Page 56 of Beautiful Desire
“Sorry?” My face twists up. “He’s punishing you because you made amistake? Is he aware that you’re human, and humans make those from time to time?”
“Yeah, Alden St. James doesn’t make mistakes, Peach.” He huffs a dry laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “And besides, it wasn’t the first time I’d fucked up, and we almost lost one of our biggest clients because of it. He had a right to be pissed.”
The closer I get to Fletcher, the more I despise his dad. I already didn’t like him before all of this, but he could stand to learn a little empathy. Especially for his own son. “What caused you to fuck up?” I ask.
“It wasn’t any one thing.” He shrugs. “I was careless and not paying as much attention as I should’ve, and I don’t know… I never really believed he’d do what he did.”
“Guess you fucked around and found out.” I chuckle when he scowls at me. “Why’d he cut you off, though? Sending you hereas punishment for fucking up at work is one thing, but to cut you off too?”
Fletcher groans and wrinkles his nose. “I may have been a tad frivolous, according to my father.”
“A tad?” I huff a laugh. “How so?”
“I enjoyed taking weekend trips a lot. You know, work harder, play harder? And when you go to these places, it adds up. Flight, hotel, food, drinks, VIP at the clubs.”
“And you weren’t splitting the cost with the people you went with?”
“Well, Reese would often come with me, and he’d pay for his own room and stuff, but then we’d meet girls while we were there “
“Ah, and you’d spend money on them,” I deduce, not liking where this is going.
“Yeah, I mean, obviously,” he quips. “My dad insisted they were taking advantage of me because they knew I had money, which is ridiculous, right?” He chuckles. “I would offer. But when I bought my car without consulting with him first, that was his final straw.”
“Well, I may have to agree with Alden on this one,” I murmur. “Just because you have money doesn’t mean you have to blow it, and it certainly doesn’t mean you need to pay for everyone else around you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he drawls. “I’m starting to kind of realize that, okay?”
Not that I would ever say this to him, but I’m starting to think Fletcher’s lonely, and that’s why he does—or did—these extravagant things, like throwing money on random trips and women. Sure, he has Reese, but they can’t bethatclose, because I hardly hear about Fletcher talking to the guy since he’s been here. And given how he’s an only child, and I know now thathis father wasn’t very present in his upbringing, it would make sense for him to be lonely and look for ways to fill that.
Remembering Grace was texting me, I glance down at my phone. “So, you’re off now?” I ask him.
“Yup. Sure you don’t want me to bend you over and give you this dick before I leave?” He grins, and my stomach dips as a shiver rolls down my spine.
“I am positive,” I murmur, biting back a smile. “I have to stop by Grace’s really quick, but then do you wanna go to Taylor’sfor dinner with me?”
Wagging his brows, Fletchers says, “Are you asking me on a date, Peach?”
“Not a chance.”That’s not what this is.Sure, we often go out to eat after roller skating, but it’s not a date…right? Standing up, I push that out of my mind and pin him with a look. “Yes or no, rich boy? I don’t have all day.”
“Yes,” he chirps, hopping off the desk. “But I’m going with you to Grace’s. I know she’s got something good to snack on.”
Chuckling, I say, “Whatever, let’s go then.”
It doesn’t take but a few minutes to get to her house from the bookstore. Pulling into the driveway, I notice Gemma’s car parked next to hers. Climbing out, we walk up to the porch and knock on the door, finding it locked. As we’re waiting for her to open up, Fletcher leans over and says in my ear, “Your ass looks fucking sexy in those pants, Peach, and Iwillbe bending you over before the night is over.”
Turning my head, I meet his gaze. “Knock it off,” I mouth, a grin spreading up my face just as the front door opens.
My sister looks from Fletcher to me, her face paling. “Oh, lovely,” she mutters under her breath before crossing her arms over her chest. “What is he doing here?” The bite in her tone takes me by surprise.
“Wow, I’m happy to see you too, Grace,” Fletcher quips, giving her one of his signature cocky grins.
“Is everything okay?” I ask when she still doesn’t move out of the way to let us in.
Before Grace can respond, Gemma appears behind her, pulling the door open wider, and as soon as she sees us, she blurts out, “Oh boy.” Her gaze bounces between the three of us before she adds, “I’ll get the wine.”
“What’s going on, Grace?” Panic rises in my chest. “Are you mad at me?”
“What? No!” Blowing out a breath and meeting my gaze, she says, “I need to talk to you about something, but I didn’t really want to do it in front of anybody else.”
