“It’s alright, it’s alright,” I said softly as I bobbed her up and down in my arms.
Then, rolling down my window, I listened to the interactions happening between Genny and the delivery man. They were making wild gesticulations as if they were negotiating something.
“Now, look here,” the man said in a heavy twang. “This is the address on the damn sheet so this is where I took it. If you want me to deliver this somewhere else then that’s a side job. It’s gonna be an extra few grand. That’s how this negotiation is gonna work sweetheart.”
“Don’t you sweetheart me,” she said like a little fireball. “I want you to bring these to my factory. This has all been a big misunderstanding, and trust me when I say I have the address right. It must’ve somehow been a mixup with your dispatch.”
I held the baby close to my chest. My holding technique had substantially improved over the last few days.
“Now, I don’t know what you think you did, but, your soap shop isn’t what’s on my sheet. So, I can’t deliver it. Alright lady? So, you know what? I’m just gonna drive these back to the supplier. I’m done with this. Unless you come up with three grand right now, and we make a deal, all this equipment is getting shipped back and you’re getting all sorts of fines for wasting my fucking time.”
“No, no, no” she said, her voice sounding weaker. “Don’t do that.”
Shit, she was getting strong armed in negotiations by this motherfucker.
“Alright, I am sick and tired of your shit, lady. Ain’t never seen a woman run no factory before. No wonder. Can’t even get her own damn address right.”
“Excuse me?” Her jaw dropped at the incredibly sexist comment. She was getting flustered. Personally, I couldn’t believe my ears either.
“Yeah,” he made a little wave on his hand. “You, don’t have the brains to run the factory. That’s plain to see. You can’t even get a simple address right. So, why would you be able to run a business of any kind? Doesn’t make any sense if you ask me.”
In the car, my jaw tensed. Opening the car door, I stepped outside. Baby in hand, I started walking toward the two of them.
“So,” the man said as he got into his truck, stepping in but not closing the door. “Now, I’m tired. It’s way after my shift, I’m gonna drive this truck back and you can go fuck yourself lady.”
“Hey buddy,” I growled, seething. Shit, I was sounding a lot more like Batman than myself. “I think you need to deliver the order.”
“Nahh,” he laughed at my face. “Yeah, I’m not delivering shit. I’m tired of y’all and I’m not having a very good day. So, if you’ll excuse me, I will be on my way.”
He went to close the door.
Genny and I made eye contact, and I had a flashback to the time in high school when I had to kick some guy’s ass who was disrespecting her at a high school dance. I handed the baby to Genny and I grabbed the door before he could fully close it.
“Not so fast,” I barked calmly.
“God damn it!” he retorted. “Let me close the goddamn door!”
“Why don’t you step out of the truck and talk about this. From what I can see, you’re being extremely difficult, this problem can be resolved in a very easy manner.”
He laughed, “Why don’t you make me come down?”
“Alright!” I growled.
Grabbing him by the neck, I pulled him out.
“What the fuck!” he cried as soon as he hit the ground. “You’re fucking insane man! Are you fucking insane?”
“Listen buddy, I’m just trying to get all of this taken care of so we can have the shipment, and this is very important to me. If it’s not important to you, I think you probably shouldn’t be driving a truck.”
“I ain’t gonna drive no truck over there. I’m not driving shit!” the man said, folding his arms.
“Alright then” I shrug. “Give me your keys. I’ll drive the truck”
Genny stared at me. Her eyes wide as she held the baby who had stop crying now that she was in the arms of Genny.
“No” the man said. “You can’t drive that.”
“Listen buddy,” I said, taking a step closer to him. He was on his feet now but still looking pathetic. When I looked closer, his face was wrinkled and he had several grey hairs. “I’ve driven the following: cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, tanks, helicopters, and airplanes, and if you think that I’m not gonna drive this truck, and I’m not gonna get my way here? Well, you’re just sadly fucking mistaken. So, why don’t you just do as I say, and we won’t have any problems. Give me the keys, and I’ll drive the fucking truck.”
