Part time player, p.8
Part-Time Player, page 8
A tear leaked over then, and she angrily wiped it away. She couldn’t look at him, but now that she’d started, she had to get it all out. “I got a shut-off notice on my electricity. Not that I had to worry about keeping food fresh because all I had to eat was moldy cheese. But yeah, I put my heat down on fifty degrees, not only so it’d kick on only when it absolutely had to, but also to help me adjust to being without it because I knew that day was coming. As for the food?” She shrugged, faking an indifference she did not feel. “I’d resorted to digging for it out of restaurant trash.” She sniffled. “Did I want to do that? No, but you know what? Men don’t like to tip as much if they can see your ribs. It ruins the fantasy.”
“Leigh,” he breathed.
“No,” she said firmly, and looked at him again. “You wanted to know, and I’m telling you. Like I said, Corey was a regular. He offered to pay my electric bill if I slept with him. I’d seen him around a lot, so I trusted him. He just never mentioned he was also a cop.”
“Shit,” Benji muttered.
“Yeah. So I got arrested. Learned my lesson real quick.” She took a deep breath. “Now that you have your answers, you can go.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” She looked away, fighting tears again. She didn’t want his pity. The only thing she wanted from him would never become a reality. His love.
He laughed, but it completely lacked joy. She looked at him, and his eyes were sad. No, they were much worse than that. They were haunted.
She immediately wanted to comfort him, which she resisted. “You should go,” she whispered. For both of their sakes.
“I keep messing this up.” He rubbed his face. “I never thought I’d ever tell another living soul this. So few people know. Sebastian does, and he’s been not-so-subtly nudging me to tell you because he knows it’s something I don’t talk about.” He swallowed, and she frowned at him, confused at his sudden change in demeanor and the words coming from him now. “I wasn’t just some jealous Neanderthal boyfriend when I saw you up there.”
She mentally ignored the label he attached to himself, but her heart jumped at the word.
“That’s a good way to describe it,” she hedged.
“I know my behavior that night was completely uncalled for. I wigged out on you because my mom—Jesus, this is hard—my mom was a hooker.”
Okay, now that got her attention. “What?”
“Yeah. Slept with men for drugs. A lot of men. My grandparents took me from her. She couldn’t even name my own father.” He clasped his hands between his legs and looked down at her. “I have some issues regarding that. I took it out on you, and I’m sorry.”
His words deflated her. As the seconds ticked my, her anger at him over the last couple of days evaporated. “I should have told you about stripping.”
“Yes,” he said without looking at her.
“I’m sorry about that. But we haven’t known each other long, and it’s been a really long time she I’ve let a man into my life. I’m flying by the seat of my pants here.”
“I get that,” he said softly.
“But I also want you to know I’m not sorry about doing it. It’s not illegal, and I made good money at it. I won’t let you or anyone else shame me for that choice. I’m finally at a point in my life where I can quit dancing, but it’s because it’s what I want. Not because someone made me feel bad about it. As for the mistake I did make, well, most days I’ve made my peace with it. I moved to Miami because it doesn’t get that cold here, so if I can’t afford electricity, who cares? Then I took the job at the hotel as a fall back to make sure I’d have a place to sleep if it ever came to that. Thankfully, it hasn’t. I’ve made a good life here. Only every once in a while do I hope Corey will burn in the fiery pits of Hell.”
Benji’s laugh was gentle. When he looked at her, that compassion was back. “I would never dream of telling you what to do.”
Fighting a smile, she said, “Good.”
“You know… Our pasts aren’t so different. I just had grandparents who took me in.”
She wasn’t so sure she agreed with his assessment, but she nodded anyway. This was nice. Talking with him. She’d been angry and hurt...and angry again. She’d been too scared to define why she’d been so affected by his rejection. The man had tackled her will and stolen her heart.
“I signed with Miami.”
She smiled then. “That’s great. I mean, if that’s what you want.”
He stared at her, unblinking. Finally, he whispered, “Yes, you’re here.”
Her heart raced as she took in those words and it only sped up as she watched him move closer to her. “I realized something the other day,” he said, and took her face into his hands. “I’m falling in love with you.”
“Benji,” she murmured, her heart filled to overflowing with joy, happiness.
“I can’t say where I’m at in that process. This is new for me, but I want to explore it. With you. If you’ll have me.”
There were no other words for her to say. She’d lived her adult life on her own, and here she was, sitting beside the only man she’d ever wanted to be with.
And he wanted to be with her, too.
“So we’re doing this then?” she asked, biting her lip.
