Hard Ball

by Heather Stone

  “Did you at least bring coffee?” I grumble.

  “Can you at least put a shirt on?” she replies.

  I look down, and sure enough, the girls are out in full force. Shit. Must have forgotten to put a top on again in my exhaustion. Leaving her still standing in the foyer, I run back into my bedroom and grab an oversized sweatshirt from the floor. I place it to my nose and inhale. Clean. If Leah knew I just smelled a shirt off the floor, she would force me to dump my apartment in Alphabet City and move in with her and her fiancé in their posh apartment uptown. Not going to happen. I could barely hack the rent in this place, even with the monthly stipend Leah gave me, but I was not giving it up. It might not have been the most desirable location, and most might not love that it’s in a six-floor walk-up, but it’s mine. My place is also a one bedroom, which was practically unheard of at this price in this neighborhood.

  I saunter back out to Leah. “Better?” I place my hand on my hip defiantly.

  “Much,” she replies, making herself comfortable on the couch she bought me. She wasn’t much of a fan of the Craigslist special I’d found in my price range. The day before I was set to have them deliver, I got a surprise delivery from Jennifer Convertibles. A Leah-approved love seat and chair. Typical. She was always more of a mom to me than a sister. Growing up with both parents in law enforcement, it was often just the two of us.

  “Well, now that you made yourself at home, without bringing me coffee I might say, what can I do for you?”

  “You certainly are cranky in the morning.”

  “Jesus, Leah, I didn’t get home from the club until 5:00am. Sorry if I’m not bubbling with excitement to see you before I’ve even had my first cup of joe.”

  “So how was it?”

  “How was what?”

  “Don’t be coy. How was your first week at Club L.E.X.? Did you meet Reed?” She smiles.

  “Good, tiring.”

  “That’s all you’ve got for me? I’m going to need more details than that.”

  “If that’s the case, you’re going to have to wait until I make coffee. You want?” I ask, my back already turned to her as I make my way into my tiny kitchen—if you could even call it a kitchen. It’s a counter, a burner, and a fridge.

  “That would be great.”

  As the coffee brews, a sweet and robust fragrance fills the air and my mouth waters. Grabbing two mugs, I fill them quickly and head back, plopping down on the chair kitty-corner from Leah.

  “So . . . ” she presses.

  “It was fine. Exhausting. I didn’t do much. I was basically a glorified bar back. I brought bottles to a few VIPs and helped Damon, the bartender, take orders. Nothing too hard for a first week on the job.”

  “Did you meet Reed?” she asks again.

  “I saw him.” I can feel my cheeks warming as I remember his perfect features… His toned arms…

  She sits quietly. Too quiet for her. When she finally speaks, I want to roll my eyes. “Stay away from him, Bailey. Working for him is one thing, but getting involved with him in any other way would be bad news.” Her voice is harsh as she pulls me out of my daydream.

  I glance up at her and notice her eyebrows creased as she takes me in. Strange. The way she was asking about him just a minute ago would have led me to believe she was excited for me to meet him.

  “Come on, Leah, I would never shit where I eat. Been there done that. Learned my lesson.”

  “Gross, Bailey,” she says, obviously not loving the mental picture. “You sure? Because I’ve known Reed a while, and I can tell you, you do not want to go there. He’s a womanizer of epic proportions.” Each word is said slow and pointedly. Her words have me curious. What has Reed Lawson done to get on my sister’s do-not-ever-touch-him-or-else side?

  “How do you know Reed? You’ve never really said,” I ask curiously.

  “Ugh, his family is friends with Cal’s. Reed runs in the same circles, but they aren’t close. Acquaintances really.” She shrugs.

  I find it interesting how adamant she is for me to stay away. The guy is hot. I’m sure he can pull tons of woman, but I need a job, not a boyfriend, and Reed Lawson is so far out of my league it’s sad. She has nothing to worry about there.

  “Listen, I know I screwed up in the past—a few times. But I need this job. I’m not going to go screwing the boss just because he’s a Greek god.” Shit. Did I just say that out loud?

