Page 2 of Garnish with a Candy Cane
She has no idea. “Tell that to my ex’s.”
“Okay.” Her glassy gaze sweeps across the room again, and her brow wrinkles as she studies the empty space. Confused by just the two of us in here. “Where are they?”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Don’t worry about it. You can tell them later.”
Apparently I’m hysterical because she giggles too. “Okay.”
I love this girl’s laugh, cheerful and carefree. But I can tell by her level of intoxication she won’t be this happy tomorrow. I slide out my phone and text Andrea to bring me an orange juice for her. That should help some to ease the hangover.
“What’s your name?”
Looking up from my screen, I’m pleasantly surprised to find her palms stroking sensually down her legs just like I would be if I wasn’t being a nice guy tonight. “Duke Toscani.”
“Duke.” She nods in all seriousness despite the slight slur to her pronunciation. “I like that.”
Glad she approves. “I like that you like it.”
Her body jerks as if struck by lighting and she bolts up, amazement engulfing her expression. “You know what? If we get married, I’d be your Duchess.”
This time I shake my head at her. Way too much baggage and bullshit in my past for the kind of optimism a marriage warrants. “Well Duchess, I don’t want to get married.”
“Me neither. But Heidi says I need to get fucked. Do you think I need to get fucked?”
More sincere than I’d ever expect from such a loaded question. I estimate the club’s receipts in my head to try and keep my dick in check from the thought of her naked and bouncing on my lap. “Everybody needs to get fucked sometimes. A good hard fuck alleviates a lot of stress.”
Creates a lot of stress sometimes too but we don’t have to go there. Not an issue anyway since she’s apparently already moved on from the thought. Squinting again, she tilts toward me, studying my face before she points to me and back to herself with an errant finger. “What about me? Am I fuckable? Would you want to fuck someone like me?”
Jesus. Calculating tonight’s take isn’t enough anymore and my dick pulses hard, ready and eager against my zipper. “More than you know.”
The huge smile returns. “I’d like that too.”
She must not like the idea too much because she doesn’t move. Doesn’t try to fuck me or get me to fuck her. Just keeps still, sprawled back on the pillow, and grins. “I like you Duke Toscani.”
“I like you too, whatever your name is.”
Once again, my sarcasm’s totally missed on her, and she doesn’t respond to my prompt.
“You’re really nice and really tall and really handsome too.”
She slowly rises, putting her hands out flat as if to balance herself when she lists side to side. When she’s confident on her feet, or so she thinks despite her unsteady gait, she wobbles toward me. Fuck. Neither my cock nor my conscience have enough will power to resist her if she straddles me. Thank fuck she doesn’t. Instead she plops down next to me and cups my cheek as I stare down at her.
“You have a perfect face. I’d like having sex with you too.”
Say nothing. Do nothing. Think nothing. Because I don’t have time for this or her or anything with all the shit going on around me.
A soft knock rattles the door this time. Breaking the spell as both of our attention turns toward the sound. Jerking us out of our fascination with each other as if busted like we were actually doing something wrong. “Come in.”
Andrea peeks around the wood. Learning her lesson from too many times of being caught off guard by what she found on the other side, she confirms everyone is clothed before she steps inside. Two bottles of juice sit on her tray.
“Here you go Mr. Toscani.” She motions toward…fuck. I guess Duchess for now. “Cedric gave me the heads up. Is she okay? Do you need any help with her?”
“Thanks, but I’ve got her.” Fuck. Not her. The situation. All under control. “I’ve got it.”
My bar manager gives me a professional smile in return. Not hinting in the least bit what she thinks about me or wonders about Duchess. Which is why she works for me, and I pay her so generously. She keeps her opinions to herself and her mind on her work, rather than my personal business.
“If you need anything else, just let me know.”
I wait until Andrea closes the door to hop up so she doesn’t see the desire Duchess generates in me. No need to embarrass her or myself any more than I already have in the past when I was young, dumb, and unfocused. At least now I finally have my shit together even if the world around me is still fucking chaos.
