Work Like You Don't Need the Money (Summer Lake)

by SJ McCoy

  Afraid?” He turned to face her and the blue gaze held her captive. “What are you afraid of, Sweetheart?”

  “I'm afraid it will make it even harder to say goodbye.”

  His shoulders sagged a little. “Don't worry, I'm a big boy, I'll survive.”

  Holly frowned at that, “I have no doubt you will, Bigshot. I, on the other hand, actually have a heart, and I don't want to get it broken!” she snapped.

  Now it was Pete's turn to look confused. “I thought you were letting me down gently. You mean...you care?”

  She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Is it not totally obvious?”

  “No it isn't! You're the one who keeps insisting we can't go past the wedding.”

  “Yes, but only because you insist there's no future in it. The more time we spend together, the more time I want. Pete, it’s going to kill me to say goodbye to you next weekend. What would it be like in another three months or six months?” Tears stung behind her eyes, but no way was she going to let them out.

  “But I thought—”

  “What Pete? What did you think?”

  “I thought that you... That I... Damn! I don't what the hell I was thinking.” He wrapped his big arms around her, and she could feel his heart thundering is his chest. He stroked her hair. “I'm so sorry, Sweetheart. I had no idea it would be this hard. On either of us.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  As Pete came bounding down the stairs, Holly stopped, glass halfway to her mouth. Emma swiped the glass from her hand. “You are actually drooling, Holly!”

  “Mmm,” she couldn't make her mouth form intelligible words. Pete looked devastating! He was wearing a steel gray suit with a black T shirt underneath. His hair was perfectly mussed and his blue eyes were blazing as he strode towards her. She swiped her glass back from Emma as her friend was having the same reaction to Jack as he came down the stairs next.

  She took a big swig of her wine before Pete took the glass from her. He stepped in close, lips quirking, clearly enjoying the effect he was having on her.

  “So?”

  She took in a deep breath to steady herself. It didn't work as she breathed in the scent of him; his spicy cologne and the distinct maleness that was simply Pete. “Oh, hell, yeah!”

  He grinned at that. “Which question are you answering?”

  She smiled. “Is the CEO gorgeous?”

  His shoulders shook as he chuckled. “I know that much. My question was, shall we sneak off and leave these guys to it?”

  She smiled. “My answer remains the same. In fact, looking like that, that's my answer to any question you care to ask.”

  His lips met hers briefly, making her want to drag him back up to his bedroom, not caring that the whole gang was here.

  He smiled down at her. “And if I want you all to myself?”

  “It's going to be hard to escape them all this weekend. We'll just have to snatch our moments.”

  He pulled her close. “I want to snatch you now.”

  “Hemming, put her down!” Jack was laughing at them. “Are you organizing tonight, or not? “Cause, you know I'm okay with not. I'd rather take my fiancé to dinner.” He smiled down at Emma. “We could go to Mario's?”

  Emma's face lit up.

  “Oh, no you don't,” said Missy. She called out to where Dan, Ben, and Nate were talking by the pool, “Hey, guys! The Best Man may be failing in his duties. You're going to have to get these two going.”

  Pete pecked Holly's lips. “No failure here!” He grabbed Jack by the collar and pulled him away from Emma who giggled and planted a quick kiss on Jack's lips.

  “Come on guys, we have to show my partner one last good time.” He looked back at Emma. “Just a figure of speech, Mouse. No offense.”

  “None taken.”

  “Go on,” said Missy. “Get out of here, go do your boy thing. We've got to get Em ready. Whatever you've got lined up for the groom, pales in comparison to the hotness that is Team Slinky. And we're hitting the town!”

  Jack wriggled in Pete's grasp. “I vote Team Slinky! We should at least have another here until the girls are dressed. I want to see!”

  Holly smiled when Pete's eyes found hers, he was considering that possibility too. In his moment of hesitation, Jack broke free and headed back to Emma.

  “Oh no you don't.” Dan's arm shot out and grabbed his brother.

  “Looks like you were right, Missy. The Best Man is distracted.” Dansmiled at Holly. “But we'll drag them both out of here if we have to so you ladies can get ready.”

