Chapter 8 Rosco
ROSCO
“Shit!” she screeches. “You scared me! What are you doing skulking out here?” I can see wariness in her eyes after her initial fear is gone. She bites her lip as she waits for my reply. What is she so worried about? Perhaps that I’d overheard her conversation?
“I’m not lurking,” I answer, moving closer to her.
“I’m making my rounds.” She reaches for the door to the kitchen, but I move to block her escape, placing my hand over hers on the door knob.
Her head jerks up to look at me. I should let her go.
I shouldn’t be this close to her, but I can’t seem to help myself. I can’t stand her being upset with me.
“I’d like to apologize, for earlier.” Her eyes widen, then she feigns confusion.
“What are you referring to?” She asks me, as if she doesn’t know. I step even closer, invading her personal space. Her pulse is pounding in her throat. Her breaths are short and fast. Her lips part slightly, and her eyes drop to my mine.
She’s as attracted to me as I am to her.
It takes everything I have not to smirk at her or better yet, press her against the building and kiss the hell out of her.
It’s too bad we can’t indulge in our attraction and see just how explosive we could be together.
There’s no doubt in my mind we would be phenomenal.
“I lied to you,” I confess, lowering my voice, like what I’m saying is a secret.
Her eyes fly back to mine. Now she has an honest expression of confusion.
“I find you very attractive, Rachel. I can’t keep my eyes off of you whenever you’re near me.
You very much catch my attention, but I don’t like it. ”
Fuck! Did I really just say all of that? Yes, yes, I did.
I’ve felt like a douchebag extraordinaire since she’d turned away from me after I’d said my hateful words.
In my defense, I’d said them so she wouldn’t get the wrong idea about us.
I can’t have her thinking there can be anything more than attraction between us, but I hate that I’ve hurt her feelings.
Now I’ve said way too much. I wish I could say I’m drunk and don’t know what I’m saying, but I haven’t had a drop of alcohol today.
Bo had tied one on after meeting Shelby in an effort to tame his attraction to her.
It hadn’t worked. He climbed into to bed with her, naked, and spooned her all night.
Shelby laughs about it now, but she’d been a little freaked out at the time.
“I see.” Rachel says, studying me for several seconds. “Well, I’m sure there’s a compliment in there somewhere, but I don’t have time to go hunting for it. I have work to do. Now, if you’ll excuse?” She sasses, cocking her head to side and giving me a questioning look.
Rachel turns the knob that both of our hands have been holding onto while I’d made my little confession. I don’t want her to walk away from me again, not without making this right, but I’m not sure how to do that, so I remove my hand and watch as she hurries into the kitchen.
The door slams in my face, jarring me out of the trance she seems to put me in whenever I get close to her.
I run a hand over my face, then through my hair, trying to clear my head, but nothing seems to help.
Every time I turn around, I’m fucking things up with Rachel.
My heart and my head are still at war over what I should do about this woman.
I draw back to punch the wall in my frustration. Just before I make contact, Dalton’s hand catches my jab, saving me from fracturing my hand.
“Damn, Duke!” Dalton exclaims, shoving my hand away. “What’s gotten into you? You’d have broken your hand if I hadn’t been here.” I glare at him even though I should be thanking him for saving me from my foolish behavior.
“Nothing.” I move around him to walk away, hoping he will notice my sour disposition and leave me alone, but no such luck. I can feel him right behind me. “Leave it alone, Dalton. I’m not in the mood.”
“You are never in the mood to talk when something is eating at you. I’m not going to drop it, and you know it.
” Dalton chuckles like anything about this is funny.
“We’ve been doing this song and dance for months.
You might as well get it over with. I’m not going away, man.
Just spill it. Get if off your chest so you can move on.
” I spin around nearly knocking him down with my abrupt halt.
“Stop! Just leave me the fuck alone!” I yell, more than pissed he is pushing when he can clearly see I’m at the end of my rope. “I strongly suggest you go back to whatever you were doing before you decided to become my therapist. I don’t want to kick your ass, but God help me, I will.”
Dalton’s humor at the situation is completely gone. His face is set in a hard line.
