by KJ Bell
Sweetly, I ask, “How so?”
Her eyes bug out, and she extends her perfectly manicured hand in Maddie’s direction.
“That twit actually thought I would let her serve me again. After last week, I’m actually astonished to see that she’s still employed here.”
My face starts to hurt from the fake smile I’m trying to keep plastered on my lips. “I’m sure she didn’t recognize you.”
“Whatever,” she grumbles. “I would like a cosmopolitan. And Aidan will have a Bombay martini, dry, three olives.”
My heart beats furiously when I make eye contact with Tug. If he wasn’t so gorgeous and if he didn’t make my insides turn to mush, it would be easier to hate him.
“No, thank you. I’m on babysitting duty tonight. I’ll have water,” he says politely and indifferently before darting his eyes away from me.
“And for you, Andrew?”
“Chocolate milk, please.” His grin is adorable. He looks just like Brady.
Queen Crazy makes an awful noise and says, “Please, this isn’t McDonalds. They don’t have chocolate milk.”
The smile slides off Andrew’s face. His sad frown makes me want to slap the snooty bitch.
Instead, I smile and wink at him. “Actually, we do. You’re in luck, kid.”
“Well, he doesn’t need the sugar,” she says, speaking over me. “He’ll be bouncing off the walls. He’ll also have water.”
“He’ll have chocolate milk,” Tug says firmly before smiling at me. “Thank you, Maria.”
His smile slices through me, causing an eruption of anger under the skin.
“Yeah, thank you, Maria.” Andrew giggles.
I leave to go to the table next to them. While I’m taking their order, I eavesdrop on Tug’s table conversation.
“How do you know her?” Queen Crazy asks accusingly.
“I didn’t say I did,” Tug responds, his tone clearly irritated.
She sighs dramatically. “She called Andrew by name.”
“She’s friends with my dad,” Andrew answers for Tug.
Walking away, I can’t help but laugh. Andrew just saved his ass. Tug owes the kid, big-time.
I return to the table with their drinks. As I start to set the tray down, Andrew announces he has to use the bathroom and bolts up from his chair. His shoulder bumps the bottom of the tray, and as hard as I try, I can’t stop it from toppling over and spilling all three drinks in Queen Crazy’s lap.
“Oh, God. I’m so sorry. I’ll get you a towel.”
She screams and stands up, her large green eyes glaring at Andrew. “You fucking little brat!”
“Hey, don’t talk to him like that!” I know it’s none of my business, but the words come out anyway, and, judging by her flushed skin, she’s furious.
“You mind your business if you want to keep your job.”
I cower, but only because I can’t lose this job. I glance at Tug, and beg for intervention with my eyes.
He appears amused by the entire episode and grabs her wrist. “Sit down, Larissa. Maria will get a towel.”
“No, I will not sit down.” She points at Andrew. “Are you retarded or something?”
“What’s the matter with you?” I scream. “You can’t talk to him like that. He’s just a kid.”
Her long red fingernail points at me. “I told you to butt out.” She whips her head around toward Tug. “Aidan, are you going to say something to him?”
“Yep.” Tug smiles mischievously and pats the top of Andrew’s head. “Don’t sweat it, buddy. It was an accident, and I’ll pay to have her dress cleaned.”
She crosses her arms.
“This is an outrage. I want to see your boss.”
I leave and fill Davey in on the incident. He laughs. “Good ol’ Tug.”
Even Davey reacts like he expects this from Tug. I was right—the man truly cannot go anywhere without creating pandemonium?
We reach the table, and Davey takes in the scene as I hand Queen Crazy a towel. She rips it from my grip and swipes at her dress erratically. A smile forms over Davey’s mouth. “You wanted to see me?” he says, his tone professional, although laced with a hint of amusement.
“Yes, your clumsy employee spilled drinks all over my dress and didn’t so much as apologize for it.”
I bite my tongue to keep from calling her a lying bitch. Just because I didn’t mean it, doesn’t erase that I did in fact apologize.
