“The Weston’s Charity Masquerade is next weekend.” She stated, like that was supposed to answer my question.
“I know.” I didn’t know. I didn’t care.
“You do know you are required to attend, right? As part of our firm, it is imperative that everyone attends and represents our name. We are a major donor and it’s a fantastic setting to acquire new clients.” A nail file appeared in her hand out of nowhere, and she began filing her nails while examining their points.
“I’m aware of this, thanks. Can I have my desk back? I really need to get back to this will. I have a meeting with him tomorrow and I need everything set and ready beforehand.” Which was true. I liked to be prepared and I hated leaving my clients waiting. It reflected badly on me and believe me, for as much as our clients paid, being on time was the least that I could do.
Stephanie slowly removed her feet from my desk and stood, adjusting her skirt while slowly running her hand over her thigh. The move was deliberate, designed to draw my attention to her tight-fitting clothing and her curving body. Instead, I made a little extra effort and looked at the light fixture above my head. Her heels began to click in my direction, so I looked back toward her while moving to the side so she could pass.
Instead of passing, Stephanie stopped right in front of me, grabbing my tie to use as leverage while she pulled me toward her. “So… what time will you be picking me up?” She all but purred when her face was inches from mine.
“Pick you up?” I asked dumbly. I mean, I thought I would remember making those plans because if I had made them, I would have had to be under duress.
“Yes. Picking me up. You’re single, I’m single. . . it makes sense that we should be going together.” She ran her freshly sharpened nails over my bicep, giving it a slight squeeze.
I had no clue where it came from, all I knew was there was no way I could date Stephanie. Not even for one night. After a single date, that girl would be shopping for engagement rings and there was no way I would be going that route again. Ever. So, when I blurted out, “I have a girlfriend.” I am sure my face registered just as much shock as hers.
“A... girlfriend?” she asked as her hand tightened around my tie, causing wrinkles to form in the silk. “You never mentioned a girlfriend.”
I was slightly worried about the venom in her voice, but there was no way I was backtracking now. “Yeah, well, it’s a new thing. We are seeing where it leads. I wasn’t comfortable discussing my dating life with you, Stephanie. I’m sorry, I just like to keep my work life and my recreational life separated.”
Her lip came out in a ridiculous pout that I knew she designed to cause guilt, but actually sort of invoked an urge to roll my eyes. She let go of my tie and tried to smooth down the wrinkles. “Well, since it’s nothing serious, surely you can still take me.”
I sucked in my breath through my teeth, causing a hissing sound to escape. “Yeah, no. I’m sorry, Steph. It’s just that she already bought her dress and she’s so excited. I can’t disappoint her like that. You understand, don’t you?” I gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder while guiding her towards the door. She snagged her hand on to the door frame to stop me from closing it on her.
“If she changes her mind, or you break up, you will let me know, right?” she watched me hopefully while removing her hands from the door frame.
“I’ll let you know but it’s looking pretty solid at the moment. Thanks for the chat!” I slammed my office door on her without waiting for a reply.
Damn it!
It was almost six when I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw Lotus’ name light my screen. My pulse skipped in this funny little reaction. She had never text me before and I was actually torn between reading it and not. A text from her could mean so many things and most of those things would contain a feisty, sarcastic undertone warning me that going home might not be wise. I debated it, but in the end, my curiosity won and I opened the text.
Blue Eyes: Just letting you know I called in the pizza at Luigi’s. Bentley texted and said he will be coming around 6:30, which is probably more like 7. Because you know him. Myra and Tyler are already here. : )
I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. I never knew what I was getting with her, which was completely new territory. With Alexa, I knew the instant I talked to her if she was having a good day or a bad. I lived for her good days; I dreaded her bad. I texted her back.
Me: I’m on it, leaving here in five. Tyler?
