Breaking Spades

by W. Ferraro

Grabbing her finger with a gentle hand, he tried to stay calm, but whenever he is around her the fury just exploded out of him, “I don’t like him with you!”

  She laughed a malicious laugh, but didn’t move, “And why the fuck not?”

  “Because he isn’t me! Alright?” he shouted.

  “What?”

  “You damn well heard me,” he said softer, but closer to her. “You are just as much affected by me as I am by you. Admit it.”

  “You are fucking insane, that is what you are.” She pulled away, taking refuge over by her workstation.

  “Are you denying it?”

  “You are damn right I am!”

  “I’ll prove it to you.” Then he converged on her. Pushing her against the wall with a thud, he covered her curvaceous body with his larger one. Their bodies touched on every line. His demanding mouth descended on her lips, with his tongue he forced her mouth open, but once it opened, there was no force on his part at all. She was in this just as much as he was. Her tongue mingled with his in a classic fight for dominance. His taste was incredible—better than she remembered—mixed with beer and Chinese food. Moving his hands from her face, they roamed down her sides, swiping across her gorgeous tits, forcing a moan from her lips. Finally, they came to rest on her hips, where they rotated around to her ass and pulled her up, closer to his throbbing cock. The yoga pants offered her very little shielding from his firm member.

  He was everywhere; she couldn’t get close enough to him. Reading her mind, he lifted her so she could wrap her legs around his waist as he continued to knead her ass. His mouth moved along her jaw, down her neck where it currently sucked and bit the spot where her shoulder and neck met. Using the wall to help support her, he raised his large hands to her tits where they squeezed and plumped before they pulled on the tight points. Her core ignited with sensation as it naturally prepped itself for what this was leading to.

  “Stop, stop…I can’t!”

  “Why?” he asked between licks and nips leading back up to her mouth, where he inserted his tongue and began his version of the tongue tango.

  She participated, hell she was the one who held his head to hers, but she was experiencing an interior battle. She had to stop this; she had to stop him. This would only lead to disaster. This would only lead her to where she swore she would never go again. This was weakness on her part, that’s all it could be.

  “Gates! Stop!” She pushed hard with her hands on his shoulders and unhooked her legs from around his waist.

  He wasn’t as accepting of the halt of action, but he respected it. He leaned his chest into the wall, and now that her feet were on the ground, she ducked out from under him and to the safety of the other side of the room, one hand at her lips where she could still feel him, and the other clutching the silk cord at her neck.

  He turned to face her; his hands on his lean hips and breathless, he said firmly, “I won’t apologize for that.”

  “I didn’t think you would.”

  “Kitten…” but she held her hand up, stopping his words.

  “I need some space Gates. Thanks for dinner and thanks for…for that, but it was a mistake.”

  He dropped his head, shook it side to side slightly before he walked over to her. Tipping her chin up with his forefinger, he searched her eyes and said, “Call it what you want, but that was as far from a mistake as one can get.”

  He followed her out front, when she opened the door; he stepped close again, and just looked his fill. Her eyes returned the gaze, but where his spoke clearly hers spoke coldly.

  “I meant what I said.”

  “So did I, Kitten. I may have climbed my way out of hell, but for you, I’m willing to go back at a moment’s notice.”

  “Well, you are going to have to find another one way ticket because I can’t, and I won’t.”

  “One person’s hell is another person’s heaven.” He breathed as he rubbed his nose along her cheek, before stepping out and turning to lock eyes with her as she locked the door and fled from his prying gaze, returning to the safety of her office.

  Ten days had passed since Jarod came back into her life. The weather was hot and oppressive, mirroring CeCe’s disposition. Two more arrangements of white roses arrived: one anonymously delivered to her store when CeCe wasn’t there and Kelleigh had left the floor for a moment, and the other delivered to her home, laid on her doorstep. It was beyond frustrating, and in a way she wished this guy would grow a pair and just say, “Hey, I’m the one.” But no such luck.

