23. Booth
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
booth
Two days.
That’s how long it’s been since I last saw Aly .
In those forty-eight hours, I’ve fucked my fist three times, with the picture of Aly painted in my cum as my muse.
I wish the restaurant had been open on New Year’s Day , as it would have stopped me from overanalyzing my feelings.
Sadly , we were closed, and I lost myself in an ocean of what-ifs.
What if it happened again?
What if we met under different circumstances?
What if we weren’t worlds apart?
I’ve never done this with a fling before.
But that’s the issue.
She doesn’t feel like a fling.
Today, I’m grateful to be back at work; the sizzling of food and clanging of pans drowns out my thoughts.
It’s oddly busy for early January , but rather than question it, the team works tirelessly through a grueling service.
The shift wouldn’t be as bad had Kyle shown up.
The bone I had to pick with my line cook after his drunken state at the party was a big one.
Red mist blurred my vision when he snatched Aly’s arm up roughly.
To no surprise, she handled the situation.
Doesn’t mean I didn’t want to deck the prick.
His shift started four hours ago, which makes firing his ass that much easier.
It’s not only his borderline harassment toward his employer and a female, but his piss-poor work ethic, tardiness, and lacking skills.
His resume was obviously fluffed up, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt and was willing to train him.
A mistake I won’t make again.
Simon slides two entrées in front of me, and I thank my lucky stars I can rely on him.
“Good work, Chef ,” I tell him as he gets to work on the next ticket dangling in front of us.
“Wasn’t prepared to get slammed like this today.” He blows out a breath.
“ Why aren’t people vegging out on the sofa recovering from the holidays?”
“Beats me.” I give the edges of the plates a quick wipe, then press the bell to notify the servers.
Ten seconds later, the door swings open, but instead of Theresa , a wary Patrick stands in the door frame.
“I don’t like your face.” I press the bell again, and Theresa quickly scoots past Patrick to collect the order.
“I don’t like yours either.” His voice lacks its usual wit.
“ But there’s something more pressing to discuss than your ugly mug.”
“Charming.” I grab a fresh container of cilantro.
“ What do you need?”
“Umm.” His hesitation irks me.
“Pat, spit it out or get out. Respectfully .”
He glances behind him.
“ You need to come to the office.”
That doesn’t sound good.
Simon is already shoving me out of the way to trade places, taking over the pass without question.
After scrubbing my hands and removing my apron, I meet my brother outside the kitchen doors.
“You’re worrying me,” I hiss and follow him toward the back of the restaurant.
He doesn’t have time to respond, because my missing line cook appears from the office and barges past us.
Spinning around, I shout after him.
“ Kyle , where the hell have you been?”
His angry steps pause, and he fixes me with a furious stare over his shoulder.
“ Why don’t you ask that bitch, Alessandra ? Get a tighter leash for her.” His eyes narrow.
“ Unless you put her up to this?”
Rage takes over my limbs as I stride toward him before I’m jerked backward.
“Now is not the time,” Patrick whispers as he gestures subtly to the crowded tables.
“ Let him go.”
We watch Kyle storm away.
Once he’s out of sight, I pivot on my heel, Patrick right behind me, and crash into the office.
Seething, I take in the scene.
Cool, calm, collected.
That’s how Aly appears as her red fingernails clack against the keyboard.
Images flash in my head of those fingers curled around the edge of the shelves as I rutted into her.
Not the time or the place for those thoughts.
Her eyes dart up. “ Booth ? What’s going on?”
Patrick is silent as he closes the door.
“I’m hoping you can tell me.” My voice rises.
“ I ran into one of my employees, and he looked ready to commit murder. Something tells me you’re involved.” I withhold the fact he called her a bitch, a detail that still has my blood boiling.
“ Ex -employee,” she corrects nonchalantly.
“You fired him?” My feet stay rooted to the spot.
I’m motionless, apart from the muscle ticking in my jaw.
“ Who was with you? ”
Well, that does it.
Silver flames swallow up her irises as lethal anger creeps into her posture.
A python ready to attack.
“ I can dismiss someone without assistance. Last I checked, I was in charge.”
Patrick’s discomfort radiates off him, but I’m ready for her.
I love her fire. How she doesn’t hesitate to stand up and speak out when she’s been wronged.
The thing is, she’s wrong, and has completely misunderstood my concern.
“Hey, Pat , give us a minute, would you?” I don’t break eye contact with Aly .
“My pleasure.” He hurries out of the room.
The second the door clicks, she jumps to her feet and slams a palm down on the desk.
