I smile at her, grateful I decided to hire Scarlett four years ago. She had almost no experience, but she nailed the interview. I hired her against my better judgement, and I have been so relieved I did ever since. She’s been my best employee, and now I realize, an even better friend.
I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her to my side for a hug. When she places her head on my shoulder, I rest mine over hers.
“Thanks, Scarlett. And you’re right; we are friends.”
“Good. Now just tell me one thing. Are you and Harvey okay? I like him for you.”
After all the turmoil and uncertainty I have been facing lately, Harvey is fast becoming my rock. A solid presence with the ability to make me feel steady, strong, and able to face whatever comes at me. I look forward to seeing him, and I think about him more than is acceptable. In fact, I’m becoming a little worried about how infatuated I’m becoming, especially considering the short time period we have known each other.
I give her my best nonplussed expression. “Harvey and I are fine.”
“Are you sure?” she pushes, uncaring that I’m not interested in discussing this with her.
“You know, sometimes I miss my mother,” I tell her, throwing her off by this seemingly random and off topic comment. “And then, sometimes I think she is here with me in the shape of you, nagging me and sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
She rolls her eyes. “Well, your mom is awesome, so I’m taking that as a compliment. But fine, I’ll let it go. Just as long as you keep that fine-assed man around, we won’t have problems. Now, let me kick these slow customers up the butt so we can lock the doors.”
I smile, squeezing my arm around her a little before I let go and take a step back.
While she wrangles the customers out, I make myself busy restocking the bar. Once we are closed up and I’m finally alone, I make my way into my office, only to hear my cell ringing from my desk.
I cringe, worried it will be Donny, but I can’t exactly ignore it and just hope whoever is on the other end doesn’t hurt Harvey. Thankfully, I see Harvey’s name pop up when I look at the screen.
I pick up straight away, sitting in my chair as I look over the mess that is my desk and think about the last time I was in this chair.
Shit, I can still smell sex in here.
“Nix, you okay?” Harvey’s gruff voice snaps me back to the present.
“Sure,” I murmur, not sure I will fully be okay again until this mess with my father is buried. “I’m assuming you followed us today?”
“Yeah, you never turned off your watch afterward.” He sounds a little softer now.
“Oh, shit, sorry.” I click my watch so the GPS and listening device is off then sink back into my chair.
I try to recall what he would have overheard today, not only with Donny, but what I said to Scarlett about him. However, I’m too scattered to recall much.
“What the fuck is up with that guy?”
“Donny?”
“Yes, that asshole. He got a hard-on for you?”
I wince at that imagery. Yeah, I did get off on watching Donny when I was a teenager, but I never actually considered myself with Donny. Doing so now, especially after seeing how much like my father he has become, is one of the worst scenarios to enter my mind in a long time.
“If he does, it’s news to me. After today, I’m fairly certain you got the gist of what happened between us. I have no idea why he’s so intent on revisiting memory lane. I have no wish to do that. Donny is from my past, and I would be happy if he stayed there.”
“I don’t like it,” he grumbles, which brings a small smile to my lips because I can picture how adorable Harvey looks right now—lips pursed, eyes narrowed, hair probably blocking his eyes, and skin flushed as he tries to rein in his anger.
Shit, I want him right now.
“I don’t like it, either,” I state truthfully, hoping to get my mind and other parts back on track. “Nothing is going to happen between us, if that’s what has you worried.”
“I’m not worried,” he quickly rushes out, but then almost immediately concedes, “At least, not about that. I am worried that this asshole doesn’t seem to be able to understand the word no.”
“Ever since he was a kid, Donny always got what he wanted. I mean, he had a shitty upbringing and a crappy home, but he wanted in with my family and he got it. He decided we were going to be best friends, and I didn’t really get much say in the matter, not that I cared back then. Then he decided he was going to be my dad’s favorite, and I made that easy. He made a point of sucking up to my father whenever possible. Now he’s the adopted prodigy.”
“Well, he’s pissing me off. I want you to stay away from him,” he unreasonably and irrationally demands.
“If you were listening, you would have heard me say just how uninterested in him I was. Unfortunately, he works for my dad, so it’s hard to do that given the situation we’re in. Add in the fact he’s clearly a slimy bastard that no cops could get anything to stick to, and he’s not the easiest to evade.”
Harvey growls. Actually growls! Why the hell do I find that so hot?
Hoping again to distract myself, I attempt to change the topic.
“Where are you?”
“Just heading into my office. I should thank you. Us being on the phone made it easier to avoid any interrogation from Sasha.”
I’m disappointed he’s so far away, though I do have a million little jobs I should be focusing on rather than having Harvey walk through the door and distracting me in person.
“Everyone was already tied up,” he continues, not noticing my disappointment, “and you weren’t there long enough for me to get anyone out in time to cover. I took photos of the mystery man, and from the info about the anonymous donation, Jerry figured out who he was. Name is Manny Phillips. He’s an out-of-work construction worker, who is in serious financial trouble. His wife is a police officer. She was injured in a car accident two weeks ago. Her condition is serious but stable. Their hospital bill is already past a hundred grand. She would have been covered under her insurance, but she was drunk and caused the accident.”
