“Where’s Tara?” he asked Alex.
“She’s over with some of the other subs. I can watch over her from here.” Tara was never out of Alex’s sight for long. He realized now he wanted that. A relationship where he had the right to fuss and worry over his sub as much as Alex did over his. He could have had that with Kinley. Only you held back, didn’t you? You can’t blame this all on her. She was keeping things from you, but you were doing the same.
They both had a part to play in this mess. Only question was, how did he fix it? Did he want to?
Yes, he did. Life without her was miserable. He was miserable.
“When you left her was she all right?”
Yes. No. He took another sip of beer. “Your show of concern for me is touching,” he said sarcastically.
Alex turned to give him a sharp look. “I can see you. You look like hell. And you have a face like a thundercloud but you’re in one piece. You’re here. Nobody has heard from or seen Kinley in over two weeks. We’re worried about her. She’s one of ours now.”
He wondered how she would react to that. He knew she didn’t quite feel that she fit in, although she got along with the other subs just fine. But he knew she wouldn’t come here without him. Not just because he’d paid for her membership, but because this was his place, not hers. Or he thought it was. The way Alex was fussing about her told him otherwise.
“And if I told you she betrayed me? Cheated on me? Would you still be so concerned about her?”
“Kinley? Cheat on you? For some reason I can’t figure out, that woman adores you.”
“You think I’m not good enough for her? We can’t all be born into money, to have everything come to us so easily.” He looked down at his work-roughened hands. “Some of us have to work for a living.”
“Oh, tell someone who believes your ‘poor me’ bullshit. I know how successful that little construction company of yours is. You’re the most sought-after contractor in the city and you know it. I may have been born into money, but that doesn’t mean everything came to me easily. You haven’t cornered the market on working hard, you know.”
There was disgust and anger in Alex’s voice. He stood, and Sloan reached out to grab his arm.
“Sorry,” he told the other man, who was one of the closest friends he had. “I’ve had it pointed out to me that I’m a bit touchy about money.”
“Yeah, just a bit.” Alex didn’t sit again, but he did lean against the bar. “Did you have a fight with her over money?”
He shook his head. “Well, not quite. I thought she was cheating on me.”
Alex shook his head, looking incredulous. He opened his mouth, but Sloan spoke before he could.
“She isn’t. But she was keeping something from me; she took a second job.”
Alex frowned. “She’s got money troubles?”
He took another drink of beer. “Apparently. She didn’t tell me until recently.”
“Have you told her everything about your past?” He’d told Alex about his past one night over a few too many beers. The other man hadn’t brought it up again, but he should have known he hadn’t forgotten. Asshole had a mind like a steel trap. Alex was the only one who knew about the shit from his past. Well, other than the man who’d lived through it with him.
“No.”
“So, she’s not to keep anything from you, but it’s okay if you keep stuff from her?”
“She lied.”
“She told you she didn’t have money troubles, did she?”
He blew out a frustrated breath. “Semantics.”
“Is it? Or was she trying to deal with everything as best she could? Did she tell you why she kept it from you?”
This part made him uncomfortable. “She said that in the beginning she didn’t think it was my business.” He got that. But as they started to grow more serious, she should have told him. She definitely should have told him it was so bad she needed to get another job. “I’m supposed to protect her. Can’t do that if she doesn’t tell me everything.”
Alex nodded slowly. “I get that.”
“Apparently, she was ashamed. Her asshole ex cleared their accounts and took off to Ibiza with his bit on the side, leaving her with all his debts. He’d duped her into putting her name on everything.”
“Bastard.”
Yep. If Sloan ever got his hands on that jerk . . .
“She thought she had to take care of it all by herself.” That was on him. He should have made certain she knew she could lean on him about anything. Even money.
“Do you think I’m weird about money?”
Alex snorted. “Is the Pope Catholic?”
He looked over at the dark-haired Dom. Sometimes the way he held himself reminded Sloan a bit of James. His way of speaking was similar, but the resemblances ended there. James was a ruthless son of a bitch, who only cared about himself. Alex had proven himself a good friend despite their differences.
“You’re always making digs about my money, my upbringing.”
“I’m just joking.” Sloan felt uncomfortable.
“Is it? Most people might see it that way and laugh, but there’s a little bit of bitterness under there.”
Was there? Maybe. James had thought his wealth meant he could get away with anything, but he hadn’t thought it had affected him. Maybe it had, though. Maybe that made it difficult for Kinley to talk to him about this.
“Kinley has always struck me as a pretty straight shooter. She’s level-headed, kind, and sweet, a little unsure of herself, but you can help her build up her confidence. She’s good for you. I’ve never seen you as happy as you are with her. And when she looks at you, her face lights up. Don’t throw something good away because of your past. Don’t let her do the same because of hers. Seems to me you’ve both been hurt before. Maybe you should be helping each other, not pushing each other away.”
Sloan tapped his fingers against the bar.
“Go to her. Make her talk about her shit. Talk about yours. Spank her ass for keeping stuff from you. You could let her do the same to you for holding back as well.”
