Sweet Trouble

by Sasha Gold

  Embarrassment heated her and made her face burn. Part of her withered inside. Had the women heard her and Theo that morning when he’d tied her up in the bathroom? She cringed. It would be better, far better, to not discuss anything between her and Theo. Certainly it would be prudent to avoid the topic of Valentine’s Day altogether. But the subject of John and her mother, that sounded like safe territory.

  “John has been good for my mother,” she told them.

  Both ladies smiled, nodded and waited.

  “It’s been interesting getting to know Theo a little better,” she offered. Weak. She could see the ladies weren’t buying it. Both of them chuckled at her explanation.

  “I should go and see where Theo is. Breakfast and lunch were wonderful. Thank you.” Before they could ask anything else she escaped the kitchen.

  She found Theo in his study. He sat at his desk and spoke to someone on speaker phone, an older-sounding woman with the hint of a British accent.

  They talked about accounts and balances, lease agreements and contracts while Sage walked around his office. Windows looked out over an orchard. Rows of fruit trees stood in the cold wintery afternoon, bare of leaves.

  She turned back to face him. He watched her, and with the barest hint of a smile patted his knee, a tacit invitation to come sit on his lap. She shook her head even though the idea sounded good. Like her, he was in jeans and boots, but he wore a red flannel shirt and damn if he wasn’t sexy. A two day beard accentuated his square jaw. His eyes, hooded and fixed on her, stirred her senses.

  “I haven’t seen any bids for the new roof for the dental offices, Millie.”

  “I’ll have those ready by Monday, along with your response to each company. You just need to okay what you already told them.”

  His mouth quirked. “I already have a response to a bid I haven’t even seen?”

  “Yes. You are very efficient.”

  “I think it’s because you work sixty hour weeks.”

  “I didn’t want to bring that up.” There was a sigh. “Anything else?”

  “Yes. Buy yourself some flowers.”

  “I already did. Yellow roses.”

  “Yellow? That doesn’t sound like Valentine roses.”

  “My second husband always bought me red. I can hardly look at red roses without getting a tension headache.”

  “Good thing I got the yellow.”

  “Yes. So thoughtful of you.”

  “Talk to you Monday morning.”

  “Bright and early,” she said. “I’m on New York time.”

  “Suits me fine.”

  He disconnected and leaned back in his chair. “That was Millie. She took care of getting a vehicle for you. It’ll be here this afternoon.”

  A vehicle for her? She didn’t want a new car. She wanted her car. The way it was before he’d messed it up. “I’ll just get my car fixed. It’s paid for.”

  “We’re not getting that shitty car fixed, Sage. It needs a new engine and that would run thousands.”

  Shitty...? Why did he insist on saying disparaging remarks about her car? It had some problems but lots of used cars did. The smug expression on his face rankled. He wanted to buy her a new car? Fine. He could buy her the car of her dreams.

  “Okay. I want a jeep. A red one, as in Valentine’s Day red. And I want a soft top or topless. Whatever they call it. I want a really loud stereo and those extra wide tires.”

  He scoffed. “Those aren’t safe. I’m getting you a reliable vehicle, a truck, not a toy. And it’s already paid for.”

  She folded her arms over her chest and waited for him to add some more information to that. She’d been mostly kidding about him buying her a jeep, but she didn’t expect him to buy her a truck either. Ever since she was twelve and babysat, she’d made and handled her own money. The only time she’d borrowed any money was when she’d asked Trey for a loan. Now Theo was just going to give her a truck? What, exactly, did he want in return?

  His eyes swept over her as if he read her thoughts.

  She lowered her voice. “I’m not interested in being a kept woman, Theo.”

  Her words didn’t provoke a reaction in him at all. Without missing a beat he forged ahead. “Fine. We’ll get married. I don’t want men around town entertaining ideas about you. Time to get you off the market.”

  Drawing a sharp breath, she was about to reply to his outrageous remark when she heard her phone ring.

  “That’s my cell phone.”

