by Sam Crescent
It was another kick to the balls letting Trey know how unsuitable he was for June. She was used to this world of luxury while he gulped at the prices.
Taking a deep breath he searched the room looking for his woman.
“Can you see her?”
“I’m looking.”
“Okay, I’m scared to look at the price of some nuts or snacks. After we’re done here I want to get a burger. A burger that doesn’t cost me the earth and fills me up.”
“You were the one who wanted to come.”
“I know. I didn’t think I’d be broke because of it.”
“This is June’s world. I need to know who my competitor is,” Trey said, spotting June. He had a clear view of the table and the guy sat opposite her. Martin, he remembered the name from June telling him. The bastard was sat, munching his way through the French food. His lips were constantly moving.
Trey saw her moving the food around her plate. She hated French food. There was a grimace on her face as she listened and an occasional nod of her head.
He kept staring at her, and before long she was looking in his direction.
“She’s seen me,” he said.
“Goody.”
A new glow settled inside her. He saw it and knew he was the cause.
They were talking about something, and he wished he knew what the other guy was saying.
“I’m bored,” Dale said.
“She’s coming here. Please, pretend to be surprised.”
Trey wrapped his fingers around his glass trying to hold on for dear life.
“Hello, Trey,” she said. He watched her turn to Dale and said the same to him. The desire to reach out and touch her was intense. He held the feelings at bay as she ordered another water. She didn’t need to leave the table for that.
Had she come on purpose to speak to him?
“Dale knows about us,” Trey said.
He expected some outburst or sharp tongue lashing from her. Instead, she smiled. “Molly knows as well. I also know about Dale and Molly.”
“How’s the food?” he asked, not wanting the moment to go.
“Disgusting and the company is awful. Wish me luck, and I’ll see you later.” She touched his arm, moving away as she did.
“She likes you,” Dale said.
“Shut up.” Trey felt like a high school kid again.
“I’m not joking, man. She likes you.”
Smiling, Trey stared at her ass, watching her sit down with the asshole. Good, now all he needed to do was get her to love him.
****
“Who’s the guy?” Martin asked the instant she sat down.
“Someone I know.”
“He looks totally out of place.”
She gripped her thighs, sinking the nails into the flesh. For the last hour she had listened to him speak. All the time she couldn’t stop thinking about Trey. He’d done a number on her, and it was only supposed to be about sex with them. She couldn’t handle anything else.
Picking her fork up, she moved the meal around her plate. She really hated the food. Martin was digging into his meal.
“I can’t believe you know that man. He’s not from a good family. Look at the way he slouches and sits. He’s a fake.”
Biting her lip she tried to ignore him.
“His friend looks the same. He keeps looking over here, but you’re taken. I was thinking we could visit the Greek restaurant in the city tomorrow night.” He reached over, touching her hand.
Pulling away from him she shot him a glare. “I don’t want you touching me.”
“Your family wants us to be together, June.”
Staring at him, she dropped the fork to her plate. “You see that man? The one who is so out of place? I was fucking him while you rang my doorbell. That’s right, he was inside me, and I didn’t want to come here. This date has been awful.” Her heart was pounding inside her chest, threatening to escape. “I don’t like you, and I bet you’ve got a string of women up and down the country waiting for you.”
He didn’t disagree with her.
“This is not going to be anything. We’re not going on another date. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
She pushed her chair back and stood. Without giving him another look, she turned on her heel and moved toward Trey. He was frowning at her approach.
“Get me out of here please. I need to get away from him.”
His arm settled around her back, leading her out of the room. She didn’t wait for her coat. Getting out of the restaurant was what she needed.
Trey sat in the back while Dale drove the car.
“We’re going to stop for some burgers,” Dale said. “I’m hungry.”
“Can I come in with you?” she asked, needing something to eat.
Both men agreed.
“What’s going on? What happened?” Trey asked.
He stroked her cheek. The action was so tender she almost burst out crying.
“He was talking crap about you. Talking about how out of place you looked and he wouldn’t shut up. I snapped and blurted everything out. I told him you were fucking me when he knocked on the door this evening. Crap, this is going to end badly.”
Trey wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her back.
She leaned forward, feeling her stomach ready to expel what little she’d eaten.
“I shouldn’t have said anything,” she said.
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll get through this together.”
Dale pulled into a burger bar. They left the car and headed inside, taking a seat as far back as possible. She felt Dale’s gaze on them as they looked over a menu together.
“What?” Trey asked.
“Nothing. It’s just you look like a couple who has been together for years. It’s kind of cool to see.” He went back to reading the menu.
Glancing up at Trey she saw him glaring at his friend.
She shook her head, telling him without words to let it drop. When the waitress came over the guys ordered cheeseburgers with everything while she had a turkey burger with everything. She was starving and needed the calories to help her focus.