He growled at the other Dom. “Not happening.”
Alex grinned. “Ah, but the thought of it is funny as hell. I could see Kinley dressed in leather, wielding a whip.”
Like hell. “Stop thinking about my sub in leathers.”
His sub. This distance had to stop. Now.
“Don’t let something good pass you by because you’re too pig-headed to forgive her. You’re tarring her with someone else’s sins. Kinley’s special. You let her go, and someone else will snap her up.”
Over his dead body. She was his.
10
This was her boyfriend? Really?
After a poor night’s sleep, James had decided to go for an early morning run to clear his head. For years Frank, his head of security, had been urging him to run with bodyguards, but James hated having someone follow him around all the time.
Having a bodyguard would be a smart idea, and James was a smart man but he was also extremely private and the last thing he wanted was someone knowing his business. So, he ignored Frank’s very helpful advice.
Still, he tried to stick to public routes when he was running, and he didn’t go too early or late. He wasn’t an idiot.
This morning was a different story. He’d set out at six a.m. after tossing and turning all night, thinking of Kinley. When he returned to the office, it was only just after seven. There were still very few people around, which is why he took notice of the guy crouched next to Kinley’s car. For one foolish moment, he thought it might be a thief. Then he remembered, Kinley’s car was a piece of crap. Stealing it would probably be the best thing that could happen to her.
That’s not to say he hadn’t thought about having it towed away and crushed, but he figured that was probably a little high-handed.
Then he noticed the guy open the door with a key before he popped the hood. His already loose jeans slid further down, revealing the h
A loud burp greeted his ears.
Really? This was not the sort of man he expected Kinley to be with. But he supposed he shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. The guy was now checking out the engine. Tall and thin, his unkempt hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and he wiped his nose on his sleeve as he muttered something to himself.
James pondered whether he should introduce himself. But did he really want to meet this guy? To find out that despite the outward package he was a decent guy? Someone that deserved Kinley?
No, he didn’t want to know that.
He moved around the black truck, heading towards the building, when he heard a phone ring.
“Yeah?” a disgruntled voice snapped. He paused. He shouldn’t eavesdrop but since when did he do everything he should? He wondered if it was Kinley calling to check on how her car was.
“Fucking bitches,” the guy spat out.
James frowned.
“Yeah, got some pussy last weekend then in the morning she was all like ‘what’s your number and when can I see you next?’” He laughed. “Got rid of that bitch real quick. She was a sad lay anyway.”
What? Was this guy cheating on Kinley? Was that why he’d been too busy to help her last night?
“Nah, I’m downtown. Kinley’s car stalled so I’m looking at it.” He laughed again. “Right? Fucking good-looking woman, even if she’s carrying a bit of beef.”
Carrying a bit of beef?
James clenched his hands into fists, forcing himself to stand still rather than turn around and teach that asshole a thing or two about respecting Kinley.
“Yeah, well, not like I know what the fuck I’m doing. Like I’ve told her before, this car is a piece of crap. She won’t listen, though. Sometimes I don’t know why I put up with her shit.”
Well, James could help him with that. Putting up with Kinley wouldn’t be something he’d have to worry about much longer.
All bets were off now. Kinley’s boyfriend was an asshole, which meant the path was clear. He’d made a decision. Maybe he wasn’t good enough for her. But he wanted her. And he’d do whatever he had to in order to keep her.
Sloan was still smarting from Alex’s unwanted advice as he woke up the next morning. He couldn’t keep going like this. He’d left things in limbo and it wasn’t fair to either of them.
He lay in bed, feeling unmotivated to go to work for the first time since he’d become his own boss. He enjoyed his job. Well, except for all the damn paperwork. He’d rather be out working with his hands. But, still, he got to make his own rules now.
After Sarah died and his friendship with James disintegrated, he hadn’t wanted to do anything. He’d started drinking too much, he’d become angry and bitter. It wasn’t until he’d woken up one morning in his truck, in his driveway, with no memory of getting there, that he’d realized he had to clean up his shit. He’d obviously driven home while under the influence. He could have killed himself or someone else.
Part of him had wondered at the time if that’s what he’d been trying to do. Get himself killed, but he wasn’t a quitter. He didn’t take the easy way out but that was exactly what he’d been doing. So, he’d sobered up. Over the years, working for James, he’d amassed a decent nest egg, which he’d used to set himself up in business. It had been tough, but he’d done it. Now, none of that seemed to mean fuck all without Kinley.
He sat up with a groan, moving in a haze into the bathroom. He hadn’t been sleeping and had barely been eating. He knew he’d been an absolute bastard to work with lately.
You pushed her away.
Yeah, she’d kept stuff from him, but it wasn’t like she’d cheated on him. He just had a real problem when it came to being kept in the dark about stuff like this. It’s what destroyed his relationship with James and Sarah.
And are you going to let it ruin this one? Was it already ruined? He thought about that. He’d acted like a bear with a case of haemorrhoids.
