Tattooed Guy walks up to the bar and I swallow the urge to jump over it and beat the shit out of him. Not that I could.
“I need a couple of rum and cokes and another beer. And be sure to really load them up with rum.” He looks over his shoulder with a leer. “After seeing you with her, I need to get her more eager, if you know what I mean.”
“Perhaps it’s the company that matters, not her level of intoxication.” My statement is harsh and direct.
His smile fades. “What did you just say?”
Brittany pushes me aside. “Ben, I need you to go in back and bring out another CO2 bottle. You know I can’t lift those heavy things.” Her southern accent is heavy as she leans forward, pointing her tits, which are hugged by her too-tight T-shirt, in Tattoo Guy’s face. “I’ll be more than happy to help you out, sugar.”
I continue to glare at the fucking asswipe in front of me.
“Now, Ben.”
Brittany is right to make me leave, which only pisses me off more. Cursing under my breath, I head into the back to lug out a CO2 bottle. Too heavy for her, my ass. I’ve seen her carry two canisters without breaking a sweat. She’s learned how to move heavy objects around from transferring patients in and out of bed in the nursing home.
The storage room is too small, the air too stale. I can’t believe I took her back to that table and left her there. With that fucking pig who wants to get her drunk and eager.
I’m suddenly desperate for air.
I leave the canister in the hall and step out the back door into the coolness of the night, hoping it will ease my mood. Why do I feel responsible for this girl? She’s not mine and she’s where she wants to be, but I suspect she’s gotten herself into a more serious situation than she realizes. The real question is why do I care? I barely know her other than a couple of interactions. I sort through my head, trying to remember what Tina and Scarlett have said about her. I didn’t pay much attention then, and I curse my short-sightedness. How could I see her in the math lab days ago without figuring out how I knew her? How could those blue eyes belong to anyone else?
Focus, Masterson.
Every time I’ve seen her here in the bar, she’s worn that black wig, yet at Southern she’s a blonde. Why the disguise, especially since she doesn’t want me to know who she is?
She lives with her brother and his fiancée in an apartment and Reed keeps her on a tight leash. It’s obvious he has no idea she’s out with Tina tonight. In fact, I’m tempted to tell him and let Tina take the heat. But that would implicate Alexa, so for now I’ll keep her secret. I know she’s a sophomore business major and the student liaison for the Middle Tennessee Children’s Charity, and that she’s determined to establish a program for middle-school kids that I would have killed to attend at that age. She throws herself wholeheartedly into whatever she loves, whether it’s a project or a person.
As I finish my list of what little I know about Alexa—Lexi—Pendergraft, I feel worse instead of better. It makes me want a shot with her even more.
Down, boy. She’s taken.
So where the fuck is the asshole? Where was he two weeks ago when that actor from the play was ready to screw her on a table? Where is he tonight when she’s putting herself in danger? For him? I don’t know jack-shit about the fucktard other than he doesn’t deserve her.
Instead of cooling off, I’m angrier than when I first came outside.
I take a deep breath. So what am I going to do about any of this?
No, the real question is what do I want?
But that’s not a question, not really. I know I want her. I want to protect her from Tina and her group of miscreants. I want to get to know her better and to kiss her again, in private this time so it can go further. I hardly know her, and I’m not a love-at-first-sight kind of guy, yet I know deep in my gut that if I had a chance with her, we would have something amazing.
But she’s Reed Pendergraft’s little sister, and no matter how honorable my intentions are—four words not usually uttered in conjunction with my name—Pendergraft will never approve. He’ll fire my ass before I can utter a word of protest, especially when he finds out about my arrest. Because I’m sure he’ll dig that gem out and polish it until it’s nice and shiny, blinding everyone within a two-mile radius with the glare.
No, Alexa Pendergraft is off limits. I’ve already let one girl nearly destroy my life. I can’t make that mistake again.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to blow my tension away. Then I go back inside, determined to put her out of my mind. Hopefully her evening with Tina is a one-time venture. Chances are I’ll never see her again unless she visits Reed and up until now she’s only dropped by twice, once for him and once for Scarlett. If I make it through tonight, I can be free of her.
