Page 70 of Lady Sings the Blues

Pepper, who’d been listening, snickers.

“That’ll be enough.” He warns.

“Will it? Will it be enough because my man decides for me it’s enough? What happened to you? This is not the Beau I knew in high school.”

“You’re right. I grew up.”

“More like fell down—in IQ points.”

“Might as well face it, that Beau’s gone. Probably forever. Best remember that’s not the Beau who won the girl, this one is.”

“What? That Beaudidwin the girl,” I threw at him. “He just didn’t want her enough in the end.”

“Elise, laundry.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Along with one long, frustrated breath—which when I feel him tense behind me I know he understands—I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. Yet again, how the hell are we supposed to make it for the long haul when all we seem to do is fight? “Pepper, think about classes. I’m heading to my office. Paperwork to go over. Contractors, new girls, inspections.”

This club could be my dream job, if Beau would only let up. As of right now, he’s made it a nightmare. Done dealing with his caveman antics, I yank out from his hold. In my mind I’m storming off to my office. The way I pull away, he knows he’s upset me. In reality, to the rest of the club, nothing should appear off.

But apparently the caveman doesn’t take the hint that I’m done with him for now, as I only just sit down in my chair behind my desk when I hear, “I wanted you, and you damn well know it.”

“Get over yourself, Beau. I’m done arguing.”

For once, he says nothing. Stands in the doorway with his hands on his hips. On any normal day, I’d internally cheer. Today, though, today his silence and the look of confusion he throws my way, infuriates me.

“I’m not stupid, this caveman you’ve got going. It’s about Logan.” I seethe. “Logan happened. What’s more, I don’t regret it. I regret how things ended up, but we—the three of us—had some really great times together. And you can’t keep punishing me because your damn cousin beat you to the punch. You, you lunk-head,youbecame my rock, the person I turned to while Logan derailed. At least until everything fell apart. Yes, I will concede that I kept us apart, too. But that’s done. I’m here now. You’re here now. We don’t have to live under the shadow of Logan because there isn’t one. Not anymore. Not for a long time.”

After my lengthy, and in my opinion, well executed speech, the only reaction I get? Beau blinks. “We done?” he asks. “I like screwin’ my woman so much more than fightin’ with her.”

And I like the idea of being screwed. Though with all the pounding it’s taken today, my vagina will be sore tomorrow. Still, our conversation is far from over. “I just—I just need to feel like you respect me. That I’m your partner, not some burden.”

“Hey.” He moves finally, coming behind the desk to turn my chair to face him, and tilts my chin up with the tip of his finger to look me in the eyes. “You are always my partner, baby girl. Always. Never in your life could you be a burden. Even if I had to carry you on my back or wipe your ass for you, you’d never be a burden.”

Well how about that? Old Beau’s sweetness showing through.

“You say that now.” I tease, “Until the time comes you honestly find yourself wiping my ass.”

“We’re lifers, Elise. Not gettin’ rid of me that easy. Now, I believe one of the concessions in hirin’ you was that you’re willin’ to sleep with the boss.”

“Okay.” I smile up at him. “Get Chaos in here.”

“Not funny. Not even close to funny.”

My eye roll lets him know how funny I think it is.

“This bein’ your first day,” he continues. “You wanna look over contracts or break in this desk?”

Hmm…contracts or penis? Contracts or penis? I don’t bother to answer, unbuttoning my blouse instead of words. He smiles that crooked smile I love so much and turns to lock the door, pulling his tee up over his head as he returns to me. My vagina will definitely be sore tomorrow.

But I decide I very much like office, on my desk, in the middle of the day sex. Maybe as much as bent over a bike with my skirt hiked up, on the side of the road sex.

***

My man left me to it, satisfied I’ll be able to handle the rest of my first day on the job, probably because I satisfied him in more personal ways before he left to go open up the bar. Per his instructions, either he or one of the prospects will be along this afternoon to pick me up and bring me home. Well, home-clubhousenot home-home, which I’m more than ready to get back to even if home-homehappens to be only two houses down from David and Lenore and three houses down from George and Margo. Too many rules at the clubhouse, too many chances for me to mess up again. And truthfully with how Chaos reacted to our engagement this morning, I don’t know when I’ll be ready to deal with him again.

Four hours neck-deep in paperwork since he took off earlier, there’s a single rap on my office door before Clint, one of the bouncers who with his overly bulging mass really only has two career choices, those being bouncer or professional football linebacker, sticks his head inside the room.

Since first walking in this morning, I knew looking at Clint would be one of the fun parts of my job. Of course, I’d never let that secret out with Beau around, or either Clint or I or both might find ourselves no longer employed. And I want this job, but Clint needs it. He and his lovely girlfriend Sirena—and I know she’s lovely because he showed me a picture—are expecting their first baby.

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