Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
Within a couple of weeks, I’ve quit my job at TT’s and signed the lease for the property on the main drag in Magnolia Bend. I was a little down the night I told Trina and everyone I wouldn’t be returning, but as soon as I got the keys to the unit, my excitement kicked in.
I haven’t decided what to name my studio yet, but that’s okay because there’s plenty to do to get the place ready.
Tonight, I’m meeting with the contractor I hired to do the work. When I leave my shift at Black Magic Bar, I walk across the street. I’m still working at the bar because I need to pay the rent on the studio until I have customers and bring some money in, but eventually I hope to leave that job behind as well.
I unlock the door, flick on the lights, and step inside. The place is a bit of a dump at the moment, but it’s mine. I’ve never had a place, a thing, that was solely mine. I’m presently freeloading at Nero’s place, and back when I lived with Louise, I begged for any small thing I got.
The sound of the door opening causes me to turn around. I smile when Jarvis, my contractor, walks inside. He’s probably around Nero’s age with sandy-colored hair and a matching beard. He’s a good-looking guy, and if I wasn’t already head over heels for someone, I might try to stoke the interest I’ve seen in the few times we’ve been together.
“Hey, Jarvis.” I step forward and shake his hand. “Thanks for meeting me. I’m sure you’d rather be heading home at the end of the day than stopping here.”
“On the contrary, I’ve been looking forward to this all day.” He smiles, and I return it, though I drop his hand.
“Should we get started? I just want to go over some of the decisions I’ve made since we last spoke.”
“Straight to business. Do you not like to have fun sometimes, Cinder?”
My mind immediately goes to the Ritual Room. “I have my moments, believe me.”
He chuckles, then we discuss what I want done. I go through the list I have in my phone until we get to the last item. Last time we spoke, Jarvis pointed out that I could save some money if I didn’t bring the mirrors all the way up to the ceiling, and since my clients are all going to be shorter than I am, I decided to take his advice.
“I think you’re right about not bringing the mirrors all the way up to the ceiling.”
He nods, hands on his hips. “All right, what were you thinking then?”
I glance around the space. “You didn’t bring your ladder with you, did you?”
He shakes his head. “Sorry, left it at home.”
Near the back of the unit, I spot one of those pails contractors use to mix paint or grout. That could work. I grab it and set it upside down on the floor.
“Not sure that’s the most stable of things you want to be climbing on.”
“Beggars can’t be choosers. Can you give me your hand to help me balance?”
He holds out his hand, and I take it, gingerly climbing on the pail with one foot, then the second.
“Okay, I’m thinking to about here.” I point at the wall.
With his free hand, Jarvis reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pencil for me. “Make a mark on the wall where you want it to end, then I’ll measure it up.”
I take the pencil from him and lean in, marking the wall. But my weight shifts, and the pail slides out from under my feet, sending me flailing toward the wall. Large hands grip my waist and prevent my head from crashing into the wall.
With all the adrenaline flowing through my veins, my heart beats a thousand times in the minute I take to compose myself. “That was close. Thank you.”
“Told you,” he says.
I turn around to roll my eyes at him but freeze seeing Nero near the front door. I didn’t even hear him come in.
I’m never really sure when he’s watching me. He doesn’t tell me, and I recognize that the man has a life and a job that take up his time. But on the rare occasion I know he’s there, I swear there’s an inner glow inside me because I bask in his attention.
He’s glaring at Jarvis as though he’s deciding where to bury his body. I’m getting the strong message that even though Nero likes to share, he doesn’t like another man’s hands on me without his permission. I don’t blame him. I’d be seething with jealousy if I saw another woman all over him.
I step away from Jarvis, and his hand drops from my waist. “Hey, I didn’t know you were coming by.” I walk over to Nero and place a kiss on his lips, lest there be any confusion where my affection lies.
“Thought I’d pop in and see how it’s going.”
We both know he was watching me from somewhere, but I don’t say that. Instead, I take him by the hand and lead him over to Jarvis, trying to smooth this over.
“Nero, this is my contractor, Jarvis. He just saved me from smashing my head into the wall.”
“Suppose I should thank him then.” Nero’s words are fine, but his tone and his clenched jaw make it clear he has no intention of thanking Jarvis for anything.
“Hey, man. Good to meet you.” Jarvis sticks out his hand, but Nero just eyes it and doesn’t move to reciprocate.
Nero turns to look at me. “You about done here?”
My cheeks heat with embarrassment at how awkward Nero is making this introduction. “Yeah, that was the last thing we had to go over.”
“Great.” He returns his attention to Jarvis. “You can see yourself out, right? You have a key?”
The way he’s talking to Jarvis, the tone of his voice, it’s how I would expect a billionaire to act and sound, but I’ve never seen that side of Nero.
Jarvis scratches the back of his head, clearly as uncomfortable as I am. “Yeah, of course.”
“Great.” Nero places his hand on my lower back. “Let’s go.”
I’m embarrassed and irritated, but I don’t want to make Jarvis even more uncomfortable, so I just smile and nod and let Nero lead me out of the storefront.
Once we’re on the sidewalk alone, I whirl around. “What was that?”
“What was what?” His tone is flippant once again.
“You were rude. Why?” My hands fall to my hips.
“You really have to ask?” He arches an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I do.”
He shakes his head and walks toward the Black Magic Bar parking lot where my car is.
I stop at the edge of the parking lot. “Why are you walking away from me? We’re having a conversation.”
Nero spins toward me. “I walked in to the two of you giggling and another man’s hands on you. What’s to like about that?”
My arms flail at my sides. “You seemed to like it the last time it happened.”
He narrows his eyes. “We both know that’s different.”
“How?”
“I’m the one calling the shots there. I decide what does and doesn’t happen, and the other guy participating knows nothing is going to happen between you and him. It’s purely sexual.”
“Pretty sure Jarvis knows nothing is happening too.”
Nero scoffs, and his head rolls back. “Are you kidding me? That guy wants to fuck you. It’s all over his face.”
I shrug. “So?”
His hands fist at his sides, and his jaw tics. “So?” He steps forward. “So… I don’t like another man thinking he can try to steal what’s mine.”
“You’re being ridiculous. No one is trying to steal anything, and if he ever did try something, I would put a stop to it. You embarrassed me in there. He’s working for me, and you’ve made it super awkward.”
He turns away from me and pushes a hand through his hair. “You don’t get it.”
“Nero, do you not think that some of the men I danced for at the club wanted to fuck me? You didn’t seem to have any issue with that.”
He grunts, keeping his back to me.
“I’m done with this conversation.” I unlock my car and get into the driver’s seat, slamming the door. When I put the key in the ignition and start the car, Nero turns around and faces me, so I roll the window down. “Let me know when you’re ready to talk.”
I reverse out of the spot and head back to Midnight Manor.
What the hell has gotten into him?