As I lug the CO2 tank behind the bar, Tattoo Guy is walking back to the table, juggling the drinks and his beer.
“You didn’t really put more alcohol in her drink did you?” I ask Britt as I start to replace the can.
She rolls her eyes. “I can’t believe you even asked. And you’re welcome for saving your ass. That guy would have beat you to a bloody pulp, not to mention that your uncle would have fired you.”
I grumble my thanks.
“She won’t be getting drunk here tonight, but what happens to her after she leaves is out of our control.”
I nod. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Was she really going to leave with them? I don’t like it, but there’s nothing I can do.
Brittany leans against the counter, watching Tattoo Guy with a scowl. “But I don’t trust that snake who got her drink. We need to watch him like a hawk.”
More patrons enter the bar and we’re working double time to keep up, making it harder for us to keep an eye on Tina’s table. Alexa is still between Tattoo Guy and Tina and they’ve ordered quite a few drinks. I’m making a pitcher of margaritas for a group of mommies who look desperate for a night out when I see Alexa head back toward the restroom while Tattoo Guy makes his way to the bar. He sets one of the drinks I’ve made on the bar and pushes it toward me.
“Are you sure you’re putting enough alcohol in these drinks? My girls aren’t getting very buzzed.”
I shrug as I wipe a spill off the counter with a rag. “Maybe they have a high alcohol tolerance.”
“Well, they’re switching to Long Island Iced Teas. And you better not be cheating me.”
My stomach drops. I have no idea how to fake the alcohol content of a drink made almost entirely out of alcohol.
Britt casts a glance my direction, hurries to finish making the drink she’s working on, then heads to the back. She returns just as I’m handing the new cocktails to the guy.
He’s walking back to his table when she whispers in my ear, “I’ve warned her. I don’t know what else to do. I tried to talk her into going home, but your girl is a stubborn thing. She refuses to consider it.”
Your girl. Why do those two words catch my breath?
“I told her if she feels unsafe to let one of us know.”
She makes her way toward a customer who’s waiting at the bar, but I grab her arm. “Britt, thanks. Seriously.”
She shrugs and grins. “I feel inclined to help because you’re stuck on her, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen you show any interest in a woman since we started working together. But I also can’t stand jerks like that who try to prey on vulnerable women. I’ll bash in his head before I let her leave with him.”
I’m not sure how Brittany plans to put this statement into action, and I’m afraid to ask.
We’re so distracted by Alexa and Tina’s group that we get behind, but we bust our asses to get caught up and get a few minutes to breathe. I look up the clock on the wall. Twelve forty-five. Only another hour and fifteen minutes until we can close. The stress of the evening has made me more exhausted than usual.
Britt is at the other end of the bar when she suddenly stiffens. I automatically turn to Alexa’s table. Sh
e’s trying to get out of her chair but Tattoo Guy is pulling her back down.
I’m around the bar and at their group before I even stop think about how to handle the situation. But when I reach the table, Alexa’s trying to pull out of his grasp. “It looks like the lady wants to get up.” I say, my back tense. “I suggest you let her.”
Tina bursts out laughing. “Benjamin Masterson, wanna-be hero.” She moves her hands in a shooing motion. “There’s nothing to see here, so why don’t you run along and leave us alone.”
My gaze lands on Alexa. “Alexa, do you want to leave?”
She looks up at me with unfocused eyes, panic etched on her face. “Yes.”
Tattoo Guy stands and puffs out his chest. “She came with me and she’s leaving with me. I’d like to see you try and stop me.” He reaches down and grabs her arm, pulling her up.
My vision clouds with my rage when she cries out. I start to lunge for him, but Britt’s voice stops me.
“Let go of her now.”
I cast a look at her out of the corner of my eye and see that she’s holding a baseball bat.
Tattoo Guy hesitates, looking from Britt to me. I can see why. Britt looks deadly serious. Her eyes are steely focused and she’s holding the bat like she’s about to swing it at his head.