“What the hell was that payoff for, then?”
“No idea. She has no connections to Angus as far as I can see, and taking into account the medical records Jerry was able to get ahold of, she isn’t likely to walk ever again, so she’s not going to be much help to him in her condition.”
“What about Manny? He probably has access to explosives or whatever.”
“He hasn’t worked in months, and I doubt he’s going to want to open up to us when his wife’s life is in danger. Whatever it is he is expected to do, I think us trying to figure it out will be a dead end. Even still, we’re going to set up hidden cameras and hack into his phone; see if he talks to any of his friends or family. It’s another long shot.”
“I’m really starting to fucking hate these long shots,” I snap, not angry at Harvey, but this shitty situation.
“So am I.”
We are quiet for a while, and I listen to the noises on his side to settle myself, like the hum of his computer, the squeak of his chair, or his exhalations of breath. It all calms me a little, until I again consider the mess my life has brought to Harvey’s.
“Thanks for all this.” I wave my hand around myself, not that Harvey can see. “I know this is sucking up a lot of your time, and I don’t want you getting in trouble for ignoring your other work or whatever.”
“Don’t worry about that now. No one is giving me shit about the time this is taking. This is personal for all of us now—they took shots at our office,” he reminds me, the heavy mood suddenly changing as he continues with an obvious grin in his voice. “Although, you coming to the office does give me a couple ideas.”
“Ideas? About what?” I’m embarrassingly slow to the program.
“You on my desk, me sucking then fucking you.”
My mouth drops open and I redden, glancing arou
nd me like I’m about to be caught out in public with a massive hard-on. I’m still in my office, still alone, and still completely desperate to see Harvey right now.
“Shit!” I gripe, grabbing my bulge and pushing it down. Then an idea enters my mind.
My breathing deepens as I carefully unzip my pants then shove them and my boxers down. I gaze over my exposed cock, wishing more than anything I had Harvey with me. How hot would it be to have him on his knees in front of me right now? His warm mouth wrapped around me …
“Nix … what are you doing?” Harvey asks with a suspicious edge.
“I’ve been getting hard for you all day. Now I’m sitting at my desk, in my office, where you pounded into me just last night, and you’re talking about fucking in your office. I need a freaking release.” I’m barely comprehensible by the end, my panting at a ridiculous rate as I almost pull my drawer fully out while scrambling inside to find the bottle of lube.
“You’ll get your release tonight,” Harvey growls, his voice tight.
“I can’t wait that long,” I groan, finally locating the lube then quickly and messily coating my dick with it.
“Fuck,” Harvey growls, lowering his voice. “Tell me what you’re doing.”
“I’m fucking my hand and wishing it was yours.”
“How tight is my hold?”
“Tight,” I grit out.
“Am I touching your balls? Maybe licking them?” he suggests.
I moan again, dropping my phone to the desk and smearing lube on it as I set it to speaker. Then I cup my balls, massaging them as I groan louder.
I’m so close to exploding it should be embarrassing.
“You’re driving me insane!” I accuse, pumping harder, my hips jolting with the motion.
The sensations jolting through me are electric, my mind conjuring Harvey easily as I imagine this is his hand touching me, his eyes gazing hotly at me, his voice caressing my ear.
Harvey grunts his demands at me, his voice coating over my skin like a physical touch. It’s all too easy to imagine him here with me.
I feel my balls draw up, my cock throbbing with the need to come.
Just as I release, I yell out Harvey’s name, my come spilling over me, ruining more clothes. I need to do some serious laundry with all the clothes I’m going through lately.
“Fuck, that was hot,” Harvey gasps, sounding strained. “You better be ready for me tonight.”
“I’m fucking ready for you now.” That’s a lie. I feel wrecked and tired, and all I want to do is curl up in a ball and sleep for a few hours.
“Fucking tease,” Harvey accuses. “Close up early if you can.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I promise.
Unfortunately, it’s really up to the customers, so of course they don’t behave how I want them to.
Fuckers.
Chapter 13
Christmas Eve arrives, and with it, the planned group dinner. Thankfully, that’s going well, even though the restaurant is busy and I have to get up several times to help out. I placed an extra guy on the bar tonight so I wouldn’t be interrupted too much.
There is something incredible about sitting next to Harvey, who is wearing a drool-worthy suit, and having his hand on my thigh or against the back of my chair, that feels really fucking nice.
I have had dates before, though not lately, but this feels more intimate, even sitting at a table with four other couples.
I glance over to Cynthia and Scarlett, watching them laugh amongst themselves over who knows what. They have been talking almost nonstop all week. All the other women can barely contain their excitement over the fact that they are getting along so well.
I listen quietly while Sasha and Zander argue the merits of freelance online reporting, and smile when Joey manages to get a laugh out of Harvey.
Perhaps the funniest thing is Ava and Teagan, who I think are talking about childbirth, which is made funnier since Declan is stuck between them, looking none too pleased to be in the middle of it.
I turn to focus on Joey and Harvey’s conversation when Lionel, my new waiter, leans into my side.