“So, you’re unhappy with the service?” Davey clarifies, casually.
“Yes, very unhappy.”
“Well, then, I don’t have to worry about seeing you in here again.” He leans to the left to look at Tug. “Tug, since your friend is causing a scene, I think it’s time for you to take her home.”
“Who’s Tug?” Queen Crazy asks, annoyed.
“Pardon me. Aidan” — Davey laughs — “now would be a good time to take Crazy home.”
“How dare you!” Queen Crazy pushes her hands onto her hips and stomps her feet like a petulant child. It’s quite comical and I cover my mouth to hush my laughter. “Are you going to let him speak to me that way?”
Tug stands up. When he does, our arms touch, sending a charge through my body. Why do I react this way to him? It has to be chemical, because logically, I find him infuriating.
“Can Drew hang out for a bit?” he asks, sounding desperate. I want to say no, but I adore Andrew, and I want to protect him from Queen Crazy’s wrath.
“Of course.”
“Come on, princess. Time to go.” Tug says, and grips her arm. She grumbles loudly and purses her bright red lips. Tug practically drags her to the exit. Davey glances over at me and mouths, Whoa! He holds his index finger next his ear and makes circles in the air. I laugh, and not just because she’s crazy, but because Tug is stuck with her spoiled, pampered ass.
I take Andrew into Davey’s office and find him some crayons and a coloring book.
“Will you be okay in here for a little while?” He nods and picks up a crayon.
“Oh, do you still need to use the bathroom?”
“No. I’m good.”
I’m starting to close the office door when he calls my name. “Yeah?”
He sends me a guilty grin. “It wasn’t an accident.”
I wink at him. “I know, buddy.”
I don’t bother to open the passenger side door for Larissa before getting in the driver’s seat of my car and slamming the door shut after me. Knowing Maria got a good laugh out of Larissa embarrassing me pisses me off more than her behavior. I take in a few calming breaths before I start the engine. Larissa must sense my anger because she hasn’t moved since we got in the car. Her hands rest between her thighs, her red lips flat. Finally…she’s fucking quiet.
I pull into traffic before I lay into her. “You are never to speak to anyone like that again when you’re with me, especially my nephew. This is a business arrangement, and, as such, you are supposed to make me look good. Pull a stunt like that again, and you won’t be paid.”
She turns in the seat to face me. “I know, baby. I’m sorry. I lost my temper.” Her rich, seductive eyes move to my crotch. “Let me make it up to you.”
I should tell her no, but the thought of having my dick sucked while driving my Porsche is hot as fuck, and I’m a guy. Telling her no isn’t happening. It’s against the code of things men must say yes to, and though not written anywhere, is well known, and in numerical order. Blow-job while driving has to be three or four on the list.
She leans over the seat. I stay quiet as her hands undo my belt. Her fingers pop the button on my slacks, and as she lowers the zipper, my conscience yells at me to stop her. Before I can object, she has her warm hand around my cock, and I politely tell my conscience to get lost. Her head dips, and her wet tongue sweeps over the tip.
I look down, and it’s Maria’s face I see. “Yes,” I say, wanting it to be Maria sucking my dick.
Her suction increases with her speed, and I grip the
steering wheel tightly. I don’t as much as glance down. Seeing whose head is actually bobbing in my lap will ruin my fantasy. I prefer to imagine it’s Maria, and that is exactly what I do. Even when I release, I picture Maria’s gorgeous lips wrapped around my cock.
Paying Larissa to be my girlfriend is a tad ironic, and I find humor in Larissa looking down on Maria. If she knew Maria used to be a hooker, she’d have all sorts of nasty things to say, yet, she is essentially being paid to suck me off.
I feel sick as Larissa lifts her head, wiping her mouth on her hand. She looks so proud of herself and I glance away, keeping my eyes focused on the road.
Larissa tries to lure me into her place, but I refuse and boot her from the car in front of her building, ignoring the insulted expression on her pouty face.
When I return to the restaurant, I spot Davey behind the bar but don’t see Drew anywhere. Davey comes out from behind the bar and makes his way to me.
