Page 15 of Duke's Daring Bookworm
you’re right I can think of better things to do with my mouth
I played a dangerous game riling Anders up like this, especially about Grace, but that’s exactly what I wanted. I needed a good fight right now, and the fastest way to get that was to piss him off. Hopefully, by the time I got to Charles’ office, dojo, warehouse, whatever the fuck it was, he would be ready to put up a proper fight.
I changed before I left the office and drove my flashiest motorcycle over to the historic district, weaving through traffic as if it didn’t even exist.
Somehow, Grace and her cousin Jessica had bought an entire row of buildings and opened a bakery, artisan soapshop, and now Charles’ new business, a mix between survival supply store, self-defense classes, and veteran outreach. Anders had taken the second floor of the building for his ever-growing private security firm. They held an entire little empire here in this little strip of brick.
What surprised me most, though perhaps it shouldn’t have, was how seamlessly Charles integrated himself into our little group despite not serving with us. Some things were universal.
I slid into a tight space between Anders’ car and a tree and let myself into Grace’s bakery for one of her wonderful cookies before kicking ass, or maybe getting my ass kicked. Either option would work. Pink battered my poor, overworked eyes when I stepped in, but the smell of sugar and coffee had my shoulders relaxing and my stomach rumbling.
“Duke,” Grace said when I walked in. She had been in the back doing whatever bakers did at night after their bakeries closed, but came out when she heard the door open.
She exuded cheer and warmth, and I knew what had Anders’ balls in a vice when it came to her.
“What are you doing here?”
“Just looking for a beautiful face and a sweet cookie before I kick your boyfriend’s ass for existing.” I winked at her.
“He always looks forward to sparring nights.” She pulled out a box of cookies for me. This had become something of a routine since she opened the place, and by now, she knew to give me one of every kind of cookie left.
I slipped a fifty wrapped inside several ones into her tip jar and then insisted on paying full price for all the cookies and a drink to boot. She always tried to wave payment awayfrom any of the rascals like she didn’t know I had more money than I could spend in my lifetime.
Thankfully, she never protested when she found extra tips on the days I showed up. Anders was my brother by all rights, and that made Grace family by extension. Spending excessively to support my family was one of the perks.
“Tell Anders not to be too late. I have plans for us tonight,” Grace said as she handed me the box of cookies.
“Sexy plans?” I couldn’t help but needle her. She blushed so nicely. I could see what had Anders so obsessed.
“That’s none of your business.”
I took the cookies and a long drink of her coffee. Grace made the best coffee, and I might have moaned, just a little, when the rich, nutty flavor hit my tongue. It was exactly what I needed after a day like today.
“Jessica makes the same face when she drinks the coffee here,” Grace said as she leaned on the counter. “She’s the one who walked me through how to make it just like she likes it. Glad to know other people like it, too.”
“Its great coffee.” I raised the cup and gave her a wave as I walked out of the bakery. My phone vibrated in my pocket, likely Anders demanding to know when I would get there.
Charles’ business, Wild and Free, had already closed for the evening, but when he saw me walking up with my hands full, he came over to let me in.
“Got some cookies from Grace.” I held up the little pink box, waving it like a trophy. Everyone loved Grace’s cookies.
“About time,” Anders said as he grabbed the box from me like they were specifically for him.
Once he’d picked through the cookies muttering about keeping what was his, we’d squared up to each other on themat. I moved first, aiming an easy punch that he blocked with little thought. Another kick meant more to engage him than to land.
“What’s wrong,” I taunt, “did the cookies fry your few remaining brain cells? You were the one messaging me, begging me to show up.”
“Dick.” He finally got into it and threw a punch to my midsection so fast I hardly saw it coming.
I grunted at the sudden pain, gone as quickly as it came. That was more like it.
“Is that it? Weak.” I gave him only enough to keep him engaged, diving for him, but leaving predictable openings. I probably held back too much. Anders wasn’t an idiot. He knew I could fight better than this. We’d sparred too much for him not to know exactly what I was capable of.
“Long day at work in your pussy job? Spend too long sitting pretty at a desk?” I dodged behind him and pulled him into a rear choke.
He pulled my arm down and elbowed me in the sternum. Hard enough to drive me back and steal my breath, leaving me gasping.
Adrenaline pumped through me now, clearing my head and focusing me on my task. I kicked low, bringing him down to the mat.