  Nate joined Dan in restraining Jack while Smoke and Ben approached Pete. “Come on, big guy. Time to say goodbye to the pretty ladies.”

  Pete grinned. “Have fun, girls, we'll see you tomorrow.”

  Holly blew him a kiss before Ben slammed the door closed behind them.

  “Okay,” said Missy. “Now we must all clear our minds of the six hot men that we just allowed to leave this place.”

  “I'm not sure I can,” said Emma.

  “Then have more wine.” Holly refilled Emma's glass.

  “I'm with Em,” smiled Laura. “How am I supposed to clear my head of all that Smokin' hotness?”

  “By drinking more wine!” Holly refilled her glass too. “This town is overflowing with hot men. Once we get to the club there will be hundreds of them. You can dance with as many as you like. But, for tonight, the ones that just left are off limits and we must NOT give any of them another thought, understood?” She raised her glass. “Team Slinky!”

  Three glasses met hers. “Team Slinky!” they laughed.

  She wished she was as into Emma's hen night as she was trying to make out. It was Friday night. The others had all come in to the city to give Emma and Jack the traditional singles' send off, but Holly wished she could be spending the evening alone with Pete. A Friday night on the town with him, looking like he did tonight? What she wouldn't give! Yet it would never happen. Next Friday would be the rehearsal dinner, Saturday the wedding. Then it would all be over. She gave herself a little shake and refilled her own glass.

  When they were finally ready, Emma squealed, “We need photos of Team Slinky!”

  They all wore little black dresses. Holly had managed to find the short black equivalent of their bridesmaids dresses. She knew the style worked so well on each of them and would suit Emma too. The full-length, rich purple made for beautiful bridesmaids. The thigh-high, black version they were wearing now would make for a very interesting night out, she had no doubt. They'd had great fun drinking wine and doing each other’s hair and makeup, now they really looked the part.

  Phones came out of purses and they took dozens of photos out by the pool. Holly set her phone to video and balanced it on the bar before running back to join the others, posing and pouting.

  When they finally managed to get out of the door, the driver was standing beside the limo waiting.

  “Albert!” Holly ran over and hugged him. “How are you? Pete didn't say it would be you. I thought you'd be driving him and the guys.”

  The old man grinned. “Evening, Miss Holly. He asked me to take very good care of you ladies. Miss Emma, congratulations to you.”

  “Thanks Albert.” Emma hugged him too.

  Holly introduced Missy and Laura who followed suit and each gave him a hug rather than shaking his hand.

  Albert was beaming. “Well, I sure got the best job tonight. If I may say so, you ladies look stunning!”

  “Thanks Albert, we're Team Slinky!” said Missy.

  “I would have to agree with that,” laughed Albert.

  “Oh, please would you take a photo of the four of us together?”

  “Of course.”

  Laura handed him her phone and Albert took several pictures. “Would you mind if I took one for my scrap book?” he asked. “I've got all the celebrities I've driven, but Team Slinky beats the lot of 'em.” He pulled an old camera from the glove box and they all posed against the limo as he clicked away.
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  When they were done, Holly remembered that she'd left her own phone balanced on the bar. She ran up the steps and used the key that Pete had given her to open the heavy front door and went back inside to get it. When she returned, the others were already sipping champagne in the back of the limo. She locked the front door and stood a moment, wishing this really was her life. That she really lived here with Pete and that she wasn't just a temporary stand-in who'd be gone in a week.

  She heard a click and then, “Smile!” Albert was pointing his camera at her. “Say Pete!” She laughed at his play on words. She'd miss Albert too, he was a good man. She ran down the steps and gave him another hug before she climbed in the back to have a glass of champagne thrust into her hand by Laura.

  **********

  Pete stood next to Jack, sipping his beer. They'd come to one of their old haunts and the two of them had automatically gravitated to their favorite spot—a little balcony where they could watch the dance floor and still actually hear each other speak. The place was heaving. The dance floor writhed with sweaty bodies.

  “You enjoying this?”