I wouldn’t say I was jealous, but if I was paying for someone to eat pizza, I wanted to know who the fuck they were. Plus, I mean, I hope the dude planned to contribute because I hated freeloaders, despite the fact I was totally sleeping on Lotus’ couch rent free, small details and all that. My phone buzzed against my wooden desk.
Blue Eyes: Myra’s boyfriend. They brought brownies. Be still my heart.
It was a relief. Some. I can’t even begin to describe how many times Alexa spent time with “friends” at our place that ended in me walking into some unfavorable situations. I could fix so many things, hell fixing things was how I made my living. It was my damn job! But I wasn’t fucking good enough to fix her. I was never enough. I pushed the memory aside because tonight wasn't a time to dwell and live in my sordid past, but a tiny kick start to my new future.
Still, even if he was attached to Myra, I didn’t know him, I didn’t trust him. I most definitely didn’t want him around Lotus without any sort of protection. I mean, yeah, there was Ruins, but the odds were he was in his crate because people were over. At least I assumed Lotus would have put him there.
I made quick work of picking up the pizza at Luigi’s, strapping the pizza to the back of my bike with bungies for the ride back to the apartment. Both the pizza and I made it home in one piece and we arrived at the same time that Bentley did. I was truly shocked to see him actually on time for once.
“Hey man.” We shook hands and did the man hug. “It’s been a while. How are things going?”
“I can’t complain. Business is good. Sorry about not being home when you came. If you would have told me, I could have left you a key, man. Are you sure you’re okay staying with my sister? Sometimes she is hard to live with. Believe me, I know. I’ve been struggling with it all my life.”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Dealing with the little firecracker was hardly a struggle. “I’m cool, man, I can handle the bite. Plus, I would pick some confrontations over 24/7 nerd speak.”
He punched me in the arm, almost causing me to drop my pizza. Working out was totally working for that nerd and I was glad. He had a rough go as a kid, especially when I wasn’t there to help him out. Now I’m pretty sure he could hold his own if he had to do so. I gave him a watch it look as he opened Lotus’ door without knocking.
“Honey, we’re home!” He called out and Ruins sent a little growl in his direction from his spot inside the crate. I’m glad she was smart enough to leave him in there until I got home.
She came out of the kitchen with a stack of paper plates and thankfully had changed into black yoga pants and a v-neck shirt. She saw me checking her outfit out and cast me a knowing half grin. Bentley cut her off, giving her a hug and causing another growl to echo from Ruins’ cage.
“Dude, your dog keeps growing whenever I walk close to Tyler and apparently, Bentley. What’s his problem?” She asked me as she sat the plates on the coffee table next to the bottles of beer.
Good boy. I gave her a confused look. “He can be protective. He must like you.”
I sat the pizza down on the coffee table and then let Ruins out. He instantly went to Lotus’ side and sat down. I said my hellos and did the obligatory introductions with Tyler and then everyone grabbed a plate, loaded on pizza, and scattered around the living room and dining room. It was amazing how silent a place could get when people where shoveling slices of Luigi’s in their months. Finally, after a solid ten minutes of various chewing noises, Bentley broke the silenc
e.
“So let me see this list, sis.”
She scrunched up her face, then took another giant bite of pizza. “What list?” Her words were hardly decipherable through her mouthful of food.
“The dating list mom told me about.” He shrugged like it was obvious, meanwhile Lotus began to cough and choke on her food.
“Are you fucking kidding me? She overhears one conversation and let it spread like a wild fire.” She was still coughing.
“I heard about your stellar date too.” Bentley was laughing now and Lotus began throwing balled up napkins at him. “Might as well show me it now, sister, I already know.”
Before Lotus could say another word, Myra had already produced the list and was dodging the napkin balls Lotus was now throwing in her direction. Leaning over Myra’s shoulder, I began to read.
No selfish men.
No overprotective alpha men who think it’s their job to dictate my life.
No men who groom more than women.
No sports fanatics.
MUST HAVE HAIR!!!! … Judging by the exclamation points and bold letters, I was guessing this might have been important to Lotus.