“Maybe you’re the one needing an ass kicking,” he grumbles. “We’ve been friends for more than twenty years. I know when you’re chewing on something you can’t process. I’m only pushing, because you would do the same for me if you saw me struggling like you are, Duke. Stop pushing me away.”
I grit my teeth to suppress the urge to knock him into next week. I know he is just being a good friend and teammate, but I’m not ready to deal with my shit yet. Maybe I’ll never be ready to deal with it.
“I don’t want to fight with you, Dalton.” I keep my voice calm, despite how enraged I feel. “You are my closest friend, closer than my brothers. You might as well be my brother.” He nods. His body relaxing, a slight grin ghosting his face.
“But I can’t…I won’t talk about the shit in my head, right now, okay? I know you think you can fix it, but there’s nothing anyone can do to fix it. Please? As my brother, let it go?”
Dalton stares me down. I can feel his eyes boring into me. Just when I’m about to go ahead and get the fists flying, he gives me a single nod, turns, and walks to the kitchen door, disappearing inside.
I heave out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. Dammit, I hope he isn’t going inside to flirt with Rachel again. “God dammit!” My hands grip the back of my head as I pace up and down the alley.
I really need to get my shit together, sooner rather than later, but I don’t see it happening any time soon. I’ve been trying for six years and haven’t managed it yet. I don’t think I’m ever going to. Rachel is better off if I stay away from her. Fuck! Why does that make me feel sick?
Later as the event is winding down…
Marley and Shelby are once again cornered by Mrs. Cruise and one of her socialite friends. As much as I want to avoid Mrs. Cruise, and her groping hands, I need to keep an eye on my sisters-in-law. So I make my way over to them.
“Oh yes,” an average-sized, older woman with perfectly styled gray hair says.
She is obviously very wealthy and wants everyone to know it.
All of her jewelry is dripping with diamonds, and her outfit is tailored to fit her slender frame.
I recognize the heavy perfume she is wearing as a very expensive one.
I’d gotten a bottle for mother a couple years ago.
“Everything was delicious. It was presented in a perfect order and the display was magnificent. I’ve never had an event that has turned out so well. How far in advance would I need to book?” The woman peers at Marley waiting for an answer.
“It depends on the size of the event,” Marley says. “Since we are newly opened, we aren’t booked at maximum capacity yet. Do you have something in mind, Mrs. Winthrop?”
“Oh, I always have things going on, and it never hurts to have options in case my regular caterer has a conflict or some type of disaster,” the woman, Mrs. Winthrop replies. “When are you due?” She bobs her head toward Marley’s belly.
“Five weeks,” Marley sighs, rubbing her bump. “I’m so ready for him to make his appearance.”
“What about you, Shelby dear?” Mrs. Winthrop asks, gazing at Shelby.
“I’m due in about three weeks,” Shelby answers, a wistful smile on her face. She, too, is cupping her belly with her hands. “I can’t wait, either. I’m pretty sure this one is going to be a soccer or football star the way he kicks and tumbles.”
The women laugh. My lips twitch with a smile. There’s no doubt my nephew will be athletic. Especially considering Bo is his father, and I’m going to be his favorite uncle. We’ll teach him everything he needs to know to excel in sports, or whatever he wants to do.
“Where’s the lovely young lady you introduced us too earlier?” Mrs. Winthrop asks. “What was her name?”
“Rachel?” Marley asks.
“Yes, she seems very competent. Good help is so hard to find these days.”
“Oh, Rachel is more than the help,” Marley insists. “She and her brothers have become like family. I don’t know what we’d do without her.”
“Her brothers?” the woman’s tone is full of curiosity.
“Yes, she’s raising her twin brothers,” Shelby answers.
“Twins, you say?” the woman asks, stepping closer. “How old?”
“They’re teenagers, nearly grown,” Shelby answers. “They can pretty much take care of themselves, but Rachel still worries about them. She’s done a great job raising them after their mother died tragically in a car accident.”
“Oh, how awful,” the woman cries. “I can’t imagine her working and caring for small children. I never worked when my boys were growing up. I only began doing charity work once they’d gone off to college. I had to find something to occupy my free time.”
