Chapter 6 Rachel #2
I scoff. I’m the stepdaughter of a mob boss.
I’m hardly worthy of a man like Rosco Robertson, a national hero.
I’ve seen pictures of him in his dress uniform, including all the metals on his chest. Marley had taken a picture of the guys before they’d headed to a funeral of a former teammate who’d died unexpectedly a few months ago.
I’d recognized the purple heart. When I’d asked Marley about it, she’d said she didn’t know the whole story, but Luke had told her Rosco had been injured on his last mission before leaving the Navy.
Luke said Rosco hasn’t been the same since that injury.
He’d left the Navy shortly after he’d recovered.
Though none of them knew the whole story, whatever had happened had been bad.
So bad that Rosco, an intended career Navy man, had left it all behind.
I can’t imagine what he’s been through. My heart hurts for him and his inability to come to terms with it all. Not that I know what he’s thinking, but obviously he hasn’t dealt with it since he’s keeping himself closed off, and his family is concerned about him.
I wish there was some way I could help him, but I have enough to manage caring for my brothers and keeping us safe. I’ll do whatever I can without chasing after him like some pathetically eager tramp. With that decision made, I square my shoulders and take a deep breath.
“I’m sorry for whatever happened to him,” I reply to my bosses who are more like friends. “I wish I could help him some way, but I don’t think I can. He surely feels the same, and that’s why he is the way he is around me. Now we need to stop talking and get back to work, don’t you think?”
Marley and Shelby both look unhappy, but they don’t argue the point. We grab a few last-minute items from the kitchen and head out to greet our hostess and her charity attendees.
Out in the dining hall, Mrs. Cruise and her guests have arrived.
The woman is an important client of Invictus Securities and Baby Girl’s Catering, but I don’t like her.
She has no shame and throws herself at anyone with a dick.
It’s embarrassing to be around when she’s offering herself up to whoever will give her the time of day.
More than once, I’ve been ready to scratch her eyes out at the shit she’s said to Rosco, but he isn’t the only one she’s propositioned.
I’d heard about how she’d tried to entice Bo into her bed, but he’d turned her down very publicly.
And I’ve seen her hitting on Jason, Matthew, and several of the other guys first-hand.
I understand why they keep her as a client. The woman is loaded. She could burn a wet mule with the money she and her husband have, but ew. I’ve met her husband, too. He’s as bad as she is. I’m hoping he won’t be here today.
“Marley!” Mrs. Cruise exclaims, opening her arms wide to give Marley a hug and a kiss to each cheek. “It’s so good to see you! I’m thrilled you didn’t go into early labor.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” Marley says with a fake grin plastered on her face. “You remember Shelby, Bo’s wife?”
Mrs. Cruise purses her lips and curls her nose like she’s smelled something bad as she looks over at Shelby. “Of course, how could I forget?”
“Mrs. Cruise,” Shelby replies, with a fake smile plastered on her face. The poor woman looks like she’d rather be anywhere be here.
“My god, you’re getting huge! I don’t know what Bo sees in you,” Mrs. Cruise exclaims. My mouth falls open at her rudeness. Shelby’s eyes give away how hurt she is by the comment, but her fake smile never wavers.
“Mrs. Cruise!” Marley scolds, sharply. “Shelby is pregnant with Bo’s baby. Have you forgotten?”
“Oh, why yes I did,” Mrs. Cruise says, not looking one bit remorseful. The friendly vibe is gone. I can feel the hostility rolling off both Marley and Shelby.
“It seems your guests are arriving,” Marley points to the women entering at the front door. Matthew and Jason are standing by the assistants we have at the entrance scanning and verifying invites. Hosts and Hostesses escort each person to their table while waitresses and waiters fill water glasses.
“Welcome!” Mrs. Cruise calls out, darting across the room to speak to those being seated.
“Bitch!” Shelby seethes under her breath. I bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud.
“She sure is,” Marley agrees. “Shelby didn’t you say we are looking to exceed our first-year projections?” Shelby frowns, but nods. I, too, am wondering what that has to do with Mrs. Cruise being a bitch.
“Perfect! This will be the last event we cater for her. I don’t care if Baby Girl’s Catering goes under. We will not work for her again.” Marley gives a sharp bob of her head as if it’s all settled.
“Marley,” Shelby says softly with tears in her eyes. “She’s a wealthy client and gives both Invictus and Baby Girl’s a lot of business. Don’t drop her on my account. She isn’t wrong. I’m bigger than a beached whale, and I know it.”
“Shelby.” Bo’s deep voice has a scary undertone that I’ve never heard before.
All three of us turn to see him bearing down on us.
Shelby shivers, but from the look in her eyes it isn’t from fear.
I glance back at Bo to see the same raging desire in his eyes as they roam over Shelby’s swollen belly, pausing at her huge chest, then up to her rounded face.
“What have I told you about calling yourself names?”
Crap! I think I’m going to have an orgasm just from the commanding tone in his voice. I feel like I’m intruding on an intimate moment. I should make myself scarce. Looking at Marley, I can see she’s thinking the same thing I am.
“Rachel, will you help me in the kitchen?” Marley asks, and I hurry to follow her, needing to be some distance from that intense situation.
“Lord! I need to find Luke and lock him in my office for an hour or so.” Marley chuckles when we are far enough away Bo and Shelby can’t hear us.
