by Lauren Dane
Virgie started to push the point about Carl, but let it go. “You don’t have to do all this. I won’t starve if you don’t bring over food. Get out. Live your life. Date, for god’s sake. You want to be old and alone?” Empty words. Even if having to take care of her mother had obstructed her life, her mother would still need taking care of so there was no use examining it too closely.
“I’m not any more interested in this discussion than I am the one about Uncle Carl.” Carmella tried hard not to be offended or hurt that her mother actually believed she could get by without other people constantly cleaning up after her.
She usually failed, but it was a work in progress.
“At least tell me you’re not a lesbian.”
Carmella stood, bending to kiss her mom’s cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t forget. I’m calling you before I leave.”
“You never answer when I ask you,” Virgie said, unbelieving that anyone would simply think the question was stupid and irrelevant.
Carmella could mollify her by giving an answer, but she wasn’t going to.
“I only ask because I care.” Virgie’s tone was wistful. Carmella realized her mother was high on meds and on the verge of melancholy. Another thing to bring up with the doctor.
“I love you. Don’t forget to eat.”
Even as she drove away, the guilt pulled at Carmella. The niggling idea that if she lived with her mom, things could be better for Virgie. It wouldn’t be enough. Nothing Carmella could do would ever be enough. So she’d help but from a distance, from her own house.
* * *
The shop was already buzzing by the time Carmella found herself making the third pot of coffee in the break room. She didn’t have to do it. No one expected her to. But it got her up out of her seat and walking around and she often strolled through the shop on her way back to see what people were working on.
It was really an excuse to look at shiny machines and peek at Duke and quite often it included doughnuts as well so there was no problem with that as far as she was concerned.
She hadn’t been at work since they’d slept together. Well, since they’d fucked three times was a more accurate way to say it, she supposed. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but Monday at Twisted Steel was pretty much the same as every other day.
As she neared the door, Asa rolled in with an empty mug and a searching look.
When he saw she had just made a pot he grinned her way and looked far less scary and much sweeter. “You’re my favorite person today.”
“They go with the doughnuts PJ brought in a few minutes ago,” Carmella said.
“Just one of the many reasons I keep that woman around.”
That and Carmella figured PJ was the only one capable of keeping a guy like him in line.
“Morning, Ms. Rossi. How are you today?” Duke asked as he sidled next to her as she was leaving to head back to her office.
“I tracked down that crankshaft you said you thought the shop had ordered. Seven months ago, actually. You paid in advance.” Carmella frowned. It hadn’t been a cheap part. They’d prepaid and then no one had bothered to push past the bullshit to get to the person who could make something happen.
“How’d you manage that? They claimed we never ordered it so we tracked it down elsewhere. Damned big chains,” Duke said.
“I’m revamping and organizing the filing.” Lottie might have been able to make sense of that hamster’s nest of paper shoved in drawers, but if that crankshaft situation wasn’t a rarity, they were losing a lot of money just from sloppy record-keeping.
Duke stood very close. Close enough she could smell his skin. Just under the cotton of his shirt she’d marked his back. He’d made her come so hard, she’d dug her nails in. He seemed to find it sexy, but Carmella was still a little embarrassed about it. Not more than she was aroused knowing they were there.
She made herself stop thinking about coming and focus on answering his earlier question. “I found some notes. It’s a long, boring story. Do you want me to get our money back or the part sent?” Carmella asked as she headed for her desk.
“First tell me what they told you when you informed them you had proof of payment,” Duke said, leaning a hip against the counter before continuing. “Because if they were assholes, I want the money back. Also, they dicked me around when I called so I’m dying to know how they took it when they were proven wrong.”
They had been dicks, though probably less so because Carmella had dealt with crap like that from people for so long it didn’t even faze her anymore. She didn’t take it personally that they had asked for proof of payment. But it had been pretty delightful when she’d been able to slap back after being given the runaround for nearly a week.
Carmella smirked. “After I sent over everything I had, including a timeline of what happened to their fax machine every day, twice a day—along with e-mails—I was finally able to connect with the correct person. They had a fax machine so they deserve to have me send them all that paper. Who has a fax machine anymore? Anyway, when I was finished with him, I was offered overnight shipping of the part this week, or a refund. I said I’d get back to them because obviously we had to get the part elsewhere at significant cost.”
“It was only twenty bucks more, I think.” Duke’s pleasure was all over him. Carmella loved to look at him when he was in a good mood. He seemed to give off waves of calm.
Carmella made herself a cup of coffee from her own stash. “He doesn’t know that. He screwed up and acted like a clown. Maybe you need the part for a project, maybe not now. But you might need a part from them in the future and this could be an anomaly. They need to make it right, however you decide to do that. And then the relationship can be reset however you want it to be and they realize they’d better pay attention if you give them another chance.”
Duke said, “You’re pretty perceptive.” She had a way with understanding people.
“It’s not that hard to understand, really.” She blushed as she shrugged like it was nothing.
She looked fresh and lovely, a green blouse and black pants, her hair held back with two enamel barrettes.
He’d seen her naked.
