Page 109 of Arturo's Temptation

What if it had been someone else…? Someone a lot closer to home.

This was messin’ up my damn mind.

Cursing I grabbed the SUV keys and jumped in.

After driving aimlesslyaround the city, my mind all over the place while contemplating who had tried to kill us, I found myself back at Logan’s. The sound of the music blaring through my ears as I weaved through the sea of drunken people, spotting Josh behind the bar.

“Arturo, what the fuck are you doing here, man?” He called, already placing a beer down in front of me.

I eyed it for a moment, briefly debating having a sip. But I wouldn’t. The last thing I wanted was for Bella to think I’d been out drinking rather than sleeping by her side. I pushed the beer back at him as he rolled his eyes.

“Suit yourself, more for me,” he pretty much downed the bottle before tossing it into the bin. “What you doing here this late? Bella kick you out?” he joked, as I gave him a half hearted laugh.

“Nah, nothin’ like that. Just needed to talk to the boys, that’s all,” I cocked my head towards the back office. “He in?”

“He’s in. Probably got a mouth attached to his dick though. This important?”

“Yeah,” I rubbed my temples, thinking about everything that had happened today, and the gift Isabella had just given me.

“Fuck it.” He threw his towel on the bar. “Yo, Luke, keep an eye on the bar.” A confused and scared face bobbed up from behind the counter and nodded with a shaky smile.

“New guy?” I asked.

“Yup. Wonder how long this prick’ll last.” Josh rolled his eyes. Logan’s wasn’t exactly the safest place to learn on the job. “Come on, let’s go and cockblock our boy,”

We wandered back to the office where as predicted Jay had a woman on her knees, slurping happily away on his cock.

“Out,” Josh shouted with a smile, making the woman near enough jump out of her skin. “We got shit to talk about, so send her on her merry way and put your dick away. There’s a good boy.”

I stifled a laugh as Josh made a gesture with his hand.

“Come back in an hour, darlin’, you can finish me off then,” Jay winked, making her blush on the spot.

“Arturo needs you. Bros before hoes and all that jazz,” Josh jeered, plonking himself down into one of the squeaky desk chairs.

“I know we’re close and all that, but please for the love of all things holy, put your dick away, I’d rather not have it at eye level,” I grimaced as I dropped into the chair next to Josh.

“Well, forgive me for having a little fun,” Jay scoffed as he buttoned up his trousers. “Now, what’s up, pal?”

Before I could speak, Josh piped up. “He fucked her! I knew it!” He slapped his hands together.

Scowling, I looked between them then replied,“Took Bella out on a date tonight which fuckin’ ended with me havin’ to crash my bike.”

“Wait, was this before or after you banged her?” Josh replied, cocking his head to one side.

“Before…” I admitted on a growl.

“Back up, mate… you crashed your bike?” Jay asked, the shock apparent.

“Small details for another day,” Josh replied dismissively. “Mate, if you guys just did the horizontal dance, this isn’t a good time to be upping and leaving, you get me? Please tell me she at least knows you’re here?” He asked, his brows already half way up his forehead.

“She was sleepin’. Seemed wrong to wake her. I just needed some sound advice, but you two are about as much help as a chocolate fuckin’ teapot.” To my frustration, Jay chortled out a hoot before knocking back a shot of whisky. Josh on the other hand, just punched me casually in the arm.

“Mate, if she wakes up and you’re gone, she’s gonna think you’ve done a runner.” I turned and scowled at my friend next to me as he gave me the look.

“I know, I don’t need you to fuckin’ spell it out for me.” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “But I’m fuckin’ spirallin’ here lads. This isn’t just a good shag and someone to pass the time with. I feel things for this woman.”

“A, do you love her?” Jay asked.