Page 29 of Worth Loving You

His lips pursed, his sight scanning our surroundings. “I dunno. Never gave it much thought. Too busy waking up every morning to get dirty and sweaty, bust ass, just to go home and occasionally play in this dive. It’s been a long time since I’ve had any time to daydream about other possibilities.”

“If you could. Say money wasn’t an object, would you go into business for yourself? Be your own boss?”

He rubbed his nose, picking up his glass with his thumb and last two fingers, holding the cigarette out. “If money was no object?” He took a sip, sucking his teeth and grunting as he put the drink down. “If money was no object, I wouldn’t need a business, would I?”

“Would you be serious?”

He chuckled and took another inhale, pushing the smoke through his nostrils. “Yeah, I think I would like being my own boss. Making money without digging the grease out my nails every night sounds pretty rad. Why? You thinking about going into business for yourself?”

Scrunching my features, I was almost ashamed to look at him. “You think that’s a crazy idea?”

“Why? I’ve been massaged by you before, you’re damn good at what you do. Why not? You ain’t got no job, now would be the perfect time for you to do this. You got money saved up?”

My attention darted to my purse laying on the table, my pulse racing. As if I could see through the fake leather, I eyed the envelope with the money inside.

“Yeah, about five grand,” I rasped, chewing my cheek again.

His brows shot up. “Five? Chazzy, what the hell are you waiting for? Do it!”

Sucking my teeth, my shoulders slumped, and I sank into the back of the chair. “I dunno. I’m such a pushover. Can I really boss people around?”

He snorted and then burst out laughing hysterically, waving the hand with the cigarette around. “Holy shit, hang on. Let me…let me have this moment.”

I crossed my arms and pouted, cutting my lids.

“Oh, shit, that’s fucking hilarious. You? A pushover? Oh my god, Chazz.” He sniffled, wiping the tears from his eyes. “My god, I needed that laugh.”

“Dave, knock it off.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied curtly, sitting up straight.

Scoffing, I slapped at him a second time.

“Chazzy, I have known you for five years and not once, have I ever seen anyone make you do anything you didn’t want to do.”

My brain backtracked to that morning when I was with Milo. All day, I had been trying to convince myself he coerced me into having sex with him, but I knew that wasn’t true. I wanted him as much as he apparently had wanted me. I gave in because I needed to know what it felt like to have that man inside me. Today happened because I let it.

“I say go for it. You got all the supplies you need, you just gotta rent yourself a place and get a business license. Five grand will do that.”

Shrinking, my shoulders tugged to my ears. “I…kinda left all my stuff back at Sunkissed.” My brows creased and I batted my lashes, covering his wrist. “Will you go there tomorrow and get everything for me?”

His lids narrowed. “Dammit, Chazz—”

“C’mon, please, please, please! I can’t go back there, not after what they think of me. I would do it for you. Dave, please!” I whined, bouncing in my chair.

Clucking his tongue to his teeth, he took a final drag and dropped the cigarette in the bottle. “Fine, but I get a freebie this weekend.”

Squealing, I threw my arms around his neck for a quick hug. “You got it. Uh, it’ll have to be Sunday afternoon. I’m kind of already booked all day Saturday.”

“That’s fine.”

He took another gulp of his drink and stood. Dropping a kiss to the top of my head, he grumbled, “Gonna help them finish cleaning up. Be right back.”

Sinking into my seat, I set my ankle on my knee under the table and fidgeted with my straw, eyeing my purse. I was definitely going to be busy Saturday. The only question I had was, when we were done fucking away the morning and afternoon, who would be in his bed Saturday night?

Chapter 11

Chastity Monroe