“Because ofRachel,right Carter?” I nod becauseduh.“Because I crossed some lines with some random woman years ago, you’ve turned into the little white knight with all the random women who’ve come over the years, but you couldn’t protect yourown womancould you? Not from me, and not from yourself.” It’s my turn to flinch at that, but I feel a small familiar hand reach out to grip mine. Paul sees it and shakes his head at me. “Jesus, Carter, you’re so fucking stupid. There was never a Rachel. Or if there was, Billy didn’t actually give a shit.”
Billy takes a step forward at that. “Paul, don’t.”
He continues dripping his venom, staring at me. “It was always Becky,buddy. You stupid little idiot. Iknowit was that bitch, not some random client or customer, because Good ol’ Boy Billy gave me that warning aboutmy strikesright after—” His voice trails off before he finishes the thought.
“Right after what, Paul?” A film of red has dropped over my eyes while I stare at this pathetic man. Becky’s hand in mine is the only thing grounding me, but I don’t need grounding right now. I squeeze her hand and guide her to Billy, who’s still standing there, letting me handle things. With Becky no longer holding me back, I take a step closer to Paul. A sheen of sweat covers the line of his forehead, and his blotchy red and white face is filled with panic, or regret. At my step,he scoots back in his seat. I take another step, and he stands up, his eyes darting around the room, looking for the exit that’s behind me. My voice is low, my blood boiling in my veins because I already know. I know with some kind of horrifying premonition what I’m about to learn.
“What thefuckdid you do to my woman, you disgusting piece of rotting shit?” My words drop out in a sharp, deep staccato. I’ve never felt this type of rage before, but it’s making both of my hands shake and my vision tunnel to include only him in my sights. Paul is against a wall, now, and I am very, very close to him.
"I didn’t even do anything, she—" Paul starts and then looks daggers over my shoulder—in her direction.
“Don’t even look at her, you stupid son of a bitch. Look at me.” I grab Paul’s slimy face, forcing him to meet my eyes, and let go immediately—the feel of him dirty. "What. Did. You. Do." I poke Paul with each word, hard in the chest.
"It wasn't a big deal, that bitch–"
He doesn't even have time to finish his sentence. I snap at his words, throwing a wild punch directly into his face. Paul bounces off the wall behind him with the force of the hit. Pain blooms in my hand, but I’m too wound up to really notice beyond a shallow acknowledgement. "If she complained, it was a big deal!" I’m shouting now, crowding into Paul. My uninjured hand shoots out and tangles in his shirt, balling it and lifting him up against the wall. "What the fuck did you do!" I shake him like a ragdoll, but he says nothing, eyes wide with fear in my hold.Useless.
"He kept finding ways to touch me." I drop Paul, who slumps to the floor, and turn to see Becky calmly standing there, but a slight tremor in her hands gives away her discomfort. My anger disappears quicker than it appeared—followed swiftly by pain, regret, and disappointment in myself, filling in the empty gaps left behind.
Billy comes around the desk, grabbing his brother off the floor. He drags him out of the office, leaving us inside.
“Becky?” My voice is weak. I reach for her, but then let my hand fall to my side.
I let this piece of shit breathe her air, touch her body. I didn’t protect her. This is why she stopped coming so often.
A small sigh pulls my eyes to her face.
“Let’s sit down.” She speaks to me gently, like I’m going to startle if she talks too loudly. I nod and turn to the office chair Paul was just sitting in, leaving the untainted one for her. My eyes close, there’s so much new information to sort through, and the adrenaline is racing through me, making focus impossible; but if she wants to talk, I can. I freeze when a soft, curvy bottom settles into my lap, shocking the shit out of me.
Becky spins in my lap, turning her body to the side, draping herself across my legs, then resting her head against my chest. A hot zing of satisfaction travels through my bones at the realization.She’s recharging.Tears prick my eyes at the familiar position we’re in. She’s told me for years that she needs a moment torechargein my arms, especially after a particularly grueling week. To have her do it to me again, now, in this moment?It’s everything.I hesitantly wrap my arms around her, and she nestles deeper into my chest. My breath catches in my lungs.Jesus, don’t lose it, Carter.
I tighten my arms around Becky and settle my head against the top of her dark waves. The squeak of the older office chair is loud in the silent office as I begin to rock us, feeling my adrenaline drain at the closeness of her. A soft sigh slips out of her—a small puff of air against me,practically a purr.
She feels like home.
She starts talking, her voice muffled against my chest. “From the beginning, Paul would find excuses to touch me. Walk past me while I was bending over something, reach past my chest andaccidentallybrush against my breasts.” I hold my breath as she continues, “One night, when I was waiting for you, he decided to skip any subtlety and full on grope my ass while I leaned over one of the cars.”
My relaxation flees at her words. My body growing more and more taut. “I’ll kill him.”
She keeps talking, ignoring my violence. “Billy saw it happen, and immediately stepped in and pulled me away to talk, and to apologize.”My leg starts bouncing under her, and I recognize that could be uncomfortable, but I can’t stop it.
“Billy knew.” My voice is low, quiet. Her words barely penetrating the haze of fury surrounding me.
Becky must sense that because she turns even further in my lap, straddling my legs, and squishes my face between her hands, turning it to meet her concerned eyes. “Please, please don’t be mad at him. It was pretty early in our relationship, and I still had some unresolved issues from—before. I asked Billy, nobeggedhim, to not tell you and to not make it into a big deal.”
I nod my head, but in my mind, I’m picturing a younger Becky, new here and eager to meet me at the shop. She wasnervousthat she would make a bad impression on the people I work for.‘You have so much respect for your boss, Carter. I can’t make a bad impression.’We weren’t even together yet because the stubborn ass didn’t want to commit. I was already committed. I wasgonefor her, and my boys knew it after that very first day she visited.
“Whoa, whoa, wait. What do you mean come in and wait for you? You’re working? Let’s just meet at Joe’s like we usually do?” I smirk as I take in the lovely, babbling Becky.
“The guys are here and want to meet you.” Her face turns that delectable shade of pink that gives me all sorts of delicious ideas while she stutters, looking for an answer.
“Th-the guys? Her eyes dart past me to the garage and go wide as saucers before she tucks herself closer in front of me. I check over my shoulder to see Trevor, Billy, and Paul are all standing at the door to the shop. Trevor looks cool as a cucumber, to anyone who doesn’t know him. I can see his curiosity for this woman. It’s why he’s here and not already home to his family. He also blames his wife, but he’s so sickeningly in love, he wants everyone around him to be in love as well.
‘Paige would kill me if your woman showed up and I passed on the chance to give her first person POV gossip.’ I reluctantly agreed to it because Paige is tiny but frightening sometimes.
Billy’s arms are crossed over his chest as he watches through narrowed eyes, looking wrecked and a million miles away. Something is happeningwith him, but he’s being close mouthed about it all. Finally, there’s Paul, Billy’s younger brother. He smirks at me before turning to look up at Billy, laughing about something and walking into the shop.
My eyes are drawn back to little Becky who’s watching them. Her shoulders slowly rise and straighten and a gleam enters her gaze. She meets my eyes again and nods. “Okay, yeah. I can come in and wait for you. Let’s see who the three musketeers are!”