  He rummaged under the papers scattered on his desk, searching for her phone. It was charging, and he unplugged it before handing it to her.

  “It’s Olivia,” she murmured. Before she could answer, the call went to voice mail.

  A tremor of worry went through her. “Do you really think Ashley and Olivia will get arrested? I mean, how do you prove that sort of thing? The only men I see either of them with are men who work at the Cabaret.”

  “If they did what I told them to do, they’ll be fine.”

  Sage sank into a chair. “You talked to them?”

  “I went over there last week and told them they better straighten up. I didn’t like men coming into the house, and I didn’t want your name associated with that.”

  The idea of Theo sitting and chatting with Olivia and Ashley made her thoughts spin. He was like a bull charging around the fragile structure of her life, upsetting things, breaking things and doing whatever he damn well pleased.

  “I like that picture you have of me,” he said.

  “You went into my room…”

  He didn’t reply, but his slow smile was confirmation. She had a picture on her dresser, one she’d taken from her mother and John’s house. She’d asked if she could borrow it so she could make a copy. It sat in a silver frame, a picture of him in fatigues, sprawled in a chair next to some other soldiers.

  Her phone dinged, drawing her from her thoughts. There were several messages from the girls at the lake, but she ignored them and went to voice mail. She had a cheery message from her mother, saying how much fun she and John were having. The next one was from Olivia. Ashley wasn’t feeling well and Olivia wondered when Sage might be returning from the lake.

  “Ashley’s sick,” Sage said. “Olivia wants to know when I’ll be home.”

  “The med-clinic is open on the weekends.”

  “She won’t go. She doesn’t have insurance. I should go check on her. It has to be pretty bad if Olivia’s calling me.”

  She dialed Olivia. “Sage, oh my God, thank you for calling back so quickly.”

  “What’s going on with Ashley?”

  “She’s not doing good. I wanted to know when you were coming home.”

  Home. She thought about the chaotic apartment she shared with her roommates. The mess. The disarray and constant coming and going of people. Theo’s home seemed so peaceful by comparison.

  “I’m in town, at Theo’s. My weekend got…uh, changed around a bit. Want me to come have a look at her?”

  “I’ll take you,” Theo said, getting up from the chair. He grabbed his phone and shoved it in his breast pocket.

  “Theo and I will come now.”

  “Don’t bring Theo,” Olivia blurted. “Ashley won’t want anyone to see her like this.”

  “Like how?”

  There was quiet on the other line. “Ashley doesn’t look good, Sage. Can you just come by yourself? Please?”

  “Okay. I’ll try.”

  The line went dead. She looked at the screen and saw it was out of power. It had been charging all night. The last thing she needed was her phone to act up too. Sage lifted her gaze to meet Theo’s.

  “Ashley wants me to come by myself.”

  “No. I’ll go with you.”

  “It’s fine. Ashley has sinus trouble. She gets sick in the winter all the time. Her whole face puffs up. That’s probably why she doesn’t want you to see her.” She laughed awkwardly. “Ashley thinks you’re hot.”

  Silence stretched between th
em. Sage realized she was waiting for him to give her permission to go, but then something shifted in his expression, a flicker of uncertainty.

  “Are you coming right back?” he asked.

  “I want to,” she said softly. “Am I invited?”

  She smiled but he only scowled in return.

  “Are you invited? I haven’t even decided if I’m letting you go.” He sat down.

  She got up from her chair, went to where he sat and let him pull her down to his lap. “If you let me go, I’ll make it up to you when I get back.”

  He ran his hand up her back. “Tell me about that.”

  “I don’t know. What would you like?”

  “Is that what it comes down to? What I like?”

  “Depends what it is. If you’re going to tie me up again like you did this morning in your bathroom, we need to be the only ones home. Otherwise, no deal.”

  “Marta and her sister will be gone in an hour. They’re making us dinner and then they’re leaving.”

