Page 4 of Property Of Chrissy

“You need to fire her ass, Trig. That girl is bad fucking news.”

The words spit from my mouth like sharp tacks, as every single memory of the last time I saw her comes flooding back into my mind. Me waiting on her damn table, shocked as shit to see her because she’d told me her father despised the restaurant I worked in. Her dad ordering the best champagne on the menu to celebrate his daughter’s big engagement. While some arrogant douche was wrapped around her shoulders, nuzzling into the side of her neck. And not even an ounce of remorse or guilt on her face when she looked me in the eye and placed her order. It was as if there’d been nothing between us.

“You want to elaborate?” Trigger asks, turning his attention back in my direction. “Because from what I’ve seen, she’s real solid, honest, and one of the best girls I’ve got working in this place now.”

Oh, I know. She’s a damn good little actress. Trigger has no idea. I believed it all, too. Her good girl act. Her sweet innocence. She’s like a fucking witch who can fool a prince with her charms, then she’ll stab you in your back in your sleep. Or right in the middle of your chest when you’re wide fucking awake and least expecting it.

“You know the bitch I’ve been telling you about? My ex?”

He nods, knowing exactly which cunt I’m referring to. There have been one too many nights where we’d get to chatting overa drink, sharing our baggage and my fucked-up past, which definitely included a trunk full of suitcases all tagged with Chrissy’s name on them. The girl who’s now smiling sweetly at the group of guys she’s waiting on. The guys who I’d like to give a big fucking warning to, telling them to stay the fuck away from her. I’d like to tell them that she kills on impact. She’s fucking toxic. “Yeah, well, that’s her. Chrissy is the one.”

I can tell he’s shocked as shit by my revelation as his brow practically hits his hairline. Yeah, he’s been suckered by her, too. He looks back toward the witch I’m referring to and shakes his head again.

“Look, man. I’m not saying I’m not going to respect your wishes. But I’m down two girls at the moment and she’s all I’ve got for now. So, until I can find someone to replace her, which may take a few weeks, she’s going to be sticking around.”

Yeah, I get that he’s in a shit predicament, but the thought of having to see her around for a few more weeks pisses me the fuck off.

“Fucking great.” I shake my head, irritated as hell that the bitch has invaded my territory in the first place. This is my fucking bar. “I get that you have a business to run, but I’m not making any promises on my end. Don’t expect me to play nice, Trigger, because that cunt is dead to me.”

He looks like he’s about to say something when his phone goes off in his pocket. He immediately pulls it out to read his text and gets completely distracted by whatever he sees on his screen. I turn my attention back to the one who still hasn’t seen me yet. I’m wondering what her reaction will be when she does. Hopefully, it will piss her off just as much as it’s pissing me off right now having to look at her. Why the hell did she have to go and get even more beautiful? It was bad enough when she was the most stunning girl in Rickshaw, and now, she’s the most stunning beauty in the whole fucking world.

“Look, Shiv. I have to get home, so we need to table this conversation for now. But we’ll talk more later. Just do me a favor and don’t make a scene in my bar. Okay?”

“Fine,” I mumble, giving him the answer he wants. I may not make a scene inside his bar, but I can’t make any guarantees for what happens outside the bar. I’m going to be finding out why the hell that girl is here. And then I’m going to be making damn sure she knows she’s not welcome here. Trigger may not be firing her ass, but I’ll be making it to where she wants to quit. Hell, if he needs me to fill in for her until he hires a damn replacement, I will. He won’t even have to pay me since it’s not like I need the money. I will gladly volunteer my services and time, and it will be a fucking win for everyone, except for her hopefully.

Though, it probably won’t even rock Chrissy’s boat if she loses this job. I’m sure she’ll just turn to Daddy for money until she finds something else. Seriously? Why the fuck is she working here? I find it real hard to believe her father would approve of her being in a place like this. I doubt that man would ever step into an establishment like this one, let alone have his daughter working here. And besides that, where’s that rich douchebag husband of hers? Did something happen to him? There are so many questions churning in my head, and I need answers. And, I’m going to get them, but not right now. Right now, all I’m going to do is get my drink.

