Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
BECKETT
H e was feeling prickly again.
Not because he’d dropped this time. But because he’d sent Ruby home last night without taking her down to the pit. After finding out she hadn’t taken the one day off a month she apparently afforded herself, he’d sent her home after they’d finished their meal with Ice and Silver.
He’d be damned if he was part of the reason she ran herself into the ground.
Ruby had pouted about it at the time. But he’d promised her a flogging and lots of orgasms tonight if she listened and that had seemed to mollify her. Bribery wasn’t his usual style, but threatening her with a punishment pushed the limits of their agreed- upon dynamic, so he’d had to get creative.
Unfortunately for him, that had meant going home alone and spending another sleepless night wondering about her. Worrying about her.
And another morning feeling like a prickly bastard.
Opening the door to Charleston Brews, he stepped inside and for a moment he was torn between relief and disappointment when he didn’t see her behind the counter.
Relief, because she needed the rest.
Disappointment because as much as he tried to tell himself he just really enjoyed the coffee here, the truth was he had a perfectly good espresso machine at home if he was really in the mood for something more than just black coffee.
God, he was pathetic.
Then he heard it. Her laugh, loud and wild, a moment before she stepped out of the back and swapped places with the brunette who’d been behind the register when he’d walked in.
His heart skipped a beat at the sight of her. Literally stopped in his chest for a moment, and he swore time slowed as she tossed her hair over her shoulder and flashed a smile for the next customer.
He hadn’t known his heart could do that. Even though he’d been in love before, the kind of love he’d expected to last forever, it had never felt quite like this. That first time had been comfortable, easy. Like a favorite pair of jeans that fit perfectly every time.
Ruby was the opposite of comfortable. Or easy. And he wasn’t sure exactly what to make of her, or his own complicated feelings.
It wasn’t love. Couldn’t be, because that was just asking for trouble.
But it was something more than lust, that was for damn sure.
What it was, really, was messy. Just like Ice had said.
Fuck .
Ruby glanced up from her screen, her gaze landing on him, and the change in her was instant. Her entire face lit up, as if from the inside out, and she gave him a little wave.
It seemed to take an eternity for the two people in front of him to place their orders. But then it was his turn, and Ruby’s smile widened as she greeted him.
“Good morning. How may I brighten your day, Sir?”
“Morning, Ruby Red. Did you get enough sleep last night?”
He didn’t think he would ever tire of her blush, or how unexpectedly easy it was to put that flush in her cheeks. “Yes,” she replied, dropping her voice for only him, despite her coworkers doing their best to listen in while pretending they weren’t eavesdropping. “As much as it pains me to say, you were right. I was way too tired to… you know, last night.”
Daddy knows best . The worst burned on his tongue, but he held them back. Not only would it be wildly inappropriate to say that to her at her workplace, he wasn’t Daddy here.
Which was how he wanted it, he reminded himself as he forced a smile. “Good.”
“I, um, got some good news this morning.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah.” She actually bounced on her toes in excitement and if he’d been a man given to romantic flights of fancy, he might have melted into a puddle at how damn cute she looked. “Jacqueline called, said that company I worked for yesterday really liked me and they want me to come back today. The person who had been working for them is still sick, and they specifically requested me to fill in today. Guess I made an impression.”
“Sounds like it. Too bad you’re working today so you couldn’t take it. Seems like it’s a good opportunity for you.”
Ruby’s brows drew together in confusion. “I did take it. I was only scheduled until nine today, anyway. Short day.”
Prickles again, this time along the back of his neck. “What time did you get here this morning?”
“Five. So a half day here, then I’ll head over to their office.”
Not your problem. Not your problem. Not your problem. If she wanted to run herself ragged working multiple jobs, it wasn’t his responsibility.
She wasn’t his responsibility.
“I’ll take a large black coffee.” There was a bite to his voice he couldn’t quite hide, and judging by the way Ruby’s eyes widened, she heard it as well.
“Um, okay. Would you like to add a scone or a muffin today?”
Hurt rippled beneath her customer service voice, but he forced himself to ignore it as he pulled his wallet from his pocket. “No. Just the coffee, please.”
“You got it.”
The coffee was ready by the time he finished paying—with a perfectly appropriate tip this time—so he accepted the cup with a nod. “See you around, Ruby Red.”
And as he made his way back outside, he told himself the pit in his stomach had nothing to do with worrying about how much stress the pretty bartender-slash-barista-slash-whatever-the fuck-else-she-did-for-a-living was putting herself under.
Not his problem, not his concern.
Not his girl.
Ruby
What the fuck was that?
One minute she’d been having a perfectly normal conversation with Beckett, the next he was pulling an Edward Cullen and acting like he couldn’t stand another second in her presence.
But she didn’t have time to sit around, worrying about what she’d done to piss him off. Not when there was a line of customers waiting for her to ring up their coffee order. So she plastered a smile on her face and kept it there for the next hour until Jay relieved her for her break.
She took her fifteen minutes outside, where the cool air helped calm her nerves a bit as she stared down at her phone.
Should she text him? Figure out why he seemed so mad at her all of a sudden?
Or did that violate their ‘Daddy in the club only’ agreement?