  “Bailey!”

  Yep, she heard me. I’m going to need to work on putting a filter on my mouth. “Seriously, Leah, I like it in New York. I appreciate you getting me a job so I can stay. I’m not going to go screw it up. Okay?”

  “Okay.” She nods and with that she drops it.

  The day flies by super fast. Leah stayed to chat for another hour or so before I headed over to the laundry mat down the block to do a load. My closet was slim pickings for an outfit to wear tonight to work, so I was forced to wash my clothes. I had considered buying a new outfit in my laziness, but who was I kidding? I could barely afford food, let alone new threads.

  Hours later, I can hear my heels clicking against the pavement as I adjust my skirt before pulling back the door to the club. As I walk, in, I see Damon waving at me with enthusiasm. After only a few days, I already love him.

  “Hey, love. How was your day?”

  “Oh just great, if you enjoy being woken up at the butt crack of dawn in the morning.”

  “Well, I would wipe that frown upside down, and put on your biggest smile. Boss man wants to see you in his office.” His lip turns up as he winks.

  Shit.

  “Do you have any idea what he wants?” I ask while internally freaking out.

  “Nope. He gives the orders and I don’t question him. He’s probably just wanting to check in on how things are going.”

  I watch Damon closely, but he doesn’t give anything away. “Is that something he does often?”

  “Nope.”

  “I’m not getting any more than that, am I?”

  “Nope.” He shakes him head slowly.

  “Ugh. You’re a pain in my ass,” I say, throwing my head back in exasperation.

  “Yes, and you’ll have a bigger pain in your ass when my size twelve shoe meets it if you don’t get moving. Go,” he says, shooing me with his hands.

  Damon unknowingly has my nerves calmed and my mind off what is waiting for me in that office. If nothing else good comes from working here at L.E.X., meeting Damon made it all worth it. I smile and head towards Reed, ready to get this meeting or whatever it is over with.

  Reed

  “Why, Reed? I just don’t get it! We’re good together,” Monica whines in her most annoying valley girl voice. And she wonders why I don’t take her seriously.

  I groan, running my hands down my face. This is why my life is not roses. The aftermath. Although, this time, I’m really the one to blame. I know better than to fuck the employees. It causes a whole slew of issues.

  “Mona—”

  “Monica!” she screams at me.

  “Right. Anyway, can’t you see I’m a little busy here?” I shuffle the invoices I was attempting to pay, hoping she’ll get the point that this conversation is done.

  No such luck.

  “You bas—”

  She’s cut off by a knock at the door. “Come in,” I call out.

  Bailey walks in looking a bit awkward. It’s cute. “Um, Damon said you wanted to see me?” She rocks back and forth on her toes, looking very uncomfortable.

  “Yes, come in, Bailey. We were just finishing up here.”

  “This talk is just getting started,” Monica says in her most saccharine voice. She looks to Bailey offering a small smile laced with venom. She probably thinks Bailey is my new conquest. That’s what I get for fucking with the help.

  I have to start having one of my bouncers patrol who gets up here.

  Bailey stands just inside the door wringing her hands together. She actually looks a bit annoyed which is funny to me.
“Am I keeping you from something, Miss…” I let that hang out there. Of course, I know her name. After my shower last night, I immediately began researching our Miss Jameson, but the information I could find on her was nil. Other than her places of residence for the past five years and a clean background check, there wasn’t much.

  The truth is, I know absolutely nothing about this girl.

  “Jameson. My last name is Jameson, Mr. Lawson.” The way she says my name makes my dick harden. Her tiny voice belied the strength she tried to exude, and I decide to have a little fun at Miss Jameson’s expense.

  “Bailey, the only time I want to hear ‘Mr. Lawson’ come from your mouth is when you’re handcuffed to my bed, understood?”

