Protecting You (The Boston irkpatricks #1) (9 page)

“You call last night going slow?”

“No, but this morning I realized. I don’t want to lead you on.”

“You know what? Fine. I’m done with you, seriously.”

“Great. I think I’ll go stay in a hotel.”

“Pfft.”

“What’s that mean?”

“I don’t know. Just pfft.”

“I’m going to pack.”

“Do whatever you want,” he said in a cocky tone.

“I’ll leave the car keys.”

“Just take the car. I don’t want it.”

“I’ll be in work tonight
as a dancer
.”

“Of course you are because you think you’ll get to me, but you won’t.”

“You’re delusional,” I said as I walked up the steps to pack my belongings.

A part of me thought he would have stopped me, but the other part knows it’s for the best. I took everything. I called a local hotel and they had a room available so I booked it. I told them I would be renting it daily because I wasn’t sure how long I would need it.

I carried all my bags downstairs. Brendan wasn’t home, but he left a note.

To: Lois Lane,

I couldn’t watch you walk out of my life. I guess I’ll see you at “the office.”

Clark Kent

Tears welled in my eyes. The way he wrote the note made me sad. He basically thinks he’s no longer my Superman. I can’t think about this. He’s playing with my emotions. Maybe he does truly care, but I can’t be vulnerable and open myself up. My way has worked for so long. The hotel will be just great. There won’t be any caped crusaders to distract me.

Chapter Fourteen

Brendan

I left the house. I’m sitting in my car driving around because I’m so upset. I really thought Joella and I had a connection. I figured the best move was to let her go. If it is meant to be we will end up together. I left her a note which basically translates into we are now on a professional basis. That’s what she wanted, that’s what I’m giving her.

I decided to go into work early. Normally, I’m dressed in a business suit, but today I’m just wearing what I have on: khaki cargo shorts, and a black t-shirt. I will have to face her eventually tonight, but I can’t give in to my temptation. I have to treat her like an employee, even though she really isn’t one.

Billy’s talking to Roxy at the bar. I wonder what the hell is going on between those two.

“Oh, you’re alive,” I said to him.

“Barely, I feel like shit. Why are you here early?”

“I have paperwork to do. I’ll be in my office for a while. Don’t bother me unless it’s important.”

“Okay, are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

I needed to just get away. I locked the door to the office. I lie down on the couch. Maybe I need to forget her. I think I’ll just take a nap here and then go home.

Who the fuck is knocking on the door? I thought I told Billy I didn’t want any visitors.

I opened the door and it was Roxy.

“What’s going on, Roxy?”

“I need to talk to you for a minute.”

“Come in. Just for a minute. Are you having a problem?”

“Yeah, I need off and Billy won’t let me have off.”

“Tell him I said its okay for you to have off.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, we have plenty of girls that can fill in for you.”

She moved closer to me. “Thanks a lot, Brendan. You’re a great guy.”

“Thanks.” I was starting to feel uncomfortable. She looked like she wanted something from me and I had a good idea what that was.

“You can go tell Billy I said it’s okay to take off.” I was trying to get rid of her.

“Brendan, it’s no surprise that I want you,” Roxy said.

“I’m not interested, Roxy. I’m your boss.”

“Are you interested in this?” She put her hand down my pants and started massaging my dick.

Roxy was very hot. I’m not going to lie. I just wasn’t attracted to her. Her goal was to get me so turned on that I wouldn’t stop her. She was wrong. I went to go move her hand, but as I did, she kissed me. When she pulled away from me, Joella was standing in my
doorway. I can only imagine what it looked like from the outside.

“Uh, uh. I’m sorry. Excuse me,” Joella said running off.

“Roxy, that was totally inappropriate. Get the fuck out of my office. You’re on suspension. Go home.”

“What?! You can’t do that. I need the money.”

“You heard me. Until further notice.”

I’m pissed off. If I go after Joella everyone will know I have feelings for her. I do have feelings for her which is totally crazy and unexpected. I feel like she belongs to me,
but I just can’t claim her because she won’t let me.

