Kitabı oku: «Bad Guys Night fantasies. A boring evening can be an unpredictable game for you», sayfa 2
Chapter 4
I observe how the whole gamut of emotions is displayed on the face of this cute girl. Embarrassment, anger, chagrin, pleasure, then embarrassment again. The final chord is complete bewilderment.
– Are you kidding.
– Hardly. Why make up such a story?
She continues to stunned at me.
“So, then you’re Nick.”
I nod:
– Right.
– Cache and Nick.
I shrug:
– Our mother liked country music.
“And Cash is the owner of the Sunset Club.”
– Exactly.
“That excuses you.”
– Strictly speaking, no. In any case, no. Anyway.
– And nobody fooled me.
I am laughing:
– Yes, nobody fooled you.
She bites her lips without opening her mouth, the news digests. I don’t think she guesses how sexy and charming.
The excitement subsided, the girl takes in air and asks a question:
– Can I start all over again?
I grin:
– Sure.
A dazzling smile immediately appears on her lips. Beauty puts forward her hand, saying:
“You must be Nick, Dora’s boyfriend.” I’m Olivia, a little dumb cousin of Dora.
I grin again:
“Nice to meet you, Olivia.”
“I doubt that you have at least something stupid.”
The girl nods with satisfaction, turns and goes after the coffee pot. What remains for me not to follow her is to stare at the beautiful blonde sitting in front of me. Looking at Marissa, I always saw an elegant, stately, luxurious woman in front of me. But this morning I discover that I want her to be a cute, disheveled, fiery brunette.
Damn it! This is bad!
Chapter 5
– Oh my God! It can’t be! Are you serious? Mutters Sean, chewing on the wedding cake.
The crumbs fly out of her mouth, and that makes me laugh. Going with Sean to try wedding cakes is great fun, it’s better only my role at the bachelorette party.
“I wish it was a joke, but no.” It was terrible! “I feel my face flush with shame at the mere mention of the story of Nick.”
“It’s good that it was a brother, and not the one with whom you frankly flirted.”
I slap Sean’s hand:
– I did not flirt with him frankly!
“No, but I did.”
“Of course I …”
“Don’t even try to lie to me, stupid girl.” I know you too well. He has everything a bad guy should have. I wonder how it was you who didn’t grab your legs around him, didn’t bite your lips at him and did not turn your whole body around him right there and then.
“God, Sean, you’re talking about me like a whore.”
– About the whore? True? – She looks at me skeptically.
We both sneak with a laugh. Seeing red fondant from the cake on Sean’s teeth, I start to laugh out loud.
– Shut up. It’s a bad word, “I explain, imitating my mother.
She was a model of stiff integrity. The words “whore” and “slut” had no place in her vocabulary. But the words “divorced” and “abandoned” place was found.
“Don’t even hint at her.” Crazy! – says Sean.
– You know, it’s really scary. You’re talking now, and your teeth are as if you just ate someone’s liver. – Food coloring looks like fresh blood.
– I ate. It was delicious. With chianti and horse beans, “she says in the voice of Hannibal Lecter and makes a strange sound, sucking in the air.
We both laugh, the fashionably dressed saleswoman frowns at us disapprovingly.
“You better shut up.” I’m sure that being thrown out of the wedding cake shop a month before the wedding is unfortunately.
Sean meekly smiles at the saleswoman and tells me, barely moving her lips:
– If you had a piece of coal, we would bend it, put it in her ass and in a couple of days would get a huge diamond out of there.
“You know what, Sean, I’m sure that it takes much more time for coal to turn into a diamond than a couple of days.”
– Not in that ass.
Throwing a sidelong glance at the strict lady, I change my mind:
“Maybe you’re right.”
– That’s what, while all this sweet and brain-friendly food is circulating in our blood, let’s make a plan for you to take Nick away from Dora. I think it will be the best wedding present – to see how the face of this smug whore changes.
– What? Are you crazy? I’m not going to take anyone away from anyone.
– And why? This guy is the one you always wanted.
“I know,” I say with a sigh.
And Nick knows. He is incredibly beautiful, charming, probably smart, successful, reliable, firmly on his feet – all this my mother has driven into my head since childhood, convinced that my father is deprived of such qualities. And most important: Nick is not a bad guy. I can disagree with my mother in many ways, but I know for sure: with regard to men whom I should lay eyes on, she is right. I found evidence of her innocence over and over again. Maybe someone like Nick can help the facts get to my avid heart. Until now, it seemed like falling in love with bad guys is my destiny.