  Jack nodded. “It's good to get the guys together.” He tilted his bottle to where Nate and Ben were dancing with two blonde chicks. One was shimmying her large and barely covered bosom up and down Ben's chest, while her friend was dancing with her back to Nate, shaking her booty against his groin. “They sure look like they're having fun!”

  Pete laughed, “Those two would find half-naked women in a monastery. We've got no worries there.” He looked past Jack. “Uh-oh, incoming at your nine o'clock.” He'd spotted a tall, leggy brunette making a bee line for Jack, her little redhead friend at her side.

  The brunette put a hand on Jack's shoulder. “Dance with me?”

  Pete smiled when Jack made a big show of lifting his bottle for a swig of beer with his left hand, showing off the heavy gold band he called his 'engagement ring.'

  “I'm waiting for my wife.”

  The brunette turned away. Pete shook his head at the redhead who lingered, looking hopefully at him.

  Jack rolled his eyes as Pete's smile became a laugh once they'd gone. “Well! It's true. I'm waiting for her to become my wife.”

  “Man, you've got it bad!”

  Jack grinned. “Real bad. I've never been happier. Though I'd be happier still if you'd let me take her to Mario's tonight instead of coming here.”

  “Man up!” laughed Pete. “It's one night with the guys. You've got the rest of your life to take her to Mario's. Come on, let's get another.”

  As they headed to the bar, Pete knew how Jack felt. He'd much rather be spending this evening alone with Holly.

  They found Smoke and Dan at the much quieter back bar, far away from the dance floor. The two of them were deep in conversation about the new satellite navigation system Smoke was having installed in Papa Charlie.

  “Here's my brother!” Jack slapped Dan on the back.

  “Hey, you having a good time?”

  Jack nodded.

  Pete turned his head at the sound of his name being called.

  “Hey Hemming!” Oh, fuck! This was not good. He tried to position himself so he'd block Jack's view of the newcomer, who was pretty drunk by the looks of him.

  “Hemming, how you doing, man? Have a drink with me!”

  “Hey. We were just leaving,” Pete lied.

  “Great, where we going?” The guy's eyes were glassy as he staggered into Pete and grasped his hand.

  Pete caught him and heaved his huge frame onto a stool. “You've had enough.”

  The man's eyes narrowed. “Never got why you don't like me, Hemming,” his raised voice drew the others' attention. Pete turned away from him. A heavy hand came down on his shoulder, and he took a deep breath. If Jack weren't here he'd tell the guy exactly why he despised him, but this was Jack's night. Pete needed to get him out of here before he realized who this asshole was.

  Pete turned back to face the man. He could see how women would find him attractive, but right now he was drunk, his handsome features softened by too much alcohol.

  “I said, you've had enough. Take it home.”

  The guy banged on the bar, “Service!”

  The bartender came over. “I'm sorry, Mr. Rivera, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave.”

  Oh, shit! Pete sensed Jack tense behind him.

  “I'm going nowhere! Bring me another shot, and for my friends here. Pete and,” he leaned around Pete and raised his eyebrows.

  Jack's face was murderous. Pete tried to pull him to his feet. “Come on, we're out of here.”

  Jack didn't move. Dan and Smoke were making 'what the fuck?' faces at Pete. He didn't have time to explain.

  “Ah,” the man grinned. “You're the guy!”

  Pete again tried to get Jack to his feet, but Jack threw his hand off. “I am?” His voice was low and menacing.

  “Yeah, the guy she's got her claws into now. Sweet little Emma.”

  Jack was on his feet now, Pete had never seen him so angry.

  “Jack, leave it man, he's isn't worth it!”

  Jack's eyes didn't leave the man's face, but he gave a slight nod. “Don't. You. Dare. Say another fucking word to me!” With that he turned on his heel to follow Pete. Dan and Smoke closed in behind.

  “Hey, man! Just a piece of advice from someone who's been there?”

  Pete spun around knowing he needed to stop Jack.

  “She's great in bed if you like pain vanilla, but you'll get bored. I did.”

  Pete couldn't get a hold of Jack. He moved like a big cat, covering the distance back to the bar and had the man by the throat against the wall before any of them could react. He was shaking the guy, ready to kill him.