  Her mouth hits the floor, and I can’t help but grin just a little. This girl is a conundrum of opposing vibes. She has this hard edge but she also has innocent tells. It’s endearing but confusing. Is she a tiger or a kitten? I’m thoroughly perplexed.

  She doesn’t say a word, only nods in answer.

  “Bailey? Do you understand? Use your words.” I’m a condescending asshole.

  “Yeah… Yes, I understand,” she says, clearly confused and utterly petrified.

  I decide to throw her a bone. “Call me Reed. So, how is Damon doing with your training?”

  She tilts her head to the side, studying me. “Just like that? You’re going to go from talk of tying me up to, ‘Hey, Bailey, how’s your training?’”

  I throw my head back and laugh. I compose myself before my eyes scan over her body. She’s taller than I first thought. About 5’8” would be my guess. She’s slim, but has curves for days. I imagine running kisses down her slender neck. My hands would curve around her hips pulling her close so that we are chest to chest.

  As I peruse her body, I notice her nipples become hard. I can see them through her tight shirt. I know she’s affected by me. I can hear her intake of breath. She is more than aware that I am inspecting every single inch of her body unabashed.

  I continue my perusal up to her delicate collarbone and slim neck. My mouth waters, and I’m suddenly wanting to run my lips from her shoulder to the crook of her neck. I want to feel her squirm under my hands. These thoughts cause the blood to rush to my cock and my pants to tighten further. God, what I would do to this girl.

  My eyes finally meet hers. Her body is a temple I want to explore, but her eyes… Those eyes. The color of blue so intoxicating. They hold secrets I want to uncover. Just a quick glance and they tell me everything yet nothing at all.

  I see I’ve made her uncomfortable by the way she shifts from one leg to the other. She continues to wring those hands of hers, giving away the fact she’s uncomfortable. She clears her throat as if to wipe away the past few minutes. As if that simple sound could make me forget the dirty fantasies playing on repeat in my head of all the things I want to do to her. Not yet, but I promise myself here and now that I will have her.

  “Bailey, do you have any experience in accounting?”

  She looks at me skeptically. “No, I can’t say that I do.”

  “Excellent,” I say, not really worried if she even finished the first grade. I’d teach her anything she needs to learn. “I’m going to promote you to my assistant. We’ll start your training tomorrow afternoon.”

  “What? But I just started. Surely there’s someone else more qualified to be your assistant.”

  “Are you trying to talk me out of it?”

  “No, it’s just… Well, I’m new, and I can’t imagine how I’ve managed to earn a promotion and a raise in the short amount of time I’ve been here. This won’t go over well with the other employees, and I’m not looking to make enemies.”

  “Let me worry about that stuff, Bailey. I own L.E.X., and I make the decisions. You’ll start tomorrow.” I stand and walk toward her. Leaning in, I inhale her scent. It’s something fruity. I like it. My lips lightly graze her ear.

  “Tomorrow,” I whisper before turning to open the door for her to exit.

  Nodding, Bailey strides through the door. At the top of the stairs she turns back once more, gives a small smile, and then disappears out of my sight.

  I’m not sure what the hell this girl is doing to me, but I need to have her and get on with life. She’s making it hard for me to get work done. Tomorrow, I’ll take it to the next level. Maybe right here on this desk.

  Yeah, we’re going to have fun.

  Bailey

  I walk out of the office shaking, my legs wobbling beneath me. What the hell was that, and why is my body responding like this? I'm not even sure what just happened. I went into the office a cocktail waitress and left an assistant. What the hell am I assisting with? I guess I’ll find out. The thought sends a chill down my spine. Taking a deep breath, I grab hold of the railing and cling to it for dear life. When I hit the bottom, I stride toward Damon.

  “So what did boss man want?” He smirks at me, not even bothering to hide his inquisition with false pretense. He just keeps wiping the glass in his hand without a care in the world.

  “I— I don't really know," I say as I bite my lip.

  Damon drops the rag in his hand places the glass on the bar and turns to me. His eyebrow rises as he eyes me curiously. “What do you mean you don't know?”