“Please tell me you didn’t lose my nephew.”
“Nah. He’s in my office with Maria.”
“Thanks for keeping him so I could take Larissa home.”
He nods slowly. “Oh, Crazy has a name. What are you doing with her, man?”
“It’s complicated.”
“All right. It’s none of my business, but that chick is psycho-cuckoo.”
He’s right—it is none of his business, but I don’t want to have a confrontation with him after the shit Larissa pulled. He handled it better than I would have.
“Yeah, I know.”
I go to Davey’s office. Drew and Maria are lying on the floor on opposite sides of a checkerboard.
“Who’s winning?” I ask, stepping in the office and shutting the door behind me.
“Uncle Tug!” Drew yells, and jumps up. He comes over and hugs my leg. “Did you ditch the crazy girl?”
“Yes, I took Larissa home. You ready to go?”
Maria gets up off the floor and smiles. “He’s a great kid, and quite the checkers player.”
“Oh, yeah?”
Drew smirks. “Pretty much. I smoked her.”
“Buddy, we gotta have a talk. You’re always supposed to let the pretty girls win.”
His nose crinkles. “Why would I do that?”
“Trust me. Someday, you’ll understand.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
“Thanks for keeping an eye on him,” I say to Maria. Seeing her stirs feelings in me I didn’t know were there, or didn’t want to be. I fucked up bad with her, and there’s nothing I can say to make it right.
“Oh, it was no problem.”
I pinch the bride of my nose, thinking of what to say. I owe her something.
“I never apologized to you for what I did, and I want you know how sorry I am.” An apology is all I can offer her right now.
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
I want to say I’d like to start over, but I don’t. Maria doesn’t fit into the image I’m trying to project in public. Maybe if I hadn’t screwed up so royally already, it could work. Right. The two of us together is a ridiculous fantasy. All I need is for the board to find a picture of me in the paper with a hooker. It shouldn’t matter. I don’t care if she isn’t the type of girl I can take to a business dinner. She’s perfect for me. I want her, and if I weren’t such a coward, I would tell her. But I am a coward. I’ll pretend she has no effect on me. I’ll pretend Larissa is my girlfriend. I’ll pretend not to feel. Pretending is the one Hunter trait I have an abundance of.
Drew climbs on the bed with me, and I turn on the television.
“Your girlfriend isn’t nice,” he announces, sitting back against the headboard.
The kid is as blunt as his father.
“She overreacted. She’s not that bad.”
His eyes get real big, and he laughs so hard he almost falls off the bed. “Are you blind? She’s Godzilla.”
“I’m definitely not blind. She is much hotter than Godzilla.”
“Just because someone is pretty on the outside doesn’t make them beautiful.”
He doesn’t say another word, and neither do I. The kid is so much smarter than I am. He’s right, but he has no experience to draw from, no understanding of how much adults like to complicate their lives.
Drew and I enter Brady’s house in the morning. It’s quiet, but I know Tori’s here because her car is in the driveway. He takes his bag upstairs. I go to the kitchen and see Tori sitting in a chair on the back deck¸ staring out into the ocean. Her sad face worries me, and I go out to check on her.
“Where is everyone?”
She turns her head and smiles, rubbing her arms likes she’s cold, only it’s eighty outside, which means she’s upset. “Brady’s at rehearsal, and Liv and Harrison are at the Center.”
“That’s some view, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
I lean against the railing and study her briefly. “What’s wrong?”
Her shoulders sag. She toys with the hem of her shorts. I wait. “I come out here sometimes to be close to her.”
She doesn’t need to say her name for me to know she’s talking about Mona.
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want any of us to be sorry anymore. Davey tells me every time I see him. I try to remember something good came out of that day. A life was lost and one was found. Davey got straight, and located his son. I know he’ll never get over what happened, even though I’ve forgiven him.”
I find it hard to forgive him, but that’s my issue to get past. He’s a decent guy, and it’s probably time for me to stop blaming him for my actions. “I think it’s hard on all of us.”