  She flushed, her cheeks warming with the thought of what he’d done to her that morning while those sweet ladies were in the kitchen. It was a big house. Very big. But still.

  His hand drifted to her ass. “So when you give me your naked lap dance, you can be as loud as you want.”

  She cupped his jaw. “I’m not going to be naked.”

  He reached under his desk and pulled out a package. It was the gag gift she was supposed to take to the lake, the sex toy for Emma. She’d forgotten about the package in the back seat of her car.

  “This was in your car,” he said. “A package addressed to you.”

  Her skin prickled. She started to get up from his lap, but he tightened his hold.

  “I was curious about the company that sent it to you. I did some research. It is a very interesting business.”

  “It’s not for me, Theo.” Panic coiled inside her. “It’s for a friend. I swear. I know people always say that but it really is for a friend.”

  “Of course it is. I wouldn’t dream of implying it belongs to you. But it is addressed to you, so I think you are entitled to open it.”

  “I’m not opening it.”

  “In that case you need to call poor Ashley and tell her you’re not doing house calls today.”

  She gave a small growl and snatched the package from the desk and tore through the wrapping. There was no winning with Theo. She ripped the layers of tan paper from the box and stared.

  Theo took it from her and read the title on the box. “Butterfly Clitoral Vibrator with Remote Control.”

  Sage bit her lip. A woman’s face was pictured on the box, lids hooded, lips parted and head tilted back.

  He turned the box over. On the back was an image of the device. She reached for it, but he jerked it away.

  “Looks to me,” he said, “like this is something a lady straps around her thighs and that belt thing looks like it goes around her waist.”

  “I guess that’s what it is.” She tried to keep her tone even. “I should go check on Ashley.”

  He tossed the box to his desk and turned to her. The look of amusement was gone from his eyes and in its place was a look of warning. “You can take my truck. If there’s anyone other than Olivia or Ashley there, call me immediately.”

  “My phone isn’t charging properly.”

  He pulled his from his pocket and handed it to her. “Take mine. Press and hold One to call my landline.”

  She took his phone, got up from his lap and gave him a bemused smile. “You trust me with all your secrets?”

  “Secrets? I don’t really have any, Sage. I’m pretty much an open book.”

  He followed her through the house while she got her purse. They went to the garage where they were greeted by the dogs. Sage stopped to pet them before going to his truck.

  “I’m not happy about you going there,” he growled, handing her the truck keys. “Not happy at all.”

  “It’ll be fine. I won’t be there more than a half hour. I promise.”

  He opened the truck door for her, but before she got in, he pulled her close and kissed her. The kiss took her by surprise. The garage was cold and the warmth of his arms sent a shiver through her. Starting off gentle and chaste, his kiss seemed more of a sweet send-off, but he tightened his arms around her and it turned into seductive, drugging kiss. He angled his head, stroked her with his tongue.

  When he broke the kiss he silently urged her into the truck. He looked at his watch. “It’s almost four. I want you back no later than five thirty. The gate will open automatically. If you take a left out of the driveway, it will take you back to the main highway.” He shut the door.

  She started the engine. The garage door raised automatically behind her. She rolled down the window. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

  “Damn straight.” His eyes held a simmering intensity and he regarded her for a moment before going on. “I have plans for you.”

  Chapter 5

  Sage pulled the truck into the parking spot outside her apartment. Both Olivia and Ashley’s cars were parked in their usual spots. Most of their neighbors were at work and she didn’t see any unfamiliar cars. She still hadn’t decided if she fully believed what Theo said about Olivia and Ashley.

  When she’d first met them they were both dedicated nursing students. The job at the Cabaret took that ambition from them. Maybe it did that to all the girls who worked there. The easy money corrupted them and made hitting the books or forty hours a week not worth the effort.

  Trey treated the girls who worked at the club like his own private dating pool. For a while he was taken with Ashley. Sage saw his vehicle at the apartment every few days, but lately he was chasing after one of the newest dancers. Ashley tried to pretend she didn’t care, but it was clear his rejection stung.