“ What the fuck, Booth ? I thought we were past all this? Now you’re humiliating me in front of your brother?”
With careful steps and mouth sealed shut, I round the desk.
She tracks my movement like a predator.
A few weeks ago, I would have matched her heat with a dumb joke.
Today , I try a new tactic.
When she’s in touching distance, I gently take her shoulders and turn her toward me.
“At no point was I questioning your capabilities. You saved me from firing him—something I hate doing. I’m sure you did a stellar job and I hope you made his balls shrivel.” Her brows furrow.
“ I’m pissed at you, Alessandra , because you did it alone. He’s a dick and a creep. And after his behavior at the party, I don’t want him near you.”
Her mouth twists as she studies me.
I see the moment she believes me and her shoulders lose their tension.
“ I don’t need a bodyguard.”
Laughing, I press my lips to her forehead without thinking.
“ No , you need a throne. And maybe some chill pills.”
She smacks my chest, lips pursed as she fights a smile .
“Poor Patrick almost pissed himself. You’ll have to apologize.” I smirk.
“Kiss my ass.”
“Gladly.”
While we bicker, the space between us disappears, until my hand rests on her hip, thumb moving in lazy circles beneath the hem of her sweater.
“What are you doing later?” I blurt.
She looks shocked, and before she can say no, I hold up my palm.
“ Not a date. Get over yourself, jeez. Drinks with the team.”
“I don’t know…” She steps away, fiddling with the diamond bracelet on her wrist.
“It’s tradition,” I quickly add.
“ Uh , after the first shift of the year, we all go out and celebrate. C’mon , it’ll be fun.”
After some hesitancy, she agrees.
“ Fine . One drink.”
“Sounds good. Now , I have a job ad to put out and a few hours left until I clock out.” I throw her a salute.
“ Wear something pretty, yeah?”
“Goodbye, Booth .” Her eyes roll as she sits down, trying her hardest not to react.
“Don’t miss me too much,” I shout over my shoulder.
When I’m a few feet from the office, I scurry to pull out my phone and bring up the group text.
Booth: Celebratory drinks at Shirley’s tonight
Graham: That’s not a question.
Booth: Clever boy. This isn’t an invitation, it’s a demand.
Patrick: I’m surprised you’re still breathing.
Flo: Oh, has Booth been told off again?
Quinn: What are we celebrating?
Dex: Booth finally getting laid.
Booth: *middle finger emoji*
Booth: I never ask for anything.
Do this for me.
Jo: You asked me to scratch your back this morning.
Literally, not metaphorically.
Booth: I couldn’t reach and you have long nails.
Graham: You asked me for a LEGO set the other week.
Booth: That was a Christmas gift, you heartless prick!
*Booth has left the chat*
*Quinn added Booth to the chat*
Quinn: Hi, Booth, :) Graham and I would love to join you tonight.
I picture Graham scowling at Quinn’s upbeat response and chuckle.
Booth: Thanks, Quinn.
You were always my favorite.
Jo: Hey!
Booth: I promise you won’t regret this ;)
“This is my biggest regret of the year,” Dex grumbles around the rim of his glass.
“It’s January second.” Johanna laughs.
“Exactly. And nothing will top this.”
I kick his shin under the table.
“ Shut up. How is this any different from any other night we meet for drinks?”
Patrick and Florence return to the table and divvy out a round of drinks.
“So tell me again,” Florence starts, tapping her finger on her chin.
“ You told Alessandra that we do this every year so you could hang out with her?”
My cheeks heat.
“ When you put it like that, I sound pathetic.”
“Because you are,” Graham kindly adds.
Standing abruptly, I slam my gin and tonic down.
“ I’m leaving.”
Johanna clears her throat, Dex lets out a low whistle, and Quinn’s eyes go wide.
“What?” I ask in confusion.
Florence is the one to respond.
“ I wouldn’t go yet, big bro.” She grips my chin and twists my head toward the door.
My heart tumbles out of my chest. Everything becomes irrelevant, other than her.
I told her to wear something pretty.
In typical fashion, she did the opposite.
This isn’t pretty. It’s downright sexy.
It’s still below zero outside, and with her coat slung over her arm, her entire outfit is visible.
High -waisted, navy and white striped pants hug her hips and ass before flaring out at the bottom.
A low-cut silky top showcases the pillowy tops of her perky breasts.
What has my pulse going berserk is her hair piled high on her head.
Inky ringlets frame her oval-shaped face, giving me an unobscured view of her slender neck.
She’s a sensual masterpiece.
A collector’s item that refuses to be hidden away.
Because what a pity it would be to hide the breathtaking beauty that people write sonnets about.