“I know.” Her gaze travels to the staircase that leads to the beach below. “I’ve even thought about having the stairs replaced. Stupid, right?”
Her falling down those stairs was the start of my downward spiral, and I’m not fond of them, either. I kneel in front of her and grab both her hands.
“I’m no one to judge. Do what brings you peace.”
“Don’t mind me. I’m an emotional wreck from this pregnancy.” She pulls her hands away and stands up. “You don’t look so hot yourself. What’s up?”
Drew comes through the slider before I’m forced to spill about the source of my agony.
“Hey, kiddo. Did you have a good time?”
“The best, except Uncle Tug’s girlfriend went all crazy at dinner because the waitress spilled drinks on her. She called me an F-word brat and asked if I was retarded.”
“Oh, really?” Tori gives me a stern look. “What else?”
“Davey tossed her out of the restaurant. That part was cool.”
Tori laughs. “I see. Why don’t you go inside and get a snack, and I’ll be in in a minute.”
“Adult conversation time,” Drew whines.
“Yes, now go.”
Once Drew is inside, I say, “Don’t freak out.”
“Surprisingly, I’m not. I can tell you feel bad by how bent you look. Girlfriend, huh?”
“Kind of.”
“Uh, she either is or isn’t.”
If I tell her the truth, I’m going to get a lecture, but hell, if I say Larissa’s my girlfriend, I’ll still get a lecture.
“It’s a business arrangement,” I admit.
“You might want to elaborate.” She sits back down in the chair, and I know there’s no getting out of this.
“The board isn’t happy with my behavior. It looks good to be out with a ‘girlfriend’ for dinner a few nights a week.”
Her mouth opens as she stares at me in shock. “You’re totally kidding me, right? Is there a camera somewhere? Are we on some reality show?”
Now that she’s put it that way, the arrangement does seem pretty comical. “I’m dead serious.”
“So you don’t have any feelings for this girl?” I shake my head. “Then why do you look so down?”
“Maria was the waitress,” I mumble, and look away.
“Oh. Brady to
ld me they hired her. That must have been awkward.”
“You have no idea, but she was ready to throw down when Larissa laid into Drew.”
“I’m liking Maria more and more.”
I smile big — too big — and she notices.
“Oh, and I’m guessing so do you.”
“Doesn’t matter. Dating her won’t exactly make the board happy.”
Her forehead crinkles. “Can I be frank?”
“Mmmm, I’d prefer you be Tori. You’d make a rather ugly guy.”
“Oh, my Tug is so back. Look, I could lecture you on this being a stunt your mother would’ve pulled, but I’m guessing you’ve already considered that.” I nod. “You know what I miss most about you?”
“I’m dying to know, seriously. I’m on pins and needles here.”
Tori shakes her head. “Aside from your often obnoxious sense of humor, you were always the one to do whatever you wanted, and you were never afraid to stand up to anyone who got in your way. Brady was always the pleaser. You’ve never been a follower. Why start now?’
That’s an easy one to answer. Brady put me in charge of Gibson Capital. “I don’t want to let Brady down.”
“If you truly like Maria and the board has an issue with it, I think Brady would be the first one to back you.”
I realize she’s right. Brady, of all people, wouldn’t want me to live a lie. “You’re pretty great.”
“You aren’t so bad yourself. Now, you have a ton of ass-kissing to do with Maria, and no offense, but I hope she makes it painful.”
I cover my heart with my hands. “I’m hurt. I thought we were friends again.”
“We are, but you’ll appreciate her so much more if she makes you work for it.”
I sit in the chair next to her and put my feet on the table. “I can’t believe you’re encouraging me to date a hooker.”
“Why not?” Tori shoves my feet from the table. “She’ll fit right into this crazy family of ours. We aren’t exactly traditional. What harm can throwing a hooker in the mix do? Besides, she could be anything, and as long as she makes you smile like you are now, I’ll encourage you to do whatever it takes to keep her.”
“What if she was a dog?” I ask, my expression completely serious.