Ugh. When did their simple, no-strings-attached deal get so freaking complicated?
Swiping away from Beckett’s texts, she opened the group text she’d been added to with the other girls. Supposedly it was for planning Lottie’s wedding, but so far it had just been what Ruby assumed was the usual girl talk.
Would they be mad at her for bringing her relationship drama into the chat?
Maybe… but who else was she supposed to ask?
Stomach rolling with nerves, she typed out a message to the group. And waited.
Ruby
Beckett came by the coffee shop this morning. He’s acting really weird.
It wasn’t more than thirty seconds before the responses came flooding in.
Lottie
Beckett’s always weird.
Cordelia
Not helpful, Charlotte. What happened, Ruby?
Ruby
Idk. We were chatting and one second everything was fine and the next he was just like ‘I’ll get a black coffee’ and he paid and left. Said he’d ‘see me around’ whatever the fuck that’s supposed to mean.
Frankie
Maybe he was running late? Or maybe he’s an asshole.
Lottie
It’s Beckett. He’s never late. So asshole gets my vote.
Ivy
Aw, Beckett’s not that bad.
Cordelia
He can be when something gets stuck in his craw. Want me to talk to him?
Ruby
No, no, I can talk to him. I was just wondering if I should. Like, we’re not dating or anything. Do you think I’m crossing a line if I ask him what the fuck his problem is?
Cordelia
Absolutely not. Just because you’re not officially together doesn’t mean you can’t call him on his bullshit.
The knots in Ruby’s stomach untied themselves as she read Cordelia’s words over and over. She was right. Maybe they weren’t a couple, but they were friends. Supposedly. And friends called each other out for acting like complete assholes.
Didn’t they?
Silver
Just catching up because holy fuck, it’s early. I need to remember to mute my phone when I go to bed if you’re going to be this chatty before noon. But anyway, yes, Ruby, you should text him and ask wtf his problem is. And if you don’t get a satisfactory answer, let me know and I’ll send Ice to kick his ass.
Lottie
Braden says he’ll come too!
Ruby
OMG you told Braden?
Lottie
I just told him Beckett was being a dick and we might be sending guys over to rough him up for you. No details, I promise.
Ruby
Oh. That’s… kind of sweet, I guess.
Lottie
Def. Oh, hey, Daddy wants to know if you can work tonight. Tara’s under the weather and Nina can’t come in until ten. He just needs someone to cover a couple hours.
Dammit. She was already working all day, and it would mean missing out on her drum lesson with Silver.
But she could always use the extra money, and she hated to let Braden down.
Man, being broke and responsible sucked sometimes.
Ruby
Sure thing. Can I get a raincheck on the drum lesson, Silver?
Silver
Of course. Let me know what works for you. My schedule is pretty free these days.
Ruby
Thanks. Lottie, let Braden know I have to work until five but I should be able to be at the club by seven.
Lottie
He says that’s perfect and you’re a goddess and he appreciates it. Well, he said he appreciates it. I added the part about you being a goddess because that’s what he should have said.
Ruby
LOL okay, well, I gotta get back to work. Thanks for talking me off the ledge.
Cordelia
Any time. And just let us know if we need to knock some sense into your… whatever he is when you’re not at the club.
Ruby
He’s just a friend.
Frankie
Uh-huh. I’ve got fifty that says ‘just friends’ doesn’t even last to the end of the month.
Ivy
I give them to Valentine’s Day.
Lottie
Ooh, ooh, I want in! Ummm… I give it a week.
Frankie
A week? This isn’t one of those smutty romance novels Portia swears she doesn’t read, Lottie-baby.
Lottie
Whatever. Just put me down for fifty.
Ruby
You’re all going to lose. I’m not interested in anything serious. Especially not with Beckett.
Silver
Right. That’s why you’re texting us, asking for advice on how to handle him.
Ruby
As a FRIEND. I really have to get back to work. See y’all later.
Shaking her head at the notifications still pinging her phone, she switched to Beckett’s name. And while she was still riding the high of righteous annoyance, typed out a message.
Ruby
Hey. Just checking in. Not sure what happened earlier but you seemed kind of pissy when you left the shop. If I did something, I’d appreciate you actually telling me so we can talk it out.
There. That was… relatively grown-up of her, right?
She was just tucking her phone back into her pocket when it buzzed again. And her heart leapt into her throat when she saw the notification from Beckett.
Beckett
You didn’t do anything wrong. I was just in my head a bit. Sorry I was short with you.
Well, at least he wasn’t mad at her. But now she had more questions. What was he in his head about? Was it her? Did they need to talk about whatever it was?
But all of that felt like stuff a girlfriend would ask, not just a sometimes play partner. So for now she’d just have to be okay with knowing that she didn’t do anything wrong and he wasn’t mad at her.
Even if the not knowing was sitting in her gut like a lead weight.
Thanks. I’ll see you around, then?
You’d better. I’m very much looking forward to getting my hands on you again, Ruby Red.
Okay, that definitely sounded more like the Beckett she knew.
Feeling lighter than she had since he’d left the shop, she tucked her phone back into her pocket and headed back inside.