The world was never prepared for a woman like Alessandra Argiros .
And neither am I .
I lose track of the minutes spent staring at her, and when we lock eyes, that secret smile paints her cherry lips.
I’m positive she chose that shade to torture me.
She holds up a finger and grabs the attention of the bartender.
With a glass of red in hand, she sashays over.
Confident and bold.
“Evening,” she greets everyone, squeezing in between Dex and Quinn .
“Oh, yay, Aly !” Quinn cheers.
The other girls smile and say hello, and something sparkles in Aly’s eyes at their friendly welcome.
“Fancy seeing you here.” My voice breaks at the end like a prepubescent teenager.
“Jesus fucking Christ .” Graham sighs.
“ And I thought I had no game.”
Aly ignores me and jumps right into conversation with Dex .
Now, hang on for a fucking minute.
She’s with me.
I turn to my sister, hoping she can distract me with her blabbering, and find her gaze set on Aly and Dex , too, a tiny frown on her face.
Poking her in the cheek, I draw her attention my way.
“ What’s up with you?”
Her eyes flare.
“ Nothing . What’s up with you?” She glances back at Aly .
“ Oh , is Booth pouting because his girlfriend isn’t interested?”
I palm her face and shove her away.
“ When are you leaving the country again?”
She flaps her hands.
“ Never if I can’t find a job! ”
Patrick quirks a brow.
“ I offered you shifts at the restaurant.”
Flo’s cheeks redden at his condescending tone.
“ I don’t know if I can hack working there. There’s too much going on.”
Aly’s gaze finally falls in my direction.
“ What was your favorite destination on your travels?”
“Huh?” I call over the music.
“Booth,” Flo whispers.
“ She’s talking to me.”
Nope.
I can’t do this.
Who invited her?
This is torture.
I stand abruptly.
“ I’m going to the restroom.”
“Thanks for letting us know.” Dex winks at me over Aly’s shoulder.
I’m going to put ants in his bed.
Throwing back my drink, I escape the awkward tension.
After relieving myself, I take a few minutes to breathe.
I need to get my shit together.
Aly likes me. I think.
Well , she liked me the other night.
Or did she?
My head spins and I press the heels of my palms into my eyes until my vision goes white.
She’s making me lose my mojo and mind with each second she pretends I don’t exist. Does she want one night?
Does she want two? Does she want to watch me suffer?
With some semblance of sanity, I head back out but stop short when I spy the scrawny figure lurking next to our table.
“Motherfucker,” I hiss as my feet carry me over.
“I think you’ve had enough to drink.” I catch Johanna saying, her voice even.
Kyle ignores her and snatches up Aly’s wine, downing it in one.
Aly eyes the glass in disgust when he clumsily places it on the table.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Your Highness . Were you not done with that?” he slurs.
She doesn’t budge as she gives him a disinterested side glance.
“ Please , help yourself. But I’d listen to Johanna ; she’s a smart woman.”
“Pfft, I’m not listening to anyone, let alone you.” He crowds her, sneering, and everyone stiffens.
Not Aly , though. “ You prance in here, thinking you’re better than all of us.”
He doesn’t notice me standing behind him, a good four inches taller, chest heaving.
Aly spies me and subtly shakes her head.
I stay quiet but don’t back away.
She’s got this, but like heck is she leaving my sight.
Aly coolly retrieves her lipstick from her purse and applies a fresh layer of killer red.
I understand why she’s good at what she does.
Brilliant , actually.
It’s also the reason she floored me the moment she got on my radar.
Nothing fazes her. An unflappable force of nature.
I could spend an eternity watching her rule the world.
But not today.
Because I want this piece of shit gone.
“Kyle.” She sounds bored.
“ You’re not the first, and certainly won’t be the last, man to try to intimidate me. I don’t think I’m better than these people”—she gestures to everyone around the table—“or you.” She caps the tube of lipstick and finally looks at him.
“ Because I don’t think about you at all. So thanks for stopping by, but I think it’s time you left.”
Her expression is flat, apart from her eyes.
They glitter in warning; one he doesn’t heed.
Scoffing, he stumbles forward, his hand landing roughly on her shoulder.
“ You’d be a lot prettier if you smiled more. Too bad you’re a fucking stuck-up little bitch who needs to be put in her place.”
Someone gasps.
My brothers and Dex rise from their seats.
And I do something I’ve never done in my life.
Tapping Kyle on the shoulder, I look him dead in the eyes.
My knuckles crack.
His nose crunches.
And he crumples to the floor.
“Her smiles are for me, asshole.”