“Makes sense.
“If we can’t be the asshole, we have to be alone. If Peat stayed away from women, he’d be alive. Honey could have gone to college and gotten the career she wanted, but she kept falling for one loser after another. Now she’s married to one, and he’s locked her down with four kids.”
“Love is a hell of a lot of effort even without a curse.”
“Love’s overrated, for sure. I don’t mind being without a man. I always wanted kids, but romance and even lots of friends never mattered to me.”
“You’re smart not to give anyone power over you except your kids have power.”
“I love them enough to let them ruin me. I won’t love anyone else that much.”
Hayes sits quietly for a long time. The appetizers arrive. I eat one potato skin and set the rest aside for leftovers. I’m accustomed to Hayes falling silent and entertain myself on the phone until he’s ready to talk.
“I could speak with Andrew Mayer,” he offers. “Make him keep his hands to himself.”
Smiling at his offer to help Honey, I find his mood today to be nearly irresistible. All of our talk about love being crap is less convincing when we connect this way.
“You could help her, and I’m not going to tell you not to, but I think it’s better if you didn’t.”
Hayes loses the warmth in his expression and just looks pissed. “What in the fuck is your reasoning there?”
“Honey is thinking about leaving Douche. My moving here gives her an out, and she’s inching toward it. If Douche stops being rough, she might convince herself that he’s not so bad. She’ll think he isn’t abusing her if he doesn’t smack her. He is, though. Douche wears her down with his comments and rules. Whenever he feels threatened about her leaving, he wants another baby.”
“I can make him fucking leave her. No inching toward freedom. He’ll just be fucking gone.”
“Then she’ll end up with another Douche. Are you planning to save her forever?”
“Pretty cold thinking,” he says, shaking his head.
“Honey needs to break free on her own. Peat never truly left the first bitch, so he ended up with someone just like her. The only way to be truly free of the wrong way of thinking is to face it and make the choice to walk away.”
Hayes looks unconvinced, and I admire his desire to save a chick in need.
“Honey is like my mom,” I say, wanting him to understand. “She feels empty in a way nothing fills. Mom let life beat her down, and love was the weapon. Every man broke her heart and killed her a bit more. She used to ask if she was wearing a 'kick me' sign and I’d always think yes. She wore it on her face. My mom was so obviously desperate for love and attention that people knew they could do almost nothing and gain everything from her. Honey will end up that way too if you or I solve her problems.”
Hayes sips his shot of whiskey and thinks about what I said.
“Fine, I’ll hold off for now, but Honey is my assistant’s sister. If she’s getting her ass beat and I don’t step in, that makes me look bad. Life’s not all about you and your curse crap, Candy.”
I smile and pat his hand. “Naw, you’re just a cuddle bear.”
Hayes rolls his eyes. “I checked up on Toby Eddison when I hired you.”
“Of course, you did.”
“He got married and had a kid. You think that one was a trick baby too?”
“No. His wife, Alice, isn’t someone who’ll trick anyone. She wanted him, and she got him. She’s the classic, determined gold digger. Of course, she probably didn’t expect her meal ticket to get indicted on fraud charges.”
“Do you ever worry her kid will get all the family’s cash and leave your kids out in the fucking cold?”
Hayes knows how to nail me straight at my biggest worries. “When I was pregnant, Toby’s parents didn’t talk to me. They wanted to wait until there was proof the babies were his. If you want to understand the Eddison family in a nutshell, they did a paternity test on both babies. You know, in case I was a hussy sleeping with several guys and only one baby was Toby’s. They don’t mess around with the family money.”
I steal one of his fries and get a dirty look for my efforts. “Anyway, after the twins were born, Toby’s parents wanted to put me somewhere nice. Apparently my apartment wasn’t good enough for their grandkids. They offered me an apartment near their home, or I could setup shop in their guest house. I suspected they wanted me close so they could keep an eye on me. The apartment sounded like a better deal, but I chose the guest home. I wanted them to bond with their grandkids, so Toby couldn’t convince them to ditch Chipper and Cricket down the road when he had a family. Years later, my worries came true, and they got a legitimate grandchild. By then, Grandpa and Grandma Eddison were in love with the twins. They still Skype with them every night before bed. It’s pretty cute how much those uppity bastards love the kids.”
Hayes watches me in a strange way, and I realize I can’t read him nearly as well as I thought. I have no clue what he’s thinking.
“What?” I ask when he says nothing.
“You’re an odd broad.”
“Said the weird guy.”
The corner of Hayes’s mouth curves into nearly a smile. While we finish lunch, he often looks ready to speak but chooses to remain silent instead. I don’t know what he’s thinking, and that scares me. I never worried before about offending Hayes. Now I’m anxious about his silence.
“So you haven’t fucked anyone since coming to White Horse?” he asks suddenly while I enjoy my dessert.
“No.”
“When did you last fuck someone?”
His tone startles me, but I smile. “Well, my twins are nine so…”
“That’s a long fucking time.”
“How about you?”
“Last night. She was excellent.”
Frowning, I look at my ice cream. “I’m assuming it’s a professional.”
“Why would you assume that?”