I’m halfway across the room when the petite little blonde, with her tight little body that hasn’t aged a day since I last saw her five years ago, turns and spots me. She almost loses the entire tray of empty glasses she’s holding when her eyes crash into mine. She quickly works to steady herself and I step right into her space as she does. Thankfully, the big round tray is between us because the urge to be closer is too fucking strong. Why does this girl have such a magnetic pull on me?

“Sean.” Her lip trembles as my given name whispers from her mouth. “What are you doing here?”

Please tell me she doesn’t think that after all these years I chased her ass down to cast some sort of revenge on her. To finally give her a piece of my mind. When I saw the truth that night, there was no need to waste my time or my breath on that girl. I’d already wasted too much to begin with. I took off, and I sure as shit didn’t come hunting her down. There’s no way in hell.

“I’m getting a drink with my men. Why the fuck do you think I’m here?”

My tone is brisk. But then again, this isn’t what I’d call a happy reunion. The tray wobbles again in her hand and I watch as she recovers, noting how that big rock is nowhere to be found on her finger and neither is any other band. Interesting. Maybe the douche learned for himself what a liar she is and was smart enough to cut her loose. I just wonder if he found out she’d been two-timing him, too, and called the whole thing off before it began. Or if he was a sucker who got dragged down the aisle and then learned the truth after it was too damn late.

“Um…I thought. Um…my dad…” She takes a long shuddering breath and starts again. “I was told you left town and were never coming back.” It’s obvious her nerves are getting the best of her, and that soft, melodic voice of hers is getting the best of me. I hate seeing her struggle but there’s no way I’m falling for her act again. Not a fucking chance.

“I did leave town.” I wave my hand to the area around me for her to clue into the big fact that we’re an hour away from where we’re both from. “This isn’t where I grew up. Guess you forgot. I was from Rickshaw, too, just the wrong side of the fucking tracks.”

The anger in my tone definitely can’t be missed. She spent all her time over at my place because she told me she was morecomfortable there than in her own home. A fact I should have clued in on right from the start. But I was so damn blinded by my love, I didn’t see through the lie. The real reason was because she didn’t want me meeting her family or coming to her side of town and ruining her sweet setup.

She swallows hard and for some damn reason her eyes fill with tears. I guess she doesn’t like my condescending tone. Well, too fucking bad. I didn’t like her condescending opinion in believing she was better than me and could string me along until she had her fill of my cock. Then leave me broken and buried in a ditch of pain while she went off with her prince charming to live happily ever after in her damn fucking castle, or I should say, up in her fancy-ass high-rise.

“Chrissy!”

Hailey’s bubbly voice comes barreling into our tense encounter and has us both turning in the girl’s direction. I’m thankful for the distraction, because the longer I stared at her shimmering eyes, the more I wanted to offer her comfort and take her pain away. But the thing is, she’s not in pain. She’s just upset I’m not fawning all over her like the rest of the world always has. I doubt anyone has ever been cold to her in her life, and that’s what’s got her all upset at the moment. She used to tell me what an asshole her dad was, but after seeing her with her father that night, I’m guessing it was all part of the act. More lies to rope me in and keep her tucked away with me in my trailer so I’d be none the wiser to her game.

“Can I ask you for a favor?” Hailey starts talking to Chrissy, and I decide I’m going to pass on that drink and get the fuck out of here. The air in the bar feels thick and my ability to breathe is once again becoming restricted. Maybe I should have stayed out on the road, after all. No. Fuck that. This is my goddamn town, and these are my brothers; if anyone should leave, it’s her. And I’m going to make damn sure she does.

CHAPTER 3

Chrissy

Ican’t believe it’s him. That he’s here. After five years of wondering if I’d ever see him again, he’s really here. But it’s not at all like the way I dreamt it would be. There was no warmth radiating off of him when he saw me. No sweet embrace or whispered I missed yous. There wasn’t one flicker of the love we once shared burning in those incredible eyes. There was just an icy coldness that seemed something akin to hatred. And it was more than obvious by his harsh tone and sharp words that he’s not happy to see me.

But can I really blame him after what happened?

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