Chapter 10 Grifter
I’m a steak and potatoes kind of man. Give me a bloody side of beef and I’m a happy guy.
It’s usually my favorite thing ever but sitting across from Georgia, in some no-name roadhouse, I realize I’ve only been living half a life.
Nothing I’ve done, experienced or dreamed could live up to the pleasure I’m feeling by having Georgia sitting here in this low-lit restaurant, wearing a peach, silk blouse tucked into her black skirt Nana had butchered into a mini skirt that makes me want to drop to my knees and worship.
I’m not even going to start on the way her hair looks like she just got out of my bed.
Fuck, the woman is perfection—gorgeous, dangerous, perfection.
She deserves a night out in a better place than this joint, but there’s not a large selection around here.
Still, this place smells like sizzling steaks and warm butter.
Soft music is being played overhead. It’s the kind of music that makes everything slow down a notch.
It’s all dim lighting, dark wood and leather booths.
It’s eclectic with mismatched tables in different tones of dark wood.
Booths have worn leather for cushions and manage to be comfortable and welcoming all at once.
I have to admit that I like it. I almost feel …
civilized. The thought makes a smile pull at the corner of my lips.
I reach across the table, brushing a strand of hair from Georgia’s face. She shies away slightly, making me smile.
“Have you been here before, Georgie?”
She blinks, pink creeping up her neck. “No … I like food, but the diner in town is about the only place I’ve been. If I take Nana out of town, she usually demands we eat at McDonalds. Why a grown woman loves that place, I have no idea.”
“Davis never bothered to take you to a nice restaurant?” I ask before I can stop myself.
“D-D-Davis?” she asks, surprise written on her face.
“You’ve gone out with him, right?”
“No, I mean, not on a real date. At least, that’s not what I would call it. He’s joined me and Nana for dinner a couple of times. Sometimes when I’m in the diner, he comes in for his lunch hour.”
“How often is that?”
I see her face colors prettily. “Um …”
The son of a bitch has been dating her, and she didn’t even know. What a limp dick move. It’s a good thing I’ve come into Georgia’s life. She’d have been miserable saddled to that asshole the rest of her life.
“How often, Georgia,” I push, wanting her to give me an answer—even if I already know what it is.
“A lot. We have lunch at the same time every day. He’s a really good friend, Griffin. I don’t have many of those in this town.”
“So, Monday through Friday,” I murmur. “No weekends?”
“Why are you asking me all these questions?”
“You’re mine, Georgia, and Deputy Do-Right wants what belongs to me. I need to see how serious this is between the two of you because I’m not the type to share.”
“Um …”
“Do you see him on the weekends?”
“No. I mean, nothing planned out.”
“Explain that to me,” I demand.
“Listen, you and I have known each other one day. I don’t think this kind of intensity from a man is normal. Maybe you should take me back home,” she whispers. I can see she’s a little afraid, but I’m not backing off. It’s best she learns that early on.
“I get that you might think that way, considering you’ve been wasting time on a man who doesn’t have enough balls to lay claim to you.
What you need to get is that the difference is I know what I want.
I know how special you are, and I’m not going to piss in the wind waiting for you.
You’re mine and I’m yours. It doesn’t matter if it’s one day or ten years.
My mind isn’t going to change. So, I’m going to ask you again. Do you see him on the weekends?”
“Occasionally he’s at Bingo when I take Nana.”
“That’s it?”
She shrugs, watching me. “Sometimes afterwards, he’ll join us for dinner in town.”
“That ends now.”
“What?”
“It has to, baby. I can’t allow you to see another man. Would you want me having dinner and spending time with another woman?”
“He’s just a friend.”
“Maybe to you, but the man I spoke with today didn’t feel the same. He wants you in his bed. He wants to know what you taste like. He wants what now belongs to me. No more dinners with him, Georgia.”
“You’re insane. Davis has never made a move on me. Not one.”
“He’s never walked you to your car? Held your hand? Paid for you meal? Any of that shit?”
“That doesn’t mean he’s attracted to me.”
I laugh, I can’t stop it. “Baby, have you looked in the mirror? All men with a fucking pulse are attracted to you.”
“Now you’re just being delusional,” she scoffs.
“Really?” I ask, because she really believes no man could find her attractive. What the fuck has the town gossip done to her that she’d believe that shit.”
“Yes, really. I honestly am starting to think you need professional therapy, Griffin. This can’t be normal.”
“Fine,” I exhale. “I’ll prove it.”
“Prove what?”
“That men want you.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “Can we just let it go and try and enjoy our meal, because after tonight I’m never going to talk to you again.”
“Baby, you’re spending the night in my bed.
I’m going to fuck you so hard that you will feel me between your legs all week long.
I’m going to eat out your pussy so that I ruin you for any other man.
I’m going to tie you to me any way I can.
” Her body jerks with my words. I can tell I’ve shocked the hell out of her.
I’m not going to hide from this though, and I’m not going to let her either.
“You don’t even know me, Griffin. There’s a chance, a very good chance that you won’t like me. You’ll just be another person in town who avoids me.”
“Because sometimes your dreams actually come true? That’s not going to push me away, sweetheart. I’m the man who wants to make you dream about me so I can make them all come true.”
“You’ve heard about my dreams?”
“Yeah. It’s interesting and just makes you more appealing. I like a woman with depth.”
“Maybe you are crazy,” she mutters, looking anywhere but at me.
“If I’m crazy it’s over you,” I joke with a wink. I’m rewarded with her giggle.
“That’s a horribly lame dad joke, Griffin. Oh crap. Are you a dad?”
“Not yet. Maybe we can remedy that tonight.”
She gasps as her head rears back. “You did not just say that.”