“Sorry to interrupt you, sir, but … umm …” He glances nervously over his shoulder before he looks back at me. “I-I think …” he stammers, and that’s when I notice sweat over his forehead. The kid is terrified.
“What is it?” I ask quietly, hoping to put him at ease with a smile, but he doesn’t stop shifting his eyes long enough to take it in.
“There is a man in your office.”
“What?” I snap, forgetting to calm my voice.
“He barged past me and told me to get you.”
“I locked my office,” I say as I stand, mourning the loss of Harvey’s hand as it falls from my thigh.
He’s too busy chatting with Joey to discern any tension, but Declan isn’t. I notice his stare immediately. Then again, by how painful the conversation on either side of him must be, I imagine any distraction is welcome.
“H-he broke the door in,” Lionel whispers. I think the kid might pee himself.
“Okay, it’s all right. I’ll sort it out. Go back to your tables,” I offer, watching as he scampers away like his legs are on fire.
I consider saying something to Harvey about a possible break-in, but I decide to check it out first. It could be nothing, and since I have a full restaurant, I doubt it can be anything too bad.
When I step into the doorway, I realize I’m wrong.
Donny is in my office, sitting in my chair like he owns it and pulling out the lube and condoms from my drawer. His hair is disheveled, as if he has been running his hand through his mop of hair, his trench coat hangs loosely off his shoulders, and his sweater underneath sits low enough on his neck to show off the edges of a tattoo hidden underneath.
There was a time when I knew most things about Donny. Now I know nothing.
“Can I help you?” I snap, glancing at my door to see the wood is chipped and the lock is broken.
“Yes, I think you can.” He smirks, suggestively nudging the lube toward me.
“Funny,” I deadpan. “Why are you here?”
Donny pouts like I just told a small child no dessert. Then he leans back in my chair, staring at the ceiling for a moment. “I don’t like him for you. I don’t like seeing him here.”
“Donny, seriously, what the fuck? I haven’t laid eyes on you in years. You don’t get a say in who is or who isn’t in my life.”
“You might not have seen me, but I’ve always kept an eye on you.”
“What?” His declaration pulls me up short.
“Your dad kicked you out of his life, but I never could. I always made sure you were okay,” he admits, a small smile touching his lips as he looks over my shoulder. “You know, once you were out drunk, stumbling home, and only had a couple blocks to go. I contemplated going up to you, talking to you, but then I saw a guy approach you. He had a gun, and he shoved you back, demanding your wallet. You laughed. You were so out of it.” He shakes his head. “He went to pull his gun, and I grabbed his arm and pulled it behind him until I heard the bone pop. I beat the shit out of him for daring to hurt you.”
I narrow my eyes. “I don’t remember that.”
“You were so drunk that, as soon as I grabbed that asshole, you were back to stumbling on your way home. I saved your life that night.”
I don’t remember such an evening. Furthermore, Donny’s word is likely as trustworthy as any compulsive liar. Still, it wouldn’t matter even if it was true.
“So, you think I owe you now or something?”
“I always knew you were in love with me. I saw how you watched me, how you jerked off to me. I know I was your first love, your only love.”
I snort, unable to hold it back. “Hardly. I admit I had a schoolboy crush, but nothing more. I didn’t even know myself then, let alone who I liked or loved. I was horny, and you were there.” I shrug, trying to ignore the anger flashing in Donny’s eyes.
�
��Then explain to me why you have barely dated in the years since our friendship fell apart? Only one boyfriend? Admit it. You’ve been waiting for me.”
I laugh for real now. “Seriously? Donny, I run a restaurant; I don’t have time to go out and meet someone. I have time for the odd fuck; that’s it.”
“Then explain Newberry.”
I pause now. I can’t really explain Harvey. He doesn’t make sense, yet he fits into my life.
“He’s different.”
“Different how? He’s not better than me.” Donny sounds defensive and annoyed. Not a great combination.
“Of course he’s better than you,” I snap, not caring about the rage that flashes over Donny’s face. “He has a respectable job, he helps people, he’s kind, sweet, and he makes me happy. You are none of those things.”
He blanches now. “We just have to reconnect. Things are changing, and it won’t matter who you fuck. No one cares about that shit, not much now. Soon, when I rule, no one will go against me—against us.” He sounds slightly hysterical and incredibly delusional.
“You’ve lost it. There is no us.” I slash my hand through the air, my move sharp and cutting.
“There will be once that fucker is gone,” Donny spits out, his rage no longer a flash, but something fixed.
“Harvey isn’t going anywhere. Now get the hell out of my office.”
He stands, shaking his head as he approaches me.
I try to stop myself from stepping back, but his gaze is so ferocious that I can’t help moving out of his way.
“You think you can just ignore what was between us? What still is? You think I’m going to let you throw this away because some dead man walking has caught your eye?” he hisses, getting in my face.
“There was never anything between us, Donny. You were just …” I try to find the right word, but I fear the wrong word comes out instead. “… convenient.”
“I was convenient?” he snarls, stepping into me until I’m pressed up against the broken door.
“Donny, step back.” My voice shakes. I curse myself for it.
I Broke Into His Office (Love at First Crime Book 4) Page 16
