Page 31 of The Fool
“Still being an asshole,” James says, making me smile to myself.
“Hey, all I’m saying is that I bet Miss Summers has to wait for a man to say he loves her before she lets him see the goods, am I right?”
“Actually, the last time a man told me he loved me was just before I walked in on him having sex with my sister,” I reply bluntly, prompting all eyes to zero in on me, though mine remain right on his smug face, just daring him to say something that will finally make me lose it. “So, to quote my namesake and all out hero in my eyes, ‘I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man swear he loves me’.”
I savor this moment, staring at him as he drops his mouth open in shock over my tragic little anecdote, then walk away without another word.
Fuming mad, I keep walking until I find a small garden table that faces the gentle river which runs along the back of the house. I perch my butt against the ledge, cross my arms and try to take in the ambience of the splashing sound of water. I probably look like a spoiled child who’s throwing a tantrum over something completely insignificant, but I had to get out of there, away from all the people, if only so I could calm my nerves and try to forget what has plagued me for the last nine years.
How dare he ruin every bloody event I go to? It might be his brother’s wedding, but why can’t he just leave me the hell alone? I’m so sick of this jerk taking over my life and constantly making me feel inadequate. He’s such an arrogant prick, thinking he knows me, when in fact, he knows so little about me that what he does know wouldn’t even fill a thimble.
After about five minutes of silent venting, I hear the crushing sound of heels on gravel gradually approaching my little lonesome, pity party.
“Damn, girl!” Callie declares, handing me another drink. “That was fucking awesome, I shit you not!”
Her words have us both erupting into laughter over my little outburst. In fact, as my anger begins to dissipate through laughter and Callie’s wicked smile, I realize that it had actually felt pretty good to speak up for myself. I’ve been waiting over eighteen months to say something back to him and I finally got the opportunity. The best bit is I didn’t even swear or lose my shit; I kept it cool and classy. I quoted Shakespeare for Christ’s sake!
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bite here of all places, but you’ve got to understand he’s been awful to me ever since I started working for him…eighteen months ago! I blame you and the alcohol.”
“No, don’t apologize, that was a great show,” she practically beams, “and very nicely done.”
“I don’t understand; why does he hate me so much?”
“Maybe he likes you?” she replies contemplatively, then takes a long sip from her cocktail straw.
“Nope,” I reply, shaking my head. “I don’t buy into that shit, you can’t be a total bully to someone, and then say, ‘oh, it’s because I like you.’ That crap just excuses bad behavior. If I’m ever a mom, there is no way I will ever excuse some ass who is being a little turd by saying, ‘oh, it’s because he likes you.’ I mean what am I supposed to say? Oh, well, that’s ok then, you continue making my life a misery.”
“I love your bluntness, Bea, and you’re totally right. I have no idea what his fucking problem is but forget him! We’re here to party and I’ve run out of fingers to count my drinks on.”
“Where are the bride and groom anyway?” I ask, noticing I haven’t seen them in a long while.
“Who knows with those little fuck bunnies, probably consummating the fake wedding. I know I would be; the Carter brothers are hot,” she says with a far off look in her eye. “Sometimes the hot ones ruin it by speaking though.”
“Did you really tell Nathaniel he was no good for Lily?” I ask, to which she nods with a sincere expression on her face.
“Would you still say that now?”
“Yes, but only because I personally think he only liked her because he fell for the story of how Cameron and Lily first met, as well as their first kiss. He got swept up in the romance of it all. He is different now, grown up a little bit…well a lot actually. Apart from when it comes to you of course.”
“Yeah, I am one lucky bitch aren’t I!”
“Oh, shit,” she giggles, “he’s back for more. Quick, think of some more witty comebacks, it’s so amusing to watch.”
Panic begins to infiltrate my lungs and I start breathing quick and shallow, preparing myself to down the rest of my drink and make a run for it. I manage the drink part but before I can run, he’s there, in front of me, with his hands in his pockets, his top two buttons undone and a stern and purposeful look on his face.
Shit, Bea, don’t let tequila and a hot bod make you fall for his pretty boy looks. He’s an ass, remember that!
Placing my glass on top of the table, I stand up straight in preparation for his cruel words, whatever they may be. However, to my surprise, Nathaniel says nothing when he stops in front of me. Instead, he takes my hand and pulls me away from the table, all the while Callie looks on with amused interest. Then, still without saying anything, he leads me over toward the dance floor. My brain ignores my earlier warning and fails to stop my feet from following his.
As we approach, the music changes to something a little slower and extremely inappropriate to be dancing to with your boss. Nathaniel, however, continues to lead us right into the middle of the dance floor where he swings me around in front of him. As his arms wrap around my waist and bring me in close to his hard body, he smirks at my questioning frown. He waits, not moving an inch until I nervously reach my hands up to rest upon his upper biceps, which flex and stretch as he begins moving me around to the music.
The beat kicks in and he pulls me even closer, so close, I can feel his entire hard body pressed up against mine. And I do meanentirehardbody. His hand gradually moves down to my ass cheeks, and my sex betrays me as it starts to throb with need for the beautiful bastard now dancing with me. My eyes close to everyone and everything else as I indulge in a lust, I have no business in feeling toward him.
As the instrumental takes over the song, he spins me around, so my back is to his muscly chest. He begins grinding his hips against my ass in such a way, I can feel everything. His body moves us side to side, all the while his hands are exploring my body. I let him, not even thinking about what we must look like to all the other guests. I’m guessing he’s not either; this is his entire family after all. His face nuzzles into the side of my hair, and he takes a deep inhale of my hair. I expose my neck to him, inviting him to kiss my skin with those soft lips of his. He accepts, with nips, open mouthed massages and groans of need.
Eventually, the music comes to an end, and my eyes open to see dozens of faces looking right at us, including Callie, James, Lily, Cameron, and Nathaniel’s father. I instantly want to run, to hide away and never come up for air. My cheeks heat with a blush so strong, you could use me as a flashing beacon out at sea. All those faces gasp in shock, all except Callie who is grinning from ear to ear. No one moves and it feels like we’re frozen in time, forever facing our shame in front of all these people.
It is Nathaniel who moves first, disentangling himself from me and stepping away. I can’t see what he does next, I only hear him offer a cough before his shoes tap away across the floor behind me.