No Turning Back (Man-Maid) (14 page)

Jason arched a brow at him. “You really care about her, don’t you?”

He nodded and decided to put it all out there. “I think I’m in love with her.”

“You haven’t known her that long, bro,” Jason replied, a note of worry in his voice. “Aren’t you moving awfully fast here?”

“Probably, but I’ve never felt this way about a woman. It’s different,” he admitted. “She’s this amazing, headstrong, intelligent and beautiful woman who makes me laugh, and I need to figure out a way to undo the damage I’ve caused before it’s too late.”

Jason smiled. “Wow, you really are in love.” Jason’s eyebrows pulled together as he asked, “Seems to me you need to do a bit of begging. Grovel if you have to. Don’t let her get away.”

“I agree, but she won’t answer my texts, and she’s ignoring my calls.”

Jason stroked his chin and grinned. “Damn, you really pissed her off good, huh?”

Jensen wanted to strangle him. “You can stop finding this so damn funny anytime now.”

“Right, sorry.” Jason chuckled. “Maybe if you show up on her doorstep with a dozen roses and give her the puppy-dog eyes, she’ll give you a second chance.”

Jensen frowned. “Actually, I was thinking of maybe something a little different.”

“Like what?”

His face heated. “Uh, I was thinking of serenading her. Too corny?”

Jason stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. Christ, he probably had. Love seemed to do strange things to a man. “Well, you wouldn’t catch me doing it, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides, women dig that kind of romantic crap. I say go for it. What do you have to lose?”

She would probably rather see him strung up by his ears. Still, his heart had already decided she was the one. “I’m not sure I deserve her forgiveness, but I have to try.”

“If she laughs in your face, then you’ll think of something else.” His brother downed the last of his coffee and said, “I have faith in you, bro.”

“Damn straight.” He was nothing if not resourceful and persistent.

“Now that we’ve solved that conundrum, can we please get down to business?” Jason tapped the screen on his phone, then turned it around. “That’s the logo Marquetta came up with. What do you think?”

“It’s brilliant,” Jensen said, and it was nothing short of the truth. Unfortunately, she’d sent it to Jason. Damn, he’d really screwed up with her.

The logo was a bare-chested man holding a bucket in front of him to cover his crotch. The name of their business and the tagline
We Polish It Until It Shines
was emblazoned across the center.

“When the others get here, we’ll all take a vote before we agree, but I think she did a bang-up job. It’s perfect.”

They spent the rest of the morning planning their business. By the time Seth, AJ and Ames arrived, they had several marketing ideas in mind for Man-Maid Cleaning Service, and all of them loved the logo Marquetta had created.

Once Jensen was alone again, he was more than ready to put his groveling plan into action. If she didn’t let him back into her life afterward, then he’d just have to figure something else out. He wasn’t going down without a fight.

Ever since she’d left Jensen’s house on Tuesday, Marquetta had been miserable. Three days had passed, and Marquetta’s heart still ached as if someone had kicked her in the chest. She’d even finished the logo for Jensen’s new business, but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to contact him. Instead, like a coward, she’d e-mailed the logo design to Jason. He’d loved it and promised to get back with her after he’d shared it with the rest of the team. Normally, a rush of joy swept through Marquetta after successfully completing a job. This time she couldn’t even muster up an ounce of elation.

She’d put in extra hours at the shop too. Work kept her mind off Jensen and his nasty parting words. It was at night, like now, when she was home alone, that Marquetta noticed little reminders of Jensen all over her house—especially in the bedroom. Thanks to Jensen, she couldn’t even bring herself to sleep in her own bed. She’d slept on the couch all week, and she had the ache in her neck as proof.

Her friend Bridget had called several times worried about her. Marquetta had acted like things were peachy, but Bridget hadn’t been fooled. She’d offered to come over, but Marquetta hadn’t wanted the company. So, here she sat, picturing Jensen’s gorgeous, hard, powerful body. His devouring kisses. The way he’d given her his undivided attention whenever they were together. The delicious orgasms he’d given her couldn’t be forgotten either. Oh God, she missed him. Why’d she have to go and fall in love?