  “Jack!” It was Dan that spoke. “Jack, let him go. He's not worth it. Jack, please don't?”

  At the word, 'please,' Jack dropped the guy and turned to Dan. “Sorry Danny, let's go.”

  Pete understood the exchange between the brothers, sons of a vicious drunk who used to beat them.

  He couldn't believe that Rivera was stupid enough to open his mouth again, “Enjoy my leftovers!”

  Jack spun around. His fist connected with Rivera's face, knocking him out cold. Jack glowered around at them. “Tell me I was wrong?”

  Pete shook his head, none of them could. Emma's ex was the biggest asshole he'd ever met.

  The bartender came hurrying over. “I'll sort this out, you guys had better get out of here.”

  “I'll stay and deal with it,” Jack's shoulders sagged. “He'll probably want to press charges.”

  “He has no grounds,” said the barman.

  “I think he does,” replied Jack.

  Rob was coming to now. The barman had him sitting up against the wall, slapping his face none too gently to bring him around. “Mr. Rivera, you are not going to press charges, are you?”

  Rob's eyes narrowed.

  “Mr. Rivera, that wasn't a question.”

  Pete exchanged a look with Jack, what was that about?

  “Nothing happened here, did it, Mr. Rivera?”

  Rob glowered at the barman, then turned a hateful look at Jack, then Pete. “No.”

  The barman looked up at them. “He won't be pressing charges, I assure you. Though you guys may want to be leaving now?”

  Pete took Jack's arm and steered him away before he could argue. “Dan, would you and Smoke let the others know we're leaving? If they want to stay we can send the car back for them.”

  Pete guided Jack toward the club's entrance, he needed to get his partner out of here. Once they emerged into the cool night air, Jack started to look more like himself again and less like a man with murder on his mind. They found the limo and sat up on the trunk while they waited. Pete said nothing. He knew Jack would talk when, and if, he wanted to. They sat a long while in silence.

  “I thought he'd be smaller,” Jack said eventually.

  Pete raised an eyebrow.

  “Everythi
ng I'd ever heard about the guy made me think of a little weasel-shit.”

  Pete had to laugh. “What the hell is a weasel-shit?” He was relieved when Jack grinned.

  “You know, the weedy little guy with a mean streak. A coward, not big enough or strong enough to face you, but you know you've got to watch your back ‘cause he's sneaky.”

  Pete nodded. “No, Rivera's a lot of things, but he's no weasel shit.”

  Jack sighed and cradled his fist, “What am I going to tell Em?”

  Pete looked at his friend's hand, “Shit! Do you need to get that looked at?”

  “Nah, it's fine, but Em's not going to like it.”

  “She'll understand.”

  Jack nodded. “Yeah, she will. She'll probably be surprised I didn't kill him. I know I am.”

  Pete smiled. “I thought you were going to when you had him against the wall.”

  Jack looked at him. “I might have if Danny hadn't been there. I've never been into violence. You know that. Not coming from where we do. But damn, Pete, I could've killed him. You have no idea. Maybe someday, when you meet a woman, you'll understand. With Em making her happy is what makes me happy. The thought of her with someone else makes me see red. Thinking of that someone hurting her. It's just… It's crazy making is what it is.. I always thought if I met him I'd kill him. Thank God Dan was here.”

  Pete considered that. The thought of someone hurting Holly? Wasn't that what was driving him crazy? The thought of the loan sharks and what they might do to her? Making her happy made him happy. The thought of someone making her unhappy was weighing heavily on him. That someone was him. She was unhappy that their time together would end next week. He hated that. He was unhappy about it too, but that was just the way it was. There was nothing he could do.

  “Hey, Bro, where'd you go?” Jack was looking at him.

  “Sorry, nowhere. But, where are we going to go, that's the question? You want to call it a night? We could pick up a case and go back to yours. I wish we'd let the girls stay at Em's. We could've gone back to my house to play pool.

  Jack gave him a funny look.

  “Uh-oh, what are you scheming, Benson?”

  “I want to see Em.”

  Pete thought about it. “It's meant to be guys’ night out.”