A Modern Love Story

by Jolyn Palliata

  “You want me to slip him some ketamine again?”

  “Oh, God no! That was almost a disaster last time.”

  Kate’s voice took on a defensive edge. “Look. I slipped it in his shot right at closing. If he didn’t come straight home before the effects wore off, then that’s not on me. I can only do so much.”

  “No, he came straight home. The problem was, I misjudged his mood when he wouldn’t take my call. I thought he was being all pissy, but he must have been depressed. The ketamine only heightened that. I swear, by the time he got home, he was ready to jump off the nearest bridge.”

  “Oh, shit. What’d you do? How did you talk him down?”

  “I reminded him that I was the one there for him. That I wouldn’t leave him.”

  “Ahh…exploited his abandonment issues, huh? Told you that would work.”

  “Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. I had to improvise.”

  “How so?”

  “I’d brought some ice cream and toppings, ya know…in case he got the munchies later.”

  “Oh, I see where this is going.” Kate boomed a laugh into the phone. “Whip cream and ketamine. Sounds like the greatest of all aphrodisiacs. That would be a hit at the clubs around town.”

  “It worked. That’s all I cared about.”

  “Look, Payten. Be straight with me. Are you sure this man is worth it? He’s hot, given, but it sure seems like a lot of trouble to me.”

  “He’s definitely worth it. And he’s mine.”

  “To each their own. I gotta admire your tenacity though.”

  “Any suggestions as to what we could try this time?”

  “How about Ecstasy? That ought to tame him for you. I’ll be sure to give it to him earlier in the night so the effects are in full swing by the time you sink your claws in.”

  “Sounds good to me. Why don’t you pay him a little visit tonight?”

  “Done. It’ll be 5K to the usual account.”

  “You’ll have it as soon as I hang up. And remember, Kate. I’m paying you for your discretion as well.”

  “I’m just as liable as you. I’m not saying a word. Besides, this deal is pretty sweet for me, too. Where else would I make five grand for having a shot with a hottie.” She barked another laugh and hung up.

  Payten turned off the TracFone and removed the SIM card. “Who knew PI’s could be so multi-faceted in their duties,” she mused, tossing the phone in the trash and snapping the card in two.

  *****

  “Hey, good-looking. Get me a couple of shots of whiskey.”

  Luc glanced as the busty, dark-haired beauty and nodded. She looked familiar, but couldn’t quite place her. Probably a repeat customer. “My kind of woman,” he commented, pouring two shots and setting them in front of her.

  As he turned away, she said, “Not so fast, gorgeous. You wouldn’t let a lady drink alone, would you?”

  He turned back as she cupped her hand over one of the shots and slid it his way. Lifting hers to a set of full lips, she locked her eyes on him. “Bottoms up.”

  He grabbed the shot. “Cheers.” And tipped it back.

  They both slammed their shot glasses down at the same time, and then she slid off her stool. She slapped a twenty on the counter as she winked. “Keep the change. Have a nice night.”

  “You too.”

  “How come all the babes hit on you?” Conrad asked, watching the curvy woman meander through the meager crowd.

  “They see my inherent charm,” Luc said with a humorless chuckle.

  “Still down about Robbie?”

  “What the fuck do you think?”

  “I think you need to figure out what you’re gonna do there.”

  Luc sighed and leaned back against the counter. “I have to wait this shit out with Payten. I may be a cold-hearted sonofabitch, but even I’m not gonna break up with a chick when she’s mourning the death of the only family she had left.”

  “How long is that gonna take?”

  Luc shrugged. “Beats me. So far she still seems pretty broken up about it. The challenge is being there for her without being there.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “Notice the attempt at subtlety.”

  “I’m a guy. I don’t do subtle.”

  “I’m in love with Robbie, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And I want her back, right?”

  “I’m following.”

  “So, I’m not gonna fuck Payten when all I want is to get back with Robbie.”

  “I gotcha. Wait. How’s the blonde taking it? Isn’t she like a nympho or something?”

