Chapter 14
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
Erica
I don’t know what I expect at work the next day, but after a restless night’s sleep, I got up early to bake muffins. It’s what I do when I can’t sleep. I didn’t feel like cleaning, so baking won out. I know the boys won’t mind. What about Brew?
Well, I can’t think about him at the moment because if I so much as imagine what he did to me, I will combust in a great big ball of fire.
I won’t be seeing Olive until school pickup, so I had a little extra time on my hands this morning. It’s taken me a long time to be okay with her spending the night away from me, but I trust Indigo and Harlem. They run a tight ship, and they’re strict with their kids.
I glance down at my phone when it chimes on the counter. I smile when I see it’s Amber.
Amber
Hey stranger, want to meet for lunch?
Me
Great minds think alike, I can meet you at Muso’s?
Amber
Manny’s cooking so that’s a great idea
Manny isn’t just the club’s amazing chef, but he’s also the life of any party. He doesn’t usually leave the clubhouse to cook, but often helps Hustler and Audrina out because they have a baby.
Me
Gumbo it is, should we meet there?
Amber
I’ll come by and pick you up
Me
Sounds like a plan
Muso’s is in the French Quarter, and while I don’t get to go out much, I always enjoy it when I do. I haven’t caught up with Amber in a couple of weeks because both of our schedules have been hectic.
When I arrive at work, I fumble several times with the Tupperware container as I retrieve the muffins from the passenger seat.
Taking a breath, I remind myself that it’s just one foot in front of the other, just like any other day.
Except it was only yesterday that Brew had his fingers inside of me while I screamed his name on my desk. A desk I did not sanitize…
I enter the building, switch the lights on in the reception area, locking the door behind me. Clients have been known to come in before we open.
I’m almost at my desk when a voice makes me jump.
“So, I didn’t scare you off last night?” Brew has his ass planted on my desk, his legs crossed at the ankles. The very same desk where I orgasmed twice. He also seems quite at home lounging there in the dark.
I almost drop the container I’m holding. “Holy smokes, Brew!” I scold. “You scared me half to death!”
He doesn’t even look sheepish. “You baked?” He nods to the Tupperware.
I place the container onto the desk, straighten my spine, all while trying not to let the heat creep up my cheeks. “I always bake.”
“What’s in the box today?”
“Blueberry muffins.”
“My favorite.”
I glare at him. “Why are you lurking around in here?”
“Lurking?”
“Yes.” I jab a finger into his chest. He follows the movement, glancing down at where I poked him. “That is what you’re doing, isn’t it?”
His nostrils flare just a little. “I was up early, as it happens. Couldn’t sleep. Last time I checked, I still own the joint.”
“So you thought you’d hang out at my desk?”
He shrugs. “I thought you regretted what we did.” When I don’t answer and look down at my shoes, he tips my chin up. “Do you?”
“I told you last night, we work together,” I whisper-shout, even though nobody else is here. “That complicates things.”
“Only if we let it.”
This man talks in riddles, that’s when he is talking to me. Half the time it’s grunts and hand signals. I don’t know why I’m so angry, maybe because I know this is all wrong, but I still want it anyway.
“You don’t mean that.”
“I don’t say things I don’t mean.” His gaze is piercing. “Ever.”
“You want what you can’t have,” I blurt. “It’s human nature—”
He blanches. “You sayin’ I can’t have it?”
My mouth opens like a blowfish, but no sound comes out. “That’s not what I meant. I just meant, it’s a game to you. Why do you want me when you can have any woman who crosses your path?” I fling my arm out to nowhere.
He stares at me for a few long seconds, then says, “I don’t play games. And it doesn’t matter about other women. I’m a one woman at a time guy. That’s one thing you’ll learn about me as we steer our way through this.”
My eyebrows shoot up. I know I don’t know him that well, but I’ve got eyes. I see how women at the club eye him up whenever he walks into a room. There’s something ungettable about Brew, something mysterious. He turns heads.
He’s broody.
Grumpy.
Catch me if you can. That’s the vibe he gives off.
I doubt he knows he’s doing any of those things, it’s just how he is, but women respond to it. I’m a classic example of knowing I should run away, but finding my feet glued to the ground, unable to move even if I wanted to.