While Bentley was busy laughing uncontrollably, I was busy scrutinizing the list. “You’re kidding me, right?” I finally asked when I reached the bottom of her extensive list.
“Nope, I’m tired of wasting my time on douche bags. I want someone safe, someone ready to settle down and have a real relationship. Is that too much to ask for?”
“For you it is!” Bentley chimed in.
I ignored his remark towards her. “Seriously, this list is ridiculous. You might as well date a priest.”
“As long as he has hair…” Bentley was holding his stomach from all his laughter. “Why do you care, Beck? Because everything on this list describes you perfectly?” He continued laughing. I never got a chance to rebuke because just then, the doorbell rang and Myra let out a squeal so loud it made my ears ring.
“I have a surprise for you, Lotus baby!” She sang as she jumped up and down, clapping. She then proceeded to skip happily to the door and swing it open, revealing whom I could only assume to be my next client. Tall, lean, and muscular, long dark hair shaved at the sides and pulled back into a bun with tattoos on every visible surface from his chin down… the conclusion that he was going to need representation for a law violation probably wasn’t too far off.
I couldn’t dwell on his possible record long, because the moment the man stepped into the door, Lotus had jumped up, knocking her chair over, and rushed him. Tears brimmed her eyes and she easily threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. Ruins growled. Tattoo guy engulfed her with his long limbs and tall frame like it was something he’d done a thousand times, and you know what? It pissed me the fuck off that Bentley wasn’t doing a damn thing to stop their interaction when this guy was clearly trouble.
Lotus pulled away and looked the guy over. “Look at you, Auggie! No cane or crutches!” She wiped tears from her face and this guy was eating it up with this bullshit half smile he was giving her. “You look good. You put on some weight, too.” She wrapped her hands around his waist again. Ruins barked like a damn insane dog and all Lotus did was shush him.
I was about to interject when Bentley finally got up and approached them both. Instead of prying the bastard’s fingers away from Lotus’ hip, Bentley slapped the guy on the back and shook his hand. What a fucking traitor. I watched as Lotus took his hand and led him into the apartment as he limped behind her. She pushed him onto the couch and rushed to grab him a beer and pizza. My fucking pizza.
I loudly cleared my throat, since apparently, I was the only one concerned with this new guy’s presence. Well, me and Ruins, who followed Lotus around and growled low whenever she got to close to the guy. Everyone looked in my direction as the guy noticed me for the first time. He stood and did that limpy walk thing, which I’m sure was one hundred percent fucking fake, until he stopped in front of me.
Holding out a hand, he said one single word, and acted like it was enough to fucking explain why Lotus was fawning all over him like he was an incapable infant. “Gus.”
I looked at him for a good ten beats before shaking his hand and introducing myself. It was apparently all he needed because then he hobbled back to his spot on the couch while Lotus cleaned up and Myra set up everything for the movie marathon.
“What are we watching tonight?”
“The Hunger Games movies…all of them. It’s going to be a late night.”
Bentley groaned and Gus snorted at her response. “Why? We’ve watched them a million times!” Bentley finally said.
Lotus tossed the cap of a beer at Bentley from across the room. “Because Katniss saves Peeta.” Myra and Lotus answered in unison.
“It doesn’t matter, Bentley, Lotus will fall asleep before it’s over anyway, then we can change it.” Gus chimed in, earning a scowling look from Lotus. A scowl that for once wasn’t directed at me.
I closed my eyes, remembering when we were kids and we did movie nights almost every week.
“Why do we have to watch Beauty and the Beast again, Lotus? What’s so great about it?” Bentley whined because he wasn’t getting his way.
“Belle saves the Beast, Ben. That’s why it’s so great.” Little Lotus replied with her blue eyes shining happily and her wild curls tussled about.
I watched her and smiled before butting in my opinion. “Just let her watch it, Ben, you know she will fall asleep then we can watch what we want to anyways.”
