by Jayna King
"And there's always the fringe benefits of doing business in Mexico," Sally said, a lecherous smile on his face.
Joker grinned back at him and they both said the word at the same time: "Don Roberto's senoritas."
All of the guys sat up a little straighter.
Joker looked at me. "Luke, my boy, you may want to leave Krystal at home if you're going to go south of the border for any of this. Trust me, you'll meet women you never imagined could exist."
Sally agreed. "You name it, they'll do it. And if you want their sister at the same time, no problemo, señor. It's an experience worth having, my friend."
"Oh, I hadn't actually thought about going down there," I lied, pleased with the way I was concealing my enthusiasm. "I thought we could just make a phone call and order up some weed. Kinda like Chinese takeout," I said, figuring that the guys would get a laugh at my naiveté.
“Hoo, boy, you may have done a little time, but you still have a lot to learn," Joker roared with laughter. The one thing I've learned about dealing with the Mexicans is that you can't trust 'em. They'll take your money, lie to your face, and shoot you in the back. Now I got me some folks down there I trust a little, but you can't go sendin' thousands of dollars down to Juarez and expect anything other than a brick of the shittiest dirt weed you ever seen."
Sally looked at me, looked at Joker, and back at me. "So what if we organized a little expedition south of the border to sample the weed quality and spend a little time with the senoritas? Any takers?"
"I'm in, as long as I can bring my own señorita," I said immediately. It was exactly what I'd hoped for.
"I guess we could do that. We'd have to make it pretty quick if we're going to open by Halloween. We'll have to set up the meet, get down there, get the shit shipped in, and work it into the inventory a little at a time, so the regulators don't notice." Joker shook his head. "This legal business shit is way more work than I'd realized. Permits and licenses and shit take too long."
Sally nodded. "Yeah, but once we get rolling, we ain't gonna have to look over our shoulders. Won't have to worry about the fuckin DEA showing up in our living rooms."
The sobering reminder of Moses fell like a thud onto the table.
Joker broke the silence. "Let's take a vote," he said. "Source the shit from Mexico and open on Halloween. Yea or nay."
***
"So?" Krystal asked, hanging on every word as I recounted the story for her.
We were at the end of the bar at Falling Rock. She was working the day shift, and business was slow between the lunch and dinner crowds. Krystal was slicing lemons while I filled her in on church.
"Unanimous yes," I told her with a grin. "Exactly like I wanted."
"I can't believe it was that easy," she said, sliding the lemons off the cutting board and into the container that she stored in the refrigerator under the bar.
"I know," I agreed. "Singer should be happy. Not only am I going to get the names of Joker's contacts in Mexico, but I'm going to meet them in person."
"So who else will be going down there?"
"Well, Joker for sure. The thought of visiting the ladies down there sealed that decision. So it'll be Joker, probably Sally, and Nate. Zeno isn't going, and he didn't seem completely thrilled about picking back up with the Mexicans. He gave some excuse about his mother needing him in town for something, but it felt like a bullshit excuse to me."
Krystal looked down the bar. "Be right back," she said, as she headed down to check on the folks at the other end.
I watched her work — all smiles and chatty conversation that put her customers instantly at ease. She was really good at what she did, and I realized that she was a woman I was going to hang on to, no matter the cost. I drank the beer she'd poured for me, and I decided to spring the question I'd been wanting to ask her.
She walked back over. "So it's a big party trip, then?"
"Yeah. I don't know if Sally's bringing his old lady or not, but I know for sure that Joker isn't."
She shook her head. "Great. That means that Sable will be a bitch the whole time he's gone. He'll probably have to sleep at the clubhouse for a month after he gets back."
"Not gonna talk about that," I said, honoring my commitment to keep my nose out of Joker and Sable's business. "The only old lady I care about is you. Think you can get off work to come down with me? I'm picturing tequila shots, Mexican sunshine, and you in the tiniest bikini you can find."
She laughed, and I wanted to take her right then, bend her over the bar, and fuck her. I think she could tell what I was thinking, because she shook her finger at me.
"You do realize that Juarez isn't exactly seaside, right?" she laughed. "And I just don't know if I can leave my thirsty customers to fend for themselves while I go off to Mexico."
I looked her up and down, letting my gaze linger on her cleavage and stopping at her lips as well, thinking about how good they would look wrapped around my hardening cock.
"Eyes up here, big boy," she said in a teasing tone of voice.
Goddamn, did I love this woman. "Bullshit," I said, in a no-nonsense tone of voice. "You're gonna take off work. You're going to come to Mexico with me. You're gonna drink tequila, and you're gonna be my sex slave."
She raised her eyebrows and looked like she was considering what I'd said, before she shrugged her shoulders. "Well, if you insist…"
"Oh, I insist."
"I'll let my boss know as soon as you give me the dates, then."
"Good. Now that that's settled, I have another question for you."
"Good grief, you're a demanding man," she said, teasing me.
"I am demanding, Krystal, and I've decided that the thought of spending a night without you displeases me. I can't live at the Ritz forever, and I asked Bryan to recommend a realtor to show me some houses. If I buy or rent a house, will you move in with me?"
