Traded

by Rebecca Brooke

  My dick twitched uncomfortably.

  Tonight, that would change. I didn’t care how hard it was, I would hold out and show her it all.

  Holding out my hand to her, I said, “Let’s go.”

  “Where are we heading?”

  Once she was seated in the car, I went around to my side to climb in and answer her question. “I have reservations at my favorite steakhouse, then I’m taking you to a movie.”

  Her eyes lit up. It still amazed me how the simple things in life brought her a world of joy. “What movie are we seeing?”

  I pulled out onto the street. “I figured I’d let you decide when we get there.”

  She settled back into her seat. “I think that sounds like the perfect night out.”

  We pulled into the parking lot and I made sure to beat her around the front. I always enjoyed the way her eyes lit up when I opened a door for her, or did something any gentleman should be doing. Not that I was always a gentleman, but Elena was different. The minute we walked into the door we were shown to our seats. Ever the gentleman around her, I pulled Elena’s chair out.

  “Thank you.”

  By the time I took my seat the waiter had appeared. Knowing Elena hated to order wine, I browsed the selections.

  “We’ll have a bottle of the Chateau Montelena Cabernet 2010.”

  “Excellent choice. I’ll be back to take your orders.”

  I nodded to the waiter and he left. I and turned my attention back to Elena, who was studying the menu. “I have no idea what to choose,” she laughed.

  “Not a surprise.” I chuckled. “Is there a type of steak you like?”

  She shrugged and her eyes shadowed. “I haven’t really had much steak.”

  The statement, simple and honest, reminded me why I did things like this for her. She’d missed out on so much in life. It made me want to grind my teeth, but I held myself in check to avoid upsetting her.

  “Want me to pick for you?”

  The smile returned to her face. “I would. You always have better taste anyway.”

  “Not always. Look at the swordfish?”

  She giggled. “That’s true.”

  “All right,” I said, opening the menu. “Let’s see what you’ll like.”

  “Okay.”

  Guys like you don’t deserve girls like her.

  The thought burned in my brain. It was true. The kind of guy I wanted to be deserved this woman. Elena deserved someone who could give her good, clean, and stable—everything I was not. But the kind of guy I was wouldn’t give her back. That kind of guy didn’t extend his chivalry that far. I was going to take her, even if she deserved more.

  I closed the menu. “Pick out what sides you want and I’ll order the steaks.”

  She pinned me with her gaze, waiting for more. When I didn’t answer and continued to stare, she rolled her eyes and looked down at the menu. The waiter brought back the wine. I took the glass he offered me, taking a sip and giving the waiter a curt nod. He poured us both a glass.

  The waiter took our orders left the table. Before I could ask Elena about her day, my phone vibrated. I held it up and jerked my head away from the table.

  “Go ahead.” She nodded at the phone. “It could be someone from one of the restaurants.”

  Unlikely.

  I flicked the screen on as I walked away from our table and there was a text from my dad. What a way to ruin a good day.

  Dad: Did you want to use the box tomorrow?”

  “Shit,” I muttered under my breath.

  Me: Sure. Thanks.

  I hit the phone to silent like I should have done before we left the house.

  “Is everything okay?” Elena asked when I returned. Concern creased her brow.

  “Dad needs me to meet with a client tomorrow night.”

  “Okay, don’t you do that all the time?”

  The time had come to lay my cards on the table and see her reaction. “Not by choice.”

  She gasped. “You mean your father makes you do it?”

  “No.” I rubbed the back of my neck, massaging the muscles there. “Not exactly, anyway. After Dad finished paying for me to go to culinary school, he asked me to take over this part of the business. He’d given me so much, I felt like I couldn’t tell him no.”

  Lifting her glass, she took a sip and set it back down. “I’ll be honest, I don’t understand that. Every day you push me to make my own choices—to do what makes me happy. Yet you don’t do the same.”

