Page 10 of Off-Limits Bad Boy Protector

Lisa confidently turned towards him and gave a playful wink, assuring him, "Trust me, I won't hold back. You're more than capable of handling it." With a swift motion, she scribbled their specific order on her notepad, making sure every detail was accurately recorded. "Alright, guys," she announced with a smile, "I'll bring your orders over to you shortly."

As she walked away, I leaned back in my seat, my eyes glancing around the bar.Jeremy smiled before announcing. “Man, I love coming to the place. Always feels like home. I couldn’t agree more. The atmosphere, the drinks, and the people were perfect. We were also usuals, so we knew most of the bartenders and servers.

Lisa returned with a tray and dropped our drinks on the table. “To the kings of the Iron Fist,” she beamed. I smirked, throwing the whiskey to the back of my throat. She winked walking away. I smiled at her retreating form and wiggled my eyebrows.“I know, she’s fire dude.” I shook my head lightly. "Naaaa. That’s not the woman on my mind right now."“Not Lisa?!” Jeremy’s green eyes widened as though they would pop out from their sockets. He turned around, looking for the other woman I might be interested in. “She must be fire then!”

I shook my head slightly, smiling before leaning forward. “You guys won’t believe who came around to the station today.” I opened the bottle of beer, enjoying their curious expressions. “Who is it?” Nehemy asked, his eyebrows cocked.

“Cassie,” I said, just the name, letting it hang in the air. Something about saying her name made my blood boil. It was the same feeling I had when I was at the interview the previous day. I was...different. Jeremy lifted an eyebrow before his eyes widened, and he blurted out his shock. “No way! Cassie?! The one, the guys placed a bet on back in college?”

“What are the odds, man? How’d Cassie even get there?” Nehemy chimed in, the shock visible on his face. I nodded, taking a sip of my beer. “Apparently, she came for a job interview at SoundEase. Didn’t expect to see her there. Things got heated, she got squirmy and ran out of the interview.”

Nehemy chuckled over his glass of whiskey, green eyes filled with humor as he leaned back. “That’s intense. I’m also guessing you said something to her,” he said, his eyes lifting towards me.I frowned, giving him a glare that could send toddlers into hiding. Nehemy lifted his hands in mock surrender. “No big deal! Maybe you didn’t do anything,” he replied sarcastically, reaching out for his whiskey.

I stared at him before turning his eyes to the can of beer refusing to let the irritation spill. “We had some sort of exchange. Point is. Cassie looks… different. And you’re interested?!” Jeremy balked. Nehemy was suspicious. He cocked an eyebrow as he reached for his bottle of beer. “You’re interested now? Leo, it’s been three years.”

“So?” I growled before leaning back, staring into the distance. I swirled the beer in the bottle. “I can’t fully explain it. There’s just something about seeing her that got me intrigued. I want to know her more, perhaps. See her again even.”

Jeremy’s face was laced with confusion, and he expressed it. “Dude, you’re not making any sense. Thought you already hit it back in college and broke her heart. Now you’re intrigued again? What’s the deal?”

I smiled slightly, holding back a laugh at his puzzled expression. Then, I looked off into the distance while taking a sip of my beer. "I know it might seem complex, but there's a special quality about her that intrigues me. I really want to explore those depths once more, understand her better, and possibly offer her some closure."

Nehemiah scoffed so hard that his drink spilled from his lips. I turned fiercely, my eyes flashing. “Dude! I’m sorry, but give her closure? After three years? Leo, I don’t think Cassie cares about that!”

Leo paused, his face showing that he was thinking about what Nehemy had said. He licked his lips nervously, a habit he had when he talked about things that mattered to him. He usually seemed confident. But, something in his eyes showed he was vulnerable.

"Okay," he said slowly, "maybe 'closure' isn't exactly what I'm looking for. But there's definitely something unfinished between Cassie and me. I still have questions I want answers to. I think there might be more to our story than just college. I want to find out what that is."