“I know, right?” I answer, fanning myself. “I should go change my panties.” We both erupt into a fit of laughter. Once I have control of myself, I say, “You are both so lucky.”
“Yes, we sure are,” Marley replies with a wistful smile. “You need someone in your life, Rachel. You’re much too young and too special to be alone. You should be out dating and having fun.”
“Nah, I’ve got enough on my plate without having to deal with trying to keep a man happy,” I answer. In truth, I haven’t met anyone other than Rosco, in a very long time, who has piqued my interest.
“Let me set you up with someone!” Marley says excitedly. “Kelvin? Jason?” I’m shaking my head emphatically but with a grin. Marley is sweet to worry about my non-existent love life. “Oh, I know! Dalton! Bad boy looks on the outside but a squishy old teddy bear in the middle.”
“Marley!” Dalton calls out from the back door, causing both of us to jump.
“You’re ruining my rep. Don’t go telling the ladies I’m a teddy bear.
They’ll take advantage of me.” He folds his hands together, pouting out his lips, and flutters his eyes like a damsel in distress.
I like seeing this side of Dalton, picking at Marley like an annoying brother.
This is what I love about working for Baby Girl’s. Getting to see up close and personal how they all interact, joking and teasing one another. It’s like a family, one the boys and I haven’t had in so long.
Dalton pulls a lock of my hair, gently. “Don’t listen to her,” he whines, “I’m very manly and a complete asshole.” He winks at me. I cackle at his antics, until I see a pissed off Rosco just behind him.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Rosco scowls at Dalton, who shrugs his shoulders.
“Nope!” Dalton pops the word. “Just here to watch over the ladies.” Another wink in my direction, and he slips his arm around my waist. “I’m thinking they need to be guarded closely.
You know, in case the catty, rich snobs out there get out of control.
” I can’t hold back another laugh. Dalton grins at me like he’s pleased as punch he’s been able to make me laugh.
“Fucking hell,” Rosco grumbles, pushing between Dalton and me before storming off out of the kitchen.
“Well, that went well,” Marley comments, staring after Rosco.
“What?” I ask. Surely, she isn’t implying she and Dalton had planned this little interaction to make Rosco jealous. “Marley?”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Marley says distractedly, before turning her focus on me. “I’d just hoped when I saw Rosco at the door maybe he’d get jealous of Dalton being flirty with you and get his head out of his ass.”
“Hey! Don’t drag me into your matchmaking schemes,” Dalton protests with a grin. “Duke doesn’t need another excuse to kick my ass. He’s already pissed at me for pushing him to talk about whatever’s bothering him.”
“Duke?” I ask.
“Yeah, that’s his nickname from the teams,” Dalton informs me. “You know because they’re all named after characters from the old television show, The Dukes of Hazzard.”
“Seriously?” This is a new one on me. I’ve never seen the show, but now that he mentions it, I see what he means.
“Yeah, their mom was obsessed with the show, and their father’s name was Jesse so she named all the kids after the other characters.” I look to Marley for confirmation. She grins and nods.
“It’s true, Luke told me all about it when he prepared me to meet their mom, Joyce, for the first time,” Marley chuckles.
“She can be a bit much. Daisy can’t stand the fact that her mother named her after a character on a television show.
They don’t get along at all, but I kinda feel sorry for Joyce. Even if she’s a bitch sometimes.”
“I think she’s a very unhappy woman,” Shelby says joining the conversation.
“Bo says she wasn’t always like she is now.
She changed after their dad left.” I’ve heard the stories about her snide comments and how she blames Daisy for Luke’s car accident that left him in a wheelchair, but I’ve never met her.
“What happened to him?” I ask realizing none of them have ever really mentioned him.
“No one knows,” Dalton answers. “He left for work one day and never came back. Disappeared without a trace. Luke remembers his parents fighting the night before he’d left, but Joyce has refused to talk about it.
“I’m surprised they haven’t tried to look for him, now that Invictus is doing so well, and they have all kinds of connections.
I know it’s been more than twenty-eight years since he went missing, but with today’s technology, I think it’s worth a try.
After all, all of the issues the Robertson men have stem from their dad disappearing. ”
My heart breaks for Rosco and his siblings. How could a man just walk out on his family and disappear? Why would he?
“We better get back out there,” Marley says reluctantly. “Time to get this party going.”
“Marley, dear!” Mrs. Cruise calls the moment we enter the dining room. “Would you mind coming with me? I want to introduce you to everyone. They’re all dying to meet the genius behind the catering magic.”
“I’ll be right there!” Marley agrees, rolling her eyes when Mrs. Cruise turns away.
Marley lowers her voice to a whisper. “Lord only knows what that hateful old woman is up to now. I don’t believe for one second it’s just to introduce me to her friends.
She always has an ulterior motive. Will you come with me, Rachel?
I could use the moral support. Besides, Shelby and I couldn’t pull this off without you. ”
“That’s not true!” I deny. “I merely follow your lead, but you know I’ve got your back.”
Marley grins at me as we begin to follow Mrs. Cruise.
Shelby sees us and walks toward us. “Come on, Mrs. Cruise is wanting a minute,” Marley grumbles, taking Shelby by the arm to drag her along with us.
Shelby drags her feet. I can tell talking to Mrs. Cruise is the last thing Shelby wants to do, too.