Knowing they were alone, he risked a whisper. “How are those bruises today?”
He’d left fingerprint bruises in the flesh of her hips and ass. Duke was a man who liked to hold on when he dug in to fuck and her body was perfect. He’d been a little worried about her reaction, but she’d given him a smirk and said she liked knowing he’d been there and had a good time.
“They’re nearly gone. I bruise easy but heal fast. I need to take my lunch early.” She bent to grab her things. “I’ll be gone for more than an hour, but the phones are going to route to the showroom and I handled everything pressing.”
“What are you doing later?” He hadn’t meant to ask so quickly. He’d wanted to be smooth, bring it up naturally.
“Tonight later?”
Duke nodded.
“After work, PJ and I are meeting up and going for a walk around Green Lake with Ginger.”
“After that? Come over for a beer on my back deck. Bring Ginger. I got her a new chew thing.”
She smiled. “Okay. I’ve got to run now. I’ll see you later.”
Carmella dashed out and he pretended not to watch her longer than he’d have looked at anyone else he worked with.
Which didn’t work, because Mick and Asa knew him better than anyone else, and before he could get his door closed, both were standing there with coffee.
“Break time. You can share with the class just exactly what it is you’ve done to and with our lovely Ms. Rossi,” Mick said as they came in and made themselves comfortable.
Duke could ignore them. Which wouldn’t last. They’d bug him until he gave in. He joined them, kicking his feet up on his desk as he looked them both over. “I have done lots of things with Carmella. Just now she was letting me know she’d be taking a long lunch but came in early to make up for it.”
Mick looked to Asa, who shrugged.
“Fine, fuck you.” Mick flipped Asa off and turned back to Duke as they both laughed. “So, what’s the deal?”
“I’ve had a thing for her for a while. It’s fine. Nothing crazy. She’s not going to set anything on fire or slash my tires.”
“So, the whole don’t date where you work rule is out the window?” Mick’s grin was more open than Duke had seen it in a very long time. He was healthy. By all outward appearance he was happy. The ghosts of his time in the military still lived in him, Duke knew, just like he had plenty of his own in residence.
“I can’t seem to abide by any rules, apparently. It’s counter to my constitution.” Duke smirked. “It’s stupid. She said so herself. I’m her boss. It’s harder for her than for me. I just have to take extra care to make sure our personal stuff stays away from work.” Because he wasn’t letting go.
“If you say so,” Asa said and lifted one shoulder. “PJ is very protective of Carmella so don’t fuck up and make me deal with it. I like my woman happy.”
“Considering how she gets when she’s mad, I don’t blame you,” Duke said and they all laughed because PJ was so sweet until she got mad. The woman had a temper that was impressive and a little scary to behold.
Duke liked that PJ was protective of Carmella. It meant she thought Carmella was worthy of her energy and affection.
“We on for drinks tonight?” Mick asked.
“I have a prior engagement.” With his deck, some beer, and Carmella.
“Everyone is going to know you two have hooked up. You may as well bring her to the Ditch with everyone else. Craig drinks there, so it’s not like she’ll be a total stranger.”
Duke knew Mick was right. But it was early days yet. She didn’t hang on too tight after they’d had sex. She didn’t get in his face, or seem to have any real expectations of him.
She had no way of knowing whatever it was in her pheromones set off all his bells and whistles. A little taste of Carmella wasn’t going to be enough. Not by a long shot.
CHAPTER
Eight
Carmella liked PJ Colman immensely. The other woman was so much fun. So smart and vibrant. She needed more of that sort of energy and influence in her life.
“I’m glad you mentioned this,” PJ said as they started out. “I need the break sometimes. Work is crazy. My man is bossy. My family is … well, anyway. How are you? You’ve been at Twisted Steel a month now. What do you think? How are you liking it?”
“A month yesterday. I have to admit I was a little nervous at first. I worked for my uncle for my entire life, you know? How would it be with people I’m not related to? But as fancy as Twisted Steel is, it’s a shop. It turned out to be just fine because I know shops. Everyone’s been nice. They bring me treats and let my dog hang out.”
“Yeah. And there’s Duke to look at.”
Carmella burst out laughing even as a blush heated her cheeks. “My workday is full of hot men covered in ink who bring me baked goods and obey my orders.”
“Look at you neatly avoiding the Duke topic. Should I back off totally?” PJ asked.
“We had sex,” Carmella blurted out loud enough that the people passing by on the path turned to look.
PJ waved and they kept going. “I knew it! We saw him yesterday afternoon and he was all goofy. Well, even more goofy. And lots of lady-type people were all over the place and he couldn’t be bothered.”
Carmella found herself very satisfied by that information.
“I told Asa this morning that something had happened between you and Duke recently. He said Duke was always weird and to leave it alone.” PJ snorted.
“Which you promptly ignored,” Carmella said, but she laughed.
“He’s my friend. You’re my friend. I’m in love, so as Asa likes to tell me, I want everyone to be happy.”
“Love? We had sex. I hope to have more. But he’s my boss and it’s already complicated.”