  After the night Cece asked Jarod to give her space, and labeled their hot make out session a mistake, he had kept his distance except to perform his job. Every morning he was parked in the same spot on the street, waiting for her to leave her apartment and head to the store. He would remain in the parking lot, sitting in his truck or walking the perimeter. Then every night, he would follow her home and metaphorically stand guard, never exiting his truck. And let’s not forget everything in between, whether it was grocery shopping or going to the bank, all CeCe had to do was look over her shoulder and she would see those aviator glasses, never very far away. She had to admit he had an uncanny ability to know when she was looking for him because he dissolved into the shadows whenever she wasn’t looking.

  Derrick was still in the background, either blowing up her phone, or arriving at her store unannounced. He said he was okay with space, but CeCe could tell he really wasn’t. She just couldn’t deal with him on top of everything else right now. Honestly, she couldn’t understand why he was still sticking around, with the amount of blow-offs and excuses she had come up with; if the shoe were on the other foot, she would have said, “see ya” a while ago. However, in true Derrick fashion, he graciously accepted her terms, always with a smile on his face and a compliment and promise on his tongue.

  The latest visit was today, while CeCe was on the floor and Kelleigh was in the back, he arrived just prior to close with bruschetta and chicken marsala from Giovanni’s and a bottle of Pinot Grigio. He looked incredible and the aromas wafting from the bag and him were mouthwatering.

  “Hey, beautiful, I assume you are working late again tonight, but I just wanted to make sure you ate dinner.”

  Putting down the unfolded shirts, she greeted him with a kiss on his warm lips, “Derrick! Will you stop being so sweet?” Especially since I’m being a bitch to you. “Want to stay?”

  “I’d love to, but I also don’t want to pressure you, either. I get it; you need time and space to deal with all this craziness, but I’d be lying if I said I want to leave. Are you in the mood for company?”

  CeCe wanted to say yes, but honestly, she really wanted to work on some designs. She scrunched her nose as she pondered a time line to spend time with Derrick and get all she wanted to accomplish with her sketches.

  He laughed, “I can tell by your lack of jumping at the offer you really don’t.”

  “No! It isn’t that…” she grabbed his arm.

  He removed her hand from his arm and brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckles before saying, “I get it, beautiful, no worries. Nevertheless, let me just tell you, I’m here for you whenever you need me, and I really wish you’d let me help you. I could stay at your place…just for company,” the way he smiled let her know he wanted to be more than that. “Or you can stay at my place, just let me in, CeCe.”

  Looking at his dark, caring eyes and amazing smile, something just clicked for her. She needed to give him something, something to show she did care for him, and appreciated how wonderful he was being, especially with her arms-length behavior.

  “Rain check on the company, but book the trip to Napa,” she whispered as she touched the circle at her neck.

  His faced searched hers, and then broke into an undeniable I just won the lottery smile, “Really?”

  “Definitely! It and you are just what I need to look forward to. If you can just bear with me until then.”

  Pulling her into his arms he answered against her lips, �
��I think I can make it work, as long as you don’t mind occasional visits.”

  The smile spread across her face, giving him a gentle peck before finishing, “Absolutely not. In fact, why don’t we have dinner this weekend? Saturday night?”

  “It’s a date.” He kissed her, expressing his happiness.

  “Cees, the negligee shipment seems to be wrong…oh, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  “No, you are fine, Kelleigh, I was just delivering you ladies dinner.” Derrick moved his attention from Kelleigh back to CeCe, whose attention was on her employee trying to signal her not to say anything.

  “Thanks. I’m just going to get back to the shipment, we can talk about it later, CeCe.”

  “Sure, no problem.” Phew! Sending a silent prayer toward Kelleigh for not saying anything, CeCe said goodbye to Derrick with a promise to call him tomorrow to iron out details for their Saturday night date.

  With Derrick gone, and just a few minutes left before locking the door and closing up shop, CeCe entered the back room with an explanation on her tongue. “Thanks, Kelleigh, given all that has been going on, and me staying and working on my designs, I just thought it was easier to tell Derrick, you and I were working than telling him I’ve been holed up here like a recluse.”

