by Sam Crescent
“How though?”
“Who would believe a slut over an upstanding doctor?” She shrugged. “There was a file with the men I’d been with, including the women, and it was just … I hated seeing it.”
“Hey,” Kasey said, taking her hand. “There is nothing wrong with you or how you live your life.”
“I know that. It’s just—”
“Just what?”
“If I’d not been with those men or been so open, I don’t know. Screwed around, fucked anyone or anything, he may have never had anything to hold against me. Ugh! I hate this. He didn’t do anything to me, and I’m already struggling with this regret that I somehow made him think I was an easy target. That I in some way gave him the wrong impression. Asshole. I hate this. I hate this so much.”
“This man was a weak-ass prick that liked to prey on women. He tried to find weak women, and he exploited their fear, their reputation. It wasn’t always about blackmail, Lindsey. You have got to stop this. You did nothing wrong. No man has the right to take what isn’t offered.” She laughed. “It’s like this whole thing of a woman shouldn’t wear short skirts if they don’t want attention from men. I call bullshit. Women should be allowed to wear whatever the fuck they want, and guys need to learn to keep it in their fucking pants.”
“No, I don’t believe so either. It’s why I always wore what I wanted. I didn’t think about men or what men should or shouldn’t do,” she said.
“Then don’t do this to yourself, Lindsey. You’re a good woman. A kind woman and I hate to see you like this. He has no right to win. Don’t let him get to you. I mean that. He has no right at all. He’s the monster, not you. Do you want to know what I think you should do?”
“No, what do you think I should do?” she asked.
“You should forget all about this doctor asshole. He’s not worth your time anyway, and you should think about how much Pie wants you. Your date and whether or not you’re going to give him what he wants.”
“What he wants?”
“Come on, Lindsey. You and I know both know that sex has to be considered. Unless, you’re not comfortable.”
“I’m fine.” She hadn’t thought about it much unless Pie was in her thoughts, and then she thought about nothing else.
“Good and I will always be here to talk to you. You know, in case you ever need it.”
I’ll always babysit for you,” Lindsey said, and Kasey smiled.
“That’s always a good thing.”
Her friend winked at her, and for the first time in over a month, Lindsey felt better in herself, calmer, like she could handle whatever was thrown her way.
****
Holly seasoned the carrot and cilantro soup she was working on. The recipe kept annoying her as it either tasted too sweet or too herby with all the cilantro.
She heard the door open and slam closed.
Frowning, she lowered the heat to a simmer, and made her way out in time to watch Matthew storm past her.
They’d rarely been alone together in the last few weeks since he’d come back home.
“Hello,” she said.
He jumped and released a little scream.
“Shit, Holly, I had no idea you were here.”
“Mary’s got the kids while I’m working on a few things. What’s up?” She folded her arms and stared at her stepson.
“It’s nothing.”
“Really? If I’d returned home with a shattered front door, how would I have explained that to your dad?”
“Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”
“We all do a lot of things we didn’t mean.” She sighed. “Come into the kitchen. You can be my taste tester.”
Matthew groaned, and she stopped, turned, and raised a brow at him. “Got a problem?”
“If you’re alone in the kitchen it means you’re doing a recipe that sucks big time.”
“True, carrot and cilantro soup. You’ll totally thank me.” She reached up into the cupboard, grabbing her favorite soup bowl.
Staring at the recipe on the side, she paused, thinking about her mother. This had been the soup bowl her mother gave to her when she married Duke. It seemed like such a little thing at the time.
“You’re a grown woman now, and it won’t be long before you’re doing soup for your daughter or son.”
“Holly, you okay?” Matthew asked.
She looked up to see his worried frown. “I’m fine.” She licked her lips, holding up the bowl. “Mom always put my soup in this bowl. It has a recipe on the side, and she told me once that just relaxing, enjoying a mug of soup would help your troubles melt away.”
“I’m sorry,” Matthew said.
Her mother was murdered by her father, part of the Abelli family. Her mother had been killed right in front of her, and there were times that the memory was still raw for her.
“It’s fine. I’ll be fine.”
Matthew rubbed her back. “Do you want me to call Dad?”
“Nah, you don’t need to do that. I think this is the first time I’ve used this bowl since she died. You know. I’ll be fine. I’m a big girl.”
Holding the mug, she picked up a ladle, and filled it to the brim. Placing it on the kitchen, counter, she let out a breath and smiled.
“Try not to hurt my feelings,” she said.
He took a sip, and even though he tried to hide it, there was no mistaking that he hated it.
“How is it?” she asked.
“It’s … very good.”
“Really? Take another slurp. I don’t think you got a big enough try.” She held in her smile, pressing her lips together. It was hard not to burst out laughing at the fear on his face. It was so cute to watch him, especially as he clearly didn’t want to upset her.
“Yum,” he said, taking another mouthful, only this time he shuddered.
“You lying little panties,” she said.
“It was really good.”
“You shouldn’t be allowed to lie.”
“I didn’t want to make you feel bad.”