“You want to fuck without emotional ties and prostitutes are good about not getting clingy.”
“Would it make you feel better if I said she was a whore?”
Rolling my eyes, I think I sell my indifference. “What do I care?”
“You care. That’s why you’re grinding your teeth.”
I eat a scoop of ice cream, hoping the sugar will steady my nerves. “Is this where I pretend I met a hot neighbor and maybe I’ll knock boots with him? You made me jealous, so I’m supposed to make you jealous. Is that the game?”
“There’s no neighbor,” he mutters, jaw clenched.
“There are a lot of men in Tennessee and someone is bound to interest me,” I say and then add, “besides you.”
Hayes blinks a few times quickly. His long arms stretch along the curved back of the booth.
“Sooner or later, this is happening,” he says, studying me. “You best prepare yourself.”
“Prepare myself?” I ask, laughing. “Do you mean with yoga or stretching techniques to prepare for your massive… What’s a classy word for penis? Ooh, I know, I’ll call it a super, big humdinger.”
“Giggle all you fucking want, babe. You know I’m not kidding.”
Grinning, I eat my sundae slowly, seductively even. “I know. My only request is you don’t get sloppy with a woman without showering before getting sloppy with me. I have standards, boss.”
Hayes studies me and suddenly smiles. “You were jealous, weren't you?”
“Of your prostitute?” I ask with a mouthful of ice cream. “Yeah, actually. I was hoping you’d kept your humdinger clean and secure since meeting me.”
“Your pussy has cobwebs, and my cock is raring to go. I think you’re the problem.”
“My pussy is clean. It won’t confuse your humdinger for another guy. Your equipment won’t be able to tell me from the next broad.”
“Do you want me to tell you I’ve been celibate since I met you? Would that make you feel better?”
“No
, lying is for chumps.”
Hayes smiles at me, and his gaze is no longer difficult to read. He’s watching me like a lion with a stomach filled with gazelle and a dick ready for loving before he naps away the rest of the day. Hayes exudes lazy predator. The only question is whether I’m willing prey.
TWELVE - CANDY
My job description involves a lot of vague duties, but the main task Hayes gives me is to keep morons from bothering him. I never ask him to get more specific. I assume if someone shows up without an appointment they’re a moron. If someone calls and expects to speak to Hayes, they’re a moron. The fact is everyone important has his cell number. Everyone else is looking to bother him with their moron problems.
The guy standing in front of my desk is one of those morons. He storms into the building and says he needs to talk to the boss.
“Unfortunately, Mister Hayes is in a meeting. Can I take a message?”
The moron’s beady eyes get really wide, and the vein in his forehead throbs. “Hayes is standing right there!” the moron yells, while pointing at Hayes leaning against his office door.
“Sir, would you like to leave a message? I’ll give it to Mister Hayes as soon as he’s out of his meeting.”
“Are you shitting me?”
Crossing my eyes, I frown at the moron. “I’d prefer you didn’t use profanity with me, sir. As a mother, it offends me greatly.”
The guy stares at me and then looks to Hayes. “He’s standing right there!”
“Mister Hays is in a meeting and can’t speak to you. Will you like to leave a message?”
The guy throws up his hands and storms out of the office. I run to the window so I can see him stomping to his car. He slams his door and pounds on the steering wheel. I’m laughing by the time he drives away, nearly hitting a parked car on his way out.
“Any messages?” Hayes asks, walking over to me.
“None, sir.”
“Profanity offends you greatly, huh?”
“Sure as hell does, asshole. Is that going to be a fucking problem?” I say, laughing again.
Hayes startles me when his hand grips the back of my neck. His lips are on mine before I recover. He doesn’t kiss me as much as inhale me. His lips cover mine, owning them, and sending hot shivers downward.
I can’t breathe, but I don’t need to. He breathes for me. I’m a part of him now, an extension of this powerful man.
His lips leave mine as quickly as they joined. I stare at him and find him waiting for my response. Gutted by intensity and passion I’ve never felt before, I can’t think of anything to say. I know silence isn’t the answer, though.
“Ever heard of sexual harassment laws?” I ask, holding his gaze.
Frowning like a scolded bear, Hayes steps back. He is genuinely hurt while I can barely tolerate how perfect his need makes me feel.
“I didn’t say stop,” I murmur, tugging at his shirt and lifting my lips.
Hayes drapes one of his long arms around my shoulders, wrapping me against him completely, as our lips reunite. I shiver in his grip. I’ve never felt lust like this before, and I’m immediately addicted.
The phone rings, causing Hayes to growl against my lips. I lean over, pick up the receiver, and then drop it back down. After hanging up on the caller, I wrap my arms around Hayes’s waist. I feel his lips curve into a smile and then I’m lost again.
Again the phone rings and again I hang up on the caller. If it were important, they’d call our cells.
Hayes pulls me tighter, and I lean into his embrace. We could remain this way forever, and I doubt I’d complain. The entire world fades except for Hayes and me.
Throwing cold water on our heated moment, a car pulls into the parking lot, forcing Hayes and me to separate.
“The universe has spoken,” I mumble while breathing too quickly.
