“You interested in a little lovin’?” she said as she rubbed against his arm.
He smiled. “I would be if I didn’t have to go to work. Sorry. Another time, okay?” He drank a deep gulp.
Ruby pushed her lips out in a pout. “All you do lately is work. And when you’re here, you’re too tired because you worked too hard. I’m dyin’ here, baby.” Long nails scratched up and down his arm, pebbling his skin.
He cupped her chin. “I don’t think you’re gonna die if I don’t fuck you. I already see you eyeing Brutus.” He brushed his finger over her lips. “You know I’m right. Go on over to him. I know you both want it.”
“You sure you’re good?” she asked, though she was already walking away from him. Not waiting for his answer, she hurried to Brutus, who enclosed her in his massive embrace.
Muerto chuckled and then drained his beer.
As he argued with Army and Chains about the hottest womenEasy Riderhad used in its magazine, his phone rang. He looked at it and saw the management company’s name flashing.
“I gotta take this, guys.” He walked outside and answered the phone.
“Hi, Muerto. I was just wondering if you were going to be at the pool hall tonight.”
“Oh, hey, Deanna. Yeah, I’m working tonight. Why? Is something up?”
“I have a lease I need to bring over to you to sign on one of the apartments in the Duncan Street property.”
“Can’t it just wait until tomorrow? I can swing by the office.”
“Tomorrow’s my day off, so that won’t work.”
“Just give it to Jay.”
“That won’t work either. He’s going to be inspecting tomorrow for some of our other clients. What’s wrong with me coming by the pool hall? Don’t you want me there?”
“No, that’s cool. I just thought I’d save you the trip.”
“You know it’s not a bother for me,” she said softly.
He breathed out. “Okay. Then I’ll see you later. I’ll be there in an hour.”
“Perfect. I’m looking forward to it.” Her giddiness and excitement pricked his ears.
After she hung up, he slipped his phone in his pocket and ran both hands through his thick hair. Deanna sounded professional, but a tinge of neediness came through loud and clear. About eight months back, he’d made a stupid mistake and spent a week fucking Deanna’s brains out. She was an attractive woman and it’d been a cold, rainy night, and when she’d invited him into her house to wait out the storm, he’d accepted.
He’d thought she had a nice rack and a great pair of legs. He loved the way she’d wear her tight skirts that showed off her toned calves and her rounded hips, but he stayed back because she was a professional contact. But that night, in her house with the fire crackling in the fireplace, his glass full of whiskey, and her soft willing body too close to him, he’d thought “What the fuck?”
They had an intense, short-lived, torrid affair, and when he’d decided it was time to move on, he’d thought she was on the same page. It wasn’t like he’d promised her anything. As he remembered it, he’d told her it was just a fling and he didn’t do relationships or long-term anything, and she’d agreed. But then he’d had to endure several teary, whiny phone calls and meetings until she finally understood.
Women were always doing that shit to him: saying they understood it was just a fling, then cussing him out and accusing him of taking advantage of them when he walked away after the passion had died for him.
As much as he could, he limited contact with her, preferring to deal with Jay. But every once in a while, he had to talk with her, go over business contracts and leases, and even meet her without the benefit of Jay being there.
Going back into the clubhouse, he grabbed another Dos Equis, downed it, bullshitted a bit more, and then headed to Balls and Holes for his shift.