  “It’s not the same. I do it because I love my dad, and he loves me.”

  Her head twisted to the side as she slid back in her chair. “That was low.”

  “Shit.” I reached out toward her. “That’s not what I meant.”

  She pulled away and her eyes focused on something to the side of the room. “Then explain, because it really sounded like you were reminding me how stupid I was to do all of those things for Dominic when he treated me like crap.”

  “Elena, look at me.”

  She glanced over at me. “Don’t you dare think that’s going to work on me here. You can talk to me like that in the bedroom, not in the middle of an argument.”

  I’d been reaching for my glass, when her words froze my hand. No one, man or woman, had ever spoken to me that way, and while it shouldn’t have it made me rock hard it did. “Excuse me?”

  Crossing her arms over her chest, she snapped, “What, didn’t think I had it in me?”

  “I’m wondering why you’re speaking to me that way,” I countered, mimicking her pose.

  Her shoulders remained tense, like she was preparing for battle. “Your point?”

  Fuck, she isn’t going to give me an inch.

  “I was trying to tell you before you bit my head off, that wasn’t the way I meant it.”

  “Then how did you mean it?”

  I ground my teeth together, trying to keep some semblance of control. The rational part of my brain knew that she needed to stand up for herself. That didn’t matter when my temper was in play. It had been set loose and it was looking for blood. With all of my effort to rein it in.

  “My dad gave Miller and I everything, so when he asked us to take over parts of his business, we may not have liked it, but we couldn’t say no. His family has been doing it for decades. Right or wrong, it’s all I know.”

  “You know how to cook. Very well, I might add.”

  “Yes, but he’s my dad.”

  Silence stretched between us. I swilled my wine around in my glass, taking a sip then looking for the waiter to refill it. The tension slowly leaked from her body.

  “I called my parents today.”

  Holy shit. I didn’t see that one coming. “What did they say?”

  Her eyes filled with tears. “That they missed me, and were so happy to hear that I wasn’t living with Dominic right now.”

  Thoughts of her living with me assaulted my brain. “Did you tell them about the show?”

  Her smile broke through the tears. “I did. They’re really proud of me. Said they wish they could see it.”

  “Why can’t they? Where do they live?”

  “Delaware. It’s an expensive plane ride for just one show.”

  “But they’re your parents?’

  “Yeah. You have to remember my parents don’t have the kind of money yours do. A ticket like that would cost over six hundred—each. And that’s not including hotel.”

  An idea formed. I just needed to see if I could pull it off. “I didn’t realize the flights were that expensive,” I said lamely, hoping she wouldn’t catch on to what I was thinking.

  The waiter returned, bringing her salad. He noticed my glass and by the time I looked back at it again, it was full.

  The rest of our meal arrived, and we began to eat in silence. Halfway through, Elena set her fork down and watched me. “I think if you talked to your dad and told him how you felt, he wouldn’t be mad that you wanted to stop. All you need is the courage to talk to him. And if
I can talk to my dad, you can talk to yours.”

  “Drop it, Elena.” It was impossible to keep the annoyance out of my voice.

  Her jaw dropped, likely at my tone, but she replied, “Fine. It’s your life,” and went straight back to eating.

  Great. Now she was pissed at me.

  As dinner progressed, Elena and I made small talk, which eventually helped us both settle somewhat. When the plates were cleared and coffee brought to the table, I finally began to relax for the first time since the text from my dad.

  I checked my watch. “Should we go? We can do dessert on the way home from the movies?”

  “That sounds perfect,” she said. “I don’t think I could eat another bite right now. The steak you chose was perfect.”

  After paying the bill, I stood and walked around to pull out her chair. “I’m glad you enjoyed dinner,” I whispered in her ear, feeling her shiver.

  We drove over to the theater and stood in front of the marquee while Elena chose a movie. There was only one romantic comedy listed. I didn’t expect her to pick it, but there was a first time for everything.

