Weathering the Storm by Brynn Paulin

 

 

 

Chapter Nine

~ Becca ~

Heller worked all day Saturday, then he’d come to my place that night. We’d gone shopping for groceries then cooked together, if you could call it that. Neither of us were much in the kitchen. We’d made chicken nuggets and fries in the oven then eaten them with a big salad, so we could pretend we were eating healthier. He’d stayed over until he’d headed off to work on Sunday. We’d spent that afternoon together, and I’d quiz him about his schedule before he’d had to leave to do homework. Good thing I had, or I’d have thought he was disappearing on me.

He worked a lot. It seemed like when he wasn’t at school, he was at one of his jobs. Two during the week and one where he picked up a few hours on the weekends. Frankly, it concerned me. No one should work as many hours as he did. I thought work laws would prohibit it, but apparently since he was emancipated and had to support himself, and also since he was eighteen, the restrictions weren’t enforced.

Each night, we spoke on the phone for a few minutes. Heller didn’t have a phone at his place, and he didn’t have a cellphone, either. The latter didn’t surprise me since only about half my coworkers had them. Instead, he used the phone from the restaurant to contact me every night.

It made me wonder what the hell I was doing with him. On the other hand, I felt a genuine connection to Heller. In the space of days, I found I actually cared for him. Not in a let me take care of you kind of way. He’d never let me anyway. The man’s pride was evident on his sleeve. But I wanted to know how things had gone every day. He impressed me with his intelligence and how hard he worked. He lit me up inside as nothing or no one else ever had. I wanted him to hold me. I wanted him to hold me down. And I missed him. To the point, I’d ordered delivery twice this week, just so he’d close me in his firm embrace for a few minutes before he had to leave. He wouldn’t let me tip him, though, which annoyed me some.

That was another pride thing. I knew I’d have to be careful there.

He was coming here in a few minutes, though, and staying the weekend—as much of it as he could. He had to work and I wouldn’t ask him not to. Butterflies bumbled around in my middle as I waited for him to get here. I’d made us one of the nicest meals I knew how to do and set the table for us. Candlelight flickered around the apartment, casting the place in a romantic glow. I jumped when a firm knock sounded through the quiet haven I’d created for us.

He was here! I flung open the door, and my stomach dropped. Not Heller.

“Simon,” I said. “Um…what’s up?”

Like…seriously. Why the hell was the station manager at my door on a Friday night? I stared at him, making no move to invite him inside. He stared back, not saying a word. Okay…so we were mind melding now?

“I thought we could go for a drink,” he finally said. “You know, act on that thing between us.”

That thing between us? All I could think of was animosity, and if I acted on it, one of us would be hurt, fired or maybe in jail.

“There’s no rule against it,” he continued.

“Aren’t you married?”

He shrugged. “Technically.”

And did his wife know that status? My eyes narrowed, seeing the snake in a new light. Not just an asshole, but a slimy asshole.

“I have a boyfriend,” I told him.

“No, you don’t.”

“Yes, she does,” came a very familiar voice from a few feet away. I took in Heller in all his tall, young, hard-muscled glory, my smile wide with welcome.

“Who the fuck are you?” Simon demanded, and I rolled my eyes. Was he drunk? This whole appearance was so odd.

“My boyfriend,” I repeated.

“Boyfriend?” Simon scoffed. Geez, for a business professional, he was slow on the uptake. “Hell, Becca, how old is he? Twelve?”

Heller growled, skirting my boss to get to me. His arm wrapped around my waist, but he didn’t say a word. Thankfully.

I glanced up at him, wondering what Simon was on about. Yes, Heller was young, but you really couldn’t tell he wasn’t in his twenties, at least. My boss on the other hand was a good twenty years older than me.

I leaned into Heller, so glad he’d gotten here when he did.

“He’ll be bad for your image,” Simon told me.

Why couldn’t he just leave? “Are you threatening me?”

He shrugged, his eyes holding a bit of a leer in them. This wasn’t the first time he’d made my skin crawl. Besides being belittling, he was a predator. Every woman at the station knew to avoid being alone with him.

“Don’t have to threaten you. Anything you do is on you. When people find out you’re dating a high schooler…”

I gasped, and he smirked, knowing he’d made a fatal hit. His chin lifted to jab sharply at Heller. “I remember you. I saw you at the honors assembly I went to for my daughter. You have a distinctive look.”

“I think you should leave before you make anymore random accusations,” Heller said, his even voice not giving away the truth either way. His commanding demeanor stayed firmly in place, making Simon seem small in comparison. In body and slimy spirit. “Becca and I have plans for the evening.”

Simon sniffed. “I’m sure you do. Enjoy your boy toy while you can, Ms. St. Claire.”

I shut the door in his face.

“What the hell was that?” Heller demanded, his cool façade slipping.

“My boss.”

“And he just shows up at your door at eleven-fifteen at night?”

That threw me off, too, as did his assertion that Heller would be trouble for my career. “He never has before.”

Heller’s arms went around me, and I turned to him, my hands flattening on his chest, enjoying his warm strength and feeling his heart beating beneath my palm. “I missed you this week.”

“Did you?”

“You know I did. Don’t let Simon ruin our night. He already makes my life hell at work.” I could tell Heller was tense from Simon’s appearance. Heck, I was, too. I just didn’t know what to do or say about it. It hadn’t been normal. I mean…the guy practically made a hobby out of telling me to lose weight or picking at my clothes, makeup and hair. And now, he’d showed up at my house expecting…what? Sex? God, no.

Heller frowned, his consternation clear. “This week was a lot harder than I imagined it would be,” he admitted. “I wanted to be with you every night when I was in my bed, staring at my ceiling. I didn’t even get to see most of your weather reports because of my schedule.”

I cupped his cheek. “I’m right here.”

His arms tightened momentarily before one hand slid up to cup the back of my head. His lips covered mine, and I moaned, leaning into him. The kiss quickly grew hungry and I forgot about anything but Heller. No work issues. No age issues. Nothing but my man and the way we moved together. After a moment, he swung me into his arms.

“I made dinner,” I murmured.

“Will it wait?”

I’d pulled it from the oven a few moments ago, knowing he’d be here soon. “We can heat it up in the microwave later.”

“Good. Good plan. I want to heat up other things, right now,” he growled. A part of me knew he was agitated by Simon, but I had no complaints. I wanted him, too. I wanted his hands on my skin and his body over mine.

“I missed you,” I admitted. I had no idea how we’d work, but right now, as he placed me on the bed and crawled over me, I was sure we’d figure it out.