Marquetta looked down at the beer in her hand and knew she had no business drinking. Anger at her own stupid, romantic heart for falling in love in the first place threatened to consume her. She knew better. Hadn’t Sheldon taught her men weren’t to be trusted? When the doorbell rang, Marquetta practically stopped breathing. Could it be Jensen? As she heard the pleading voice of her friend Bridget, Marquetta’s hopes plummeted.

Marquetta crossed the room and pulled the door wide. “Hey,” she said.

Bridget pushed her way inside. “Hey,” she murmured as she looked around. “So, how long have you been stewing?”

“Not long,” Marquetta gritted out as she plopped onto the couch and picked up the remote.

Bridget arched her brow, plucked the device out of her hand and used it to shut off the TV. “Tell me what’s wrong,” she ordered as she sat next to Marquetta.

Marquetta tucked her legs beneath her. “I don’t want to talk about it,” she mumbled.

“Well, too bad.” Bridget swatted Marquetta’s thigh. “I’m tired of you ignoring me.”

“Geez, you sure are bossy all of a sudden.”

Bridget chuckled as she stood and headed toward the kitchen. “I’ve always been bossy. My mom says I need to work on that, but I didn’t come here to talk about that.”

For the first time in days, Marquetta cracked a smile. She stood and followed her friend. “No, you just want all the gory details of my love life.”

Bridget went straight to the refrigerator and grabbed two light beers. After handing one over to her, Bridget said, “I don’t know about all the details necessarily. Mostly just the ones that have you hiding away from the world.” She poked a finger in the direction of the round oak kitchen table. Once they were both seated, Bridget said, “So, what’s the story?”

“I told him about Sheldon. Not everything, but enough that he basically accused me of being a home wrecker.”

Bridget’s eyes grew wide. “Seriously? After all you two shared, he actually called you that?”

Marquetta slumped, feeling like shit all over again. “He implied I had no morals.
 
He said he could never be with someone like that.” She bit her lip and toyed with the label on the bottle. “I sort of understand where he’s coming from. I mean, his dad cheated on his mom, so his anger is warranted.”

“No, it isn’t. You were an innocent pawn in Sheldon’s game, not a willing participant, sweetie.”

Marquetta took a drink of her beer. “I just don’t get it. I feel like such a dolt. When will I ever learn that men are assholes? Why did I have to go and fall in love?”

Bridget stared at her. “Is this how you felt when Sheldon broke it off with you?”

Marquetta frowned, not really wanting to talk about any of that. In the wake of her newest heartbreak, the incident with Sheldon seemed as if it’d happened light-years ago. “No, not exactly. Why do you ask?”

“It just seems to me that what you felt back then was a kind of puppy love in comparison. You truly love Jensen, don’t you?”

Marquetta frowned and shoved her hair away from her face. “I cried over Sheldon, but it didn’t make me feel like this.”

“Like what?”

“Like a piece of my heart is missing. And I’m afraid I may never get it back.”

Bridget reached over and covered her hand with her own. “Then maybe you shouldn’t give up. Maybe he’s worth fighting for.”

“Great plan, except the fact that he thinks I’m a cheating loser.”

“Look, I don’t know him, but isn’t it at all possible he simply reacted without thinking?” Before Marquetta could answer, Bridget went on to say, “I bet he’s trying to figure out a way right now to win your forgiveness.”

As Bridget’s words sank in, Marquetta’s spirits lifted. “I’m afraid to hope,” she admitted. “I’m a total coward, aren’t I?”

Bridget winked. “No, just stubborn as hell.” She looked around the kitchen. “And a little bit of a slob, to be honest. So, when was the last time you saw the bottom of the sink?”

She snorted. “If you must know, it’s been a few days.”

Bridget patted her on the shoulder. “How about we tackle this mess while we come up with a plan?”

“Plan? The plan is to continue to wallow in self-pity.” She stood and tossed her beer bottle into the trash before grabbing a few paper towels and a bottle of cleaner.

