Dirty Little Secret by S.E. Law
7
Luke
Montgomery Holdings is a company that specializes in kitchen and bathroom fixtures. When I say that out loud, it doesn’t seem particularly sexy or impressive, but then again, money is money. Our company is incredibly successful because not only do we design and manufacture, but we sell in chain stores as well as our own retail outlets. Our company is the real thing, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
But running Montgomery can be trying, and after a morning full of meetings, I step outside to take a break and clear my head. Unbidden, my hand reaches into my pocket for something that I no longer keep there. I used to smoke, a habit I picked up from my father, but I quit a few months ago, right around the time that my dad passed away. Smoking is a dirty thing, and it’s literally the equivalent of burning your lungs. Still, I love everything about lighting up, and when work becomes stressful, sometimes I still crave that nicotine hit.
Instead, I stand in the shade of the building, just people watching. Manhattan hums and buzzes around me with corporate drones hurrying by, the hot dog guy on the corner, and various retail stores hawking their wares. Inevitably, my mind drifts to Patty once more.
The sweet girl was bundled up in the covers this morning as I got dressed, and still dozing when it was time for me to leave. I pushed her hair out of her face and kissed her forehead, and she gave me a sleepy smile. It’s these fleeting moments that make me want her, the ones where she’s comfortable and unguarded. When she’s fully awake, she’ll smile and laugh, but this morning, it just felt real. This isn’t just a woman I hired; this is someone I could really fall in love with.
Plus, sometimes when Patty doesn’t think I’m paying attention, she looks at me. Not in a bad way. Just like she wants me, and yet doesn’t want me to know. I can understand because beneath it all, this is a transaction, and yet there’s a yearning present that wasn’t there at the beginning. So what are we doing together?
To Patty’s credit, all I wanted in the beginning was for her to help me get Jocelyn off my back, but now it’s metamorphosed into something different. The relationship’s completely changed, to be honest. I’m used to women throwing themselves at me whether I ask them to or not, but with Patty, it’s the opposite. Instead, I go out of my way to make her happy, and my heart leaps when she bestows one of those beautiful smiles on me.
Don’t get me wrong because this isn’t just about unicorns and rainbows; the sassy girl’s in the mood to have sex just as often as I am, but it’s also gone beyond that. I don’t want something that’s only physical. I want to see that gorgeous smile first thing when I wake up, and I want to get in bed with her at the end of the night and hold her close after a bout of passion. Is that wrong? Yet what should I do? Let her return to her old life after our arrangement’s done? Even crazier, should I ask Jocelyn to keep harassing me, so that Patty never leaves?
God. I reach again into my pocket for an imaginary pack of cigarettes and come up empty once more. Then, I sigh and lean my shoulder against the brick building, uncaring of my pristine suit. It’s only then that I sense a presence behind me. It’s probably just a coworker hoping to bum a smoke, but when I turn, my blood goes cold.
Jocelyn slinks toward me like a snake who’s cornered her prey. It’s been a while since I’ve seen her so close, and her appearance is physically jarring. Don’t get me wrong because she’s pretty in a serpentine way. She’s blonde and slender, with pixie-like features and green eyes. She’s wearing a low-cut green summer dress and matching python heels, as well as a necklace in the shape of a snake. How fitting.
“Hi, Luke,” she says in a sultry voice. “Long time no see, big guy.”
My mouth tightens into a straight line. “You’re not supposed to be here per the restraining order,” I growl. “Get off my property. Now.”
She fakes surprise.
“What? How can you talk that way to me?” Then she flutters her lashes, and I resist the urge to curl my lip in disgust. “I just happened to walk down the block, and here you were!” she pretends. “It’s a coincidence, nothing else.”
“Right,” I say. “Well, now you’ve seen me. Leave.”
Her eyes narrow into slits because she hates when I don’t play along with her.
“Okay, since you’re being so obstreperous, I’ll tell you why I’ve come today.” Then Jocelyn smooths her hands down her dress and clears her throat, licking her red lips in anticipation. My jaw clenches. She’s milking every second of this.