Tina stands and groans, rolling her eyes in disgust. “She’s not worth the effort. Leave her.”
The guy hesitates before releasing his hold and Alexa drops back into the chair, her body limp.
“Sorry, Curly Sue,” Tina sneers, leaning over her. “You didn’t fulfill your end of the bargain, so no name for you.” She scoots around Alexa’s chair.
“I suggest you don’t step foot back in here,” Britt says, following the group as they head toward the door. “Or I’ll beat your sorry asses before I call the police.”
“Yeah, don’t you worry your pretty little head over it,” Tina says over her shoulder. “This place is a bore.”
They stomp out the door, slamming it behind them as I slide into the chair next to Alexa. Her head is floppy, her hair hanging in her face.
A guy in his twenties slinks over from a couple of tables away, his expression wary. He looks at the door, then back at me. “I think I saw him dump something in her drink.”
He roofied her?
Britt lowers the bat and lets it dangle at her side. She plants her feet apart and glares at the customer. “And you didn’t think to tell someone?” Several customers look over at her.
He cringes. “I wasn’t totally sure, and if I falsely accused him, I doubt he would have let it go.”
He’s right and I wonder what I would have done in his situation. Damn if that doesn’t stick in my craw.
“How long ago did it happen?” Britt asks.
“I don’t know.” He looks scared. He should be. I’m about to kick his ass.
She bangs the bat on the table. “Think harder.”
His face pales as his gaze drops to the bat. “I don’t know. Twenty, maybe thirty minutes.”
“Come on,” Britt grabs Alexa’s arm. “Help me get her to the back room.”
When I take her other arm and we lift her up, her legs are like noodles, barely supporting her weight. I sling her arm around my neck and we drag her down the hall to Tony’s office. I set her in the desk chair and kneel in front of her. “Alexa, I’m going to call the police.”
Her eyes fly open in panic. “No! No police.”
“We have to report this, sweetheart,” Britt says, leaning closer. “We can’t let them get away with this and we need to get you to the hospital.”
She shakes her head wildly and tries to stand. “No. Reed can’t find out. Please.” Tears fill her eyes as she pleads with me.
“Who’s Reed?” Britt asks.
I stand and lower my voice. “Her over-protective brother,” I say. “And my boss at the math lab. He’s already looking for a reason to fire me. If he finds out, I suspect he’ll try to pin this on me somehow.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah.”
Alexa is slumped across the desk. We’re running out of time.
“What do you want to, Ben? Your call.”
“If he drugged her, she needs to go to the hospital.”
Britt leans her shoulder against the doorframe. “If he really gave her a roofie, she’ll sleep it off in about eight hours. You could call a friend of hers to pick her up, but you’re going to need to do it soon. At the rate she’s going, I give her ten minutes tops before she’s comatose for several hours.”
I brush Alexa’s hair off her cheek. Her eyes are closed, but she flinches at the contact. “Alexa, I want to call a friend to come get you. Who should I call? Scarlett? Caroline?”
Her eyes open, but her pupils remain dilated. “No. Please. They’ll tell Reed.”
“Ben,” Britt’s voice is low. “Take her home and end your responsibility in this. I’ll grab her purse and we’ll look up where she lives.”
“Okay.” I stay squatted next to Alexa, watching the rise and fall of her chest. She doesn’t seem to be in any respiratory distress, thank God.
Britt returns moments later and hands me her small bag. “I need to get back out there. I’ll check on you in a minute.”
“Okay.”
I dig through Alexa’s purse and find her cell phone, a wallet, keys, and a tube of lipstick. I open the wallet and am surprised to find a Massachusetts driver’s license with a Boston address. Alexa Nicole Pendergraft. According to her birthdate, she’s twenty-two. I’d bet my ass it’s a fake ID, but I have to admit that it looks legit. The wallet only has some cash and a debit card with her name on it. I pick up her cell phone, but the access is password protected.
