“It’s good. My favorite place in town to get this.”
She nodded. “My mom used to take us here on special occasions. Said it was where her parents took her.” Anne’s Dairy Creme had been around for years and years, and it was a staple of the area. She dug into her strawberry sundae. “I’ve always loved it, though. Best ice cream, ever.”
The way her eyes lit up sent a rush of something else through me, not lust. Something different. It was like she experienced everything for the first time, her reactions so intense. I liked that about her. It made me… feel.
Looking at her made me feel other things. I fought my rising cock as I stared at her. I didn’t want to get hard here, now. I wanted to take her back to my place and f*ck
her good. I wasn’t sure it would get her out of my mind, but I knew that it would at least give me a little fix.
I could almost taste her, the memory of her overwhelming my mind. I wanted her again yesterday, but I held back. Had to make it look like I wasn’t as strung out as I was. Had to try to convince myself I didn’t need it.
But I did.
“Why do you work for your dad? Why not do something else?” she asked the question and brought me up out of my fantasies.
“I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter, Jo.” What the hell could I tell her? That if I tried to leave the family, I’d be killed. I cleared my throat and looked away.
“So, what do you have planned for us next?” she asked, cautiously. She got the hint. I appreciated the fact that she wasn’t going to push the topic.
There it was. My opening. And my phone took it away in an instant with its infernal buzzing.
“One second,” I said as I stood up and walked away from her, towards my car.
f*ck
, it was my father.
The last person I wanted to talk to right now. If I didn’t answer it, he’d grill me. And if I did, I knew playtime was over.
He only called me when he wanted to summon me. So I did what any good son would do, I picked up the damn phone.
“Yeah?” I asked. I never bothered to greet him. We both knew he wanted something.
“Get your ass down to Warehouse B. I got some business I want you to take care of.”
“Can it wait, I have an appointment.”
“No, it cannot wait. Get Janson to reschedule. I’ve got some things for you to take care of.”
“Alright. I’ll be there.” I hung up the phone and turned towards Jo, who was finishing her sundae, sitting there looking as beautiful as ever. My good time was already ruined, but at least I could be a gentleman and take her back to her place.
“Sorry about that, got called into work. I was dealing with an issue with some of the equipment. Too hot for the workers, but not for me.” I shrugged as I threw my cone in the trash.
“You want anything for the road? I’ll drop you off at your place on my way.”
She shook her head. “No, I think I’m good.”
The spell lifted, and she saw me again, the real me. The one she was afraid of.
The entire car ride was silent, she didn’t talk, I didn’t put music on to lessen the tension. I needed this. It taught me a valuable lesson. Girls like her would never want guys like me. Not really.
Especially if they knew what we were involved in. That’s why one night was the best I could do. The best I could give anyone. It’s why I shouldn’t have come calling today.
But I couldn’t stay away.
“Listen, Jo. I have an event I have to attend next Friday night up in the inner-harbor. It’s a dinner for Representative Cruise, and I need to bring someone. I’d like you to come with me. I’ll knock some of the time owed off your sentence.” There, I made it a business deal, and she can’t say no. That way I could keep denying what I was feeling. That way I could see her again.
She looked at me, considering, her eyes calculating. “How much time?”
“Consider your debts forgiven.” I’d work it out with my father later.
“I’ll do it.” She swallowed. “Thank you for today, I needed that.”
“Okay. I’ll pick you up around seven.” It didn’t matter to me that she was doing it for the release of debt. It didn’t matter that I might take another beating for negotiating it without my father’s approval. I didn’t care.
I wanted her.
She was already making me reckless.
As soon as she was out of the car I took off. I needed time to separate her from whatever my father wanted me to do. It wasn’t going to be good, it never was.
Instead of clearing my head I grabbed my phone and dialed Janson.
“What is it, boss?” he asked.
“Jo. What do you know about her?”
“Uh, not too much. Working to pay off father’s debt, or something like that.” The hesitation in his voice let me know he wasn’t telling me everything.
“What do you know, Janson?”
“I-”
“Fine. Get the information.”