  “I tell you what, man. It’s getting harder to put her off without hurting her feelings. If she doesn’t back the fuck off, I’m gonna have to break up with her—grieving or not. Shit. I hope it doesn’t come to that though. I’d rather get it done with minimal female drama.”

  “I don’t know, man. Why don’t you just tell Robbie how you feel? How can you wait?”

  “You didn’t hear her at the funeral. I have to give her space. I can’t be fucking around with her mind right now.”

  “You’d know best.” Conrad tipped his head at a customer. “What can I get for you?”

  The conversation dropped as they got busy filling drink orders. Business stayed pretty steady into the night, and Luc found it easy to keep up enough of a pace to render Conrad useless.

  “Jesus, man. You going for the Bartender Of The Year award, or something?”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  Conrad stepped back. “Nothing, man. Not a damn thing. Chill the fuck out, okay?”

  Luc shook his head, trying to focus on the exchange but found it too difficult to follow. “Whatever.”

  “Can I have an MDG, in a bottle?” a woman called out.

  “Sure thing,” Luc said, reaching for a bottle and popping the cap off. When he set it down, their fingers grazed. She blushed and smiled. He leaned down on his forearm to smile back at her. “Anything else I can get you?”

  Before she could answer, Lizbeth pushed through the crowd. “Oh, give me a fucking break, Casanova. Do yourself a favor and watch yourself. Robbie’s here.”

  As the lady ducked away, he straightened and scanned the room. “She actually came here?”

  “Yeah. So, if you care at all, don’t go chasing skirts around her.”

  “Of course I fucking won’t.”

  “You say that like it’s a given.”

  He shot her a glare, then continued his search. “It is. I care about Robbie. I don’t want to see her—” He saw her then at the end of the bar. “Motherfucker,” he mumbled, rage suddenly rearing when he saw her talking to some guy. “Who the fuck is that?”

  Lizbeth tipped forward and looked down the bar. “I don’t know. We came alone. But good for her.” Her chin jutted up when Luc stared her down. “Listen, slick. If she finds someone who makes her happy, then I’m all for it. Shit, I’ve been telling her to go back to San Diego. At least there she’d have a job and someone that loves her.”

  “She barely knows Colin,” he huffed, trying to reign in the anxiety he couldn’t seem to get a handle on.

  “I’m not talking about Colin, I’m talking about Scott.” Her smile turned evil when he froze. “Oh yeah, he’s been in love with her since college. Even calls her my Irish lovely. Isn’t that just the sweetest thing you ever did hear? But she turned him down. She was loyal. So, yeah, I wish she’d find someone who actually knows what they got in her, ‘cause you sure-the-fuck never did.”

  Luc hands shook with his emotions as he looked back at Robbie. The guy had his hand on her arm, and was leaning in towards her ear. Something fierce ignited inside. All he saw was red as he stormed the length of the bar.

  “Get the fuck away from her,” he growled.

  The man looked up and scowled. “Get lost, man. Go find your own piece of ass. This one’s mine.”

  Robbie’s mouth dropped as she shoved the man
, and then Luc took a swing, connecting with the man’s jaw hard enough to leave him sprawled and bleeding on the floor.

  Luc stood over him, fists still clenched and the muscles in his arms bulging from the pressure. “You’ll want to fucking stay down. Conrad! Get this piece of shit out of here!”

  Conrad came over as Luc spun around. He grabbed Robbie by the arm and practically dragged her across the bar to the office.

  “Let go of me, Luc!”

  He did, but only after he got the door shut and then blocked it with his body, forcing her to stay.

  “What the hell was that?!” she yelled.

  “Me?! What about you?! Letting that guy paw you like a piece of fucking meat!”

  “No way, Luc. No! You’re not allowed to get jealous or make me feel guilty over nothing. I had it handled! Besides, I can do whatever the fuck I want!”

  “Use your brain!”

  “Fuck you! Get out of my way. If I want to go out there and sleep with the first man I come across, that’s my business!”

