by T L Swan
What is it?
What’s wrong?
“Okay, so we have cross-checked all hotels where the name Chancellor has been used and there’s only this one we can find,” Ben says. “If he was seeing a man on the side, I’m not sure when he did it. His wife says he didn’t go out at night or on weekends, and he never seemed to have a day off work. The only times we can see that he had the opportunity is where we caught him on the security tapes.”
“What’s your point?” I ask.
“Either one more of the girls in the footage is a transvestite or…” He pauses.
“Or what?” I frown.
“Or he was seeing someone at work and they were fucking in the bathroom.”
I nod as I process the information. “Have you put the feelers out to see if anyone thinks he was that way inclined?”
Ben shakes his head. “Yeah, but we came up empty-handed. Not one person, suspects anything.”
“Hmm.” I look at the images of the girls as they arrive and leave his hotel room. “They don’t look like trannies.” I frown.
“You’d like to think that you would be able to tell, hey?” He smirks.
“Right?” I chuckle. “Fuck, imagine getting a chick home and she flops out a cock.”
Ben laughs and pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Anyway, I’ve got to go down to the police station,” Ben says. “I’ll be back in half an hour.”
I stand in my chair. “I’ll come for a ride.”
Ben smirks as he walks out the front door.
“What?” I eye him as I follow him.
“How come you always want to come for a ride to the police station now? You fucking hate that place.”
I look at him, deadpan, and then get into the driver’s seat and start the car. “No reason,” I mutter. “It gets me out of the office.”
He smiles and throws me a cheeky wink.
We drive to the police station in silence. Eventually, I park the car and switch off the engine. “I’ll wait here.”
He frowns over at me. “You’re not coming in?”
I run my pointer finger along the bottom of the steering wheel. “Nah.”
“She might be there today.”
My eyes rise to meet his. “Who might be there?”
Ben huffs out a laugh. “Don’t give me your fucking bullshit, man. Who do you think you’re talking to?”
I stare at him blankly. “What are you talking about?”
“The girl.”
“What girl?”
He rolls his eyes. “Whatever. You’re a fucking idiot.” He gets out of the car.
I watch him walk across the parking lot and disappear into the police station. I take the opportunity to call Bridget, my sister. I know she’s at Mum’s with my other sister, Natasha.
“Hey.” She sounds excited to hear from me.
“Hello, fat guts.” I smirk.
“Brock.”
“Yes, Bridget.” I grin.
“You can say that shit when you’re joking about it. Not when it’s actually true.”
I chuckle and stare through the windshield.
“I’m growing two humans inside of my stomach. The name fat guts is a damn compliment. My name should be fat everything.”
“What are you guys doing?” I ask.
“Just about to go shopping. Can you sneak away and come with us?”
It is a quiet day and I don’t have much on. “How long are you going to be?”
“Ages.” She sighs. “Come and sit on the benches outside the shops with me… please?”
“Didge.” I frown. “You know I hate shopping.”
“We can have lunch. Come on, I haven’t seen you alone in weeks, and soon, you won’t be able to go anywhere with me.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m going to have two screaming kids in a pram.”
I wince. This is true. I exhale heavily. “Yeah, okay, call me in two hours.” I hang up.
Ben walks back to the car and jumps in, smiling over at me like the Cheshire Cat.
“What?”
He passes me a small piece of paper.
“What’s this?” I ask.
Tully Scott
Ben raises his eyebrows and smirks. “I got a name.”
I look over at him flatly. “Why?”
“’Cause I’m the man.” He hits the dashboard. “Drive,” he commands.
I shake my head in disgust. “If I wanted to call her, I would have called her.”
“Except for…” Ben points at me, “that small matter of her blocking your number, as well as her hating you and shit.”
I fake a smile, screw up the piece of paper, and throw it into the backseat. “Keep your nose out of my business, Statham. You’re like a big fucking girl.” I start the car and pull out into the traffic. “You want coffee or what?”
I sit on the bench outside of the clothing boutique, sipping my water.
Bridget is sitting next to me with her legs up on the chair. Tash and Mum are inside the shop with Natasha’s bodyguards loitering around. It’s funny how I don’t really notice them much anymore. Her husband, Joshua Stanton, is loaded, and due to their history, Natasha has to have protection with her at all times.
I glance over at my sister. A question has been burning in my brain and I know she’s the only one who can answer it truthfully. She’s a good girl who fell in love with a man like me.
“Didge, when you first met Ben, how did you get together?”
She smiles softly, her face becoming nostalgic. “Well, the chemistry was instant. We really liked each other, that much was obvious.”
I watch her as I listen.
“But of course, we couldn’t do anything about it.”
Ben was Natasha’s husband’s bodyguard, and the boss’s sister-in-law was strictly forbidden.
“So, you snuck around?”
“Why are you suddenly so interested?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I just know you and Ben were very different so…” My voice trails off.
“We didn’t sleep together for a long time. Months, probably.”
“Months?” What the fuck?
“No, we were just friends at first. I think Ben was scared he was going to fuck it up. He would sneak me out and I would go over to his house. We would watch movies and just hang out, you know, talk and stuff.”