“And what, what’s the problem?” Go and get it.
– It is not that simple. If only because I myself am not like that.
Sean drops the plug and looks at me viciously:
“And what kind of person are you?” Not one who takes what he wants? Who seeks his life? Who does everything to find happiness? Oh no. You’re not like that at all. You are a sufferer. You need life to pass you by, because you no longer want to take risks.
– The desire to get an education to help my father does not make me suffer.
– No, but deleting everything else from life in order to return to Paris does.
– In his life there was already a woman who left him. I do not want to be second. – The sharpness in the voice cannot be hidden.
Sean pisses me off.
– Living your life does not mean abandoning someone.
“That’s exactly what she said.”
There is nothing to answer Sean.
* * *
Taking a basic accounting course in the first two years of college was a real feat. But still, despite the light schedule, I am very tired today. And there are reasons for this. It’s Friday night. Ahead of the weekend.
He also sucks.
I would like to think: this is just a fear that you will have to go home and work until Monday, but I know the reasons are a little deeper. All this stupid conversation with Sean while we tried the cakes.
“This guy is the one you always wanted.”
Every day it becomes more and more clear. I sigh.
This week, Nick came to Dora every night.
The more I listened to his speeches, listened to his laughter, watched how he behaved, the more I wanted to be a man merciless in the struggle to fulfill my desires.
But I am not like that. Dora has a monopoly on this. Yes, she and my mother.
If I ever decide to steal, Nash will be my first thieves’ booty.
I hear his deep voice, he is talking with Dora. No doubt they have grandiose plans for the night. Their chic life is the material from which fairy tales are created. Unfortunately, my life is anything but a fairy tale.
Having resolutely shook my head, making my eyes clouded with tears, I pull my tail on the top of my head and look at myself in the mirror. Dora’s work clothes are a thousand-dollar suit and shoes from Prada. And mine are black shorts and a T-shirt that says “Take me.” Those like me are not destined to live in a fairy tale.
I’m glad I hear the front door slam. At least now, on the way to the exit, I do not have to go past this dynamic duo. Well, a crappy weekend, but it has only just begun. The last thing I need to see right now is how they drag themselves apart.
I give the sweet couple a minute or two, after which I take my purse and keys, throw a bag with a store of things overnight on my shoulder and head for the door. Thinking that I had to go to the bathroom before leaving, I look up and see Nick sitting in his polished car and talking on the phone. Not looking where I’m going, I forget about the curb – and this ends in a fall.
I probably would have been able to keep my balance if it weren’t for a bag full of jam. Since she suffered the wrong way, we both could no longer be stopped.
I fall upside down into the parking lot, imagining myself as some kind of cartoonish wheel from a cart that rolls and threshes like flails, arms and legs.
Hop! – Again I look like a fool. And besides, in the eyes of Nick.
Will my eternal embarrassment ever end in front of this guy?
A thought flashes through my head as I try to rise. Nevertheless, I do not have time to get out of the straps of my purse and bag with things, when they grab me under my armpits and put someone’s strong hands on my legs.
I find myself face to face with Nick. His dark chocolate eyes.
Chapter 6
I follow Olivia out of the corner of my eye, and meanwhile I am heading towards the federal highway. I know, I run into problems: to get so far as to spend a little time with this girl!
Of course, I would help any woman in such a situation. But would you go this far? Probably not. Would he himself insist on this? Definitely not.
Why couldn’t you just wait for the tow truck and leave?
I have no answer to this, but it seems to be because there is something in it …
She’s pretty, that’s for sure, although a little out of my taste. The complete opposite of Dora is in almost everything – in the physical sense and in all others. And although Dora suits me in all respects, I am not attracted to her as much as to this girl.
And this is not good.
I know.
And still I am here. I’ll drive her through half a staff, like I’ll bring her to work. While my girlfriend is waiting for me.
Damn it! Dora!
I pick up speed on the acceleration lane and turn to Olivia:
“Do you mind if I call Dora?”
She smiles and shakes her head.
I press a couple of buttons on the dashboard to turn off the speaker. I do not want Olivia to hear our conversation.
– Where are you? Doura asks, barely having time to pick up the phone.
“Olivia won’t start the car.” I will take her to work and I will be right there.
– At Olivia? My cousin Olivia?
– Sure. Who else?
“And you’re taking her to work?” In Mexico City?
– Yes.
