AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Andre pushed his paperwork aside. It wasn’t like he could get anything done anyways.
He walked down the hall to the main room where Tom was busy fitting in the new flooring. Upbeat salsa music was playing, and the woman who’d been on his mind all day every day for more than two months had conjured herself up. His chest tightened as he took a deep breath. Bently’s arms wound around her as he spun and dipped her. The sight of her in his best friend’s embrace made his veins burn with green venom. His hands itched to break them apart, even if only as an excuse to touch her. Mia’s throaty laughter spilled out as Bently turned her.
God she’s beautiful.
Andre leaned against the wall partition, he had no right to interrupt, because he had nothing to offer. He couldn’t risk it.
“Mia, you’re gonna make me beg, aren’t you? You really know how to make a guy work for it.” Bently bent on his knee as he held her hands. Andre’s hands fisted.
Mia answered, “Oh, come on now. You like the chase—admit it.”
Andre was used to Bently flirting with every woman. But Mia is flirting back. Andre stiffened, clenching his jaw.
Bently chuckled and smirked. “See, you know me so well already. Now let me take you out, or maybe we can stay in and really get to know each other.”
The whine of a saw drowned out her answer as Andre stepped forward, unwilling to watch this play out any further.
“Bently!” Andre snapped.
“Ahhh!” Tom screamed as the saw shut off. Andre darted over to check on his employee, his attention focused and his body alert.
Tom clutched his hand to his chest, crimson blood trickling down his arm.
“Shit, Tom. Let me see,” Andre said.
Tom unclenched his hand. Blood oozed from the deep slice across his finger, soaking his palm in red.
The music still played in the background as rigid tension held Andre’s body captive. Anxiety snaked around him. This could have ended a lot worse.
“Here. Keep pressure on it.” Mia wrapped a few pieces of folded paper towels around his hand.
Tom squeezed the makeshift bandage over his injured finger.
Andre’s anger simmered beneath the surface as she took over. How had this happened?
“Shut the music off!” Andre snapped.
All three sets of shocked eyes locked on him.
Mia stood and ran over to the speaker, silence blanketing the room.
Tom’s face was twisted in pain.
“I’ll take him to the ER. I was headed that way anyways,” Bently offered.
Andre nodded. “That okay with you, Tom?”
“Yeah.” Tom winced as Bently helped him to his feet.
Andre pulled out a card from his wallet and placed it in Tom’s shirt pocket. “That’s the information the hospital will need to bill me for the care. I’ll call your wife if you want and have her meet you there?”
Tom shook his head. “No, I’ll call her when I’m all patched up. Don’t want her worrying and dragging the kids with her.”
“Let me know if you need anything—and I mean anything, Tom,” Andre said. Tom nodded as Bently ushered him out of the room.
Bently winked at Mia and said, “See you later.”
Tom could have lost a hand. Andre could lose his workers’ comp coverage and insurance would skyrocket. I could lose my business.