I stare at her. “Talk?”
“Yeah.”
“What on earth is there to talk about for months?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know, but it’s how I fell in love with him.”
I smirk.
“What?”
“Talking to that dopy bastard made you fall in love with him? God, Bridget, don’t tell anyone that story.”
She giggles and nods. “Unbelievable, I know.”
We sit in silence for a moment.
“Sometimes it’s nice to make friends with someone first. It’s how women, you know, become comfortable with a man who would normally…” Her voice trails off this time.
I stare across the park in front of us. “Normally what?”
“Normally just want to fuck me. If he had wanted that and only that, we would never have gotten together. It gave us time to, I don’t know, transition to each other’s lives and personalities. Really get to know each other.”
I stare at her again, my mind a clusterfuck of emotions.
“But what happened if you were friends and then nothing else happened?”
She shrugs. “Then I had a really cool new friend, and that would have been okay, too. You can’t just fuck random women forever, Brock.” She smiles. “One of these days, you might actually meet a woman who you want be friends with.”
“I highly doubt that.” I smile.
She punches me in the arm. “It happens to the best of us, buddy.”
It’s 1:00 a.m., and I’m in my bed, staring at the ceiling.
My conversation with Bridget is weighing heavily on my mi
nd. I have been feeling off lately, and maybe…
No, that can’t be it.
Can it?
I know I’m not comfortable with the fact I made Tully feel dirty. In fact, it makes me sick to my stomach to think about it. I don’t know why. It’s not like she means anything to me.
I roll over and toss and turn for another two hours until I can’t stand it any longer.
“Fuck’s sake!” I snap in frustration.
I go downstairs to my garage wearing only my boxer shorts, and I scramble around in the backseat of my car. I feel across the upholstery on the floor, and then up over the seat. I get my phone and put the torch on, searching the entire backseat.
Damn it, it must have blown out of the window or something. It was a week ago when Ben gave it to me.
I exhale heavily and am just about to close the door when I see the scrunched-up piece of paper tucked inside the pocket of the door.
I smile, pick it up, and read the name:
Tully Scott
I take the stairs two at a time and open my laptop.
“Okay, Tully Scott. Who are you?”
Chapter 8
“Wow.” I smile at Meredith, my eyes wide in disbelief. “Check you out.”
She twirls proudly and puts her hands on her hips. “Pretty hot, huh?”
Callie giggles as she picks up her bag and keys. “You sure are. Let’s get going.”
Callie and I have spent the afternoon giving Meredith a makeover. We’re just about to take her to her first club. She looks amazing, and not at all like the daggy girl we first met. She’s wearing a tight black dress of Callie’s, and her hair has been set into big Hollywood curls to compliment her smoky eyes and big red lips. Callie and I are very proud of our handy work.
“Selfie!”
We lean in together, and Callie takes a photo of us all. This is a big moment in Meredith’s life and I can feel her excitement. We take the photo of the three of us laughing, and I smile as I stare down at it on my phone. Meredith looks so happy. We take the elevator, and when the doors open on the ground floor, a group of five girls are just coming out of an apartment. They catch my eye because every one of them is stunning. It’s unusual to have so many gorgeous women together at once.
“Hi, Meredith.” One of them smiles, and then, as they approach us, they all begin to circle Meredith as if she’s some kind of exhibition.
“Damn girl,” one says. “Look at you, being all hot.”
Meredith smiles proudly “We’re going clubbing. These are my new friends, Callie and Tully,” she announces.
“Hello.” They all smile.
Callie and I smile, and my heart flips a little. Meredith really does have a good heart. I hate that she’s so misunderstood.
“Have fun,” the girls call as they disappear out the front doors before hitting the street and climbing into a parked, black SUV.
“Who are they?” I ask Meredith.
“That was Peachy Sue and her friends.”
“Oh.” I watch their car disappear around the corner. “Her friends?”
“Yes. Her work friends. The ones who sleep with rich men.”
Callie’s eyes meet mine. “Wow, I’m impressed by how gorgeous they all are,” I whisper. They’re not at all what I imagined prostitutes to look like. “Who knew?”
“How do you know them again?” Callie asks.
“I have drinks with them sometimes while they get ready for work.” She shrugs. “Well, I have drinks and they have blow.”
“Blow?” I ask.
“Cocaine,” Callies mutters as she quickly reapplies her lipstick.
“Oh.” I frown. “But, didn’t you say you slept with Peachy Sue’s boyfriend? I’m confused.”
“No, he wants to be her boyfriend, but she doesn’t like him. That’s why he didn’t want her to find out about us so that it wouldn’t ruin his chances.”
I cringe in disgust. “This guy sounds like a real sleazebag, Meredith. Stay away from him.”
She nods. “That’s what Peachy Sue said.” She thinks for a moment. “Her and Wendy Woo said I was too good for him.”
“Who’s Wendy Woo?”
“The girl with the dark hair who was with them.”
“The Asian girl?”
“She’s Thai,” she tells me.