  Walking up the path to the front door, she decided Theo had to be wrong about Ashley accepting money for sex. It was just rumor. People liked to talk. If that was the case, the same rumors might be swirling around her too.

  She stopped outside her front door. Trash bags were piled to one side. She counted four of them. They were from the party last night. They were stuffed with liquor bottles and takeout boxes. Neither Olivia nor Ashley liked to recycle much less take the trash the thirty steps to the dumpster. Sage grabbed the bags, took them to the steel bin and heaved them over the side. At least the garbage wasn’t inside the apartment.

  Olivia sat on the couch reading the newspaper. She wore yoga pants and an oversized t-shirt. When she looked up from her book she whipped off her reading glasses. No one was allowed to see Olivia in her ‘nerd glasses’. That was her number one rule. She smiled and got up, crossing the room to hug Sage. “I’m just taking a break. I’ve been cleaning all morning. The apartment was trashed when I got home this morning.”

  “What happened to Ash?”

  Olivia shrugged. “Someone smacked her around. She won’t tell me who. She said I’d have to change my name and move away if I reported him.”

  “Do you think she needs to go to the ER?”

  Olivia shook her head. “I think she just wanted you to check on her like you always do.”

  “All right. I’ll talk to her then I’ll make some breakfast.” Sage walked down the hallway to Ashley’s room. She knocked and when she heard a muffled response from Ashley she let herself in.

  Ashley huddled under the blankets, the only sign of her a spray of blonde hair across her pillow. Sage knelt beside the bed. She pulled the blankets a few inches and set her hand on Ashley’s forehead. A moan came from the girl.

  “Do we need to have someone check you out?” Sage asked softly.

  “It’s not serious. I just fell. Had too much to drink. I’ll be fine.”

  “You fell? Let me have a look at you. Tell me what hurts.”

  Ashley pulled the blankets back. Sage stared at her bruised and bloodied face, doing her best not to recoil. Ashley’s eye was purple and swollen shut. Her upper lip was swollen too, twi
ce the size of what it usually was. There were scratches on her jaw and neck. A sour smell came from her, like she was sleeping off a pretty good night of drinking. The smell was bad, but the injuries on her roommate’s face made her nauseated. Ashley was pretty, but her lovely features were so distorted she was almost unrecognizable.

  Sage felt herself fall into the role she often took living with Olivia and Ashley. Caretaker. Both girls liked to call her ‘Mamma Bear’. When they were sick or late with a bill or anything that needed fixing, they came to her. They acted like children a lot of the time and that was a big reason she’d stayed on in the apartment. They made her crazy, but she worried about them too.

  “That was some fall, Ash.” Sage schooled her voice to disguise her alarm. “Have you put ice on your eye?”

  “I don’t remember. I think Olivia might have given me some.”

  “Are you hurt anywhere else, or just your face?”

  “That’s all. Can you bring me a glass of water?”

  Sage got up and went to the kitchen. She turned on the stove and set a skillet on the burner. She took Ashley some water and then started on breakfast.

  Olivia sat at the bar looking over the classified section. She tapped the newsprint with her pen. “My grandparents want me to go back to school.”

  Sage began chopping onions. “That sounds good. Do you want to?”

  “Maybe. They’re offering a pretty big chunk of money if I go back to school. Or if I work for my grandfather. I’m going to take them up on their offer. I’m going to make Ashley quit too. I can’t leave her there to fend for herself.”

  “Seriously?” Sage stared at her, knife poised in mid-air. “That’s wonderful.”

  Olivia smiled. “I love dancing. I just don’t want to work for those jerks.”

  “Good. Don’t work there if you don’t have to.” Sage went back to chopping the onions. “Ashley needs to get out of there too. Definitely.”

  Theo’s phone rang. The caller ID read Sage’s Wrecker.

  “How’d you do that?” she asked.

  “I told you, I’m a fan of technology.”

  “I’m just making the girls something to eat and I’ll be on my way,” she said.