Silence greets me. I know what Dora is with other people. And I am fully aware of how she is now holding back anger and sarcastic comments against me. She is great at polishing the facade. She understands: our relationship will end if she does not restrain herself. That’s why she is silent until she takes control of her emotions.
“It’s awfully nice of you to help her.” I just didn’t expect this. She’s not a stranger to me, but I would never ask you to change plans like that because of her.
“I know I wouldn’t ask.” But it’s not difficult for me. True.
New pause.
– Oh well. Then, I guess, we’ll see you in a couple of hours.
– See you later.
I put the phone on the stand and notice: Olivia is looking at me carefully.
– Is something wrong? – I ask.
– Here I am about the same. Is she furious?
– Not. Why should she freak out?
“Do you even know who you’re meeting?”
I can not help laughing.
“She’s not so bad.” She endured it with honor.
– Hm.
“You obviously don’t like each other.” Why do you live with her?
I glance at Olivia and see how she falls off her face.
“I say like an ungrateful bitch.” And she is your girlfriend. Sorry.
Damn, I hit her.
– Please do not apologize. My thoughts did not blame you. Just curious how it all worked out.
“Didn’t Marissa tell you?”
– Not. She did not extend this.
“Prices,” Olivia mutters to herself under her breath. I pretend that I don’t hear her, and I have fun. – The girl with whom we have been renting housing for the past two years, suddenly fell apart and went after her boyfriend to Colorado, without even warning me. It was just the time to renew the lease, and I did not have enough money to pay one. So I had to settle somehow differently. My best friend offered me a sofa at home, but she gets married next month, so nothing happened. Only the hostel remained. Until Marissa’s father offered me to live with her. He doesn’t take as much from me as I would have to pay for a room and board in college, and this is great, because such expenses are a big problem for me. I have a very modest budget, although Ted pays me pretty well for working in a bar. – She looks at me, and I nod understandingly. “Maybe, in my words, it’s unlikely, but I’m really very grateful.” I just had a hard week.
“So you work at a bar?”
– Well yes.
“May I ask why you go so far, although there are probably a dozen bars in the city where you could be taken?”
“Ted pays better than in all the other places I checked.” Many of his girls are asking for a weekend, so he pays me on top for work every weekend. I’ve been working there for two years, and I’ve known half of my life with Archie. He knows that I will always be there.
“So it’s good that I forced you to agree and drove you to work.”
She is grinning. Such a sweet, sexy grin. I want to kiss Olivia.
This is not good.
“I suppose I owe you one.”
“Do not hesitate, I can figure out how you will repay me.”
Buddy, are you already flirting?
It seems to me that the last words were ambiguous. But the saddest thing, the hint really was. There are tons of things that I would love to ask her to do for me. Or with me. Or let me do with her.
Olivia’s grin grows into a broad smile.
“Let me know when you come up with something.”
Wow! She is flirting with me too!
I have to think it over. Do not give in. But I can not. I can’t do it at all!
It’s time to change the subject.
– That’s what. I don’t know how much my brother pays, but I’m sure that it’s above average. Why don’t I talk to Cash about you? Maybe he has a place?
Panic on Olivia’s face
– Not!
“Okay,” I say, slightly shocked by her reaction. “May I ask why?”
She sighs and throws her head back on the headrest, closes her eyes.
– This is a rather long and shameful story.
– Is it related to how you took off his clothes?
Olivia raises her head sharply and turns to me with wide eyes:
“Did he say anything about this?”
“No, you yourself mentioned it that first morning, remember?”
Olivia calms down:
– Oh yes. It’s true.
– So, because of one such insignificant incident, you will refuse to work, which is much closer to home and also better replenish your budget?
– Well, the question of the possible replenishment of my pockets remains open. You don’t know how much he pays.
“I can almost guarantee: this will be enough to interest you.” He has a very big club.
“Hm,” Olivia says.
“Well, at least think about it.” If you don’t want me to force you again. I can draw you into it, you know.
Olivia gives me a look and smiles. And I want only one thing – to pull over and drag it to your lap.
“I changed my mind, maybe you’d better make me make you.”
What are you doing, boy?
Olivia raises her head from the headrest, then turns it to the side:
“Are you flirting with me?”
I shrug. She is so open. I like it.
“Do you mind?”
“Dora is my cousin, you know.”
“But you barely tolerate her.”
“That is not the reason.” I’m not one of those girls.
I look at her. And I have no doubt in her for a second. She may think that Dora is a bitch, but she will never do anything to intentionally hurt her.
“You may not believe me, but I know you’re not one of those.” I am very well versed in the characters of people, and I have not the slightest doubt that you are not one of these girls.