He groaned, dropping his head to hers. “We’re definitely doing this.”
“You’ll probably make me mad,” she said playfully.
“I’m sure of it,” he said, smiling. “Just don’t hold the rest of my family against me. They’re loud and obnoxious.”
“You’ve already met my favorite cousin. Although, you’re residing on her shit list.
“Rightfully so. I’ll show her I’m worthy of you, though.” He kissed her forehead.
“And I have a friend who might need our help,” she added, Nikki not being far from her thoughts.
“Your friends are my friends,” he said as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Just remember how much I care about you when I piss you off again.”
“Are you planning on doing that anytime soon?” she asked, feeling playful.
“Baby, I plan on doing everything with you very soon.” He kissed her hard and fast. “Very soon.”
“Really? What’s a girl gotta do to get a date out of you?” she asked and raised an eyebrow.
He chuckled. “I know his quaint little coffee shop. Are you finally going to let me buy you a cup of coffee?”
She giggled, remembering their first meeting. “Yeah, I think I am. Just don’t be mad if I wear something waterproof.”
He winked at her. “I knew I’d wear you down eventually.”
Epilogue
Brindle tossed her clothes in her suitcase, eager to get back to Arkansas and her horses. This weekend had been a great escape with a healthy dose of strip club drama so unbelievable she couldn’t have planned anything more exciting even if she’d had months to brainstorm. She felt bad for Leigh and had been over at her place helping her drown her sorrows in sugar when she’d gotten the call she’d been dreading for almost a year. She knew this day was coming, but it hadn’t made it any easier.
The Withrop patriarch had died.
She’d quickly gone online, but news had apparently not gotten out yet. She was sure if it had, there would’ve been stories of the self-made billionaire’s death all over the airwaves. Not that she cared about any sensationalism surrounding one of the wealthiest families in the world. She cared about the man. She’d liked him, and she didn’t really like men in general. He’d been one of the few exceptions to that stance, having always been really nice to her. He’d never flaunted his wealth either, nor had he displayed any arrogance some of his family sported. She’d found that ironic since most wouldn’t be where they were today without him. Not that he complained about his great-grandchildren wrecking G-Wagons or anything. He was much too classy for that.
Knowing he was ailing didn’t make the news of his passing any less devastating, but that hadn’t been the only driving factor for her to jump online or catch the first available plane back home.
It was the ranch.
His ranch.
Where the news of his passing was upsetting, the uncertainty of the ranch’s fate was completely unsettling. What was going to happen to the animals she cared for? It had nothing to do with the job itself. Oh, she loved working there. In fact, that place was her life, but it was those gentle giants that filled her with overwhelming concern right now.
Because most of the people in that family cared about one thing. Money.
Her phone buzzed, and she grabbed it to read the message. “Shit,” she breathed. “We gotta go,” she said to no one specifically—but to everyone—as she yanked her suitcase off the bed.
“Five minutes,” Hannah yelled from the other room.
She rolled her suitcase toward the door and saw Morgan zipping hers. “Just got a message. Their attorney is coming to talk to me in a couple of weeks.”
She stood up and put her hands on her hips. “Could be a formality.”
“Or they’re going to sell it. Jeez, they’re going to sell it.” There was no other reason the attorney was going to fly in this soon after the death.
“Don’t worry. I’ll come with you to the meeting.”
She shook her head. No way would she pull Morgan away from her big case. Besides, there wasn’t a need. “I don’t need an attorney present just to get fired.” Because that was totally what was going to happen. She quickly calculated her measly retirement savings trying to decide how many horses she could buy. And land. And build a new barn. She groaned, knowing there was no way she could afford to take those precious creatures.
“Moral support then.”
“That’s what wine later that night will be for.” She was not going to let Morgan get involved. At most it was an employment issue anyway and that wasn’t her friend’s field. Before she got a chance to reply, Brindle said, “I’m going down to meet the driver.” She walked out as the rest of her group ran around the room, all scrambling to pack their things since their earlier flight hadn’t been planned.
As she rolled her bag down the hallway, she heard the elevator ding and ran toward it, trying to catch it before it left their floor. She saw the doors shutting and took off faster.
“Hold the elevator!”
There was a voice coming from it, but the doors continued to shut. She caught a side-view glimpse of a man in a suit holding a phone to his ear wearing a gold watch...completely ignoring her.
“Asshole!” she yelled as the doors closed completely and began pushing the down button repeatedly.