“You want a fucking problem?” The guy said spitting on the ground. “I’ll give you a fucking problem.” With that, he lunged at my face.
I grabbed his arm, twisted it, spun him around, and wedged him so his elbow was on the brink of breaking.
“Fuck!” He screamed out in pain.
“Jesus, take it easy!” Genny said, covering the baby’s ears.
“So, are you gonna give me what I want yet?” I ask him.
“Let go! Please!”
I held him down.
“Don’t hurt him,” she screamed at me.
“Genny.” I growled. “Just let me take care of this my way”.
“This is ridiculous. This is the driver.”
“Listen buddy.” I said, whispering in his ears. “All we need to do is deliver these to the new fucking address at no extra charge I don’t understand what the big issue is and why you’re being such a dick. But, I will tell you this. I’m a Navy SEAL, and I know ten different ways to snap your neck. I’m not gonna do that because I’m a nice guy, but you would be best advised if you catch my drift to take this shipment to where Genny needs it. Okay?”
“Okay,” the guy managed to say.
“Excellent! So, I can’t wait for these to get delivered. I expect you to bring it over right now.” I tightened my grip at the guy. “Just cut the crap, bozo.”
He finally nodded, going along with me.
I let go of him. He got up holding onto his arm.
‘Alright, I’m gonna follow you to where you gonna go.”
“Don’t do anything funny.” I added.
The baby still wasn’t crying and loved being in Genny’s arms, apparently. Genny was gripping her tight on her chest.
I walked over to her. “Let’s go. I took care of your little problem.”
“I know. I’m not sure how appropriate that was,” she protested. “You essentially, physically assaulted the driver.”
I shrugged. “Well, he shouldn’t have been such a douchebag.”
She rolled her eyes, “You can’t just beat guys up because they’re being douchebags.”
I squinted hard at her. “Let’s get back to the car, shall we? And, yes I can.”
We got back in the car and the truck. Genny was silent as the truck driver followed us to the factory. Leaning to the back seat, she tickled little baby Emma, playing with her.
“Um, do you like Douglas?” she asked the baby as Emma giggled. Then she said to me, “You know, I feel a little bit bad that I’m charging you ten thousand dollars, and now you kind of did work for me on the clock.”
“Don’t worry about it.” I growled.
“I’m just thankful, that’s all.”
“Me too. I’m thankful I got you here.” I said, putting my hand on her knee.
“Yeah, I know.”
“You know?” I asked, arching an eyebrow as we pulled up to a red light behind the truck.
“Yeah, I like having you here.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. I like having you here.”
The baby started babbling, which distracted Genny. “Yeah, do you like that? Do you like looking at the window? We’re at the red light!” she said.
Warmth spread through my chest in a way I hadn’t felt in years. Maybe ever. Watching Emma and Genny play together, I could feel the love flowing through me. Yet, this was only temporary. It w
as fleeting, and the long game meant getting rid of the baby and never seeing Genny again. Soon, I’d be back in North Carolina and this would all be a dream.
“Fuck!” I muttered out loud, before I realized what I’d said.
“Don’t swear in front of the baby,” she chided. “Besides, why are you randomly swearing?”
I stiffened my posture. What the hell was I supposed to tell to Genny? Was I supposed to tell her that I love the way she handled the baby. I regretted that I once left her for the military. I didn’t know. I was never the best at vocalizing things anyway. So, I just shrugged as the light turned green.
“That guy was a pain,” I said, diverting the subject.
“Yeah, well, we don’t have to worry about that anymore.”
I chuckled, my face tightening. “Hey, you looked hot,” I said. The words coming out from nowhere.
“What? What do you mean?”
I smiled. A cocky grin crossed my face. If I wasn’t going to say this now, when would I? “I mean, you looked hot when you were doing business. Even when you look at your phone, you’re all focused. I love that expression you have. Hot.”