Olivia frowns:
“Then why are you flirting with me?”
She is serious. Not smiling, not teasing me, but not condemning me either. She’s just curious.
I am fascinated and for a moment completely honest with her:
“I can’t seem to resist.”
Chapter 7
How did I succumb to his persuasion?
I am standing in front of the entrance to Leon, looking at the sign for a long time. You have to smile. “Leon”. Double. Deuce. Twins. It seems cache is impudent in all aspects of life. And smart.
Damn it!
The sun shines with might and main, and in the parking lot is empty. I have serious doubts about what to prepare for. From Sunday evening, when my father threw me home, Nick constantly pestering me with ideas to get a job in a club.
Although Nick and Cash do not seem to get along very well, Nick offered to bring me in and officially introduce me to his brother. Stubborn idiot, I refused to even find out what kind of work it was. But now, in the light of the approaching weekend, with horror I think about the need to go to California again to Ted, and the work with Cash inspires more optimism.
Unfortunately, Nick again had to leave the city, so anyway you have to go alone. I also have a back thought. Why am I so eager to stay in the city on the weekend? To see Nick, otherwise he is completely restricted to travel abroad.
Well, you dumbass! How can you play with fire?!
I sigh and step over, discussing with myself what to do. I look with lust at my car. Nash brought in a mechanic who fixed everything before I returned home on Sunday. It turned out that something was wrong with the spark plug. Only. It seems so he said. And yet … He fixed the car.
I sigh.
It is the thought of the opportunity to see Nick more often – he will sometimes drop in to check how I do – pushes me towards the door.
I open it and enter the dark interior. Even in the middle of the day, light barely penetrates through small windows high above the ceiling.
The bar looks completely different without flashing lights and a crowd of people sandwiched by the walls. The high-legged tables are clean and empty, the black floor is polished to a shine, some quiet instrumental music murmurs in the columns, and the only lighting in the whole room is the illuminated display cases with liquors located behind the counter.
Nick said Cash will be here all day, but I’m starting to think that I had to set a specific time. I just don’t know where to look for him.
Slippers quietly click on the heels, I walk around the room, go up to the counter and put out a chair to sit, hoping that Cash is watching the room, since the door is open.
And I almost swallow my tongue when suddenly the owner of the institution sticks himself out from behind the counter.
“You must be Olivia.”
“Holy mother of hell!” I say, clutching my chest to calm my heart.
He is laughing:
– With such a language you will take root here.
If I had not been very dumbfounded, I probably would have objected to his remarks. But instead, I laugh:
“You brought out the worst in me.” What can I say?
Cache is dressed in a black T-shirt, muscular arms are naked, an intricate tattoo is visible on the left side of the chest. I try not to think of him as a guy who looks down on drooling, but that’s exactly what obsessively gets into my head.
Damn it!
He puts his elbows on the bar and leans closer to me:
“That’s because you did not give me the opportunity to bring out the best in you.”
Cash’s voice is low and quiet, eyebrows arched almost like the first night – defiantly and with a hint of obscenity. My pulse quickens.
Good God, he’s even more groovy than I remember!
Somehow I managed to convince myself that he was not as attractive as Nick; of the two guys, bad – he, therefore, I like less. Oh my god, I was wrong!
I am desperately trying to gather my thoughts and this time make a good impression. It is clear that I have only one chance to correct the original.
I politely smile and answer:
“Well, it won’t be difficult if I start working for you.”
The cache leans back and grins wryly:
“Already threatening sexual harassment?”
“No … I … of course not!” I … didn’t mean … actually I wanted to say … – The sound of an airplane falling from the sky is heard in my head; speed increases, the liner crashes into the mountainside … an explosion.
Shut up, Olivia! I beg you, just shut up!
– Do not go back down! It only became interesting!
Gathering air into my chest. It’s easier for me, and at the same time I’m a little annoyed.
He’s teasing me!
“Are you always so mean?”
– Evil? – with an innocent face, asks Kash. – I AM? Nah.
Smiling, he puts his palms on the counter, rises, throws his legs over it and jumps to the floor next to me. I blink for a second in the hope that the look of his biceps and triceps, playing under smooth skin, will not erase forever in my memory. I think I was late because this vision was the last before my eyelids closed.
Damn it!
“Nick said you worked at the bar?”
I open my eyes and see Cache. He looks at me, stands so close that I distinguish a barely noticeable line where the black pupil ends and the almost black iris begins. What a delightful eyes!