“Hey,” Morgan said, jogging toward her with her suitcase strap secured to her shoulder. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, just some rich asshole not caring about anything but himself. Guess I should get used to that.”
The rest of her friends headed toward the elevator with their bags.
“It’s going to be fine. Whatever happens with the ranch, we’re all going to be there for you,” Morgan said as she gestured down the hall toward the rest of their group of close-knit friends.
She was grateful to have these women in her corner because she was going to need them. But this mess was something she was going to have to figure out on her own.
She just had no idea where to even start.
“Asshole.”
“What the—” Dawson Winthrop looked at the closing elevator but kept his phone to is ear. The only thing he saw was a rush of blonde hair as the doors swooshed together.
“Are you listening to me?” Sebastian asked.
“I was, but it sounded like some woman just called me an asshole.”
“Surely, that’s not the first time that’s happened.” His cousin chuckled.
“Funny,” Dawson said, frowning at the door before shaking it off. “Are you flying to California for Grandfather’s funeral?”
“I-I don’t know. I want to, but my parents will be there. I haven’t exactly forgiven them for keeping me away from my family.”
“Good idea. Because they haven’t kept you away enough,” he said sarcastically.
“Ahh, reverse psychology. You are an asshole,” he said with a snicker.
“Whatever it takes.”
Sebastian sighed. “I’ll probably be there, but I’m going to try to fix this Benji mess first.”
“Good. Don’t let him cost me money.”
“You don’t worry about it. We’ll meet after the funeral to discuss any new developments.”
“It’ll have to be quick because I’m flying out right after.” The door to the elevator dinged, so when he got out he nodded at the concierge. The man immediately ran around the desk to have the limo brought around front. Dawson hovered around the lobby since it was too hot to wait outside.
“Where are you going after?”
"Arkansas,” he said, practically spitting the word. Their grandfather had started his business over half a century ago in the rural state but had thankfully moved the headquarters to California along with several of his other ventures. Dawson rarely ever traveled there, so he wasn’t looking forward to it.
“Arkansas? Are they doing some memorial for him?”
“Yes, but that’s not why I’m going. There’s a ranch that’s part of his estate. I have to meet with a lawyer there to discuss it.”
“Sounds delightful,” Sebastian said sarcastically.
The door to the elevator opened behind him, but he hadn’t moved out of the way fast enough.
“Watch it,” a blonde lady said as she rushed past him, barely missing him. “Asshole,” she breathed to the side, but kept moving with a group of women gathering around her as they left.
“Damn, dude, sounds like you’re pissing off all women today.”
“I think it was the same one.”
Sebastian laughed. “Must be a feisty one, then.”
“Whatever, she’s gone. Just get Benjamin Bell lined out. I’ll see you in California.” He ended the call without giving him a chance to respond and walked out the front door to the limo.
This next month was going to be flurry of activity with his grandfather’s passing and major changes coming down the pipeline. The last thing he had to worry about was some spunky little blonde giving him grief.
Brindle gets the windfall of her life…there’s just one huge catch in Billionaire Beefcake, the next book in the Tender Tarts Series!
Like your hot alpha men with a side of danger? The Bang Shift Series contains full-length, romantic suspense novels, featuring mercenaries, mechanics, and the mafia! Start this hot, wild ride with Brody, the first book in the Bang Shift Series. FREE on all retailers!
Hey, y’all!
Thank you for reading my book. :) If you enjoyed it, I’d be very grateful for a review. If you didn’t like it, then share that, too... as long as your review is honest, that’s all that matters.
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Xoxo,
Mandy
Also by Mandy Harbin
The Bang Shift Series
Brody
Hunter
Blade
Shelby
Axle
Roc
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Tender Tarts Series
Super Hot Supervisor
California Crush
Hardheaded Hubby
Long Distance Lover
Momma’s Boy
Part-Time Player
Billionaire Beefcake
* * *
Paranormal Romance
Surrounded by Woods
Surrounded by Pleasure
Surrounded by Temptation
Surrounded by Secrets
* * *
Young Adult written as M.W. Muse
Goddess Legacy
Goddess Secret
Goddess Sacrifice
Goddess Revenge
Goddess Bared
Goddess Bound
About the Author
Mandy Harbin is a USA Today Bestselling author who loves creating stories that explore the complexities of everyday relationships…with some kissing thrown in. She is a Superstar Award recipient, Reader’s Crown and Passionate Plume finalist, and has achieved Night Owl Reviews Top Pick distinction many times. She also writes young adult romance as M.W. Muse because teens like kissing, too.
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Mandy Harbin, Part-Time Player