Hayes glares at me before storming into his office where I figure he’ll sulk. Instead, he returns carrying a bat, and I realize someone is about to be in a world of pain.
THIRTEEN - HAYES
After weeks of wanting to know what Candy tastes like, I finally find out and she’s sweeter than I imagined. Whoever in the fuck picked this fucking moment to interrupt my fucking day will soon have a second asshole.
I grab my bat and head outside. Candy follows me, looking amused by my reaction. The woman is fucking addictive, and someone just tore me away from my necessary fix.
The soon-to-be-dead asshole emerges from a taxi, and I’m ready to swing when the car speeds away. My target looks up at the sky and inhales deeply. Does he know he’s about to die?
“No hug?” Moot asks, turning to face me.
My bat stops mid-swing, and I laugh. “Fuck, man, I was about to take off your head.”
As his blue eyes squint in the sunny day, Moot grins at me. “I see that. You’re as charming as ever.”
I shake his hand and size him up. “You got fucking old.”
‘I was just going to say the same about you. I see a couple of grays you missed during your last salon visit.”
“Fuck off, man. When did you get out?”
“Today. That’s what the taxi is about.”
Tapping the bat in my hand, I ask, “Why didn’t you call and ask for a fucking ride, idiot?”
“I wasn’t ready for all your charm, fucker. So can I come inside and get a cup of coffee?”
I gesture for him to follow me, and we walk into the office where Candy stands at the window spying on us.
“This is Candy,” I say, waving between them with the bat. “This is Moot. He just got out of prison. Get him a cup of coffee.”
Candy struts in her sexy way to the break room and reappears with his drink.
She hands him the coffee and asks, “Were you in prison for stealing purses because I can hide mine to prevent you from being tempted?”
“No, I beat an asshole to death.”
“So should I be concerned for Hayes’s safety then?”
“She’s a damn doll,” Moot says, giving her one of his sly grins.
I slam the bat against her desk and shake my head at Moot. “No.”
“All right, all right, no reason to get violent about it.”
Candy smiles at me, and I wonder if she knows I’m still hard from the earlier kiss. I taste her on my lips, and my arms hurt from not having her wrapped in them. Remaining in a state of heat, I need to get out of the office before I lose control especially with Candy still grinning at me.
“I’m assuming you haven’t eaten,” I say, focusing on Moot rather than the irresistible blonde giving me a raging hard-on.
“Not today.”
“Drink up and I’ll take you out.”
“Want to bring your assistant?” Moot says, giving Candy the once over again. “She can take notes.”
“I said, ‘no’ already,” I growl possessively. “Don’t make me say it again with the bat.”
“You really are grouchy these days,” Moot says and then downs the coffee. “Thank you, ma’am.”
Candy takes the empty cup and nods at him. I set the bat on an empty table and follow Moot to the door. Before I head outside, I stop and study my assistant.
“What happened earlier isn’t over,” I tell her.
“We’ll see.”
“Something’s happening here,” I insist, hating her cool exterior.
“Yeah, but is it a love affair or murder/suicide? Might want to consider how you’re the murder victim in that scenario, boss.”
“Think you can take me?” I ask, arching a brow.
“Without breaking a sweat.”
“Then I guess I better hope it’s a love affair, huh, killer?”
As Candy laughs, I walk outside to where Moot waits.
“She’s a looker,” Moot says. “How long you been boning her?”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“So not long, huh?”
“She’s Honey’s sister,” I say, pissing all over his good mood.
&nb
sp; “Not cool, asshole.”
Smiling, I climb into my truck. Moot joins me, still frowning about the mention of Honey.
“Where do you want to eat?”
“What’s still open?”
“Everything. I keep my town running smoothly. Want steak?”
“Sounds good. A cold beer sounds better.”
“You’re out early. Whose dick did you suck to make that happen?” I ask, pulling out of the parking lot.
“Hell, if sucking dick would have gotten me early parole, I’d have hit my knees within weeks of arriving at the shithole. No amount of pride is better than being locked up.”
I think of how loyalty got him locked up for so long. Despite what he says, Moot has a lot of pride to keep his mouth shut for so long.
“So what’s the deal with you getting out early?”
“Don’t you read the papers? It was in the Nashville ones.”
“Those are run by Commies, so no, I don’t read them.”
“Commies. You’ll be spouting the same shit in fifty years. You never change, man.”
“So what’s the big story?”
Moot grins at me, clearly proud of his story. “I saved a guard who was getting his ass whooped by a few cons. They were planning on doing more to his ass than that too. I’m a big fucking hero. The warden worked his magic and got me out a year early for taking a beating to save one of his guys.”
“Did a good deed and got rewarded. I hear that happens sometimes. Never seen it before but good for you. Why not call and have me pick you up? The true answer this time and not that shit excuse you gave back at the office.”
“The truth was I didn’t know if you’d care. I figured if I showed up unannounced, you’d have to fake a smile for me.”
“I sent you money,” I mutter, bothered by him thinking I didn’t remember his sacrifice.
“I know.”
“Got you a nest egg set up too.”
Moot taps his fingers against the window. “It’s not about what you do for me, but whether you’d still want me around. I did get busted for something stupid.”
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