I grunt and try to ignore him. “What happened this morning?”
He runs his fingers through his hair, which is a McKenzie habit, before letting out a tired sigh. “Someone broke into Kenza again during the night. The fuckin’ bastards trashed the back storeroom and nothing else. I can’t decide whether they’re after something in particular, and if they are, I haven’t a clue what. Or if they just want to cause trouble.”
I sigh and glance out of the big windows as I try to bring my thoughts together. Kenza has been having trouble for a while now, which is damn frustrating. If we can pin point where the trouble is coming from then it can be stopped, but right now we’re blind.
“Tell me what you need.” Sitting back in my chair, I watch my brother try to get his emotions under control. Ruben has always found it difficult to accept help from anyone, but I know this is more serious than anything he’s had to face before. He has no choice but to accept help from family.
“I hate this. Asking for help.”
Before answering, I sit back and rest my right ankle on my left knee. “We’re brothers Ruben, if you can’t ask your brother for help when you need it then there’s something wrong.”
“I know, and yeah I’ll call you when I need you there.”
Hearing him agree to call me tells me this really is more serious and is something that he can’t handle alone. A part of me feel’s relieved he’s accepted my help without much persuasion. It’s also a conversation I need to have with all my brothers to make sure everyone knows what’s going on because I’d bet he hasn’t told anyone else.
“You need to get laid,” Ruben informs me.
I look at him startled with the abrupt change of subject. “How’d you get that out of calling me when you need me? Fuck, are you serious?”
“You admitted to having a dry spell and you need to break it then you’ll be relaxed again. Not sure I like you uptight, besides what about Jacky? She’s yours for the taking.”
I know what he’s doing and I just wish he came up with a different subject. Yeah, I’m frustrated as hell, but Jacky – hell no.
Hearing a knock on the door, we both sit up straight in our chairs as Jacky comes strutting into the room in her black high heels clutching some more papers in her hand.
Hell, it’s no wonder I never get much work done here with her back and forth every two damn minutes.
As she passes Ruben, I avoid eye contact with him, but not before I see him smirk with his eyes fixed on her ass.
Clearing his throat, we both look at him. “You know Jacky,” Ruben quickly meets my eyes before looking away, “you should get Sebastian to bring you down to my club tonight. There’s a live band on, ‘Deception’, they’re good and going places.”
Fuck, thanks brother!
Glaring at my traitor of a brother, I grind my teeth together as he stands up and makes a quick dash to the door.
“See you both tonight,” Ruben says before closing the door on his way out.
If I take Jacky with me tonight she’ll get the wrong idea, but how the fuck do I get out of this crap my brother’s dropped me in?
While my brains engaged elsewhere, Jacky sits in the chair Ruben just vacated. “It’s okay Sebastian. I know you’re not interested in me so don’t worry about taking me anywhere. I know your brother dropped it on you.”
She’s crying. Why me? Standing I walk around the desk and crouch in front of Jacky, offering her a tissue. “Jacky, you’re a nice young woman.” I pause. “It’s just that I’m not really looking for a relationship right now.”
Perhaps if I take her, it will take my mind off Carla, who I can never be with. I need to move on. Have I got it in me to move on right now though? What the hell. “Jacky you know what? Let’s go to Kenza tonight and have a damn good time.”
Her tears miraculously disappear. “You mean that? You’re seriously going to take me out on a date?”
Standing, I back up and sit on my desk. “Yes,” I whisper, wondering what the hell I’m doing. I need a distraction, but I’m not sure Jacky is the kind of distraction I need or want.
Damn Ruben!
Chapter 11
Carla
Trying to get the spreadsheet data together for Ramon is easier said than done when my mind keeps wandering to Sebastian. I haven’t seen him for close to a week, which is normal, but after the embrace we shared, my longing to be back in his arms is tenfold.
No one has ever made me feel the way Sebastian does. With just one look, my panties are wet and my core throbs to be filled by him.
Having told Ramon to leave things for a few weeks to see how everything goes was stupid of me. Instead, I could be with Sebastian right now, seeing where the thing between us goes. I have the feeling that once I get with Sebastian he won’t let me go. I’ve seen the possessive look on his face when he thinks no one is watching and just knowing he’s kept his zipper up since we met does things to my insides.