“She was gorgeous,” I say as I turn and watch their car disappear into the distance.
“She has a dick. It’s big. She fucks rich, married men up the ass.”
Callies and my eyes widen. “Really?” I whisper. “She’s a lady boy?”
“Yeah. Rich, straight men like to be fucked by a man who looks like a woman. She makes the most money out of all of the girls.” Meredith shrugs. “Creepy, huh?” She fakes a shiver. “It gives me the heebie jeebies.”
“God,” I mutter as our cab pulls up.
“Where to?” The cab driver asks over his shoulder.
“The Ivy.”
Meredith bites her bottom lip and giggles like a little kid. Callie holds her hand out to me and I slap it. Seeing Meredith this excited has already made the night for both of us. Anything else from this moment is a bonus.
The club is packed to the rafters. There are beautiful people everywhere, and we’re drinking cocktails in the bar. I’m wearing my white trousers with a white, strapless top, gold, strappy stilettos, and a matching clutch. My long, strawberry hair is down and pinned back on one side. I have my favourite gold Grecian makeup on. I always feel good when I wear this outfit. I get a lot of compliments. The white seems to compliment my olive skin.
“Can you believe how much fun she’s having?” Callie asks as she watches Meredith. I look over and smile. Meredith is dancing and laughing with a group of guys and girls, looking like she really is having the best time of her life. “She’s danced with just about everyone in this place.” I shake of my head. “I honestly didn’t know how she would handle this, but she’s in her element.”
“I know. Let’s get another drink.” We put our empty glasses down, make our way to the bar in the next room, and stand in line.
“I’m a bit hungry, actually,” I say as I look around. “How did we forget to eat?”
“I don’t know,” Callie mutters. “I’m starving, too.”
A piece of ice hits me in the chest, and I look around in confusion. Who the hell is throwing ice?
I push my fingers through my hair, which now has ice in it. That’s annoying.
“Do you girls come here often?” a unknown voice asks from behind us. We turn to see a cute but young guy. He could only just be eighteen if he’s lucky.
“We do. You?” Callie asks.
Another piece of ice hits me, and I look around again. Who the hell keeps doing that?
“I’m Tom,” the boy answers.
“Hi, Tom,” I say, distracted as I look around.
Another piece of ice hits me. “Who the heck is doing that?” I search all around the club, craning my neck to look everywhere I can.
The young boy behind us sees someone he knows, and he begins to talk to them, leaving us to turn back and face forwards again.
Then, across the crowded room, our eyes meet, and he gives me that slow, sexy smile of his.
My stomach flips and, unable to help it, I smile goofily.
Brock is standing against the wall with three other men beside him.
Holy fuck.
He curls his finger and wiggles it, signalling for me to go to him. I shake my head and smile shyly. Oh my God.
I point to my feet. “You come here,” I mouth.
He instantly pushes off the wall and my heart races. Shit. Within a second, he’s standing next to me. “Well, if it isn’t my favourite nerd.” He looks me up and down slowly. “Looking all… angelic.”
I try to bite back my ridiculous smile. “Well, if it isn’t my favourite crazy person.”
He chuckles and leans forward to kiss me on the cheek. “Hello, Tully Pocket,” he breathes down at me. He’s so t
all, towering above everyone around him. Tonight, he’s wearing a maroon T-shirt with black jeans. His dark hair and broad shoulders make me weak at the knees.
Why the hell is he so damn gorgeous?
Over the last six weeks I’ve wondered if my mind had somehow exaggerated his gorgeousness, but nope; I can confirm that he is, in fact, the perfect specimen.
“Hi.” My eyes linger on his beautiful face before they flicker to Callie. I quickly remember my manners. “Callie, this is Brock. You remember him, don’t you?”
Callie smiles broadly, rising up on her toes and bouncing in excitement. “I do. Hello.”
He smiles that sexy smile again, and I know that he knows, that Callie knows. Oh jeez, why does everybody know?
“It’s been a while,” he says smoothly.
I nod, an intelligent reply escaping me. Not as long as you may think. Unbeknown to you, in my mind you make a nightly visit to my bedroom. Oh, man, I’m such a loser. He probably hasn’t thought of me again since we last walked away from each other.
Callie drifts away to the front of the line to order our drinks.
“It has been a while,” I push out. “How have you been?”
His sexy eyes hold mine, and I feel the heat in his gaze. “Good, you?”
I nod stupidly again. Woman, get a hold of yourself. “Terrorise any more girls at the gym lately?”
His face falls.
“I didn’t mean terrorise like that,” I correct myself quickly.
Oh, just shut the fuck up, right now.
“What did you mean then?” he asks, unimpressed.
“I meant… you know,” I ramble nervously. “I meant, call someone fifty times until you get blocked, and then tear their friend from their chair at lunch?” I blurt out.
“In that case, no.” He licks his lips slowly. “I save my special crazy just for you.”
I smile goofily. “That’s good then,” I whisper.
He raises a brow. “Is it?”
I bite my bottom lip as our eyes lock. Jesus. I probably shouldn’t drink anymore.