Bentley grumbled under his breath but put the VHS into the player and fast forwarded it to the beginning. Fifteen minutes later… she was asleep.
Thanks to Ruins and his insistent growling, Lotus had no choice but to sit by me during the movies. It was the only way to make my dog happy and quiet enough to watch. I made a mental note to stop by the pet store with him tomorrow and buy him whatever toy he wanted. Bentley got stuck next to Gus, who didn’t seem to mind either way. They both watched the movies intently, which was good because if Gus even bothered to glance in my direction, the douche would know I was plotting his death in many creative ways.
In the end, Gus’ presence and who he was to Lotus didn’t matter, because by the end of Catching Fire, it was my shoulder she was leaning on. By the Beginning of Mockingjay: Part Two, it was my lap her head was laying in and when it was all said and done and everyone but Bentley had left for the night, it was my hands that carried her to her bed, my fingers that brushed her erratic curls out of her face, and my lips that got to kiss her forehead good night.
Chapter 7
LOTUS
I awoke to the smells of coffee and bacon and just knew that today would be a good day. How could it not be when breakfast was being made before I had a chance to open my eyes? I stretched my limbs as I stood up, removing my hair tie and repositioning my mass of hair into a messy bun on the top of my head. Taming my hair would have to come after the consumption of coffee.
I walked into my kitchen at the same moment Bentley flipped a giant pancake on the griddle. “Is that one mine?” I asked when he spotted me heading for the coffee maker.
“You have to wait in line behind me, Sleeping Beauty. We’ve been up for almost two hours and you’re just now rolling out of bed.” Beckett said from behind me as he walked into the small kitchen, freshly showered. He reached his arm over me, grabbing a coffee mug from the cabinet above my head and the spiciness of his soap engulfed me, smothering me in aromatic ecstasy. What is it about a freshly showered man that causes goosebumps to rise on my flesh? I internally scolded myself because this wasn’t just a man, this was Beckett Fucking Cole, and no matter how delicious he smelled, there was nothing further attractive about him.
“I’m willing to wait in line to be satisfied.” I responded and instantly regretted what I said. Why, oh why my brain couldn’t be wired to my mouth in the mornings and work properly was beyond me. Judging by the low chuckle above my head, Bec
kett heard me just fine. I felt his body lean into mine and his warm breath fanned my neck, causing another round of goosebumps to sprout up on my arms.
“You never have to wait to be satisfied with me around, Blue Eyes. You only have to say the word.” He whispered into my ear, his voice low and husky. I felt my skin heat up and I’m sure I was turning the color of strawberries. Beckett had never said anything suggestive to me before and I wasn’t sure how to react. Hell, I wasn’t even sure if he was serious or just fucking with my head. I cleared my throat, trying to swallow past the sudden onset of dryness.
“Can you get me a mug too, please?” I successfully changed the subject, trying to get my mind off the shifty proposition he just made. Well, at least I was trying, until he wrapped a hand around my hip while reaching for a cup with the other. Reaching up, he pressed his body into mine, trapping me between the edge of the counter and every curve and valley of his incredibly hard body.
I was frozen. Afraid to move and end this and terrified to let it continue all at the same time. This was Beckett, my brother’s best friend, the boy who used to make me blanket forts and share his snow cones. This wasn’t a guy I could have a one night stand with or even a viable option to have sex with. It was out of the question, completely unacceptable. But why did his sudden interest turn me on so damn much?
The sound of plates clattering against the counter disrupted the bubble that surrounded us, reminding me that Bentley was mere feet away, cooking breakfast, while his best friend and I built enough sexually charged energy to light up the damn apartment. I turned my head to look at my brother, seeing him paused, spatula in the air, watching us both with an odd expression. I felt the cool ceramic of a coffee mug being placed into my palm and looked back toward Beckett as he pulled his body away from mine and picked up the coffee carafe, successfully pouring himself some coffee.
Obscured Love Page 5