Her eyes drifted from the dashboard to me and she let a soft smile spread across her face.
“Stop it!”
“Stop what?” I said innocently.
“You can’t do this. We’re not anything, Kade. You left me!”
“I did not want to leave you! What other choice did I have? I was eighteen years old. I hadn’t seen anything in the world. I had no money. I had few options. What did you want me to do?”
“I wanted you to stay here with me,” she huffed, angrily.
I let out my own huff of breath as we finally pulled up behind her factory.
“Well, I’m sorry. I didn’t live up to that, but-”
“But what?” she cut me off as she bounced little Emma on her knee.
“Look, it doesn’t matter. I’ve really enjoyed being back with you, that’s all. It feels right. It feels really good. I’ve been travelling all around for the last eight years and... you have no idea. You’ve basically been the only anchor I’ve ever had in life, and it makes me feel like-” I swallowed and pause.
“Are you not gonna finish that statement?”
“Like I actually have something to live for,” I finally growled.
“Kade! Don’t talk like that. You have plenty to live for.”
“Maybe, but nothing as sweet as you. And I’ll never have that again. It’s okay though. It’s my fault. I ruined it. I take responsibility for that, but I want you to know. If I could do it again,” I paused. Did I really wanna go here? Yes, I did.
“I would have never left.”
8
Genevieve
I set the playpen up in my office and laid Emma down. She was exhausted and thankfully passed out immediately. With everything that just happened, it’d been a long day for all of us. I was just glad it was over.
A recurring concern kept filling me with dread at this whole situation. How did the driver get the wrong address in the first place?
I checked the email I sent to both the suppliers and the shipping company. There were no mistakes on my end. Someone had to have called them and changed the address… but who would do that, and why?
I put a pin in that for now. Everything had worked out, more or less. I didn’t like how Kade assaulted that guy, but I was glad he was there. I needed that shipment and Kade got it for me. Principles were for the well-fed.
As much as I hated to admit it, I liked that he stuck up for me. My pulse started beating faster at the recent vivid memory. It was like that high school dance all over again. Kade was so intimidating, so take charge… It sent a shiver through me.
But, not quite enough to distract me from my exhaustion or the looming stress of work.
I sat down at my desk and hunched over my work computer, trying to decompress while Kade set up all the new equipment in the shop a few rooms over. When I started my computer up, I saw all the notifications. The non-soap orders were pouring in!
For the first time since taking out that bank loan, I actually had hope that things actually might work out! I wouldn’t be able to start working on these orders until the first half shipment of aloe came in, but this was a great sign!
I placed a baby monitor in the playpen next to Emma and floated into the shop where Kade was finishing setting up.
“You’re beaming. I take it you’ve got good news?” Kade asked with a grunt, sliding the last thirty-gallon barrel back beside the giant melters. They must’ve weighed a ton. How he’d moved them at all blew my mind. Kade had to get creative with reorganizing existing stuff to make room.
“You could say that.” I wore a wide, bright smile as I scanned the room and took in the new equipment. I placed the baby monitor receiver on a nearby shelf so I could easily hear Emma if anything happened. With the new bottling station now in place the room looked a little cramped.
Who knew?
If orders kept coming in at this rate, I might have to get a bigger space just to keep up! Everything was finally coming together.
I loved this feeling.
“OK. That’s the last of it. Let me ask you something,” Kade rubbed the dust from his hands and made his way to the room’s sink to clean up.
“Hmm?” I asked distractedly. His subtly flexing arms, as he washed his hands, stole away my attention. At some point while setting everything up, he’d striped down to his fitted tank-top under shirt.
“I’m just a simple military man, but how does this new gear streamline the creation of soap exactly?” He cocked his head at me, catching me checking him out.
“Well,” I cleared my throat, trying to pretend that I wasn’t just ogling him. “It’s all too technical to go into right now.”