“But I did,” I counter.
“We’re not having sex.”
“Keep saying that if it makes you feel better, but I got Nana’s approval. That’s all I need,” I purr.
“I think it’s my approval you need, slick.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll give it to me, Georgie,” I reply, making her roll her eyes. “God, I. love this side of you, baby. It makes my dick hard.”
“You’re horrible,” she laughs. “You’ve been yanking my chain all evening, haven’t you?”
“Nope. In fact, I believe I told you I was going to prove that all men were attracted to you if they had a pulse.”
“What—”
“Excuse me,” I call to the restaurant host as he’s passing by. I need this done before Georgia can question me further.
“How can I help you, sir?”
“Are you single?” I ask, already noting his lack of wedding ring, along with the way he has hit on all the women in this place that don’t have a man.
“I’m sorry?” he asks.
“My girlfriend here hasn’t ever experienced a threesome.
She’s taken a liking to you, but she’s been watching you hit on women in this joint since we got here, and you haven’t paid her any attention.
We were wondering what the issue was. I thought maybe you were hitting for the other team, and I should have her look elsewhere. ”
From the corner of my eye, I watch as all color leaves Georgia’s face.
I know she’s going to be pissed. I even allow room for the possibility that I’m handling this all wrong.
It’s not like I have much experience dealing with women in general.
Club girls know what they want and what to do.
It hasn’t escaped my attention that Georgia has probably only had one or two men.
She’s also completely disconnected from the world I live in.
Being an old lady is going to be an adjustment for her.
Still, she’s the woman I want, and I’ll be damned if I will have her thinking that she is anything less than spectacular.
“No, I mean, it’s just—”
“Ignore my soon-to-be-bad-memory of a date. Just walk away and pretend this never happened,” Georgia says, anger in her gaze, despite sounding meek and apologetic to the asshole in front of me.
Her gaze moves to mine. She seems to be shooting fire at me.
My dick twitches because I like that look on her a lot. This is going to be fun.
“No! I mean, that is to say. You’re extremely hot. I noticed you right away. Any man would, really. It’s just ….”
“Spit it out, man,” I growl, the fucker is pissing me off now. His gaze keeps going to my girl’s boobs and shifting down to her legs. That seems unnecessary. I wanted him to confirm how great she looks, but that’s my woman. He doesn’t get to ogle her.
“Your boyfriend is kind of scary,” the guy tells her, dropping his voice down like he’s only sharing the information with her and I’m not two inches away from his scrawny ass.
“He’s not my boyfriend. I’m not even sure what he was, but after tonight he’s going to be nothing but history,” she says, her voice saccharine sweet. I’m going to have to spank her ass for this. That thought makes my dick stretch out, hard as a fucking rock. Jesus.
“I’m not really into threesomes, but if you’re single and want to go out sometime, call here and ask for Bryan. I’m the manager here.”
“You did not just ask my woman out on a date with me sitting here,” I growl. “I know you didn’t do that, because doing that will get you killed motherfucker.”
The little creep jumps away from me. From the look on his face, he’s not far from pissing himself. He should be. I’m about to choke the life out of him.
“Hey, listen, I didn’t mean any disrespect. She just said you two were done. I wouldn’t touch her if you’re still together. I swear.”
My hand shakes with the need to kill this asshole.
It started out so simple in my head. I just wanted my Georgia to know that other men found her attractive.
I didn’t want to bring another guy into her life that she might like.
I mean, fuck, I’m pretty damn secure in the man I am.
Georgia, however, isn’t in my world. What if she’d prefer boring and safe?
I can’t have him breathing her air one second longer.
“Get out,” I order him. I’m not yelling—far from it. In fact, you might say I’m whispering. My voice, however, is cold, deadly, and rigid. I’m barely hanging on—and it shows.
“Man, I didn’t mean—”
“Get the fuck out!” I growl, much louder this time.
The fucker jerks like I’ve hit him and God, I really wish I had.
Still, he has the nerve to look at Georgia.
You really need to get rid of him. Call me anytime.
Then, the asshole takes off in a sprint.
There are people watching us, I can feel their gazes, but I don’t take my eyes off Georgia.
“That didn’t work out the way it was supposed to,” I confess, my voice still rough, my breathing ragged.
“Really? What the hell did you expect would happen when you asked something like that? Did you think he might just strip and suggest we do it right here? Hell, maybe the whole restaurant would join in. We could just have a giant orgy right here!”
I feel some of the tension leave me. I didn’t have it right.
Georgia isn’t angry. Hell, no. She’s fucking livid and it’s a beautiful sight to behold.
I may have thought my woman would have trouble fitting into my world, but seeing her anger on display, I know I was wrong.
A woman with this much fire will carve her place any fucking where she pleases.
“Baby—”
She turns her attention to the two women beside us. “What do you guys think? You want to have sex with my date? He’s completely fucking insane, but if you get past that he’s not bad to look at.
I start to laugh, but then I realize what she just said, and it pisses me off. “I’m not having sex with another woman, Georgia,” I snap.
“Why? Are you wanting to …” She stops, her brow crinkling. “How did you put it, Grifter? Do you hit for the other team?”
“Griff or Griffin. Never Grifter, Georgia. Not to you.”
“Fuck you,” she huffs and Christ, I don’t know for sure, but I figure that might be the first time that word left her lips, but I know right now that I want to hear it again…
She stands up and when I go to do the same, she picks up her water glass and dumps it on my head.
“Don’t get up. Look around for a new partner.
I’m done here. I’ll call a damn taxi.” She stomps away and for a second all I can do is watch her.
Then, I get up, throw way too much money on the table and follow my very pissed-off date.