Break My Fall (8 page)

I smiled gratefully, “Thanks Mike, beef is great.”

He grinned, nodding, “Oh good, I wasn’t sure if you were one of those vegetarian girls. You always have fish in you sandwiches.”

I snorted, “You’re the one who makes my sandwiches remember? I’m not fussy about my food. But truth be told I’m a red meat kind of girl.”

We slipped into easy conversation, and I actually snorted soda from my nose when Mike told me about the last big drama at the hotel.

“No way? Are you for real?” I asked, through laughs as I patted my napkin to my face.

“True story, Mindy was in housekeeping, and I guess you could say she got a little too up close and personal cleaning his uh, family jewels.”

I gasped. “Isn’t he the guy in Washington? A senator of something?”

Mike chuckled, “Not anymore. Their affair was leaked to the media. You wouldn’t believe the amount of journalists and pap’s around here at the time. It was huge news; a public figure having it off with the underage housekeeper. The boss was furious.”

He paused, frowning, “I’m actually surprised he hired you. After the drama with Mindy, he doesn’t hire young girls. There was too much of a backlash for the hotel from the media, not to mention Mindy’s parents.”

I took another swig of my soda, while I thought about what Mike said.

I guessed that what Derek had been suggesting a few weeks back when he asked me where I worked.

“What’s he like? Our boss I mean. Have you met him?”

A vein twitched in the Mike’s neck.

He seemed to ponder my question.

“Yeah I’ve met him,” he said flatly.

When he noticed my worried look, he smiled.

“When he’s here, he’s a good boss. He’s usually jetting off around the country to the other hotels. Most of the staff seem to like him, though Linda is the one who really runs this place. ”

I could hear the undertone in his words. “Most of the staff?”

“You don’t miss much, do you?”

He ran a hand across his forehead. “Let’s just say he and I have some personal issues, and leave it at that.”

“Okay, so are you doing much for the weekend?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

Mike smiled, and delved into all his plans for the upcoming weekend.

I tried to appear interested, but my mind kept drifting back to what he had said.

“He and I have some personal issues.”

I wondered what they were.

Chapter Six

KYLE

She was on her own.

Her door was cracked open, and she was lying on her bed reading.

I knew I should not go in; Cam would have my balls for it.

I never had much will power though, and she zapped it to shit.

“Whatcha reading?” I asked as I tapped on the doorframe.

Lee scrambled up to a sitting position, pulling a set of earplugs from her ears.

Her cheeks were glowing red, her curls a loose tangled mess.

She was fucking stunning.

“I’m sorry; did you call me for something?”

She looked so innocent, I couldn’t stop myself; I walked over to the bed and sat down.

“I asked you what you’re reading,” I said, picking up the book Lee had dropped on the bed.

I skimmed a page, and holy fuck, “You’re reading porn?”

Lee blushed and pulled the book out of my hands.

“It’s a romance novel.”

No fucking way, innocent little Lee had a stash of girl porn.

“If you say so. Let’s see what style music you have.”

I moved closer and took the iPod from her lap.

My fingers accidently brushed the bare skin of her thigh and she whimpered.

I leaned forward to hide the massive erection I was getting.

Jesus Christ this was a bad idea.

“It’s Cam’s iPod,” she muttered, handing me an earplug.

“This one’s my favorite,” she said, as she took the iPod from my hands and fiddled with the screen, “I feel like I can relate to the words.”

I popped it in my ear and listened. Lee copied me, and we sat silently.

I was expecting some cheesy boy band to fill my ears.

I was surprised to hear Kings of Leon’s Closer.

Lee had good taste in music.

I leaned back on my elbows and listened to the words.

This song always made me shiver; there was something haunting about the intro. ‘
She took my heart; I think she took my soul,’

‘
Far from the carnage of the fiery sun,’

‘
I see your storm buckling up from the sea.’

How the fuck was Lee relating to those lyrics?

I was relating to the lyrics, shit I was reacting to the lyrics.

This song was the epitome of sex songs, and I had an embarrassing bulge in my jeans.

She flopped onto her back and I had to follow or lose the earplug.

This was too close.

I lay down beside her, closing my eyes to block the view of tits rising when she breathed.

“Do you ever wish when someone listens to a song, they are thinking the words about you?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, turning my face to look at hers.

“I wonder what it would feel like to have a man want me the way these singers want the women who inspire their songs.”

She turned her face to mine, her grey eyes burning a hole in mine.

Hot damn.

“Men want you Lee. You don’t need a song to know that,” I muttered.

“I’m sorry, that was a weird thing to ask you.”

Her cheeks reddened, fuck, I didn’t want her to get skittish again.

“Sometimes I do that,” I said.

Like right now, right now I was imaging her,

“Do you?” I asked.

Lee exhaled heavily, and looked up at the ceiling, “All the time.”

If it weren’t for the fact that she was so naïve, I’d think she was hitting on me.

Shit, was she hitting on me?

I couldn’t tell.