“It can’t be that awful.” She grabbed a spoon and had a try. “Ugh, that is gross. I can’t believe you had that in your mouth.”
Matthew burst out laughing. “Why are you so determined to get this right? Maybe carrot and cilantro soup is destined to be the most hated soup in the world.”
“Because I don’t like giving up. Mom made it once for me years ago, and I loved it. It was one of the best soups I ever tasted. She didn’t get the chance to write the recipe down, and I’m trying to replicate it. I’ll get there. I don’t believe in defeat.”
She picked up the soup pot and poured the entire thing into another bowl. When it was cold she’d throw it out.
Pushing some hair out of her eyes, she turned back to him.
“So, are you going to tell me what has you in a huff, and why you came back home, determined to be part of the club?”
He sat down at the counter, and she walked closer, resting her hand on the surface, waiting.
“I … I saw Luna when I went to visit her.”
“I figured you had.”
“Yeah, and it didn’t go well.” He shrugged.
“Did you talk to her?”
“No.”
“Then how did it go bad?” she asked.
“She hugged someone.”
Holly stared at him. “You do realize that we women hug sometimes.”
“I know, but she kissed him and you know how a woman is with someone?”
“No, I can’t say that I do.”
“He wanted her, and they were together. It’s why I know there’s no chance of us getting back together. At least not yet. I’ve got to be ready. She needs to know that I’m not going to let her down again.”
Holly had met Luna, and something told her the young woman had feelings for Matthew. “How do you know they were together?”
“I just do. Why wouldn’t they be?” Matthew asked.
Holly knew she shouldn’
t interfere with this, but she was who she was, and leaving it be would never be in her nature. “You know, you kind of have to ask her if she’s dating someone before you go and assume, buddy. The female mind is a crazy, special place, and we don’t always act like you guys think we should.” She winked at Matthew, then grabbed him a sandwich out of the fridge. “It’ll give you something to think about.”
Chapter Nine
“I can’t believe you’re doing this,” Pie said, staring at his reflection. He had to make it through the clubhouse without being seen or laughed at. That wasn’t going to be easy. He pretty much knew without a shadow of a doubt that several of the brothers wouldn’t be able to contain themselves.
For so long he’d taken the piss out of many of the brothers who’d fallen for their women and become pussy-whipped.
He’d been enjoying the fruits of what the club offered with the club whores. Now, however, he wanted to win over his own woman, Lindsey.
“This is your own fault.”
Falling for Lindsey had taken him by surprise, and there was no way he could turn back the clock, not that he wanted to. Far from it, in fact. He loved her, and one day he intended to marry her.
“Baby steps,” he said.
There was a knock on the door, and he called for them to enter.
Dime whistled at him.
“Well, look at you getting all sexy,” Dime said.
And so it began.
“What do you want?”
“You think I was going to let you get away without coming to see you. This all for Lindsey?”
“Yeah, what about it?”
Dime held up his hands. “It’s just a shock to see you falling for pussy. Don’t get me wrong, Lindsey’s great and all, but she’s still pussy.”
“Cut the crap, Dime. I don’t want to hear it.”
“So you really are claiming her as your own?” Dime asked.
“Yeah, I will.”
“In front of the club. Will you take her as your old lady?”
He turned toward Dime. “You got a problem with that?”
“Nope, but I am the winner of a bet if you do so in the next month.”
“You put a bet on me?”
“Most of us guys did. Landon didn’t think you’d fall, but the rest of us knew she had a power over you. Clearly, he wasn’t watching closely.”
Pie grabbed his wallet and tucked it in his back pocket. “And you were?”
“Hell, yeah. You never snuggle with any of the pussy around here. Nor do you hold their hand and whisper sweet nothings in their ear, and yet you did every single one of those things with Lindsey. Friends with benefits, lovers, whatever you want to call it, you are both smitten for each other, and want some sexy time.” Dime did a little grunting noise at the same time as thrusting out his hips.
“Fuck off, man.”
“You think this is going to get easier. The club is waiting, man. They want to see the mighty fall.”
Seeing no reason to put it off anymore, Pie left his room, closing the door. Walking behind Dime, he knew his club brother would make sure that everyone knew he’d arrived.
“Lookie, lookie what we have here, everyone. How does the mighty fall? Don’t we all think he looks so sexy and dashing?”
Several of the guys whistled at him and whooped. Several gave him a sexy dance, and he ignored them all.
“Don’t forget to bag it. We don’t want more little Pies running around.”
Giving Landon the finger, Pie left the clubhouse, and made his way toward the car that the club used. He’d already made sure with everyone else that he could use it. Climbing behind the wheel, he started up the car and sighed. Just the purr alone made him hot.
Tonight wasn’t about fucking, or at least, not about just fucking. This was about him and Lindsey.
Pulling away from the clubhouse, he stopped at one of the florist’s shops near her apartment, and then parked outside. The elevator was working, and holding the flowers in his hands, he stepped up to her front door and knocked.
Seconds later, she opened it and completely blew him away.