Cash’s eyebrows rise – with a hint.
– Sorry? – I do not understand.
– Nothing. I don’t think it matters. If you are always so charming and sexy, no one will care if you get a drink quickly.
From these words I flare slightly. They should not give me pleasure. But they deliver. Very little.
– It’s not a problem.
– What? Your sexuality No, I see it.
“I didn’t mean it that way.” For two years I worked at one of the most popular sports bars in California. So I can stand at the counter and with you.
Cache crosses her arms over her chest and falsely smiles:
– Are you sure?
I feel my back straightening out by itself.
– I’m sure.
“People who come here want to be not only served, but also entertained.” Do you think you can handle it?
What does this mean? I admit to myself that I have no idea, but my mouth is already open.
– No problems.
“Then you won’t mind if I arrange … an audition.”
Cache trails off, in the silence that comes, I feel a chill creep across my back. I clearing my throat and extracting a reserve of courage from the depths of my “I”.
– Listening? And what will it be?
A few seconds, the cache does not respond. It was enough for me to distort everything inside. And so that I remember all the types of listening that I know (a couple of them enthralled me).
Turn on the brain, Liv! He takes too much on himself!
Cache laughs:
– Nothing too creative. I do not want to tempt fate for claims of sexual harassment. Until.
“Are you trying to expose me?”
– Oh, stop it. Do you want to say that you have never worked for a person who likes you? I can bet with girls like you, this happens all the time.
The mouth is ready to crawl out in a silly smile, but I restrain myself. I can’t allow Cache to understand: I am pleased to hear how he admits that he likes me, especially since “pleasant” is an encrypted “gasping with delight”.
– With girls like me? – I ask as calmly as possible.
– Yes, with people like you. “Cache half covers his eyelids, which makes his eyes heavy, half asleep, like in a bedroom, and his voice is like silk sheets on which, in my imagination, he is sleeping. – Naughty, sexy, damn showy. I swear there is no man you can’t circle around your little finger.
Cache looks at me as if she wants to undress right here and now – in an empty bar with dim lights and soft music. And some small part of me wants him to do just that.
I snort.
Oh my god, I snort!
– Hardly.
“Yes, you just say that, but I can bet you can get any guy you want.” – Discussing me, he bows his head to one side. It feels like he’s weighing me, appreciating. “But maybe you don’t know yourself well?”
“I … I … don’t understand what you’re talking about,” I say, and I hate myself for making my voice sound like I’m suffocating. The cache should not know how it affects me.
“Hm,” is all that Cache said. He tries to count me for a few more seconds, and then smiles. This is a polite smile that says he is back to business. Well, at least as much as he was busy with them. – So, listening. Can you take the shift tomorrow night?
It’s disgusting to ask Archie, but I don’t want to quit until I get a job here. So one of two things remains: either call Archie, or let this audition go downwind. The choice is small.
– Sure. What time do I have to be here?
– At seven o’clock. Then Leon will have time to show you everything before opening at nine.
“That sounds good,” I say, nodding. Silence stretches between us, I do not know what to decide. “Well, I think I’d better go so you can get back to work.”
“You don’t want to ask about money?” Nick said one of the reasons for this.
Oh shit! Wow, so burst, forgot to ask about payment!
I feel like blushing. I pray that it will be dark enough here, let Cache not notice, and if he does, let him attribute this to the fact that I am not comfortable talking about money.
– Yes it is.
“How about two dollars an hour beyond what the current employer pays you?”
My jaw almost falls off.
“You don’t even want to know for a start how much they pay me?”
The cache frowns:
– Nope. I feel that you are worth it.
“Don’t push me,” I mutter.
He laughs again:
– Oh, there will be a lot of pressure. Does this bother you? This weekend is full of people.
I want to tell him that I was already here, but then he can remember how I undressed him. Nothing to it.
Too late.
“You only saw the one above,” Cache says and winks.
I should have thought that I couldn’t get out of here without a hint that evening.
“Can we forget what it was?”
Cache’s face blurred into a devilish smile.
“Never in my life.” – He starts to go back – from me, from the entrance to the bar. – See you tomorrow evening. At seven o’clock.
“Should I wear something special?” Or…
“I’ll send something to your house.” Size six?
For some reason, the realization of how accurately he measured me with his gaze – even the size of his clothes determined – causes a fever in all parts of the body, where I kind of should not feel it.
– Yes.
Cache winks again, then turns around and disappears behind a barely visible door behind the bar.