Jeremy finished off his whiskey and then let his doubts bubble up. "Leo, I gotta be honest here. This sounds like a recipe for disaster. Good thing I’m not asking for your opinion," I said. I cocked my head and raised my beer for a toast before swinging the remnant. There was a feeling that lodged in my chest, and I needed to pursue it. I owed it to myself, and even to the brunette, to pursue the possibility.

I walked through the door of Lisa’s house and allowed my friend’s hug to soothe the heavy weight on my shoulders. "Welcome, babe. I'm sort of cooking, so we'll have to camp out in the kitchen," Lisa apologized. I waved her off and followed the inviting smell of spices to the kitchen.

I feigned excitement but my face betrayed me. My eyes looked exhausted, like I hadn’t slept in days. When I leaned heavily against the kitchen counter, they brimmed with tears. This revealed my desperation.

I enjoyed coming to Lisa’s house. It had a welcoming and soothing atmosphere, a contrast to the chaos of my own. The walls had colorful art. Sunlight streamed through the windows. It cast a warm glow on the hardwood floors. The kitchen was well-organized. Pots and pans were neatly arranged. The scent of fresh coffee hung in the air.

Lisa turned to me. Her brown eyes sparkled with real concern. I stood by the stove. My curly black hair was in a bun behind my head. "Cassie, you look like you need help standing. What's going on?" she asked.

I bit my lower lip and clasped my palms together, feeling my voice tremble as I spoke. "I... I had to come here, Lisa. My fridge is empty, and Mrs. Kiel has threatened to kick me out in a couple of days. I'm at my wit's end, Lisa! I'm at my wit's end!" I cried, my hands digging into my black tresses.

Lisa's eyes softened. She ignored the vegetables and walked toward me. She put a hand on my shoulder. "Oh, I wish I could offer help right now, but you know how it is. My sister's lungs have taken over every inch of the house, and some days it's a literal circus. I'm not sure my older sis would agree to one more."

I wasn’t seeking anything from you Lisa. I simply needed a place to release the frustrations that were tearing me apart. Tears filled my eyes, and my voice trembled with frustration. "Nothing seems to go right, Lisa. And to top off it, I had my dream interview, and there’s Leo! It feels like everything is falling apart!"

Lisa put her arms around me and comforted me while I cried. "Cassie, I understand it's tough, but it's normal to feel upset. Life can be challenging, but remember, you're strong. You've already overcome so much," she whispered softly.

I let out a sigh, feeling a little better hearing Lisa's comforting words. "Thanks, Lisa. It's just... I'm not ready to see him again. All those memories come rushing back, and I don't know how to deal with it," I admitted.

I felt Lisa's warm tap on my back before she moved to the vegetables on the counter. "You don't have to have all the answers right now, Cassie. I'm here for you," she reassured me kindly.

I looked at Lisa, feeling frustrated. It seemed like she didn't understand how much Leo's presence affected me. Every time I saw him or thought about him, it brought back all the hurt and sadness. If I worked there, it would just keep reminding me of everything that went wrong between us.

Lisa's knife hit the chopping board. It created a steady beat as they talked. "I get your point, Cassie. But, I need to be honest," she said. She paused her chopping to meet my gaze with sympathetic brown eyes.

I glanced at her, feeling anxious about what she might say next. The way her face tensed up and her lips pressed together hinted that it wasn't going to be something I wanted to hear. “Sometimes, we have to face our fears and confront these memories head-on. This job opportunity at SoundEase could be a turning point for you. There’s a lot of debts right now, and I think it will help you move forward.”

I leaned back against the wall and sucked my teeth. I could see the wisdom in Lisa’s statement, but I was reluctant. “I know you’re right Lisa, but I don’t know if I can handle working in the same company as him. Leo is bad news! Always!” I placed my palms over my eyes, the anguish seeping through.

Lisa spoke in a calm tone as I reached for the eggs. "Cassie, I understand your concerns, but consider this logically. You need this job for financial stability and professional growth. Don't let your past with Leo, cloud the opportunities ahead," she urged me.

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