  Thankfully, she didn’t.

  I stepped up to the counter and ordered the tickets. Even though Elena swore she was full at the restaurant, she still wanted chocolate covered raisins. Who was I to tell her no?

  She would be my dessert later.

  * * *

  “That was better than I expected it to be.”

  She looped her arm through mine and smiled up at me. “Really? I loved it.”

  “When there’s that much hype surrounding a movie, you never know whether the trailer had all the best parts.”

  “Oh, don’t be a downer,” she said, and her laughter was such a beautiful sound. I wondered if I’d ever get used to hearing it.

  “A downer?” I turned to face her, the car at her back. Using my body, I pushed her up against the door. “Aren’t you full of spunk tonight.”

  “Can you blame me? Any movie with Matt Damon is a winner in my book.”

  “Matt Damon? Is that what has your attention,” I asked, crowding her body with my own.

  “No,” she rasped. “I definitely have other things on my mind.”

  Her hand gripped me through the fabric of my jeans. Such bold behavior had my hips jutting forward to get closer to her as my mouth came down on hers, possessive and needy. The second her lips parted, my tongue dipped inside needing to taste her.

  Oh, how much more I’d taste later.

  “Mr. Hawes?”

  The unfamiliar voice pulled me out of the lust-induced haze Elena had a way of creating. Adjusting the obvious hard on, I spun around to face whoever had interrupted my night and froze. My shoulders tightened.

  Schooling my features, I replied, “I’m sorry, I’m not sure we’ve been introduced.”

  “Ashton?” Elena stood right behind me.

  The voice took two steps forward, letting the lights from the parking lot cast down on his face. “Mr. Hawes, it’s me, Drake Palmer. I owe you money, sir.”

  Motherfucker.

  No matter what, I couldn’t react and beat the ever-loving piss out of the moron. Fists clenched at my side, I faced off with the idiot. “You have the wrong guy.” Reaching back, I took hold of Elena’s trembling fingers.

  He took another step forward, his hands shaking visibly under the yellowing light. “I’m sorry to interrupt your night out, but I’m having trouble making my payment.” His voice was low, nervous. And he had every reason to be.

  “Not me,” I growled, but he kept talking.

  “I heard you might be willing to trade.” He nodded toward where Elena stood.

  No. I wasn’t doing this here. Sure, Elena knew what I did, but this was my time. We were on a date, for fuck’s sake. I worked hard to keep that side of my life contained. There was no way I was letting it spill over.

  Not now.

  Not ever.

  Letting go of her hand I took two steps forward, putting myself directly in front of him. I had at least a few inches on him and by the looks of his scrawny figure, there would be no contest. He was the kind of guy I usually punted to Brock.

  “Listen here you motherfucker, I have no idea who you’re talking about but if you don’t get out of here in the next five seconds, I’m going to consider it a threat. And trust me when I say you do not want to threaten a guy like me.”

  His eyes went wide and his body jerked. I went to open my mouth but he’d vanished, racing off into the night. My body still on alert, I looked around but there was no one else there.

  With an effort, I unclenched my fists. I needed to see if Elena was okay.

  She was white as a sheet, trembling from head to toe. I reached out my hand but she recoiled, which hurt worse then I’d imagined it would.

  “Elena, look at me.”

  Her eyes panned up to mine, unfocused, and I knew nothing would get through to her. I had to get her home, away from the bullshit.

  I placed my hands on her shoulders and gently maneuvered her into the car. She didn’t speak a word as she mindlessly buckled her seatbelt and waited. I stood at the back of the car, whipping out my cell and shooting a text to Brock.

  Me: I need a favor. Meet me at mine in 20?

