Page 12 of Dirty Fortune

I start pacing again right in front of him. He's very still, but I can see in his eyes that he wants to take me into his arms and make it all better. Truth be told, if he did that, I would give in, but I'm not sure that's the right thing to do.

"What will my job be now?"

"You'll take over Annette's job. But you'll also be training me for my own position."

"You should have asked Johanna to do that before she left."

"I want to work with you."

I stop in front of him and lift my eyes to see into his.

"You're unbelievable, overbearing and entitled. I don't know what the hell I see in you."

He grins. “Does that mean you'll let me buy you dinner tonight?"

"Yes, it does."

Chapter 6

Julie

We traded dinner for take-out and came back to my place. I did the one thing I said I wouldn't do and opened my heart to my stalker. It should be creepy, but I find it endearing that he's made sure I was okay, even from afar. It's Saturday morning, and Keith is fixing us breakfast. I like this side of him where he treats me like a queen. I hope it doesn't stop once he knows he's 'got me.' We haven't talked much about the future and are just enjoying the present.

He's just serving me some coffee when I hear the front door open.

"I haven't heard from you yet, and I was getting worried." Says my brother Mike, walking into the apartment. "What the fuck!"

Keith heads him off. I assume to confront him. But Mike is faster, and he punches him right in the nose. I hear an awful crunching sound and know that my honeymoon will be replaced with a visit to the emergency department. I jump out of my seat to check on Keith.

“Oh my God, Mike. You broke his nose!”

I run to the kitchen to get a towel for the bleeding and come back and press it firmly under Keith’s nose. I’m not sure if applying pressure in this case is the right thing to do. Mike is pacing back and forth in my living room, and I hold onto Keith because I don’t want my brother to assault him again.

“I knew you had the hots for my sister, you son of a bitch! You’re supposed to be my best friend and protect her from predators, not be one of them.”

Keith’s nose is still bleeding, but he’s shaking in anger. He wants to defend himself but can’t right now.

“I’m not a little girl anymore, Mike.”

“You’re not an adult either.”

“I’m 29, for God's sake!”

"But last month, you were asking me whether you should rent or buy or if you should move from your job because there was no way to advance there anymore."

I step in front of him so he has his attention on me instead of on Keith.

"So I can't ask you for advice? I have to be completely self-sufficient and close to everyone else's input in order to be considered an adult?"

"He's taking advantage of you, Jules." He sighs and places his hands on my shoulders. "He's a playboy and will never stop being one. You need to stay away from him."

I lower my head and there's an inner tug in my chest from my brother’s words. Yes, Keith has always been sort of a playboy, and we have not discussed whether or not he's changing his ways. Then there's the intensity of the chemistry between us. How can I explain that to my brother? I look behind me and realize Keith is no longer with us in the living room. Oh no, did his bleeding not stop?

"You need to calm down, Mike."

"Get dressed and come with me, Julie."

"I'm sorry, Mike. I can't do that. I have to take Keith to the hospital and get him checked."

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