“Are you ladies about finished?” I inquire, deciding it’s time to intercede. I can tell both Marley and Shelby are worn out and need to get off their feet.
These old biddies who’ve never worked a day in their lives would stand around gabbing all day because they don’t have anything better to do. They can go somewhere else to chatter. It’s time to close this place down, and get the women home so they can put their feet up for a while.
“The cleaning crew is here,” I say, stretching the truth a little.
They will be here in fifteen minutes, but it’ll probably take that long to herd this bunch out the door.
Thankfully I don’t have to say anything else.
The guest and hostess exchange hugs and platitudes with each other and with Marley and Shelby before finally exiting out the front entrance.
“Thanks, Rosco,” Marley sighs, giving me a hug. “I just knew we’d be here another hour and a half trying to get them out the door.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” I pat her back and kiss the top of her head.
Marley holds a special place in my heart.
I’d almost ruined hers and Luke’s relationship before it’s gotten started.
I’d spent a lot of time with her trying to fix my mistake, and we’d bonded in a close friendship.
“You and Shelby go on and get out of here. I can tell you’re dead on your feet.
I’ll help Rachel and Cindy finish up in the kitchen. ”
“Thanks,” Shelby smiles gratefully and gives me a hug, too. “We owe you one.” I roll my eyes and shake my head. Someday she’ll figure out family doesn’t keep up with favors, and who owes who.
Around mid-day Monday morning, Luke, Bo, and I stop by Baby Girl’s. We’re going to grab some lunch before we head back to the office to meet a new client. Marley is on a call when we arrive, but she waves us into her office anyway.
“I have a garden party coming up soon, and I need you to cater it for me,” a woman demands, her voice coming from the speaker of Marley’s desk phone. “I can’t let Lucinda out do me. I’d never hear the end of it if my party is a disaster.”
“When is your event?” Marley asks, clicking on her computer, pulling up the business’s event calendar. “How many guests are you expecting?”
“Two months from Friday,” the woman says. “There will be around two hundred in attendance give or take twenty or thirty. I prefer to plan for more. Let’s say, two hundred and fifty? I refuse to be seen as a cheapskate.”
Rachel comes into the office to take our order to go. She looks at Marley curiously. She must have heard the end of that.
“Oh, I’m sorry, but Shelby and I will both be on maturity leave. We couldn’t possibly take on such a large event.”
“Oh, you just have to do this for me!” a woman insists.
“I’m desperate!” Marley rolls her eyes and opens her mouth, but the woman continues on oblivious to Marley’s attempt to dissuade her.
“Our regular caterer is already double booked, not to mention her best pastry chef suffered a bad fall and broke her arm.
“What about the girl who works for you?” the woman continues, hardly pausing to take a breath.
“What was her name again, Rachel? Can’t she do it?
Surely you can hire her some extra help.
You said yourself she’s excellent, and you couldn’t do it without her.
I’ll gladly pay double your normal fee, of course. ”
Marley looks up at us with wide eyes, then glances at Rachel who is looking as shocked as Marley.
“Um, let me see what I can work out, Mrs. Winthrop. I’ll give you a call back in a couple of days to let you know if I can find enough staff to pull this off.”
“Excellent!” Mrs. Winthrop exclaims. “I’ll get the invitations ready and mail them out tomorrow.
You won’t regret this, my dear. I’ll make Baby Girl’s a household name.
You’ll be so busy after this you’ll have to hire double the staff.
Good-bye for now, darling!” The call ends.
Marley’s mouth has been gaping open like a fish as she’d attempted to interrupt the woman, but was unable to get a word in edgewise.
“Damn, Rachel,” Marley chuckles. “Looks like you’re going to have your hands full in a couple of months.
” Rachel gives Marley a nervous, but excited smile.
I want to tell her not to be nervous, that she’ll be great, but I don’t.
I have no doubt she’ll handle everything with flying colors, but after our intense interactions at Mrs. Cruise’s event, I’m trying to keep my distance. I’m mostly successful.