  “It was kind of confusing. He asked me if I knew accounting.”

  “What’s so confusing about that?”

  My thoughts go back to what else he said. When you’re handcuffed to my bed. I can feel my face start to warm and imagine my cheeks are the color that the rest of my body feels after that encounter. Red. On fire.

  “He wants to train me to assist him,” I whisper, afraid of the reaction I’ll receive.

  “Assist you with what exactly?” I can see the amusement in Damon’s smug face.

  “Accounting?”

  “Is that a question? Are you an accountant?” Damon asks.

  “No, I don’t know anything about accounting.” I reach for a rag and start absentmindedly wiping down the counter. I need to keep my hands busy or they’ll shake from the energy coursing through my body.

  “Oh I see, interesting?” The dimple in his cheek deepens as his left side of his lip quirks up.

  “What do you mean interesting?” Placing the rag down, I furrow my brow at him.

  “Well, first, he was asking questions about you and now he wants you as his assistant. An assistant for a skill you have no knowledge of. That’s interesting,” he replies.

  “It’s really no big deal.” Even as I say the words, I don’t believe them. It’s a huge deal. Not wanting Damon to continue this conversation, I get to work grabbing the liquor from the back room. As much as I love Damon, I don’t know him well enough yet. The last thing I need at this new job is a bunch of bullshit rumors circulating about me.

  After about an hour of lugging bottles back and forth, Damon informs me that I can leave early. I’m excited to go home until he tells me that Reed asked him to remind me that our training begins early tomorrow afternoon. My hands become clammy at the thought, and my eyes seek out the private VIP rooms. A line would help me not be so afraid.

  I need to stop that train of thought. It’ll be fine. What can go wrong with a promotion?

  I notice Damon is still staring at me, a huge grin on his face. I want to smack it right off. “You’re an ass,” I tell him with little conviction.

  “Someone wants a piece of yours.” Damon is clearly amused.

  I roll my eyes. “Lame, and totally not accurate. I have skills and he wants to put them to work.” I cringe once I’ve finished that sentence. I’m really not helping myself.

  “Oh, I have no doubt he wants to know all about those skills. Not just know them, but test them, too. He has never once needed an assistant before you walked in the door. Reed wants you.”

  At that, I grab my stuff and head out the door. I won’t feed into Damon’s prying. My sister’s warning comes to mind and I start to panic. I need this job. No matter how intriguing
Reed Lawson may be, this job means more to me. I can’t let my hormones screw things up. This line of thinking makes me crave things that I shouldn’t be craving. This is dangerous.

  The next day, I grab my phone and text Damon to meet me. I’m pretty vague with details but I figure once I get him there, it’ll be worth it. As I round the corner, Damon’s tall and lean body comes into view. Lifting my hand, I give a little wave and pick up my pace.

  “Hey.” I lean up on my tiptoes and place a kiss on his stubbly cheek.

  “So you wanted to meet. What’s going on?” His eyebrows knit together and he points to the church behind us.

  “I thought maybe you'd want to come with me." His eyes dart back at me, the line thickening between his brow.

  “What the fuck is this Bailey?” he huffs out.

  “I just—”

  He lifts a hand to silence me. “You thought what? You thought I needed help? God, a bit presumptuous, aren’t we? If I needed or wanted help, I'd ask, thank you very much.”

  “I—”

  His arms cross protectively across his chest. “I'm not an addict. I can stop. It's not like I need it.”

  The words ring so clear to me. It feels like ice is crashing through my veins at the stark reminder of what I once was and how he doesn't see it. But I knew better than anyone that until you see yourself for what you really are, and the problems you really have, you will never be open to help.

  “I'm sorry. You're right. I wanted to help, but it was wrong of me."

  With a little shake of the head he replaces his thin lips with a practiced smile. “No problem, Bae, we're cool." He looks at the ominous church standing beside us and then peers into the city traffic. Flashes of colors rush by as the traffic flows. Lifting his left wrist to his line of sight, he checks the time on his watch.