  Kelleigh laughed as she clutched a skimpy purple silk nightgown in her hand, “Oh, is that what you were doing? I get it, I guess, but I can’t figure out, for the life of me, if someone like Derrick wants to spend time with you, why you aren’t jumping at the chance?”

  “Yeah, well…me either.” CeCe laughed at her idiocy for not doing just what Kelleigh pointed out.

  “It’s none of my business, but this wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain PI would it?”

  “No,” telling herself it was truth, just like she was telling Kelleigh.

  “Uh huh, sure, Cees. I bet Jarod could make a nun go weak in the knees,” Kelleigh said, letting out a laugh as she went back to sorting the shipment.

  CeCe needed to change the subject from Jarod’s arousal ability, “So tell me about the new boyfriend.”

  Kelleigh’s face warmed with a smile of new attraction and happiness, “He is a really cool guy. We are still at the getting to know you stage, he is quite a bit older than me and seems to have his shit together, which makes me want to get my shit together. I know it sounds stupid and silly, but he came into my life exactly when I was sure I would be alone forever. Spoke all the right words and everything. He not only reenergized my faith in the human population, but in my own personal fairy tale, too.”

  “Sounds like true love. And any man would be lucky to have you.” CeCe added, as she smiled at her friend and began to unpack the delicious smelling food.

  “I don’t know about that, but I’m hoping it is something with long-term potential.”

  Just then the front door chimed, indicating a customer, “Never fails, guess food will just have to wait,” CeCe turned and headed out onto the floor, where a man held at least four dozen, long-stem white roses.

  “CeCe?” he asked, honestly unsure. He was about 6’2” and young—CeCe guessed his age to be early 20’s—pretty-boy handsome with inky black hair and icy blue eyes. He took in CeCe’s appearance and a slow cocky smile grew on his face.

  Keeping her distance, she responded, “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

  Suddenly, the door sounded again, and Jarod walked in, weapon in hand. He stalked slowly toward the younger man, arcing around to the left so he would end up in front of him. His gaze wavered for a moment from Casanova Joe to CeCe and back.

  “Yo! Dude! What are you doing?” the younger man dropped the blooms, raised his hands in the air, and turned white as a ghost.

  “I have to ask, dicklick, after all the anonymity, why pick now to show your face?” Jarod was now only feet away with his Glock still up and aimed at the boy.

  “Dude, I don’t know what you’re talking about! Some guy paid me two hundred bucks to deliver these flowers to a woman named CeCe. I swear!” he cried with a quivering voice.

  “What guy? What was his name?” Jarod and CeCe asked in unison.

  “I don’t know, I answered an ad! He told me where to pick up the flowers and there was an envelope with the cash with them when I arrived. I swear!” The young man looked from Jarod and the gun still pointed at him, to CeCe and unwisely added, “I mean she’s hot, I’d tap that, but I swear this guy paid me to bring her roses.”

  Jarod lowered the gun, holstering it in the back of his waistband, rolled his eyes as he walked the few steps to Casanova and smacked him on the back of the head, “Be respectful, fucktard!”

  “Am I free to go?” Casanova looked from Jarod to CeCe, then back again.

  “Not quite, we’ll need to verify your story first, starting with proof of the ad. Second, where did you pick up the roses?”

  The young man looked physically ill, CeCe kind of felt bad for him at being under Jarod’s scrutiny.

  Kelleigh picked now to come out onto the floor. “Is everything alright?” she asked, but then noticed the roses and she pulled on CeCe’s arm, offering herself as protection.

  CeCe placed her hand over Kelleigh’s, “Everything is okay; this is just a delivery man. I’m going to close up shop Kel. I’ve had enough fun for one night. Why don’t you head on out.”

  “Are you sure?” Kelleigh asked

  “Completely.”

  Kelleigh reluctantly agreed and CeCe walked her out, watched her get into her car before she locked the door then returned to where the two men stood. Jarod had his phone to his ear while he swiped through the young guy’s phone.