I tried to gage her expression, but her eyes were closed as she listened to the music.

“Who do you think of when you listen to this song princess?”

She sighed deeply, and turned to look at me.

“I don’t think you want to know the answer to that.”

The hell if I didn’t.

I was going to kill Derek for putting notions in her head.

“Is it Dixon? Do you like him?”

She laughed and that only irritated me more.

“Is there something funny?” I asked, pulling the earplug and standing, “Are you already with him or something?”

She laughed harder and shook her head.

I was going out of my mind with jealousy, and Lee thought it was a joke.

“You don’t get it do you?” she said, her voice suddenly serious.

No, I didn’t get it, and I didn’t want to hear anymore.

“Fuck this,” I hissed and stormed out of the room.

Chapter Seven 

LEE

I slept in this morning.

I figured since I had worked double shifts all week at work that I deserved the rest.

I decided to have breakfast before showering.

I made a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. I heard the doorbell ring.

A few moments later Rachel’s high-pitched voice was drumming in my ears.

“Why the hell didn’t come over last night when I told you to? When I ask you to do something Kyle, do it.”

She stormed into the kitchen and threw her bag on the table.

She didn’t seem to notice me.

I guessed Kyle must be back from his latest excursion, because he hadn’t come home when I went to bed last night, and wherever he was; Rachel wasn’t too far behind.

He had been so angry last night when I laughed at him.

I couldn’t help laughing though.

How he could think I was interested in Dixon was ridiculous.

My lame attempt of flirting had seriously backfired.

I wasn’t going to try it again.

The angry redhead stamping around the kitchen was a reality check; Kyle was unavailable.

I hated to admit it but she was gorgeous.

She had on tanned slacks, with skyscraper heels and a pink cashmere sweater.

She had her red mane scraped into a sophisticated bun, and her makeup was flawless, exenterating her green eyes and high cheekbones.

The only thing about Rachel that was less than perfect was the smallness of her thin lips.

However, she looked like the type of person who could afford to have that corrected if desired.

I lowered my pajama-assed self further down in my chair.

Kyle strolled in and made his way to the refrigerator.

I thanked god he was fully this morning in his black pants and a soft blue shirt.

I doubted my blush would go unnoticed by Rachel.

He pulled out a bottle of water, and walked over to the sink.

He didn’t acknowledge me either.

Lord, I was truly invisible to these people.

“I didn’t get around to it, I was late home. You know I’m busy.”

He sounded tired.

I worried that his job was taking it out of him. Then I tucked that worry away.

He wasn’t mine to worry about.

I kept my head down and pretended to ignore them, but the way she spoke to him got to me and I couldn’t help but peek at Kyle.

He wasn’t looking at her; he wasn’t even facing her.

He was standing poker straight with his back to her, looking out the window.

“Well, if you kept it in your pants a little more, then maybe you wouldn’t be so busy. You can be such a bastard sometimes.”

Kyle shrugged off what she had said as if he heard it every day.

It made my blood boil.

What was her problem?

She did not own him.

“Don’t make a big deal out of this Rachel. I have to work. You have no complaints when you’re spending my money.”

Why was she spending his money?

Did she not have her own job?

I wished he would make a big deal of it.

I wished he would kick her sorry butt to the curb.

“Don’t make a big deal of it? I don’t ask you for much Kyle, just a little of your time. It’s the least you could do considering what you did. You owe me.”

“Leave him alone,” I snapped, unable to listen to anymore, “So what if he doesn’t call you, big deal. He doesn’t owe you for that.”

The look on Rachel’s face was actually scary.

Kyle swung around and stared at me.

He looked genuinely surprised that I was in the room.

I guess he hadn’t been ignoring me; I was just invisible to him.

A small smile crept across his face, causing me to blush.

I shrugged, and returned his smile. What the heck, Rachel didn’t like me anyway; I wasn’t losing any fans.

“Oh look who it is Kyle, your little friend from Cam’s party. Awh and she’s defending you as well as warming your bed. How cute,” she hissed, as she walked towards me.

I was proud of myself for not shrinking away from her, even though every instinct in my body told me to.

She was a mean ole bully. I hated bullies.

I couldn’t stop the blood from rushing to my face though. I could feel my cheeks burning.

She rested her hands on the table and leaned over me.

“Keep your nose out of my business little girl, and keep your eyes off my man. He doesn’t need you defending him. He doesn’t need you to do shit for him. He’s mine.”

I snorted and stood up.

My legs were rattling but I couldn’t let her know she was intimidating me. That was what she wanted.

“Your man? Oh I’m sorry; I didn’t realize you owned him. Maybe you should have brought his slave papers with you.”

Kyle chuckled loudly, which had only made Rachel angrier.

“Don’t you dare laugh,” she snapped, turning her glare on Kyle.

I used her momentary distraction as a means to escape.

KYLE

I hated being here.

I wasn’t a fucking prostitute, although since I was the one handing out all the cash that remark was futile.