Her cell phone buzzed. Pulling the phone from her pocket she saw it was her mother.
“What’s the matter?” Trey asked.
“I can’t deal with her right now.” Turning the phone off, she handed it to Trey. “Please don’t let me have it until tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?”
“Hell yeah. Mom is going to be shouting, cursing, screaming and not to mention my dad. No, I can’t handle them right now.” She let out a frustrated sigh. “Why can’t they see the truth? I can.”
“They want you to be happy.”
“I’ll be happy when they leave me alone.”
Dale was watching them again.
“What?” she asked, snapping out the word.
“Nothing. I’ve got nothing at all to say.”
“Just tell me,” she said, expelling a breath.
“Are you two going to remain a secret, or are you ever going to come forward with the truth that you’re seeing each other?” Dale asked.
“Not now,” Trey said.
“Let him talk.” June looked at Dale waiting for him to continue.
“Both of you need to make a choice. It’s not going to be easy for you. June, you come from one of the wealthiest men around. Trey, you come from one of the bad families in town. This is not going to go well. You’re either in this together or not.”
She didn’t want to think about the points Dale raised. He didn’t know anything about either of them. It wasn’t up to him what they did with their lives.
The waitress brought them over their food, and they ate in silence. She spilled mayonnaise over her dress, and she didn’t care. When she got home she’d be burning the dress in the bakery oven.
Trey sat in the back as Dale drove them home.
“I’ll see you soon,” Trey said, shaking hands with Dale.
She watch
ed as his friend walked toward Trey’s house. “What’s going on?” she asked.
“He wants to stay at my place tonight. Do you think you’ve got a place for me to crash and for us both to talk?”
She nodded. Part of her expected to see her mother camped outside her house. Climbing the steps, she unlocked the door and entered. The answering machine was blaring in the distance.
Leaving Trey to close the door she pressed the play button and started listening to the messages.
“Honey, I hope you’re having a brilliant time. You’ll love Martin once you get to know him. I’m sure of it.”
Closing her eyes, she rubbed at her temples. A headache was forming, and she didn’t know if she wanted to listen to the rest of the messages.
“You don’t have to do this,” Trey said.
“I do.”
“June Armstrong, I’m disgusted and surprised at you. Storming out with another man is not acceptable, not to mention what you said to Martin. The poor man is beside himself with grief. He really liked you and thought you could make a future together. You’ve got some serious explaining to do.”
There were another two messages.
“I’m stood outside, and you’re nowhere to be seen. Don’t forget I know where you work, June. I’ll be handling this in the morning.”
“June, honey, it’s your dad. Please, pick up. Your mother is worried, and I really need to make sure you’re okay.”
Her father sounded upset but not angry.
Picking up the phone, she reached out to dial their number.
“What are you doing?” Trey asked.
“I need to let them know I’m okay.”
She pressed their number in and sat waiting. Her heart sped up as her father answered the phone.
“Hey, Daddy, it’s me.”
June heard him speak to her mother.
“I’m so glad you called me back. What’s going on?”
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. “I can’t talk about it right now. Martin is not the guy for me, and I’d appreciate it if you don’t throw your friends’ sons in my direction.”
“I didn’t realize that was what we were doing.”
“I know, Dad. I love you. I really do, but please, give me tonight and I’ll tell you everything soon.”
She listened to the talking, and when they were finished, she put the phone down.
“What’s going on?” Trey asked.
“They’re giving me tonight, and in the morning they want the truth. What do I tell them?” She looked at him, hoping he had the answers.
“I can’t tell you what to say to them.”
“What is going on between us, Trey?” she asked.
A couple of hours ago everything seemed simple, and now her simple little world was thrown up in the air.
She couldn’t think.
“I was hoping you’d tell me. We’re exclusive. I won’t share you with other men.”
“Are you trying to tell me we’re a couple?”
He stroked her head, pushing some strands behind her ear.
“We are.”
“You don’t even like me,” she said, remembering all the times he’d bullied her. Even her memories were arguing with her. She didn’t want to think about high school. The memories she once had were replaced by others of Trey.
“I more than like you, June. The past needs to be put to rest. I’m not letting you go, and if you think I am, then you’re wrong. I can’t do it. I’m in this for a good long while,” he said.
It wasn’t a loving declaration, but June didn’t know if she could handle a loving declaration at the moment.
“Can you just hold me?” she asked.
“What?”
“Take me to bed without the promise of sex and hold me. Tell me everything is going to be all right?”
He took her by the hand and did exactly that. It was the best night’s sleep she’d ever had.
Chapter Eleven
Dale had left by the time Trey got into his home early in the morning. After everything that happened last night he was surprised June went into work, but at four in the morning her alarm went off. He couldn’t even persuade her to have some fun with him. There was a vacancy about her.
He knew she was worried about the interrogation she was going to get from her parents. Trey promised to support her in any way he could. There was no way he’d be backing down from this fight.