Instead of chasing after her, I locked my door behind Roxy and took a nap. If I explained myself to her, she wouldn’t believe me anyway. I’ll deal with Joella when the time is right. Was she coming here to apologize? I can’t think of that right now.

Chapter Fifteen

Joella

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Roxy had her hand down Brendan’s pants and she was kissing him. He was kissing her back. I’m a fucking idiot. I got played by him. I need to put all these pieces together, figure out what’s going on and be done with this case. I’m in shock that he lied to me. I guess he will do anything to get a piece of ass.

After I leave here tonight, I’m going to drive back to his house and put the car keys in the mailbox and just drive my old car.

I’m feeling some kind of way because we just had sex last night. He couldn’t wait twenty-four hours. I ran to the bathroom to fix myself up and catch my breath. I had been going to Brendan’s office to talk to him about some things I have been noticing. Whatever is going on Billy and Roxy are involved. I wasn’t dancing on the stage tonight. Thank God. Billy had me socializing on the floor.
I fixed my hair and make-up. I wasn’t going to let this thing with Brendan get to me. I walked out onto the floor in my sexy outfit and heels. Billy was nowhere around.

“Hey Mike, You see Billy around?”

“He’s in Brendan’s office. There is all kinds of drama going on.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, Brendan suspended Roxy.”

“Get the fuck out of here.”

“Yep, Billy went to find out why.”

Hmm. I can tell him why. Because Brendan uses people and then throws them away. I need to find out what’s going on. Come on, I’m a detective for God’s sake. I walked up
to the wall behind Brendan’s office. The door is half open and I hear yelling.

Billy was asking Brendan why he suspended Roxy. Brendan was yelling saying she grabbed my dick and kissed me. Billy asked Brendan if he was so fucking prude that he had to suspend her. What I heard next melted my heart.

Brendan said, “I have feelings for someone else not Roxy and she needs to stop trying to come onto me in public. What if my girlfriend sees her? I don’t want to ruin this.” Billy responded by saying that he would talk to Roxy but begged for her job back because she has a kid and needs the money. Brendan gave in but said if she comes on to him one more time she is out. Billy promised it wouldn’t happen again. Then Brendan asked him if he saw me today… meaning Tiffany and Billy proceeded to tell him that I ran into the bathroom.

Damn… why the fuck did Billy have to let him know I was upset. Billy was on his way out the door. I had to act like I was looking for him.

“Oh, hey Billy, I was looking for you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I wanted to know what you need me to do. I was just told I was on the floor.”

“Let me figure out what’s going on and I’ll let you know. You can hang out by the bar,” he said walking away from me. “I have to go find Roxy, sorry.”

“That’s okay. Thanks.”

I started to walk away and Brendan came out of his office.

“Hey, I heard your voice.”

“Yeah. I was looking for Billy. I better get back.”

“Okay… wait… Can we talk?” he asked me but he was hesitant. I can see the look in his eye. He knew I was pissed.

“I suppose,” I said agitated. I started pacing back and forth.

“Please have a seat.”

I must have been making him nervous. I still wanted to punch him in the face. All I see in this office is Roxy with her hands down his pants. I sat down on the sofa and he sat across from me. He was running his hands through his hair.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine.”

I just want you to know that you walked in on something totally inappropriate on Roxy’s part. I suspended her but Billy just begged for her job back.

“Yeah, I wonder why? I was coming here because I came to save you from Roxy. I saw her coming in here. I’m thinking Billy sent her in here to distract you. I didn’t come right away because I was trying to see what he was up to. He was making a drug deal with one of Carmen’s guys that I recognized from last night. When I came in here, I totally didn’t expect to see what I saw. I had no idea what was going on. I was hurt and ran.”

“Joella, I didn’t mean for you to be hurt by this.”

“More importantly, I need to find out what’s going on with Billy and Roxy. I have some thoughts and ideas and I’m looking into everyone and everything. I’m hoping to have this squared away by next week. I will find out.”

“I can’t believe Billy’s doing this.”

“Sometimes family can be your worst enemy.”

“Can we talk about us?”

