Page 17 of Handcuffed Hussy
8
Bailey
It took all my acting skills to pretend that everything was normal with Jack waking up at my house, looking all adorably wrinkled and hung over. It was damn unfair he could still look that hot after a night of heavy drinking. After I passed about twenty-five years old, I lost all ability to drink more than a few glasses of wine without waking up like a truck ran over me. Fucker probably lost weight after binge drinking too.
He was so contrite, hating that he'd lost control, and I'd saved the day. I'd bet it was hard for an alpha male to allow a woman to take care of them. After what he'd said, about how he wanted to know me, I couldn't leave him. He may be twisted up about who he thought I was, but that was no excuse for me to not take care of him.
Damn my conscience!
Over pancakes, he seemed like he was warming up to me, like he'd changed his opinion about me. Which I wasn't looking for him to do. I didn't like that he'd judged me, but hey, that was on him. In fact, it was better that he ignored me, considering the grey areas I tended to travel in.
Then he took it a step further and said I was sweet! Oh, hell no.
We could be friends and flirt some, but I wasn't looking to get involved with him when he'd clearly stated he wanted a doormat girlfriend. As hot as he was, I wasn't signing up for that bullshit.
Time to put the brakes on sweet and remind him I was also spicy.
"So..." Jack looked nervous when I said everything was fine. Good. He needed to stay on his toes. "Have you always lived in Huntington Beach?"
I set my fork down and decided to be honest with him for once. "No. I grew up out of state with my mom. My dad left before I was born. I ran with a rough crowd and my mom got sick of it and moved us here to HB. I went to high school here, which is where I met Esa. Her parents became my second parents, treating me like their daughter. They believed in me and I did my best to live up to their expectations, which turned my life around."
Jack looked thoughtful. "Didn't her parents die in a car crash?"
I nodded, hating to talk about it, even though it had been years. "Yep. On the fucking 405 freeway."
Jack placed his hand over mine on the table. "I'm sorry, Bae."
I cleared my throat and pushed my chair back, standing quickly. I had to get out of there before he saw the tears in my eyes. I grabbed my plate and took it to the kitchen, trying to get myself together. I hated crying in front of people and I surely didn't want Jack to see me cry and then start calling me 'sweet' again.
I rinsed my plate and put it in the dishwasher, calling over my shoulder when I could get the words out without them wobbling, "I've got to get to work. I hate to push you out so early, but it can't be helped."
Jack came right up behind me, pressing his body into mine and placed his plate in the sink. "Thank you for breakfast. I'll call you later today," he whispered in my ear. He kissed my neck, that spot behind the ear that causes instant shivers and melts panties. Then he was gone, leaving my home quieter than it had ever been.
Jack
I left Bailey's by catching an Uber, which took me to my place to shower. I made it into work and got busy on my next case. My tech guy had gotten back with some information on Hessa's case. I also pulled up a new email from Hessa that was rather cryptic. Something about taking a look at an account online and a specific IP address. I knew nothing about that computer crap so I forwarded it along to my tech guy.
I was surrounded by things that needed to be done ASAP and all I could focus on was Bailey. Questions circled in my head: did I misjudge her, did she actually possess the kindness I was looking for, was I wrong in thinking I wanted someone different than her? At this juncture, I couldn't think of anyone I'd want besides her!
Yes, she was spirited, to say the least. But it turned me on. The things that came out of that mouth were so sassy I just wanted to kiss her to shut her up. I wanted to do things that lit that fire in her eyes and wound her up for an argument. I liked her fire.
And I'd love to feel that fire while I was buried balls deep in her, pounding away because I knew she could take it and she'd give it right back.
I was feeling like I'd made a major mistake, and I hated that feeling. I'd been pushing her away, when what I should have been doing was working my ass off to keep her by my side.
I'd better make some plans. Today. Now. Before she slipped away.
Bailey
I took the last two jackets that Jack had been eyeing earlier and put them in my car. I'd cruise around and find their new owners tonight after work. I wanted the evidence out of my house before anyone else saw them and questioned me. That had been too close a call for my comfort.
Further unsettling my stomach was the fact that Jack said he'd call me. I was so confused. Would he actually call or go silent on me like usual? And if he did call, why the hell was he calling? I thought he wanted to stay away from me and find his precious doormat woman?
I was back to the same place I was yesterday: try to forget Jack and move on with my life. Too bad I'd seen his 'just woke up face' or his tender 'cover her hand like you care' move. That shit was hard to forget.
I made it through my day without making too many mistakes when I was caught daydreaming about what a relationship with Jack could look like, or feverishly going over every line of conversation from last night and this morning.
I hopped in my car and cruised through the normal areas where the homeless tended to congregate in HB. I finally spotted a couple women who looked like they'd fit the smaller sized coats I had left. Finding a parking space not too far away, I doubled back with the coats, handing them off with minimal fanfare. I didn't want profuse thank you's, and I'd certainly had my fair share of disgruntled verbal attacks from a few homeless people that weren't all there in the head anymore. Better to just give the coats and walk away, knowing they'd be warm tonight.