“I looked into your fiancée, Luke,” she purrs. “I knew you wouldn’t bother because you’re too busy, but until you understand that you and I are meant to be together, I suppose that I’ll have to be the one to check into your whores—”
My vision goes red.
“Don’t you ever call her that,” I snap. Jocelyn flinches because my rage is palpable, thrumming in the air between us. “I’m done here,” I bark, walking past her. “You better be gone by the time I get inside because I’m calling security.”
“But you can’t deny the truth because that’s what she is,” the blonde woman whines. “Is there a crime against telling the truth?”
I stop, another wave of cold falling over me. How could Jocelyn have discovered Patty’s true vocation? I asked City Girls to take down Patty’s profile from their website, but there are probably leaks all over Manhattan. I shake my head, suddenly unhappy. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I growl again.
This time, the blonde woman rushes to get in front of me, blocking my way into the building. “Oh, but I do! Your fiancée has a secret life that would humiliate your family if they found out. Fortunately for you,” she hisses, running her hands up my chest, “they don’t have to know. Why don’t you and I go back to your place to talk this out? You could treat me to wine and we could make love on the rug in front of your fireplace. I know you like it the back way, and I’ve been stretching myself out using plugs every night. It’ll be just like old times, big boy.”
Her proposition disgusts me, and my hands tighten into fists. “Jocelyn,” I growl, “There are no “old times.” Having a one night stand with you was the worst mistake I’ve ever made, and it’s something I will never do again. There is no ‘us.’” I step out of the woman’s reach and refuse to meet her eyes. “I have tried to be civil with you. I’ve even gone through judicial channels to get you to stay away from me, but now you’ve gone too far. You better prepare yourself for a fight.”
I push past the scrawny blonde and enter the building, ignoring her insane-sounding giggle. Then, I head to the security desk and give them Jocelyn’s description. I want her removed from the premises of Montgomery Holdings. And if they ever see her again, I want them to call the police because Jocelyn can’t threaten my family and expect to get away with it. I don’t care what she knows or how she found out about Patty, but I won’t let anyone demean my future wife.
The day passes quickly, and I even manage to forget about Jocelyn long enough to get some work done. But when I get home later that night, it all comes crashing back. I’m so fired up, in fact, that I decide to clean house. There’s a Persian rug in front of the fireplace that I’ve always hated, and I grab the thing, take it outside behind the penthouse and stuff it in a metal bucket. Then I set it on fire and watch it burn.
“Yikes,” Patty says, coming up behind me. “What did the rug ever do to you?”
I chuckle grimly and run a hand through my hair. “I always hated that thing. I thought now was as good a time as any to get rid of it.”
“Right.” She stands next to me, her shoulder brushing against my arm. “Maybe I should’ve brought marshmallows.”
I wrap my arm around her and hold her curvy form close. I’m thankful that Patty’s not asking any questions because right now, I don’t have the stomach to try and explain my encounter with Jocelyn. It would just upset both of us, and besides, I got rid of that witch.
“Do you have plans this weekend?” I ask in a light tone.
The pretty brunette laughs. “I don’t know, do I? You’re the captain of this ship, and I just go where you tell me to.”
I shake my head. “Don’t say that, sweetheart, because you’re not my prisoner, Patty, you’re…” I trail off. None of the words running through my head fit with what I’m trying to say. As a result, I let the sentence go with a sigh and just smile ruefully. “Never mind. I want to take you out this weekend though, because I’ve been too focused on work and I want to do something fun. What do you say?”
She thinks about it for a few seconds, cocking her head, while at our feet, the rug turns to black ash in the bucket.
“That sounds nice,” she murmurs, her smile warming my heart. “I think there are a few malls nearby, but I’ve never been to any of them. What do you think?”
Okay, the mall it is. Most women want to be wined and dined, but if my girl wants to go to a mall, then I’m game.
“Excellent,” I grin down at her, pulling her even closer. “You’ve got yourself a date, sweetling.”