“Like I told you,” PJ said, “you have a job with me if things go bad. Asa will kill me because he, Duke, and Mick think you’re perfection in that office. But whatever. I hate the idea of you feeling like you have to do one thing or the other.”
“Thanks.” It actually did make it easier to throw a little caution to the wind and keep seeing Duke. “So, things are good with you and Asa?”
“We’ve been living together six months. I keep wondering when it will get sucky, but he’s pretty awesome. This is it. The real thing.”
Carmella didn’t say much. She didn’t believe in the real thing. There were people you had good click with. But this concept that one person could be trusted not to dash your heart and mind on the rocks for all time? She didn’t think it was possible.
But that didn’t mean she wished anything but happiness for PJ and Asa. If forever existed, they deserved it.
They walked and talked as Carmella got to know PJ better and opened herself up as well. It was nice to have a friend she saw regularly. It made her feel normal. Normal was kind of nice.
Finally, they went their separate ways after making plans to hang out later on in the week and Carmella headed home, where she was going to obsess over what to wear to Duke’s house.
Carmella pulled up and saw Duke out in his yard. Great, because she was sweaty and fresh from exercise and he looked fucking fantastic.
She’d expected him to stay over there so she could duck in and change, but nope. He waved, heading over.
“Is he kidding with this?” Carmella murmured to the dog. “I’m not ready yet,” she called out, hoping to keep him at a distance.
But Duke Bradshaw went where he wanted, which was taking the keys from her hand and opening her door for her all while he talked to the dog.
“It’s cool. Take your time. Though.” He paused to look her up and down, that smile of his making her all tingly. “You look just fine right now. Fine enough to lick. You smell good.” He bent to sniff her.
“Dude!”
He laughed. “What, darlin’?”
“I am stinky. I’ve been exercising. My hair is frizzy. Why do you have that giant toolbox?”
“Pick a topic, darlin’, any topic at all,” Duke teased. “You smell good. Like woman and work and sunshine. Not stinky at all. Your hair is adorable. The toolbox is because I’m taking a look at your oven.”
“What?”
“Your oven is broken. I’m pretty good at fixing things. I think at the very least I can replace the spring on the door so you don’t have to tape it.”
She was speechless for long moments, and when she spoke, it was around a lump in her throat. “Oh. Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure. Ginger and I are going to hang out in the kitchen while you clean up. Even though I’m just dandy with how you are right this moment.”
She knew she blushed. “So full of it.” With a wave and another thank-you, she headed down the hall to her room.
It bugged Duke that she always seemed so surprised when people did nice things for her. It meant she wasn’t used to it.
She took care of her things. Which told him she scrimped and saved for them and couldn’t easily afford the hit of having to replace something major. Duke remembered that time in his life. Remembered the time his mom took a second job to pay for a new furnace. Remembered, too, the way they’d all slept in the living room with the woodstove going until they could afford that new furnace.
Duke didn’t miss winters in New Hampshire. And he sure as fuck didn’t miss being that on the edge.
It made him want to spoil her.
Ginger watched as he worked. “This part is pretty easy. I had a feeling it was the spring.” Apparently he was going to talk to the dog too. “Now I need to figure out what’s causing the problem with the heat. Don’t be offended when I’m quiet.”
Duke lost himself in the task, looking at the oven from a few different angles. He knew enough electronics that it wasn’t so difficult once he found the problem and
began taking things apart.
That’s how Carmella found him some twenty minutes later. He looked up from his place on her floor, struck by how much he enjoyed the energy she gave off.
“I found the problem. I don’t have the part I need, but I got the info and I’ll grab one for you. I put the old one back so you can use the oven until I get the new one installed. It still works. The door was a spring. I had a few I thought would work and they did.”
Duke finished putting everything back together, aware she’d come to kneel nearby to watch what he was doing.
“Thanks,” she said when he finished. “Is the part like a two-hundred-dollar thing or a five-dollar thing or what?”
There was an edge to her tone. Just a little one. He’d been right to assume things were tight for her.
“It’s a common part. I looked it up on the Internet earlier today. I can get the part via Twisted Steel at our cost. It was thirty-seven bucks that way. Retail, that could be fifty or more. Shouldn’t your landlord pay you back? I’ll keep the receipts so you can send them to him.”
“He’s been blowing me off for months. If it were totally broken, he’d do something. Probably. He’s not a monster or anything. I asked if it was under warranty. I figured I’d just have it done myself. He said he got them secondhand. So it’s not like you fixing anything screwed that up. Thirty-seven bucks is fine. Three hundred and I’d have to wait. Thank you again.”
He stood, pulling her up his body, getting a better hold by bending his knees, grabbing two handfuls of her ass, and lifting.
“My. You’re very strong.” Her voice bordered on that purring thing she did. Duke’s cock liked that very much.
Carmella wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. The play of her muscles as she did spoke to her strength. She was fire. So very lovely to look at. Ferocious, he bet, when necessary. Dangerous. Orderly. Usually. But Duke bet she could be unpredictable too.
He kissed her as he deposited her ass on the counter again; this time there was no crack to the skull to be worried about.