  “The hell, you say!” He stepped toward her. She stepped back. “You’re not gonna just throw yourself at some guy like that again. You deserve better! Jesus, have a little self-respect for once.”

  She looked at him through narrowed eyes. “What do you mean by again? When have I ever thrown myself at anyone, other than you?”

  “Bryan,” he seethed, his anger running rampant with the memory.

  “Bryan?” she asked, genuinely confused. “You mean attorney Bryan?”

  “You were wearing his boxers that first time, when I fucked you against the wall.”

  She came at him swinging. He grabbed her arms and pinned her into the wall. “You sonofabitch! I never slept with Bryan. Those were my boxers!” She struggled as tears sprung to her eyes. “And thank you for referring to one of the most important moments of my life so crassly. I shouldn’t be surprised though. Of course you would look at it that way, wouldn’t you?! Nothing more than a fuck against the wall!”

  Her words sliced through the din of the fury engulfing him. He was suddenly very aware of his body, pressed into hers, and wanted nothing more than to have his way with her. As the need coiled inside, he rubbed his groin against her, resting his forehead on hers with his eyes closed. He was gonna fucking burst if he couldn’t have her.

  Robbie’s gasp and whimper had him peering down through passion-ladened eyes. Her tear-soaked gaze stared up at him and he saw the conflict within. Going from one extreme to another, he jolted back and stumbled into retreat. What the fuck?!

  He scrubbed his hands down his face and realized he was actually crying, rubbing the moisture across his cheeks. He just stood there, staring at his wet, shaking hands, and wondering if this was what it was like to lose your fucking mind.

  “Luc?”

  He jerked and twitched, then backed into the wall. She had to get out of there. She had to get away from him. “Go.” He fisted his hands and hung his head, waiting for her to leave.

  “What’s wrong with you? You’re acting crazy.”

  “I don’t know. I don’t know what got into me,” he whispered. “I scared you. Jesus Christ, I’m so sorry I scared you. I’d never hurt you, Robbie. You have to believe me. I’d never—”

  “Shh,” she murmured, coming close enough to tip his chin up. “Just take a deep breath. Something’s wrong. This isn’t you.”

  He did as he was told, and felt more soothed by her presence and voice than what the cleansing breaths could offer. “I’m better. You should go.”

  “Not until I know you’re fine.”

  He felt like a damn chick as he held back more tears. “I really don’t deserve you in my life, Robbie. My behavior… There’s no excuse.”

  “There’s something going on with you, Luc. What is it?”

  His emotions swirled painfully as he battled with wanting to do what was right versus his misguided instincts. He shook his head.

  “Are you…” She made eye contact. “Are you on something?”

  “Of course not!”

  “Okay, okay. I had to ask.” She guided him to a chair and rubbed his shoulders. He felt like he was turning into jelly under her hands. “You feeling any better?”

  He nodded numbly, no longer sure what the fuck he was feeling anymore. “I better get back out there.”

  “Just give yourself a minute, okay? I’ll go out and tell Conrad you’ll be there in a bit.”

  “Thanks.” He propped his elbows on his knees, burying his hand in his hands. He heard the door click shut behind her.

  After about ten minutes, Luc felt centered enough to go back out. He caught himself scanning the crowd, but didn’t see Robbie as he went back behind the bar. Conrad nodded at him as he came over.

  “There you are.” He tossed a rag in the sink. “Wanna do me a solid?”

  “Not especially,” Luc grumbled.

  “Tough shit. You owe me one.” Conrad tipped his head towards Lizbeth at the end of the bar. “She’s finally agreed to talk to me. We’re going upstairs. You got things covered?”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Luc blinked hard, and refocused on his surroundings.

  “Hey,” Conrad said, slapping a hand on Luc’s shoulder. “You okay, man?”

  Luc shrugged him off. “Yeah. Go. Smooth things over with your girl. I got this. Hold up. Is Robbie still here?”

  “Naw, man. She split.”