  Brock: I’ll be there

  His reply didn’t surprise me. I paid him and paid him well to be available wherever, whenever. Palmer would understand how to contact me correctly by the time Brock finished with him. Under normal circumstances, I’d do it myself. If he’d stopped when I’d asked him to I would have let it go, but he pushed it. There was nothing I’d enjoy more than seeing to it that the guy never upset another woman as much as he’d upset Elena, but my attention needed to be with her, so Brock would have to relay the message on my behalf.

  Hurrying around the front of the car, I peeled out of the parking lot. Concern pulled my attention to her. She sat facing forward, her hands clutched in her lap. Taking her hand, I moved it to my lips, placing a soft kiss on it.

  “Elena, talk to me.

  “No.”

  “What can I do?”

  She swallowed hard. “Does stuff like that always happen?”

  Everything in me said I wanted Elena to stay after the three months was up. To do that, I not only needed her to leave her husband, but to feel comfortable with me. I couldn’t lie to her. “It’s happened once or twice before. Most of the clients know and understand the rules before they borrow the money. And if they don’t, we remind them.”

  She shivered and I squeezed her hand tighter.

  “I don’t hurt them—not right away at least. So far most have obeyed the rules after the first conversation. Those that don’t are no longer an issue.”

  She didn’t reply, but I could see her lower lip trembling.

  “I’d never hurt you, Elena. You have to know that. It’s just business.”

  “Is it? You told me earlier in the night, you only work for your dad because you feel like you have too.”

  I groaned. It was supposed to be the perfect date, not an analysis on wants and desires. “And I do. Me enforcing the rules doesn’t change anything.”

  “Maybe for me it does.”

  I slammed my fist into the wheel. “You knew what I did when you first climbed into my bed.”

  That snapped whatever had been keeping her temper in check. “So that makes it okay for me to have it thrown in my face that I’m your latest fucktoy?”

  And there it was—the comparison to Tolley. Because he treated her as nothing but a slave, that’s what I was going to do, no matter what I did to prove I wasn’t the same man.

  What was the point? I’d worked my ass off to show her that I wasn’t him; that I could offer her more. I hadn’t been that guy ever. Hell, I was a better guy for her than I’d been to any woman. She saw Ashton Hawes 2.0—the nice guy. So why, after everything, would she think me a liar?

  I didn’t know why she thought that way, but I’d be damned if I would let it continue.
r />   CHAPTER 19

  Ashton

  “Goddamn it, Elena. Why would you say that?”

  I pulled into the drive and slammed on the brakes, sending us both flying forward.

  “Ashton,” she screamed, grabbing the belt.

  I turned toward her, grasping her chin to move her head to face me. “Do I have your attention now?” I snarled.

  “What?” she snapped.

  “I have never, nor will I ever consider you a fucktoy. If that were the case, I’d use your body for what I needed like your piece of shit husband suggested instead of having you sleep in my bed because I like you there. I would not set up auditions for you. I would not take you to dinner. And I would never sit through a movie with you, no matter how good you were at giving head.”

  I didn’t give her a chance to think, much less to reply. Lowering my head, I took her lips in a brutal kiss. I needed her to believe me. I needed her to know that what we had was no longer a product of circumstance. I put everything into the kiss.

  I claimed her.

  And with each passing moment she slowly tempered, her lips molding to mine, her body going limp in the seat. I broke away.

  “I want you to be so much more than a temporary distraction. It’s why I’ve done everything I can to bring out the real Elena—the one who stands up for herself. I want you to make your own choices. I want you to choose me. I don’t care how you came to me, I just want you.”

  She stared at me for a beat then left the car, walking into the house, leaving the door wide open. I went to follow but was stopped by the purring rumble of Brock’s ’69 Chevelle SS. I climbed out and leaned against my door, needing the conversation with Brock over and done with.

  “Ashton, what’s up man? It’s not like you to call out of the blue.”

  “Drake Palmer has become a problem,” I growled.

  “You had a drop tonight?” His brows dropped down over his, dark, almost black eyes.

  “No.” I began to pace the driveway. “Fucker approached us outside the movie theater.”