Page 100 of Bonds of Shame, Bonds of Lust

He backed off, holding up his palms. "I'm outgunned. He's all yours."

Josie walked by and patted my arm. "Anyway, Derek. We're happy that you're happy. Just keep us in the loop."

"There's no loop to—" but she just kept walking and waved it away over her shoulder.

Aaron came over with the burgers. "Give up, man. You ain't even fooling the kid. Have a burger."

I took one. It was burned on one side.

"Hey," he said, quieter, not looking at me, in the register he uses about twice a year. "It's good. That's all. It's good."

"Eat your burger, Aaron."

"I'm just saying it's good."

"What do you want written on your tombstone?" I asked.

Aaron almost spit his mouthful out, laughing.

Then, the persistent Tiger. "Do you like her, Daddy?"

"Yeah, Jess. I do like her. Of course."

Of course.

44 - EMERGENCY

Lacey

Ricardo had called on Wednesday. "Lacey, I must see you. Come with me to the club this Friday."

"Friday?"

"I don't want to be selfish, but Janice only goes on Saturday." A smile in his voice. "She's never there Fridays. I want you to myself for once, no Janice reading over your shoulder all night."

I'd laughed and said yes before I'd thought about it. I needed a night of fun, and maybe something daring and new.

Thursday, I bought a new dress, one that barely covered my ass, with a neckline that ran almost to my navel. It cost money I shouldn't have spent, but I felt sexy and dangerous when I met Ricardo. I would give him a chance to make up for last time.

He seemed almost manic when he saw me. "Lacey, you're so beautiful," he said, and kissed me.

In rare form tonight, I thought, and laughed.

Then he sat, and got serious, and didn't meet my eyes.

"Lacey. I'm sorry. But you're fulfilling so many fantasies for me." A breath. "It was such a dream of mine, to be seen like that. Really seen! And you loved it too, yes? So maybe it's not so bad?"

What was he talking about?

The guilt stayed on his face, and it was starting to worry me, when my phone buzzed. I wasn't on call. I looked down.

Derek Harrington.

My heart did a little flip. And so did my little lower heart.

I put the phone to my ear, and said, cheerfully, "These aren't my office hours, Derek. I'm going to charge double."

He ignored my joking tone. "Lacey, I was out hiking a little bit with Jessica because I figured it'd be nice for her to enjoy the weather. Anyway, she got a little dizzy, so I carried her back. You know, she gets dizzy sometimes."