  Luc nodded as he turned to get the next order being hollered out. The night droned on after that, one customer blending into the next as their voices rang eerily through his head. Once everyone had gone, he reveled in the silence as he tidied things up.

  Thoroughly exhausted, he finally sunk into a booth with a bottle of water, still trying to get his bearings. His phone beeped in his pocket, indicating he had a text message. With a sigh, he dug it out.

  Hope you’re feeling better. Sleep tight. Rob

  He smiled as he read the message, wondering what the hell sleep tight meant and knowing she had the answer. The simple thought had him missing her even more. He tipped his head back, letting his love for her flood through him. The impact was staggering, and he took the time to really study what he was feeling. Robbie always made him feel complete and alive. There was nothing like it in the world, and he knew he would do anything to feel that with her again.

  Folding his arms on the table, he laid his head down and decided he would sleep right there. And then, first thing the next day, he would go over to Payten’s and put an end to everything. God fucking help him for kicking her when she was down, but Robbie was the only one that truly mattered. And then he could focus on making sure Robbie knew, without a doubt, what she meant to him.

  It was the last thought he had before he passed out cold.

  *****

  The morning brought Luc a headache that rivaled all others. Begrudgingly, he dragged himself out of the booth and onto his feet. He swayed a bit as he stretched his long frame out, then dug in his pocket for his keys. There was no way he was putting this off over a fucking headache.

  Luc rang the bell at Payten’s place and waited for her to answer. When she did, he could plainly see the fury behind her cold, blue eyes. It was obvious she was trying to hold it back, but it was definitely there. It actually made him feel a little less guilty about what he was about to do. If she was already strong enough to be pissed at him, what was a little more fuel to the fire?

  Luc cringed at his mental reference. He glanced toward the office where construction workers were already scurrying around. That was where her father had burned to death.

  Payten led him into the living room, then turned on him. “Where were you last night? I tried calling.” She crossed her arms, tapping a finger on her bicep to belie her calm.

  “Yeah, I heard the phone, but I was sleeping so I ignored it.”

  “You weren’t at home. I checked.”

  He raised a brow, but let it slide. “I slept at the bar.”

  “With who?”

/>   He shook his head. “We are not having this conversation.”

  “I want to know who you were with.” Her eyes narrowed. “Was it Robbie?”

  “I wasn’t with anyone, Payten. I didn’t feel good, so I stayed there.”

  She let her arms drop as she beamed a smile. “Oh, well you could have called me. I would have come to get you.” She strolled over to the coffee table where she had various stacks of paper spread out. “Just so you know, I’m leaving on a little trip this afternoon for business—completely unexpected. But I shouldn’t be gone long. Feel free to have use of the house while I’m away.”

  “I won’t be here when you get back.”

  “Luc, I don’t know what you find so alluring in that apartment of yours, but you should really consider moving in here. It’s so much nicer.”

  “Let me rephrase, Payten. I’m breaking up with you. I won’t be here when you get back.”

  She slowly looked over at him, her face tensed into an expression he couldn’t even put a name to. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me. This is over. Done.”

  “You can’t just…” Her words trailed off, and then her tone shifted from accusatory to pleading. “You’re going to leave me all alone? After I just lost my father? You’d do that to me?! After everything I’ve done for you? After I’ve done nothing but be there for you?”

  “I’m sorry, Payten. I really am. But I’m not the man for you, and you certainly aren’t for me.”

  Feeling a little guilt under the relief, he turned and strode back to the door, closing it quietly behind him. But even through the solid oak, he heard a scream that sounded far more feral than grievous, and he knew for certain he had made the right call.

  Thank God that was fucking over.

  Chapter 14

  “I can’t believe you’re finally moving in with Conrad,” Robbie said, handing Lizbeth some more clothes out of her dresser.

  Lizbeth put a hand to her chest and took a deep breath. “Am I being a moron? I’m being a moron, aren’t I?”

  “Not at all! It’s honestly about time.”