Page 43 of Volatile

Ivy refrained from commenting, placing a well-intentioned hand on Lily’s shoulder for a second before leaving. It was ignored, but at least it wasn’t shrugged off like it was contaminated.

She trudged upstairs with legs that felt like sacks of flour. She couldn’t wait to crawl into bed. Too bad she wouldn’t get any sleep.

*****

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JON’S HEELS HIT THEpavement hard. He’d grown to love the late runs when everyone else was holed up for the night. The streets were deserted, and with the exception of an occasional passerby, he owned them.

But try as he might, he couldn’t pound away the dark-haired woman who had invaded his life and refused to leave. Ironic, considering he’d done everything possible that night short of tying her up to get her to stay with him. He’d put her body through an ordeal, and she’d been his responsibility to care for afterward, but beyond that, he didn’t know shit. There were too many fucking things swirling through his mind, and the run wasn’t having its usual effect.

He turned down Larkspur and headed to Jacque’s. She and Cherise were usually up late; he didn’t want to disturb them, but he had to do something.

The front room light was on, so Jon jogged up the front walk. He pulled out his phone, shooting her a quick text instead of knocking on the door. No reason to freak them out.

He’d barely hit send when the door swung open. “Jon! What in the world?”

Cherise poked her head around the corner and gave him a big smile. “Don’t just stand there, sweetie. Come in before the neighbors talk.”

“I’m not interrupting anything?”

Cherise winked. “Would you like to be?”

Jon laughed, and Jacque pulled him inside. “Is everything okay, darlin’?” She held his shoulders and looked him over.

He kissed her cheek, then leaned over and did the same to Cherise. “Just taking a late run and thought I’d stop by to see my two favorite women.”

“Hmm...” Jacque said, waving him over to the couch. “We were just sharing some wine. Since you’re here, why don’t you join us?”

He went over and plopped on the couch. “Nah, I’m good, thanks.” Might as well get right to it since they were both staring at him like he was about to drop some horrendous news. Not that he blamed them; he didn’t typically pop in this time of night. “Any chance you’ll have a full-time position available soon?” he asked Cherise.

Soon, as in right the fuck now. He’d brushed aside her fucked-up job briefly when Ivy was over, but once she’d left his sight, he went crazy thinking about her at Rig’s. Reminding himself that it wasn’t his concern, that her life was her own, and all that other shit, didn’t make a lick of difference. He did not want her there, and the fact that he had no say over it didn’t sit well with him.

Cherise laughed, and Jacque looked at him strangely. “Are you thinking of closing your practice and going into the flower business?”

“I’m asking for Ivy.”

“Ivy? Do you mean Lily?”

He exhaled slowly, raking his hand through his hair. “No, I mean Ivy. Your current employee. Is there any chance you’ll be able to give her enough hours to make her full-time?”

“What’s going on, Jon?” Jacque asked.

Cherise tapped her chin. “Interesting. She was just asking about you the other day. I assumed she was asking for Lily’s sake, but now I’m not so sure....”

Ivy asked about him? What did she say? What the fuck, Jon—are you in grade school? “Can you just answer my question, please?”

“No, unfortunately, I don’t have an opening. She already knows that. I love having her there, but I just don’t have any more hours to give until my other girl leaves.”

“And when will that be?”

She tilted her head at him. “I have no idea, Jon.”

“Now you can tell us why you’re asking,” Jacque said, refilling Cherise’s glass. She narrowed her eyes at him. She knew him too damn well, and that was both a blessing and a curse. He didn’t come by for a session or to discuss his feelings. Fuck talking. He wanted action. He wanted Ivy out of that damn hell hole so he didn’t have to worry about it anymore.

He gripped his thigh, settling himself down. He was getting jacked-up. “She expressed an interest in working there more, that’s all. I know money’s tight for her. You’re the one who told me that, Jacque.”

She sat back down, crossing her legs. Her tiny smile was masked by the wine glass covering her lips, but he knew it was there.

“Oh, while you’re here,” Jacque said, “I’m planning next month’s gathering. Will you be there?”

Gathering. As in play party. She was testing him, getting her information without asking directly. She stared at him, sipping her wine, waiting for his response.

“Why wouldn’t I be, Jacque?”

Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?

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