I really wasn't sure how Krystal would answer. She'd insisted on keeping her job and carrying on with school in the fall, and truthfully, I was glad that she was taking the steps she felt like she needed to become a happier person than she'd been in the past. I just hoped that her independence wouldn't prevent her from agreeing to live with me.
She didn't say a word. She turned around and walked to the opening at the back of the bar. She rounded the corner and threw her arms around me, tears shining in her eyes. Just before she kissed me — in full view of everyone in the bar — she said one word.
"Yes."
Chapter 13 -- Krystal
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Luke wouldn't tell me exactly where we were going. I knew that we had three appointments to look at houses, but he'd turned the day into a game, refusing to tell me anything about the houses we were visiting. I didn't know the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, whether they were condos, whether they needed work … nothing. All he'd told me that the first two were available to rent, and the third one was for sale. He seemed mighty pleased with himself for having withheld the details, so I played along with his little game.
"Well if there aren't at least four bedrooms, I won't even go inside," I said, not meaning a single word of it. "And if the neighborhoods are shitty, then we don't even need to bother getting out of the car."
"Look who's miss high and mighty now," he laughed as he turned his Jeep onto the access road for the highway. "I've looked at all three houses, and I have my favorite. I just want to make sure you like it, too."
"You're very sweet," I said. "But it's your money and your house. Whatever you pick will be fine with me."
"Humor me, Krystal," he said. "I can't fix everything in the world, but I can afford to rent us a house that you love."
I could have just melted.
He pulled off the highway and headed into a subdivision that reminded me of the one that Sable and Joker lived in. The houses were freakin' huge, and they all had enormous yards. It looked like a place I’d never pictured myself being able to afford.
"Is this the neighborho
od we're looking at?" I asked, awed that he was going to throw down so much money.
"Yup," he answered, turning onto another street. "It's a rental, with a purchase option after a year. If we love it, we can buy it when the lease is up."
I was surprised by how seriously Luke seemed to be taking our relationship, and I calmed myself down when I realized that the apprehension I felt was just because I'd had so many shitty relationships. "Can't wait to see it."
We pulled into the drive of the only house on the street with a for sale sign in it. The realtor had just arrived, and the elegant woman in her expensive black suit made me feel underdressed. Luke introduced us, and she was as polished as I'd feared.
"Shall we go inside?" she asked, her kitten heels clicking on the sidewalk.
I looked at Luke behind her back, and he bent to whisper in my ear.
"She's not as bad as she seems. She'll loosen up a little as we go." He took my hand, and I instantly felt better.
The house was gorgeous, but it was overwhelming. I didn't' really know that I had much in the way of a personal decorating style, but the interior was a little cluttered, full of little rooms that didn't really make sense to me. I loved the back deck, and the yard was gorgeous, but the thought of spending all the time that it would require to keep the lawn mowed didn't exactly thrill me. I walked through the whole house, listening to the realtor's sales pitch, trying not to laugh as she pointed out a room that could be a nursery, or when she talked about our hosting dinner parties in the huge kitchen.
"It's beautiful," I said, hoping that we weren't standing in the house that Luke had fallen in love with. "I'm going to reserve my decision until we've seen all three houses."
"Atta girl," Luke said with enthusiasm. "Kinda fun, isn't it?" He turned to the realtor. "We ready to move on?"
"Yes. It's about half an hour to the next house, and if we leave now, we'll be right on time. I'll call the client on the road and let them know we're on our way." Her heels clicked out across the hardwood floors in the foyer as we left.
I was glad I had flip-flops on.
We headed back toward downtown Denver, and when we pulled into the parking lot, I realized that the next place had to be a condo. The building that I looked up at from the street looked obscenely expensive and brand new. "Is it in here?" I asked, shocked.
"Yeah. The whole building is full, with the exception of one unit. Hope you're ready for a repeat of the Ritz's view."
The realtor joined us on the street, and she input a code on the keypad next to the glass doors to the lobby. She held the door open for us, and I felt like I was walking into a hotel as fancy as the one I'd left that morning.
We took the elevator up, and I should have expected that we'd go all the way to the top.
"So this is one of three penthouse units. It's not the largest, but the additional touches bump the price up a bit, so it's actually the most expensive unit in the building," she said, pulling the paperwork on the house from her manila folder.
I took the sheet of paper. "Holy shit," I blurted out, before I could stop myself. "Luke, you're crazy. This place costs nearly two million dollars. That's insane."
"Humor me," he said, reminding me that I'd agreed to play along.
"Okay, then," I said to the realtor. "Let's have the nickel tour."
She revealed a touch of a sense of humor. "Here, that tour's gonna cost you a quarter," she said with a wink.
The place was ridiculous. Uncluttered, lots of open space, and just the most decadent place I'd ever seen. It was only two bedrooms, plus an office, but there was sparkling chrome and polished granite everywhere. Everything looked like it cost a million bucks. Probably because it did. The view of the city and the mountains was reminiscent of our suite's, and I stood in front of the window, trying to imagine myself living in a fancy downtown condo. I just couldn't see it. I didn't see myself in a fancy suburban neighborhood like the first one, but I couldn't see myself in the city forever, either.
