Page 30 of Quake
“Just…” I sighed, wanting to curse her out for being so crass but not having the energy. “A mess with a client.”
“The woman you’ve been training after hours?” she asked with a raised eyebrow. “Oh, I’ve heard all about it.”
“Fuck off,” I cursed. “From who?”
“Tommy.”
“The little fucker,” I hissed, scowling. He was still sore I’d given him a reprimand for cruising the clientele for a quick fuck? I hoped he hadn’t found a replacement for Juliette out of his class while my back was turned.
“You had better watch that one,” Ren said. “He’s got potential to be trouble.”
“I know, and I’ve already warned him.”
“If he doesn’t listen, give him the heave-ho,” she said. “We don’t want that kind of shit going on here.”
“On that, we agree,” I drawled. “He’s a good teacher when he forgets about his dick. I want to give him a chance.”
“I trust you, Caleb, you’re a good guy, but be careful he doesn’t take advantage of it.”
Thinking of my parents, I knew she was right. There was a lifetime of second chances right there. There’d been so many over the years the word second had lost all meaning.
“And this woman you’re training?” Ren asked. “What are your intentions?”
“It would be hypocritical of me to rip shreds off Tommy then do the same thing he was attempting,” I drawled.
Ren began to laugh and twirled around on her chair.
“What the fuck is up your ass?” I asked with a scowl. It was hard to follow her tangents sometimes. The line was very blurred when it came to Ren Miller, and she didn’t give two fucks who knew it.
“You’re into her.”
“How do you figure that?”
“You just told me.” She chortled in glee.
“I can’t,” I said. “For so many reasons.”
“Professionalism.” Ren inclined her head in thought. “To a degree, I totally agree with that, but if it’s about more than physical want…” She thought for a moment, then asked, “What’s her name?”
“Juliette.”
“Juliette,” she mused. “Pretty name.”
“She’s closed and complicated,” I went on. “Something’s got her rattled, and I never know what’ll trigger her.”
“And you don’t know if all that is worth the hassle.” Ren shook her head and clucked her tongue. “Typical male.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re a lazy son of a bitch,” she retorted. “Finish what you’ve started.”
“It’s not like that,” I snapped. “I went into this with an attraction, yeah, but it was more about helping her.”
“Do you care for her? Or is it all about your filthy cock?” She rolled her eyes. “If it’s only about your little prick, then cut her loose. She sounds like she doesn’t need another heartbreak to contend with. It would be kinder, but if you genuinely care for her, then fight, you little fucker.Fight.”
I snorted and shook my head. She didn’t know the half of it.
“I gave up on Ash when he needed me the most, and I regret it every day,” she went on.