  “…Yeah, he isn’t going anywhere. Just don’t take your friggin’ sweet-ass time.” Jarod disconnected the call and continued search the other phone.

  Since Jarod didn’t even look up, CeCe looked toward the other guy and asked, “You sure you don’t know who posted the ad?”

  “No idea. I knew it sounded too good to be true,” he looked to Jarod’s dominating form that outweighed him by at least seventy pounds and then back to CeCe, “No wonder this guy didn’t want to bring you flowers himself.”

  Jarod spoke up then, “Okay your story checks out. The owner of the florist shop confirmed it was a phone order. He wasn’t very forthcoming with the news that he overcharged the caller two hundred dollars to make up the cash in the envelope. Apparently, he has some other kind of plant business going on there as well.”

  CeCe didn’t even want to know how he obtained that kind of information while on the phone. “So if it was an electronic transaction, they can trace the card, right?” she asked hopeful.

  “No such luck there, Kitten, a buddy of mine just ran the card. It was a prepaid gift card and the call came in from a burner phone.”

  “Can’t he trace where the gift card was bought from?”

  “Look at you…you thinking of changing career paths to private investigating, or is it more likely you watch too many crime shows?”

  “Very funny,” CeCe made a mocking face.

  “You are right, though, he can and did trace it. The card was purchased in Burlington over two years ago. It was a cash transaction. And before you ask, yes we know the store, but there is no way they have video feed for that long ago, so it is a dead end.”

  Well damn!

  He rested his hands on his hips, and searched her face. For some reason, she was unable to break his stare. The way Jarod looked at her was intimate and filled with a million questions; questions she didn’t want to hear or contemplate answers for.

  A fist pounding on the front door broke the moment; it was Max, along with two uniforms. CeCe hurried to the door, unlocking it and allowing them to enter.

  “Max, how did you know?”

  “Gates called me.” Apparently shock displayed on her face because he added, “I know, surprised the heck out of me, too.”

  CeCe looked back to Jarod, who was now in his usual stance—feet spread with those massive arms c
rossed over his strong chest. It hit her then, he looked like a force to be reckoned with, and she was sure many men crumbled under that glare. When his eyes drilled into her, it wasn’t fear she felt, but something else, but she’d be damned before she would give it a name.

  “About time, Idarraga! I pretty much learned everything about this kid here, including his birth weight, in the amount of time it took you to arrive.”

  “Have to give you a head start, Gates, or otherwise it is an unfair fight.”

  “Yeah, that’s it.”

  CeCe listened while the young guy told Max everything, duplicating what he told Jarod and herself. Max asked the exact same questions Jarod did, and it gave her ego a boost because he asked the same questions she did, too. Before too long, Max and the uniforms were escorting the kid out, followed by Jarod, who stopped to speak, civilly, to Max before he returned to the back room where CeCe had retreated.

  She packed her things, suddenly feeling the need to take a long hot bath and forego the sketching for a night. Her tension level was at its peak, and she just wanted to be alone, but for the first time, not here.

  She could feel his eyes on her, watching her. Finally, unable to stand the silent inquisition, she turned and huffed, “What?”

  She could tell he wanted to say something, but to her surprise, he remained silent and left her office to answer his phone. She repackaged the takeout food, placing it in the small refrigerator in the office. She grabbed her bag and shut the light off and joined Jarod.

  “Not going to burn the midnight oil tonight?”

  “No, suddenly, I don’t want to be here.”

  “Let’s get out of here, then.” Taking the keys from her hand, they exited and he locked the door to the store, before returning them back to her. Instead of walking her to her Mustang, he directed her to his pickup.

  “My car is over there.”

  “I know, let’s leave it here tonight,” he said as he draped an arm lightly around her shoulder.

  “Uh, let’s not,” she answered as she freed herself from his embrace.

  Half way to his truck, he stopped and turned to her and asked, “Afraid to be alone with me in my truck?”