Bridget moved to the sink. She began rinsing off dishes and placing them in the dishwasher. “Or, you could figure out a way to make the man beg for your forgiveness.”

Marquetta stopped wiping down the counter and squinted. “Are you talking payback?”

“Not payback, necessarily.” Bridget sighed. “Damn it, you opened up to him, and he kicked you in the teeth. You need to show him what a jerk he’s being. Show that ass what he’s missing out on.”

She thought of his motorcycle and nearly groaned. “God, I still need to meet with him. He left his motorcycle with me to paint, and I’m supposed to call him tomorrow and schedule a time for him to come to the shop now that it’s finished.”

“Perfect.” Bridget’s gaze lit up. “When he gets there, you’ll look extra hot. And while he’s busy drowning in a puddle of his own drool, you’ll walk away with your head held high.”

The idea appealed to her on a feminine level, but Marquetta was a realist. “It’s a nice thought, but I’m not sure I have that much power over him.”

“Oh, I’m betting you do.”

Bridget’s confidence in her made Marquetta feel loads better. Unfortunately, Marquetta didn’t have a spine of steel like Bridget. The woman had even been able to walk away from a five-year marriage without falling apart. Bridget had learned that the man she’d given her heart and soul to had been messing around with a woman he worked with for a large part of their marriage. After a speedy divorce, Bridget hadn’t looked back. She was the strongest person Marquetta knew. If only Bridget could lend her a little of that strength now.

“It would be nice to make Jensen squirm, but I’m not sure that’ll happen,” Marquetta replied, wishing like hell she was wrong. “In fact, I’m pretty sure he never wants to look at me again.”

Her friend closed the dishwasher and hit a few buttons, then turned toward her. “You might be right, but it’s not like you have anything to lose. Might as well give it your best shot.”

Marquetta grinned. “You do have a point.”

Bridget nodded in approval. “Of course I do. Now, get dressed. I’m taking you out.”

Ah, a jostling crowd and loud music was exactly what Marquetta needed to take her mind off her troubled love life. “You don’t have to ask me twice,” she said as she headed toward her bedroom.

When Marquetta entered and flipped on the light, she tried really hard not to look at the bed. After sharing a bed with Jensen, sleeping alone seemed like a horrible idea. Still, her eyes strayed toward it and her stomach quivered in response. It looked pitifully empty. And even though he’d never set foot in her bedroom, Marquetta imagined she could smell his scent. It seemed to fill the room even now. His warmth, his masculinity. Damn, there went the tears again.

“Men are jerks,” she muttered as she headed to the closet. The sooner she was in a dimly lit room surrounded by strangers, the better.

Twenty minutes later, Marquetta was as ready as she’d ever be. She’d left her hair down and she’d pulled on a red blouse and tight black skirt. She checked her look in the mirror. “Crap,” she mumbled. The skirt was a tad too short and showed a too much leg for her comfort. When she went back out to the living room to get Bridget’s opinion, her friend waited with a glass of wine.

Bridget pushed it into her hand. “Drink. You need it.”

“I didn’t even know I had this in my kitchen.” Marquetta frowned at the ruby liquid. “Maybe I should stay home and get wasted instead.”

Bridget pointed a finger at her. “No, damn it. We’re going out, and that’s final.”

Marquetta took a sip of the wine, momentarily distracted from her misery by the smooth, fruity flavor. “Where’d you find this?”

“In one of your cupboards, dork.” Bridget swirled the wine and shrugged. “I’m pretty sure it’s the same bottle I bought you two Thanksgivings ago.”

Marquetta looked down at her skirt. “Does this outfit look okay? Not too…trampy?”

“Girl, you look hot as hell.” Bridget’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “In fact, maybe Jensen will show up at the bar and see you. I bet he’d swallow his big, fat tongue.”

Bridget’s wicked mind never ceased to amaze. Marquetta managed a smile. “I have a feeling Jensen wouldn’t like it if he saw me at a bar looking like this.”

“All the more reason, sweetie.” Bridget held out one perfectly manicured hand and said, “Come on, let’s go stir up a little trouble.”