Page 1 of Garnish with a Candy Cane
It has been a shit ass day, and I don’t know why in the hell the people who work for me can’t comprehend what ‘do not disturb me’ means. The heavy knock sounds again, forcing me to open my eyes and grab my gun. I swear to god this stupid motherfucker is going to die tonight.
I shove out of my chair and stride around my desk to the door, yanking down the handle and aiming right between Cedric’s wide brown eyes. “What motherfucker? What?”
So used to my temper, he doesn’t even flinch from the tip of my Glock aimed inches from his forehead. He just points to the girl under his grip, who flails in her five-inch silver heels next to his hulking body.
“Sorry boss but I caught her snooping around out here and thought maybe we should talk to her. You know, in case she works for Matteo or something.”
Or something. I roll my eyes. Good thing this dumb ass can literally kill a man with one hand and is loyal as fuck to me. Otherwise, I’d drive a bullet into his thick, stupid brain. “Look at her Cedric. She can barely stand. I don’t think she’s a fucking spy.”
He glances down at her again. Uncertainty lines his broad face from her swaying and smiling. Seemingly unconcerned that I almost just shot her captor. Or hell that she’s even fucking captive at all. Jesus. I don’t have time for this shit. Shoving my weapon in my back waistband, I lean closer to her so I can figure out how in the hell to get rid of her. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”
Fuck me if she doesn’t look up at me with the most beautiful grin radiating from her gorgeous face. “I’m drunk.”
“Yeah no shit.” I have to chuckle at the obvious admission. Luckily, she’s cute enough to pull off being an adorable lush, and I’m gentleman enough not to take advantage. “You here with some friends? A boyfriend maybe?”
“I don’t usually drink but tonight I drank a whoooooooooole bunch…” A small hand slices through the air hitting me right in the gut although she doesn’t seem to notice. “….because Heidi said I needed to have some fun.”
Well she looks like she’s having fun. Kind of. Her delicate ankle twists from the awkward movement of advocating her reasons for her excessive liquor intake, and Cedric tightens his grasp to keep her from tumbling to the floor. I don’t know why I should care, but I don’t like his huge fist wrapped around her tiny bicep. For some reason I can’t explain, I don’t like him touching her.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Why in the fuck am I making her inebriation and his stupidity my problem? I should toss both of their asses out. Instead, I step back like a damn moron myself and point to the sofa. “All right, bring her in and put her over there.”
Returning to his normal obedient behavior, he leads her inside and sits her on the middle cushion. Pushing her shoulders back so she doesn’t topple forward. After a few seconds she relaxes and sinks into the plush black leather, rubbing her dainty hands across the thick fabric in what I assume is approval of her new and more comfortable position.
Waiting for his next order, Cedric watches her too. Which also irritates me more than it should. I don’t like him looking at her either. “Go have Tommy check the monitors to see if a girl seems to be looking for someone. She’s probably going to be freaking out soon, if she isn’t already.”
“You got it, boss.”
Happy to be assigned a task, the bodyguard sprints out, eager to complete his mission. Which could take hours since we have no idea what Heidi looks like or if she’s even still here. I’m exhausted, but this one seems harmless so I’ll let her stay while they search as long as she doesn’t get on my nerves. Because then I’m really going to toss her out and let whatever happens to her, happen. I don’t give a fuck. Even though she looks so small and defenseless and fragile she probably shouldn’t even be in here in the first place since I’m the one she should fear the most. Damn it.
I pour myself a double and sit down across from her. At least I get to enjoy the view of her slender legs as her short purple dress creeps further and further up her thighs while I interrogate her. “Is Heidi here with you tonight? Is that who you came with?”
A decisive nod makes strands of her blond hair, beginning to slip from the looped ponytails she has high on her head, swish up and down her bare arms. “She was but she started dancing with some guy and whoosh…” She throws her hands up in the air for emphasis. Forcing her round tits to strain against her halter and my cock to raise a little too in appreciation. “…she got sucked into the crowd and never came back.”
That sounds about right. On a busy Friday night we’re dealing with thousands of partiers across four levels. Easy to lose someone in here. “So what’re you doing creeping around my office?”
“I had to go to the bathroom.” She blinks a few times and twists her head side to side, with awe brightening her flushed face. “You have areallynice bathroom.”
Sure, it’s easy to confuse an office with a bathroom when you’re flooded with booze. “Thanks. Just don’t piss on the sofa.”
“Too late.”
Shit. I slam my glass down on the table between us and jerk forward, peering between her slightly parted legs. The area under her ass appears dry. Thank fuck.
“I already went…on…the…toilet.” She speaks very slowly, enunciating each syllable as if I’m the one who’s wasted and needs to have things explained to me. “I peed on the toilet.”
Well at least that’s confirmed. I lean back again and grab my scotch. Sucking down a long swallow to try and relax along with her. She’s cute, I’ll give her that. Only slightly annoying. Although I have to admit I’m enjoying the unfiltered and totally humorous conversation. “Why does Heidi think you need to have some fun?”
My question makes her frown, and me regret asking, when her bubbly demeanor fades. She curls her arms around her torso and her chin drops down to her chest in shame as she cuddles into herself.
“She says that’s the best way to forget about Tristan. She says I deserve way better than that asshole.”
Of course it’s an asshole who’s made her drink to oblivion. At least the acknowledgment confirms she’s single. I don’t need to be beating some wannabe’s ass who comes in her trying to claim her. “I think Heidi’s right. You do deserve better.”
Luminous emerald eyes meet mine, sparkling full of earnest hope. “You really think so?”
No reason to lie. Anybody that would treat a sweet girl like her bad has to be an asshole and an idiot. “Yeah, I do.”
“Aww, thank you!” She squirms in her seat, wiggling with a little happy dance of joy and gratitude. “Well I think you deserve better than an asshole too.”