At eight, he opened the shop door, holding his cup of coffee while watching the busy shop across from him. He wasn’t as busy as the bakery, but he held his own. A lot of people travelled to him for his ink.
Sipping at the hot coffee he saw Lexie Armstrong enter the bakery.
A dark shadow fell over him, and Trey turned to see Elliot Armstrong staring at him.
“We need to have words,” he said.
Keeping the door open, he saw Martin stood near the bakery smirking at him. Trey saw the nastiness inside and knew June was right about him. He offered Elliot a coffee, which the older man declined.
“I’m not here to drink coffee.”
“What can I help you with if you’re not here for the coffee?” Trey asked.
Elliot stared at him, long and hard. Trey stared right back. He wasn’t afraid of June’s father. The only thing that scared him was what Elliot could do to his business.
“I like you, Trey. You’re a hard-working man, and I see what you’ve done with the place. Before I set you up in this building it was a wreck. A rundown piece of crap and you’ve built it into a fine working establishment. I hear good things.” He stopped to stare at several of the designs.
Sipping at his coffee, Trey waited for the claws to come out.
“June is my only daughter. She’s my only child. I’ll do everything for her.”
“With all due respect, what does this have to do with me?”
“I know you’ve got something to do with June walking out on her date with that fine looking man out there. You’re a clever man, Trey. You can figure out my concern.”
He frowned, staring at the main owner of his business. This was the man he paid the rent to and a small percentage of the profits from Get Inked.
“Do you think I’m trying to use your daughter?”
“You were her bully in high school. Lexie told me everything. Now I’m not leaving this shop until you tell me everything you’ve got planned for June,” Elliot said.
“Actually, Dad, you’re leaving now,” June said. Her voice cut across the tense atmosphere, and Trey was shocked to see her stood in his shop.
“Honey, you’re supposed to be working,” Elliot said, lightening his voice for June.
Tears were shining in June’s eyes. Trey wanted to go to her, but he didn’t feel now was the right time. This was between them, and he didn’t want to get involved.
“It’s my shop. I closed early. After what my mother has just said to me I’m not in the mood to bake. I’m not in the mood for anything.”
He saw she held the book he’d given her yesterday, the one with all of his designs inside.
“You think the only way I can get a man is if he has to want something from you in order for me to be with them?”
“June, I’m looking out for you.”
“No. If you were looking out for me you wouldn’t force me to go on dates with men I don’t like. If you were looking for me you’d accept the man in my life and leave it alone. You’re wrong about him, Dad. You and Mom are wrong about a lot of things.”
She clutched the folder to her chest like it was a lifeline.
“I love you.”
“I love you as well, but I don’t think Grandpa had much of a say in who you were seeing.” June stared down at the floor as silence settled in the room. “Just go, Dad.”
Elliot stared at his daughter looking lost.
“I’ll take care of her,” Trey said.
The older man glared at him, which Trey ignored. The only person he cared about impressing was Ju
ne.
Her father left the shop, and June finally looked up at him.
“You’ve really closed the bakery?” he asked.
“Mom walked in as I was getting ready to do the next lot of breads and cupcakes. I lost all the inspiration and fun out of it.” She shrugged.
“What did your mom say?” he asked, taking a step toward her.
“You don’t want to know.” June lifted the book. “I can’t pick a design. They’re all beautiful. I was hoping you’d pick what you wanted to do and that you’d do it today?”
“I’d be honored to mark your skin.”
June nodded, tucking some hair behind her ear.
“Also, erm, I’ve organized a hotel in Hawaii. We don’t have to leave the room, but I was wondering if you’d like to go away with me. Get away from all the chaos and the mess that is here.”
“Are you running away?” He held the folder close, staring at her.
“I wish I could run away from it all and never return. I’m not allowed to do that. I’m sticking around for good. I’m not going anywhere apart from away on a short, very short, vacation,” she said.
“Then, June Armstrong, I’d love to go away with you,” he said.
She smiled. It was her first real smile since he’d let her this morning.
“So, erm, what are you going to do?” she asked.
“About what?”
He couldn’t look away from her. She laughed. “About my ink. What are you going to do about my ink?”
Shaking his head, he opened the folder and pointed at a picture. He knew before he’d given her the book the tattoo he was going to do. Instead of just assuming that is the one she’d want, he’d given her the option of picking.
“I designed this one for you,” he said, pointing to the ink with the butterflies surrounded by the deep red roses.
“It’s beautiful.”
Locking the door, Trey pulled the blinds down, giving them both much needed privacy.
“Step this way,” he said, pointing through the door.
She did as he asked, and he pushed the curtains closed on the glass and turned the light on for him to work.
“Are you okay with doing this?” she asked.
“I’m more than okay.”
“What does my father have to do with this building?”