Chapter 21 #2
After filling her in on most of the discussion – leaving out the parts about making plans to actually kill Beau – she was relieved to hear that Dustin’s condition hadn’t worsened.
She was also happy that Beau was back in Pittsburgh, although she got quiet when I confirmed that Bull had been able to trace the emails to his gaming systems.
“You know, I think there was a tiny part of me that hoped it really wasn’t Beau after all,” she said sadly.
“It’s still hard to believe that the man I planned to spend the rest of my life with could do something like this.
It makes me question my judgement, because I didn’t see any warning signs that he was capable of this level of craziness and violence. ”
I nudged Elvis to get him up so I could sit next to her and hold her. She wasn’t crying, thank fuck, but the sadness and grief seemed to radiate from her. After a few minutes, she asked about going into the studio tomorrow.
“I really need to get the last few chapters finished soon because Ben, the voice actor doing the male voices, texted me earlier to let me know he’ll be done with his part of the book by tomorrow evening.
I know that the author is anxious to get it all sent off to post-production, and then we’ll need to do any final edits so she can meet her release deadline. ”
“Can’t you tell her you caught a cold or something to stall for a few more days?”
Lauren frowned. “I’d rather not. Audiobooks are expensive for authors to produce, and some barely break even on the cost. That’s why so many of them can’t afford to do it. It’s not fair to her to cause delays if I can help it.”
When I still remained unconvinced, she said, “This is my professional reputation on the line. I can’t have authors or their agents thinking that I’m unreliable, Jase.”
It was her quiet appeal that did it. I couldn’t resist her, especially when she said my name like that.
“Fine, but I’m going with you.” She gave me a huge smile, then kissed my cheek before pulling her phone out of her back pocket.
“I need to check the studio schedule to make sure there’s still a booth available for tomorrow,” she mumbled, tapping away at her phone.
The only available slot was at four-thirty, which mean she would be recording until late in the evening. I wasn’t wild about being there after hours, but it couldn’t be helped.
Elvis made it known that he was ready for dinner right around the time Lucky texted to let me know they were sending Tony to pick up Mexican food.
We gave him our order, then fed Elvis before going to join Lucky, Wrangler, and Viking in the common room.
While we waited on the food, we killed time playing a few hands of poker, which ended with Viking winning every time. Since we were just playing for pretzels and bragging rights, I didn’t mind too much, even though the asshole gloated every time.
“And that’s how it’s done, kids,” he smirked, flipping his cards to show a straight flush.
“Sonofabitch,” Wrangler muttered, watching as Viking gleefully pulled the pile of pretzels in front of him.
He offered a handful to Lauren, then smacked Lucky’s arm when he reached for one.
“Get your own damned pretzels,” he scowled.
The poker game broke up when the food was delivered, and after we ate, I pulled Lauren aside and told her that I needed to run up to my room to get some more clothes.
“I want to go with you to see the forbidden bedroom,” she teased, waggling her eyebrows. I wasn’t wild about the idea in case it triggered her again, but I was glad to see that her mood had improved.
Viking had just gone upstairs for the night, so I didn’t have to worry about him spotting us, and nobody else was paying us a damned bit of attention. She followed me upstairs, and I typed my code into the door keypad then opened my door with a flourish.
“Here it is, darlin’. It’s not much, but it’s home.”
She looked around with interest, taking in the room which was just a smaller version of the VIP suite she was staying in.
“This looks just like Uncle Bill’s room,” she said, sounding slightly disappointed.
“What did you expect, mirrors on the ceiling and a sex swing in the corner?”
She shrugged, then grinned. “No, but I figured you’d at least have some restraints built into your headboard or something.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Sorry to disappoint you, darlin’.
“That’s OK,” she said, patting me on the chest, “My headboard has slats that would be perfect to use with handcuffs.”
My cock twitched, but before I could act on it she noticed my old Louisville slugger resting on hooks mounted to the wall, with my newer bat hanging just underneath it.
She walked over and ran her fingertip along the grain of the wood on both, then glanced over her shoulder at me.
“My very first bat is the one on top. My mom told me to get rid of it after that night. Even after she cleaned it off, she was afraid there would be traces of blood on it that the cops would find if my dad reported me, but King let me keep it at his house. I think he knew that it meant a lot to me, so he held on to it until I prospected,” I confessed.
“I’ve bought several others over the years since they crack or snap after a while.
I always get the wooden bats though. I think the one on the bottom is the ninth one I’ve had… maybe the tenth.”
“Should I ask what you use them for?”
I shook my head. “Mostly just batting practice, but they are used to make a point now and then,” I admitted.
She narrowed her eyes and studied me carefully. “Club business?”
When I just nodded, she said, “I would have thought since you used to be an MMA fighter that you would just…use those skills when the need arises.” The careful way she phrased it made me grin.
“I’ve been known to do that too, but the bat is much more satisfying, and it keeps me from busting my knuckles open.”
I grabbed the clothes I needed, then we took them back to the VIP suite. Even though I was dying to touch her again, I knew that it probably wasn’t the best idea, given that she’d been on a fuckin’ emotional rollercoaster all day.
We ended up watching a movie, and Lauren fell asleep on my shoulder half-way through it. I picked her up to carry her to bed, and she stirred long enough to slip off her bra – without taking her T-shirt off, which was a damned shame – then removed her jeans.
Slipping beneath the covers in just her shirt and a pair of white lace panties that barely covered the sweet cheeks of her ass, she was asleep in minutes.
I undressed and stretched out beside her, wondering how long it would be before I could tell her that I was in love with her without her thinking I was full of shit like her ex had been.