Page 41 of Duke

I BLINK BACK a few tears as I walk in, flicking on the lights. My heart aches and the air feels empty now that he’s leaving tonight. I walk over to the barstool where he’s sat for the past three weeks… watching me, waiting for me to acknowledge what my gut knows—we’re meant for each other.

My hands run across the worn wood. I bow my head, he was a marine. It figures. It’s how he moves, the look in his dark eyes... how he can be so still, so watchful for such a huge man?

I snort, remembering how angry I was when I saw my car parked outside this morning. I tore into his driveway so fast—I smelled burning rubber. Throwing the car in park, I marched right into his yard ready to chew his ass out for interfering with my life.

God, he makes me insane with anger and lust at the same time. Damn, he took all my plans and blew them straight to hell. The worst is how horny I am every damn night.

I can’t sleep without making myself come.

My eyes close, a tear slips and my heart tears in two. I can’t go with him and his life isn’t here. Lifting the counter up, I walk behind the bar, reaching for the bottle of Grey Goose. Fixing a tumbler with ice, I pour half a glass.

Sitting in his seat, I slowly sip. I never thought I’d fall in love like this. With a man almost double my age, with bulging muscles and a cocky attitude. But I’m smart enough to know how lucky I am, that a man like Duke wants me as his woman.

It will be a pain and pleasure unlike anything else, I’m sure. But surviving the time until he comes back is going to be difficult. At least I have my vibrator to relieve one ache, but how will I relieve the pain in my chest since he stole my heart and put it in a to-go box?

My head snaps up at the squeak of the door opening behind me.

“Duke?” My heart jumps. Spinning around, drink in hand, the smile falls from my lips.

The man who walks in is huge, menacing in the way he looks at me. He wears leather but the patch on his chest says, “Pledge.”

“We’re closed,” I say with an edge of bitchiness.

He eyes the drink in my hand, “Is that so? It doesn’t appear that way to me sugar.”

He walks forward staring intently.

“Perk of being the owner. We open at three. I’d be happy to serve you then.”

“But I’m thirsty now, very, thirsty,” he smacks his lips.

Slamming my drink down, I duck under the counter of the bar. He smiles obviously thinking he’s scared the shit out of me.

Instead of reaching for a glass, my hands snake under the bar, grabbing the sawed-off shotgun, I hide under the inside lip.

“Get the fuck out. I told you we’re closed,” I bite out, raising the gun.

He takes a toothpick out of a box of matches and presses it to his lips, seemingly unafraid.

“You’re a damn hellion. Boss is gonna be pleased. I got what I need here. Go easy, girl.” He finally raises his palms, walking backward.

“Do you know who I am?”I ask, with the gun still pointed.

“Sure, do sugar. Sure do.”

“What the fuck was that?” I ask the empty room. Gun in hand, I bolt over the bar barricading the door he walked out of. Through the front window, I watch him climb on a bike, grinning like an asshole as he rides away.

Fucking club shit.

Placing my gun back in its hiding spot. Fingers tapping on the bar; I debate whether to text Meat or Duke about the visit from that weirdo. But I handled it and knowing Meat and Duke—they’d freak, probably forbidding me from leaving my house.

Screw that.

Filling a bucket with hot water, I grab a mop. In no time, the whole damn floor shines and smells of disinfectant, instead of that greaseball’s cheap cologne.

Wiping the sweat from my brow, I throw my gloves in the sink, renewing my vow to get the fuck out of here the second I have my degree in hand. In the sunny streets of LA—I could be anybody. Maybe even Duke Masters’ girlfriend. But, I won’t be anyone’s old lady. That’s for damn sure.

I look up at the clock. Its noon, and Duke’s not here. My hand rubs the back of my neck. I spent two hours hunched over the desk, entering debits and credits, counting receipts and placing next week’s order for both the kitchen and the bar. It kept me busy, distracting me from my early morning visit from that idiot.

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