"Wow," was all I could come up with to say. "This is an amazing place."
The realtor looked at Luke, and then looked at her watch. "I've just realized that I need to run a little earlier than I'd planned," she said, an apology in her voice. "We can either reschedule the last house for another day, or you can let yourself in as long as you promise to lock up after yourself."
"The owners don't mind?" I asked, surprised.
"This house has a special situation. It's owned by the bank, and it's not currently occupied. I've made arrangements to show it this way before," she explained.
Luke looked at me. "What do you think? You tired of looking at houses for the day?"
"No, actually," I answered. "I'm enjoying this more than I thought I would. Let's go see it."
The realtor handed Luke a key. "You remember how to get there?"
He smiled as he took the key from her. "Absolutely."
Back at ground level, Luke opened the Jeep door when we got to the parking lot. "It's a bit of a drive," he said.
"I got nothing better to do," I answered with a smile. "Spending my day off with the man I love? I'm in heaven."
His kiss left me breathless, and I realized that I wanted to hurry up, see the house, and get Luke back into the huge bathtub at the hotel. Pushing thoughts of the dirty things I wanted to do with Luke to the back of my mind, I settled in for the ride.
"How far is the last house?" I asked, enjoying the warm sun on my bare arms and legs.
"About forty-five minutes away," he answered.
"Good grief, is it in Wyoming?" I asked, surprised that he'd want to look at a house so far from Denver's center, especially since one of the places we'd seen was right downtown.
"Hardly," he laughed. "Opposite direction, actually. It's a little south of town."
He reached over and put his hand on my bare thigh, and we spent the drive in companionable silence. I felt a twinge of sadness when we passed the exit where Moses' tattoo shop used to be, but the thought of moving in with Luke — starting a new life together — cheered me up.
"About fifteen more minutes," Luke said as he turned off the main highway.
I hadn't been paying attention, and so I didn't know the name of the little town we drove through as we headed west toward the mountains. "Where are we?"
"This is Castle Rock. The house is a little west of here. It's a pretty remote location. That's part of why I wanted you to see these three houses. I don't know what your dream location is — don't know if you're a family neighborhood kinda gal, or if you want swanky downtown digs, or if you like lots of privacy. I'm showing you all three."
"Wow," I said. "You really put a lot of thought into this."
"Indeed." He took my hand. "Krystal, I figure you've been through enough shitty stuff in your life. You deserve a little happiness, and if I can help with that — by putting you in a home you love — well that's what I'm gonna do."
I hoped that Luke would keep watching the road and not notice the tears that brimmed in my eyes.
We finally turned off the road onto a drive that was clearly marked as private. The landscape was classic Colorado — clusters of scrubby trees, wildflowers, and rocks that varied in color, from pale sand, through grays, yellows, and even reds. We drove through a wide, flat plain, and for some reason the mountains looked even closer than usual. I figured that it might be the result of having gotten out of the dirty Denver air.
We crested a slight rise in the road and the house came into view. It was a long, low building, neither ornate nor ostentatious. It sprawled the length of a little depression in the landscape that hid the house from view in all directions.
"Wow," I said, having trouble finding words. "I've never seen a house quite like this." The colors and the textures of the house just fit perfectly in the setting, like the house was meant to be there.
Luke pulled up to a big garage at the near end of the structure. He turned off the car. "Interested enough to take a look at the inside?"
&nbs
p; "Absolutely," I answered, curious.
He took my hand, and we walked from the drive, around to the front door. There was a low, gray slate front porch, and it occurred to me that a pair of terra-cotta pots with cactus plants would look perfect there. Luke unlocked the door, opened it, and waved me inside.
It was absolutely perfect. I didn't dare say anything, because I was afraid that Luke didn't love it as much as I did, even before I had seen the entire house. It was full of light, just beginning to become red-tinged because of the sun setting behind the mountains. The entire back wall of the house was a wall of windows, and it was so open and so warm that I immediately felt at home. A huge kitchen took up the left side of the house, next to the garage, and a big dining room bridged the space between the kitchen and the dining room. A couple of doors along the wall to my left would lead to a bedroom and maybe a closet, I assumed.
But the living room was stunning. A huge, double-sided stone fireplace took up most of the wall dividing the room we stood in from the master bedroom on the other side. I could only imagine a cold winter night curled up in bed, watching the fire burn down to embers. Without saying a word, I walked into the open door to the bedroom. A huge wooden bed was near the window, facing the fireplace, and built-in bookshelves covered the back wall. The standout, though, was the shower. It was its own room, a floor-to-ceiling window looking out on the mountains and double shower heads that made me imagine Luke naked and dripping wet. I walked out of the bedroom onto the long, low back deck, and came back inside, determined to see the rest of the place before I said anything.
I walked through the kitchen, full of tall, light wood cabinets and gleaming professional appliances. I opened the door to the garage, taking note of its size and huge workbench along one wall. I opened the doors off the living room, and I discovered both a closet, and a workout room, filled with free weights and a treadmill.
Luke had stayed in the living room, moving to look out of the windows, giving me the chance to poke around the house at my own pace.