He’d not done the red cocktail dress justice in his fantasies. Her tits were pressed together, showing a beautiful cleavage that he wanted to rub his face against, and lick each mound before taking her nipples between his teeth and biting down.
His cock started to harden at the thought alone, and he needed to stop, to get himself under control. This wasn’t a quick fuck he was after, but something more, something deeper.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey.”
“Those for me?”
“Yes, yes, they’re for you. I got them on the way over here.”
“Ah, come on in if you have the time.”
“I have a few minutes.” He stepped into her apartment and noticed the freshly painted cream walls. “You weren’t kidding about decorating.”
“I like to keep a nice clean space, you know. To have everything in order.” She placed the flowers in a vase. “I’d not painted in so long, and it needed a freshen up. I needed to freshen up.” The flowers were put on the table. “Are you ready to go?”
“You look stunning.”
“And so do you. How did you escape the club looking like that?”
“Oh, I didn’t escape. They made sure I was aware of how sexy I was.” He gave a small twirl. “Do I meet your standards?”
“Hell, yeah, you’re looking good, like, really good.”
“I thought a French restaurant would be a nice, refreshing change.”
“Okay.” She grabbed her bag and keys.
He took the bag from her and tossed it into her apartment.
“I’ll need that.”
“Tonight is on me. You don’t have to worry about spending a cent.”
“I don’t mind paying my way.”
“I’ll be insulted if you persist.”
“Fine, fine. Be mister bossy. I don’t mind. More money for shoes and underwear.”
“You’re straight out of a guy’s fantasy book.”
She giggled. “Come on, I’m hungry.”
Leaving her apartment, he waited as she locked the door and he had to walk her to elevator.
“Force of habit to take the stairs.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Did you come on your bike?”
“Not this time. You get the nice car treatment.”
“Such a gentleman.”
“I have my moments.”
Still holding her hand, he led the way outside to the passenger side of the car. Opening the door for her, he helped her inside, loving the little giggle that she granted him.
Once she was safely inside, he moved around to the driver’s side once again, strapped in, and took off toward the restaurant that he’d booked even before he went away on club business.
“Did you cut your hair?” he asked, noticing the shorter length.
“I only had a trim. I didn’t think anyone would notice.”
“When it comes to you, I notice these things.”
“I can see that.”
It was how he knew she’d stopped being just a woman to him and started to mean something more. He noticed her hair, her mood changes. When she was sad or in pain. He wanted to make her happy, and of course he wanted her to crave him the same way he did her.
“How was your ride?” she asked.
“It went well.” Whenever they dealt with Diaz’s crew there were rarely any hiccups. Diaz paid the cops to look the other way, and transporting guns was a piece of piss. The only problems arrived if Diaz’s enemies decided to try to steal. So far, nothing like that had happened.
They were always on their guard though.
“How was work?” he asked.
Her job still created a bit of friction between them. He wanted her to quit to get away from any memory of what Richard did to her, while she seemed determined to stay there.
“It was good. The new surgeon is really nice
. A first-time dad and constantly sharing pictures of his little girl. She melts my heart.”
“Any luck finding work elsewhere?”
She sighed. “I know you want me to quit.”
“I think it’s the right thing to do.”
“And if for whatever reason the cops start asking questions, what then?” Lindsey asked. “It’s not hard to put two and two together. He’s gone, and I quit for a job that pays less. I’ll leave when I can find something that wouldn’t raise suspicion. Until then, I won’t put you or the club at risk.”
He didn’t have a good enough argument as to why she shouldn’t. Her reasons were valid, but he didn’t like it.
“No cops have come sniffing around, have they?”
“No, but I don’t know. I just don’t feel comfortable quitting yet.”
“Fine, fine.”
He’d stopped visiting the women from the files he and Diaz had found after going back to Richard’s home. Talk about a double life. Plastic surgeon and do-gooder by day, rapist and abuser by night. They couldn’t know for sure if Richard had stalked his victims with the intent of raping and blackmailing them, but the evidence he and Diaz saw painted a pretty clear picture.
****
Lindsey smoothed out the skirt of her dress as Pie came to a stop outside of a restaurant. There was valet parking, and a man opened the door for her.
“This is really posh,” she said.
“I’ll come for her,” Pie said. “Only the very best for you.”
He climbed out of the car and rounded the vehicle. She watched him hand the man the keys, and then he was there, helping her out. Neither of them looked back as they made their way into the restaurant.
Her hands felt a little clammy as they made their way toward the maître d’, who then seated them.
Once again, Pie took the lead, helping her into her chair before pushing it beneath the table.
Smiling up at both men, she waited as Pie accepted the menu, and they were alone.
“This is all a lot,” she said, smiling.
“I wanted tonight to be special.”
“You’ve certainly made it something.” She bit her lip, trying not to giggle as she glanced across the menu. There were no prices for her. “You’re not going to let me pay?”
“This is a date for the both of us. I’m not going to let you do anything other than enjoy yourself.” He reached over the table, taking her hand. “That’s a promise.”