“There is no us right now. It’s just not in the cards for us at the moment.”

“You’re lying to yourself and me.”

“Brendan! I need to go to work.”

I got up from the sofa and walked by him. He grabbed my hand.

“Stop running. We do have a lot to talk about. Will you come back to the house?”

“No Brendan. I’m staying at the hotel and if you thought I was going to sleep with you, you’re wrong. Regardless of the situation, you just had your tongue down a nasty stripper’s throat. If you want me to ever go near that mouth again, you better go burn it with acid.”

“So, I still have a chance.”

I walked out without answering.

Billy was talking to Roxy in a booth. Yeah, like that surprised me. Candy was sitting at the bar talking to Mike.

When Candy saw me coming she immediately ran up to me. “You okay, Sugga? I saw you run into the bathroom.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

Billy came over and asked me if I could go on stage tonight and perform because Roxy was too shook up to perform. Oh yeah, I feel bad for her. Let me help her the fuck out. The only reason I’m agreeing to it is because it gives me a better view of the whole club while I’m up on stage.

“I’m going to get ready,” I said removing myself from the conversation. I saw Billy go back to Brendan’s office and Candy went back to ogling over Mike. I went to change and pick the perfect music.

About an hour later I was ready to go on stage. Brendan must have known because he was sitting at the end of the bar drinking a lager. He kept his distance this time. Oh, he would get my message.

The music began to play. Paula Abdul’s Cold Hearted Snake blared from the speakers. I came out with strings holding up my goods. I caught Brendan’s eyes and he
looked pissed. I’m guessing it was due to the lyrics of the song.

I couldn’t help it. A part of me was jealous when I saw him with Roxy. How dare she touch my
Superman. It doesn’t matter. I didn’t see him trying to pry her away.

I began to get in to the song. I touched my breasts up and down. I pulled off my bra and exposed myself to everyone there. I must say it’s a weird feeling knowing everyone has their eyes on you. I spread my legs and put my hand down my g string. I did a split and pushed my body forward and started crawling on the stage. The guys were going wild. They were also trying to grab me at the
same time. I played it off by waving my finger and telling them no. I grinded up on the pole and started rubbing my body up and down. I guess Brendan had enough because I saw him stand up and give motions to DJ Discharge to cut my program. Discharge came on the speakers saying “Let’s give a round of applause for Twisted Teaser.”

Brendan went in his office. I guess he never saw Carmen sitting at the other end of the bar. If he did he would have never left like that.

I exited the stage through the back. All the girls were in the front of the club working the floor. I could finally get some peace and quiet in the back. I went to the bathroom and then I retrieved my bag from my locker. I needed to go to the private room for a few minutes. I need to think about things. I haven’t had one moment to do any work, like really do work. I need to pull criminal records and do background checks. I plan on doing all that tonight at the hotel.

I opened the door to where the rooms are. I hear screaming coming from there. What the hell is that? The door is cracked. Do I open it? What the fuck? I opened it and I’m standing there in complete and utter shock. Billy was taking someone from behind. I can’t see her face because she has it buried
in some guys cock. There was an actual threesome going on before my eyes. When the girl looks over at me, it’s Roxy and she is sucking one of Carmen’s guy’s cock. The same one that Billy was making the drug deal with earlier. Billy finally sees me and gets up quickly and grabs me by my arm. He throws me into the wall in the hallway.

“You better not say a word, bitch. I know you’re fucking Brendan. If I find out you said anything, I’m
gonna fucking kill you.”

“Get your hands off of me and go put some fucking clothes on, you lowlife scum.”

“You’re getting fired, bitch.”

“Bring it.”

I threw his arm away and walked out of the hallway back into the lounge room. I didn’t know what to do at this point. A lot just happened and I clearly can arrest him at this point. I still need to put everything together. There’s more to this story, I know it. I was fucking leaving and going straight to the hotel. I packed my stuff and told Mike that I was leaving.

“Hey Mike, if anyone asks tell them I went home. I had an emergency.”

“Good deal, Tiff. See you tomorrow.”