I should call Reed and tell him she’s here, but she begged me not to let him know, and I still suspect Reed will somehow try and pin this on me. I’ll lose my job at the math lab. I tell myself it’s an irrational fear, but I’m not so sure.
If I don’t call Reed and can’t call one of her friends, what am I going to do with her? Britt’s right. I’m quickly running out of time before she completely passes out.
“Alexa?”
Her eyes remain closed.
“Alexa.” I give her a shake and she rouses. “I don’t know who to call to come get you. Who can I call?”
She tries to look at me, but her eyes look glazed and fill with tears. “No one. There’s no one.”
I’m at a loss and panic starts to claw at my chest. I definitely can’t leave her in the office, and I can’t dump her out on the street. Before I stop to think this through, I say, “I live a block from here. I’m going to take you to my apartment, okay?”
“Thank you.” A tear escapes and falls down her cheek, and I feel more protective of her right now than I’ve ever felt about anyone.
“I have to tell Britt I’m leaving. I’ll be right back.”
She nods and leans back in the chair.
I run out front and look for Alexa’s coat, which is still in the chair where she was sitting, and stop at the bar. “I’m going to take her home.”
“Good call. I’ll cover here,” Britt says. “Be careful.”
I realize she’s misunderstood which home I mean, but I nod before rushing to the backroom. My apartment is a block away and I’m not sure Alexa can make it that far.
I pull her up. “Alexa, we have to get your coat on so I can take you to my place.”
She tries to help, but her movements are loose and uncoordinated. Once we get it on, I button up the top buttons and hoist her to her feet. “Come on, Sleeping Beauty.”
Once she’s up, she leans into me and I guide her out the back door. The cold air seems to jolt her awake, so I take advantage of it and hurry her as fast as her feet will move in her skinny, high-heeled boots. Ordinarily, I’d appreciate her footwear, but right now it’s a hindrance. If it weren’t so cold, I’d take them off so we could move faster.
We’ve made it to my gravel parking lot when she starts to fad
e again. “Come on, Alexa,” I say. “Stay with me. We’re almost there.”
She looks up at me, her eyes half closed. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t say you’re sorry, baby. Just help me get you to my apartment.”
But her knees buckle and she’s falling. I catch her before she hits the ground and it’s apparent she’s not walking any farther. I scoop her legs up with one arm and support her back with the other, then carry her toward the stairs. By the time I get to the second floor, I’m heaving and my arms are burning. Once I get to my apartment, I kick the door three times in rapid succession, praying my roommates are still up playing video games.
Seconds later, Austin opens the door, irritation on his face. “What the—” his gaze drops to the girl in my arms and his voice fades “—fuck.”
“I’m about to drop her.”
He moves out of my way and I carry her to my bedroom.
“Quick,” I shout. “Grab a clean blanket and throw it on my bed.” I can’t remember the last time I changed my sheets and I’m not about to set her on disgusting bedding.
Austin disappears and returns with a blanket that he quickly spreads out over my comforter.
I lay her down as gently as possible, resting her head on my pillow. I unbutton her coat and wrangle it off her, tossing it in my ratty recliner in the corner. Her black dress has hiked up and I try to tug it down, but there’s only so much fabric and it’s not going any lower. I glance toward the hall and Austin and Noah are standing in the doorway, ogling her—their eyes wide, their mouths hanging open.
“Where did she come from?” Austin asks.
“Can we keep her?” Noah whispers.
I pick up a pillow and throw it in his face. “Hell, no we can’t keep her. She’s not a pet.” I don’t like how they’re looking at her legs. They’re covered in tights, but still... “Get another blanket.”
They continue to stare.
“Now.”
They jump and Noah goes this time, returning with a small quilt that he throws at me. I catch it and spread it over her, starting at her chest and stopping at her knees. Her boots look uncomfortable. Given her current drugged state I’m not sure removing anything other than her coat is a good idea, but in the end, I decide they have to come off. I’ve grabbed her right calf and am starting to unzip when Noah comes over and reaches for her other leg.
Business as Usual (Off The Subject) Page 14