Alex was right. He had to fight for them. And if that meant forgiving and forgetting, that’s what he had to do. He needed to sit down with her. To explain why what she did had affected him the way it had. And to apologize for pushing her away.
It wasn’t Kinley who’d put this barrier between them. It wasn’t her keeping them apart. It was him. He’d needed to decide whether he was in or out, and he was in. Completely.
He smiled slowly, now that he’d made that decision. She’d be his. To do with as he wanted. To fuck, to pleasure, to punish, every day for the rest of their lives. Nothing would stand in his way.
Kinley knew it was a mistake to send Gary around to check out her car, but his dad, her boss had insisted. Mike Foley was a decent guy, a hard worker, and a good boss. He’d taken a liking to Kinley and had helped her out on more than one occasion, although she tried not to ask too much.
Gary was everything his dad was not. Lazy, unkempt, rude, and the last man she’d ever want to end up with. For some reason, he seemed to think he was God’s gift to women, and she should fall at his feet just for the privilege of having him flirt with her. If you could call it flirting. She just called it gross.
As he loomed over her, the stench of his breath overpowering her nose, she could barely keep the contempt from showing on her face.
He smiled, displaying his yellowed teeth. He was missing one of his incisors, it had been knocked out in a fight and he hadn’t bothered to do anything about it.
She often wondered what their clients thought when they first saw Gary. She knew what she’d think if he turned up at her door. She’d shut it in his face. However, there was one redeeming thing about him. He might be rude, sexist, and just plain disgusting, but he was a damn good plumber.
She guessed people would put up with a lot if it meant they got their leaks fixed or their toilets installed properly.
“It’s done for, sweet cheeks. I towed it back here for you, but the only way it’s leaving the yard is on the back of a flatbed headed for the junk yard.”
She tried not to show how much the thought troubled her. Or the fact that his breath was really bad today. Did he ever brush his teeth? She bet it wasn’t a fight that had lost him that tooth, but all those doughnuts he liked to consume. He ate sugar and crap all day and was as skinny as a toothpick, while she lived on salads and—
Wait a minute. Was she seriously jealous of Gary because he was skinny and could eat whatever he liked?
Huh, new low, Kinley.
“Thank you for towing it back here.” It saved her paying someone to move it. Although she wouldn’t be able to leave it here for long. Was Gary right? Was it only good for the scrap yard? Her stomach tightened at the thought of getting rid of the car. She knew she was overly attached; it was just a car. But it was the car her dad had chosen for her. The one he’d worked hard to give her.
“Yeah? How thankful are you?”
He leaned forward, placing his hands on her desk, his face mere inches from hers. She forced herself not to flinch, not because she was afraid of him, but, dear God, not only had he not brushed his teeth she was fairly certain he hadn’t showered either.
“Jeez, Gary, you ever hear of dental care?”
His eyes narrowed, and he snapped his head back, and she was able to breathe easier. But as she noted the angry look on his face, she realized she’d been too rash. She needed this job and couldn’t afford to offend Gary. Not when he could easily get her fired.
“What are you saying?”
“Nothing at all,” she told him with a cheery smile. “Just ignore me. I’m upset over my car.”
He sniffed, still looking suspicious. “Don’t know why you care about that hunk of junk.”
She pressed her nails into the palms of her hands. Calm. Just calm.
“I know it’s not the flashiest car, but it means a lot to me. My father gave it to me six months before he died.”
She knew as soon as she told him that she shouldn’t have. Gary didn’t have a sympathetic bone in his body. If there was anything more than beer and Cheetos swirling around in there, she didn’t know what it was.
He sneered at her. “Women. Always got to be sentimental about shit. It’s a car, not your dead father’s spirit or anything.” She ground her teeth together. She knew that. Asshole.
Gary studied her for a moment. “You’re acting weird today, is it your time of the month or something?”
Holy fuck. Was he for real?
“But, hey, I get it if you can’t afford a new one. I know what it’s like to be short a few bucks. I feel for ya.”
All right, that was suspicious. What was he leading up to? Because she was certain he didn’t care one bit about her finances.
“I’m sure you and me . . . we could come to some arrangement. You know what I mean?” He smiled, but his gaze was centered on her breasts. Not that she wore anything revealing. She’d learned from day one to dress very conservatively while working here. But it didn’t seem to matter, Gary still found a way to leer at them.
“I think I do. And let me tell you exactly what I think—” Just as she opened her mouth to let it rip, her boss walked into the reception area.
“Good, Gary, you’re back. Could you fix Kinley’s car?”
She shut her mouth. It was just as well Mike had come in. Telling Gary he was a pig who could shove his offer where the sun didn’t shine wouldn’t have been her brightest move.
She needed more sleep. She was usually much better at navigating the minefield of sexual innuendoes and gross come-ons Gary liked to hit her with on a daily basis. They usually didn’t bother her much. Today was not a usual day.
She’d spent most of last night thinking about James and her reaction to him. And when she wasn’t thinking about James, she had Sloan to worry about.
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