Page 50 of Pain in the Axe
“You,” I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking, “are sexually harassing me.”
He dipped lower, an evil gleam in his eye. “I most certainly am. Good of you to catch on, Dragonfly.”
“In case I didn’t make it clear, that will not happen again.” I crossed my arms to hide the way my nipples were trying to bust through my bra. Apparently, several body parts were on Team Gus.
“Here’s the thing,” he said, stroking his beard, which was definitely shorter and more sculpted than before. “My girl Brené says love has to be nurtured and grown slowly. I’m fine with that. I’m a patient guy, and you’re worth waiting for.”
“Love?” I spat, reeling back so hard my chair rolled with me. “You are insane.”
“Nope.” He shook his head. “I’m an honest man. I don’t believe in playing games or wasting time. I’m not worthy of you yet, but I will be.” His already serious expression went stony. “I’m going to therapy and dealing with my shit. The other night proved what I’ve suspected for decades: you’re it for me, Chloe. You are my person. I’m gonna work my ass off to show you that I can be everything you need.”
Sweet Jesus, now my heart had officially switched to Team Gus too. What the fuck was he doing walking into my office and completely upending all my boundaries and rules?Jackass.
I closed my eyes, and the pain of his betrayal washed over me again. The agony I’d felt at twenty, totally alone in this world after the one person I trusted let me down.
Hot, welcome anger surged within me, and my strength returned. No number of words or orgasms would cut it. He was delusional, and I had work to do.
“Please leave,” I said softly, wavering between wanting to kiss him and wanting to stab him to death with my stiletto.
With a single nod, he turned, but he stopped at the door and turned back, hitting me with a panty-melting grin. “Just be ready, because I’m coming for you, Dragonfly. And when I want something, I don’t give up.”
Chapter 14
Gus
Acouple of years ago, I never would have believed I’d be willingly hanging out with my brothers every Thursday night. But a lot that had happened in the last year that defied belief.
So I was here.
At Finn’s house, drinking beers with my brothers, taking turns holding baby Thor.
Finn and Adele lived in a cozy cottage outside of town, with a massive garden and a screened-in porch. They had put an addition on when Finn moved in, and together, they’d made themselves a home.
Clem loved running around with Adele’s dog, and Jude’s too, and we humans could enjoy the summer night without constant attacks from the mosquitoes.
“What the hell are you wearing on your feet?” Finn asked, as I took a seat on a wicker chair.
I smiled proudly at my new boots. “These are my dress Tims.”
“What the fuck are dress Tims?” Jude asked, resting an arm on his knees. “Tims are for working.”
“Yeah,” Cole said, legs spread wide on the loveseat across from me. “Isn’t that some kind of crime against nature?”
“The only crime is how good I look,” I said, cracking a beer. “Suck it up, boys. I’m both the oldest and the handsomest.”
“He’s lost it,” Jude said. He was sitting on the floor, scratching his dog Ripley’s ears. She went everywhere with him, and it was a known fact that he talked to her more than he talked to us.
“Seriously,” Finn muttered. “What happened to you?”
I sipped my beer and considered his question. “I spent so many years desperate to save the company, and in the end, I failed.”
Every one of them grumbled, always trying to placate me, but I shook my head.
“For so long, I felt awful. Like I had let you all down. But now, I’m just an employee, a guy who punches the clock. And it feels great.”
Cole looked up at me, his brows pulled low in confusion. We’d only recently started to spend time together, and our relationship was still tense. “Are you seriously talking about how you feel right now?”
Finn raised an eyebrow.