“Yeah?” He asked. There was coyness in his voice that said he didn’t believe me.
“Oh yeah,” I bluffed, swallowing hard. I hated lying and even worse, I wasn’t very good at it. I had an awful poker face, so I tried to keep everything as grounded in fact as possible. “I’m trying to explore the stocking-stuffer market this season with a lot of small packaged goods, hence the new bottling machine over there.”
“That makes sense.” Kade nodded thoughtfully, crossing his arms. Then a wicked smirk crept across his lips as he reached into the back of a shelf and pulled out a cardboard box. “So, what’s this then?”
“Nothing!” I snatched the closed box from Kade’s strong hands. He held the box so effortlessly that I’d forgotten how heavy it was, and almost dropped it before not-so-nonchalantly catching it. “That’s, uh, boring stuff really. Private family trade secrets sort-of-thing.” I chuckled nervously. “Y’know, like the eleven herbs and spices in KFC’s original recipe? That kind of thing.”
“Yeah, of course. I understand. I’d never want to invade your privacy like that.”
“I appreciate that.” I put the box safely away on the floor, underneath the table holding one of the large tanks. “I guess you have matured after all. The old you would’ve never-”
“Lick it Lube. All natural guilty pleasures never felt so good.” Kade read one of the labels he’d apparently pulled from the box earlier.
“Damn it, Kade!” My eyes went wide as my cheeks and neck became flush with embarrassment. I whirled around and snatched the label from him.
Matured, my ass!
“Your family has some kinky original recipes.” Kade’s self-satisfied smile was wide enough to split his face in two.
“Please, don’t tell anyone.” I groaned. “You know how close-minded the people are here… if they knew what I was really up to, they’d run me out of town.”
“They can’t be that bad. Who cares? It’s just lube.”
“Sex lube,” I replied, emphatically. “You obviously never met the Copas. They might show up with torches and pitchforks.” I shivered at the thought of them specifically finding out. “Literally.”
“Your secret�
�s safe with me.” He stepped in and grazed my face gently with the back of his fingers. “But, you are going to owe me one.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked, openly taking him in now with a smile cracking my lips. I was still riding high off my good mood. “What do you have in mind?”
“How’s your customer service department?” Kade tore off his fitted shirt. He had one of my Lick It Lube label stickers on his lower abs.
I laughed at the sight of something I designed plastered to the abs of the hottest man I’d ever seen. The funny reveal didn’t stop my own stomach from tightening at the sight of his massive, defined pecs and shoulders.
Kade’s tan skin seemed to glow under my old overhead fluorescent lights. The sprawling swaths of rough naked skin were broken by a hard life worth of scars. There were so many, each told a different story.
“You know, I always figured you’d have some tattoos,” I said, my eyes feasting on his wall of muscles.
“With all the scars I have from training and missions I never needed any,” Kade glanced down and flexed, making the various scars ripple and bulge. He tossed his shirt on one of my metal tables.
Kade had changed so much. He'd always been the boy of my dreams growing up, but what I saw now was so much more than that. Here was a man unlike any I'd ever seen before, and that thrilled the hell out of me. The thought of his touch made my skin tingle.
I found myself reaching for the sculpted notch below his ribs. My eyesight was obviously failing me, but maybe if I touched him everything would make sense. Men couldn't really look like this, especially here where every guy had a beer belly.
I didn't stand a chance, it wasn't even fair!
“If I pinch myself are you going to disappear? How are you even real?” I traced each valley between his rippling abs all the way down to the V of his hips. I was twenty-six and my dating life was pathetic. Amber was quick to steal the attention from every guy I was even remotely interested in. After a while, I stopped trying and just put all my effort into growing the business-or rather, keeping the business alive.
Kade was the only one to ever make my blood boil, in the best and worst possible ways. I may have loved him, and then hated him, but as much as I hated to admit it, I'd always wanted him.
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