to get as I brushed a few more clumps of dust from the front strands.

  Grabbing the plastic container filled with the garlic knots, I left my apartment and headed toward Ford’s. I knocked on the door expecting one of the guys from earlier to answer, but I was surprised when Archer was the one to open the door. His face grimaced as he appraised me. I knew I didn’t come close to what he had planned to find on the other side of the door.

  Archer began to close the door without a word until I finally spoke up and murmured Jolee’s name.

  “What?” he asked, halting his movements.

  “I’m here for Jolee.”

  “Wait here,” he said, slamming the door in my face. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I felt as rejected as the furniture I had picked up earlier that day.

  A minute or two passed as I stood patiently outside the apartment door. Just as I was about to head back to my own apartment, the door opened, and Chance greeted me with a warm smile.

  “Sorry about that, Sarah. Our douche brother has no manners.” Chance ushered me inside and I offered him the container.

  “Oh, what’s this?” he asked as I followed him further into their large apartment.

  “Homemade garlic knots,” I explained as I entered the living area where everyone was congregated. All speaking stopped as Chance opened the container and seemed to sigh in delight.

  “Fuck, you can join us for dinner every night if you can make more or these,” he added as she shoved one of the doughy balls into his mouth.

  In the blink of an eye, the rest of the brothers dove for the container and began fighting over the knots. I searched the room and found Jolee snickering in the corner as she played with her puppy Balboa.

  “Come on, heathens. Let’s eat,” Jolee called out as she set her dog down and moved toward me, looping her arm through mine. “You can sit next to me,” she added as she took me toward an oversized dining table.

  I took the seat Jolee offered and she sat beside me while Ford carried bottles of beer to the table. The brothers began filling in the spare seats around the table just as Archer stepped out of the hallway. I had hoped that he would take one of the other open seats, but instead, I found him taking the one directly across from me.

  I did my best not to look up at him, his gaze making me uncomfortable. Maybe it was the butterflies that took flight deep in my stomach when our eyes met in the hall or the fact that my heart raced as he locked his stare on me. None of the other brothers affected me the way that he did and I was growing increasingly uncomfortable.

  Thankfully Chance broke the invisible tension across the table by asking me about my plans for the furniture and I quickly launched into the plans I had for them all. Even Link showed interest in the work I had already put into the credenza.

  As we passed around a third box of pizza, I finally gathered the courage to look across the table at Archer and was surprised to find his eyes trained on me. There was a silent contest going on between us and I lost by breaking the stare first, but not before I noticed the smatterings of paint across his neck and a few on his forearms.

  What could those be from?

  He didn’t seem like the artistic type or even the kind to get in a mishap with a paint can. But what did I know? He also didn’t seem like the kind of guy that would be an asshole to a woman he shared the bed with. I was definitely learning how deceiving looks could be.

  During the meal, he came across as the fun-loving brother that readily had a joke and a reason to make everyone laugh. But as I watched him closely, he could turn off the charm and happy-go-lucky nature in a split second. Just during dinner, I had watched his personality change no less than four times. And it completely fascinated me.

  Once the gathering seemed to die down, I sat on the couch next to Jolee as we played with Balboa and the rest of the brothers lounged on the loveseat or the floor and watched a baseball game on television.

  “So, what do you have in store for the rest of your summer?” Ford asked as he took the seat on the oth
er side of Jolee. He had been in charge of cleaning up after dinner. I was certain he was glad that only pizza boxes and glass bottles would be tossed in the trash.

  “Other than settling into the apartment, I’ll probably look around for some volunteer work. If I weren’t allergic to cats, I’d volunteer at the shelter with Jolee.

  “You should check the bulletin board in the commons area by the coffee shop. They usually have a good list of places looking for volunteers,” Ford pointed out.

  “Thanks, I’ll do that tomorrow.”

  My eyes traveled to the clock on the wall and I realized that I had probably worn out my welcome. I stood and thanked everyone for inviting me to dinner. Archer had retreated to his room after the meal, so I didn’t have to worry about another awkward moment as I left.

  As I reentered my apartment, I glanced at the pile of covers and blankets I had set up in the corner as my makeshift bed. I was certain that when I came back from dinner that exhaustion would take over my body. Instead, I found myself walking toward the credenza I had been working on and opened a can of paint. Sleep could wait.

  Chapter Five – Archer

  Paint splattered against the walls in my closet as I took my aggravation out on another crisp white canvas. Today I was feeling blues and greens. I painted without rhyme or reason, nor did I ever show anyone my work. It was just something that felt like an extension of me when I held a paint brush in my hand. It relaxed me in a way that exercise or drinking couldn’t. And after the incident with Callie this morning, I had more than enough reasons to paint for the next couple of hours.

  Callie was supposed to be another in a long line of women that helped to keep my nightmares at bay. I was smart about the women that I brought home, but they were always a means to an end. I was able to wear myself out enough to fall into a dreamless sleep.

  But the women always seemed to get the wrong idea. Granted, I had a few that were just as willing to spend a single night together, but the majority of the girls were students at the university and wanted to have the title of a ridge rogue’s girlfriend. There was nothing that I could do or say that would change that desire for them. Jolee said that I needed to abstain from sex until I graduated, but she didn’t know about the horrors that waited for me when I closed my eyes. I trusted my brothers enough not to share that information outside of our brotherhood. It was my past, my story, and I had no reason to share it with anyone else.