I fold my arms over my chest. “Through what, exactly?”
He motions between us. “Us.”
My eyes are round as I laugh. “Brew, there is no us. What happened between us shouldn’t have happened—”
“So you’re denyin’ we have chemistry?”
I never knew Brew could articulate himself so well. Again, he confounds me. He’s not dumb, obviously, I just didn’t realize he had more than a three word vocabulary.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You’re worried about other women? Don’t be. I haven’t looked at another woman since your hair was longer and you wore those tight, dark blue pants and brought sugared almond cookies to work.”
I’m a blowfish again. “What tight, dark blue pants?” I think back. Wait. It was months ago because the weather was cooler, and I haven’t made those cookies in forever. I narrow my eyes. “That’s a little creepy.”
“Not from where I was standin’.”
“And it’s rude to keep talking about my hair like it’s a third person. I happen to like it.” I don’t like the way my lady bits tingle when I think about what he said, having something to hold onto.
His nostrils are flaring again, but I stand my ground. Bossy bastard. “You’re the only one.”
“If you think I’m going to just stand here and take your snarks about my appearance, you’ve got another thing coming.”
“You’re cute when you’re angry. Maybe the haircut is growin’ on me… until it grows out.”
I jab him once more. “I’m not scared of you.”
“I know. That’s what makes my dick so hard.”
I gape. “Brew!”
“I thought it was Dylan last night.”
Before I can answer, I hear, “Morning!” Nova calls out.
Brew and I spring apart like teenagers getting caught canoodling. Nova enters the space through the door that leads from Brew’s apartment, coffee in hand.
She stops in her tracks. “Oops, sorry, was I interrupting?” She jiggles her eyebrows as I make a big deal about centering the manila folders on my desk.
“Not at all.” I smile over at her. “Brew was just making a nuisance of himself, but that’s nothing new.”
Nova stops, looks at Brew, then at me, then bursts out laughing. “You didn’t just say that.”
Brew narrows his eyes at me. “Yeah, you didn’t just say that.”
“He’s trying to steal the muffins,” I say in an attempt to play it cool.
“That’s right, you told me to keep my hands off.”
“That’s because you’re greedy,” I say, still smiling at Nova. “And greediness gets you nowhere.”
Brew’s lips twitch as if he’s fighting a smile. Damn asshat. “Not a very nice way for a woman of the cloth to speak to her boss.”
I narrow my eyes as they land back on him. “I’m not a woman of the cloth.” Well, I still have my faith, but I’m not what I used to be. I clear my throat. “Not that this has anything to do with muffins and annoying bosses.”
One eyebrow piques. “Annoying?”
“When they won’t move out of my workspace, yes.”
“Whoa, you guys,” Nova laughs. “You’re like an old married couple. Chill. I heard voices and came down to help. I’m on the payroll thanks to you.”
I ignore Brew, who’s still staring at me and hasn’t acknowledged his cousin. I’m taken aback by surprise. So, Brew actually listened? “Oh,” I say. “That’s great news. Well, I can spend this morning going through everything with you if you’d like, that may be a good start.”
“Sounds like a plan.” She beams.
Both our gazes land on Brew as he finally shifts off my desk. He reaches for the Tupperware, peels the lid off and snatches two muffins in his gigantic hands, then stalks off with them without another word.
“He’s especially grumpy today,” I whisper. “Would you like one?” I offer Nova the container.
She takes one, a little smirk on her lips. “Thanks. I’ve also never heard anyone talk to Brew like that and get away with it.” She jiggles those eyebrows again. “Maybe he has a thing for you? I told you, I can sense these things.”
Great. So now I have to work with someone who’s going to tease me just like the rest of the women from the clubhouse. “Maybe he’s just being an ass because he can.”
She doesn’t push the issue, thank goodness. “You’re probably right.” Setting her coffee down as she peels the casing away from her muffin, she adds, “So, where do we start?”
I’m glad I have some help, but keeping Nova from being distracted could be work. It will be good, though, having an extra pair of hands I can hand-ball things to.
“We can start with making ourselves a fresh coffee before we hit the inbox.”
She grins. “I love it when a plan comes together.”