Three of Diamonds (Hamden Series) (29 page)

He felt guilty, researching what he did, but he also felt something else. Did he pry too much into her privacy? Something that he wasn’t sure how he truly felt about it. Was it anger? How will she react when he confronts her about it? He wasn’t sure but he knew they would be discussing the situation very soon. Not to make her embarrassed, that would be the furthest thing from his mind, but because he wanted her to feel like she could tell him; that she would want to tell him that part of her life. Lola had come to mean a great deal to him. More than he thought possible, and more than he was willing to comfortably admit. Not because he was ashamed of her in any way, but more because he was ashamed of himself. How could he dare expect anyone to feel anything for him, when Olympus was so much a part of his life. Was he willing to give that part of himself up? He honestly didn’t know, but he did know he would be willing to consider it for Lola. Nothing was clearer to him when he watched this beautiful, strong and amazing woman sleep. He’s never enjoyed sharing a bed with anyone, yet to have Lola here, just felt right to him.

“So, I wanted to ask you something. Would you mind if I took Boyd back to ride Blossom? I thought it would be something he and I could do together.”

Lola wasn’t expecting that to come out of Wes’ mouth. What was it about Wes asking to spend time with Boyd alone, that had her uncomfortable. Then it dawned on her. Boyd was going to get extremely attached to Wes, more than he already is, then when things ended between them, Boyd would be devastated and Lola would be the one left explaining why they wouldn’t be a happy little family. Hearing Wes ask to spend time alone with Boyd, brought back all her fears as to him even meeting Boyd. This was complicating their relationship. This was about sex…wasn’t it? It would be one thing for Lola to lose her heart in this, but to drag Boyd down too, she didn’t know if she could live through that.

Without answering the question, Lola asked one of her own, “Do you ever date?”

Surprised by her inquiry, Wes leaned back and took a few minutes before responding, “No, not really.” Watching for a reaction, and disappointed when she showed none, he explained further. “Women, on a whole, don’t understand or want my need for unrealistic detachment. Most women, want the emotional connection with whomever they are dating. I mean, I guess, technically, I can take anyone out to dinner. Hell, I could even take them to bed afterwards, but I’m neither that much of an asshole nor do I want to be bothered.” Pausing to ensure his words were right, he continued. “Fucking is for one thing only…to get off. I have a way to get off without spending money or hours on dinner schmoozing someone that ultimately is either going to hate me for it or hate themselves for it. I know going into such a situation is only going to make me utterly not enjoy myself and worse, make them somehow potentially regret their decision to be with me, thinking the problem is them. Women, generally, always are expecting something else out of it that I have no intention of giving.”

“So, you are not enjoying yourself now?” Cocking an eyebrow up at Wes before continuing, “Or you don’t think just any woman would enjoy this? Or you?” She continued looking to Wes for some type of explanation or clarification, because right now she was wondering if she was part of his ‘fucking only’ routine. Wes continued to look without saying anything, as if he knew she wasn’t quite done. “I can attest to you not having a problem getting someone to enjoy you between the sheets.” Trying to break his silence and lighten the mood.

“Well that’s just it, Sunshine. Very few women do I take between the sheets. A bed is made for fucking, plain and simple. You can fuck without pulling back the sheets. Hell, to be honest, I prefer other surfaces to a bed; a bed seems too emotional and presumptuous, but does have its conveniences.”

How was she responding to this? How were his words affecting her? Even to his own ears, it made him sound like the biggest, selfish asshole on the planet, yet he couldn’t help but give her his honesty. “Some people aren’t as open to this lifestyle or taste, but you seem to be. Since you have reminded me of what I know to be a talent of getting a woman off, I think we’ve talked enough, now is time for action. I have a fuck bucket list, and you, Lola, have just become the one that I plan on crossing everything off with.”

How the emotion and intent of this conversation had changed, but just at his hint of his intention had her fine with stopping their talk and using this wonderful bed for things other than pillow talk, starting right now.

“Who am I to deny a dying man’s wish.” She whispered, before he claimed her lips in the beginning of what she was sure was going to be another amazing sexual experience, and she intended to enjoy every moment of it while it lasted.

“I wasn’t expecting you to show up with the dream man. I take it you had fun last night?” Aimee asked with a wink. Lola and Aimee were alone in her office, while Aimee looked for the geological assessment that the building inspector was asking for.

Lola put her hands on the blue folder that Aimee was frantically looking for without answering her friend’s question.

“You know, this is getting old. Come on, I’m living vicariously through you. I never have time for smoking hot sex. I’m lucky I have time for brushing my teeth lately. Now with this,” as she waved the blue folder in the air. “It cannot be good. Why else would a building inspector come out…unannounced…on a Sunday?” Aimee grunted, as she tried to straighten up her desk from the havoc she caused looking for the file.

Lola felt guilty. Aimee was running herself ragged. She was at Aaron’s Place at least 14 hours a day, and when she wasn’t there, she was working, shopping or planning something to do with the center, if she didn’t have Boyd. She never said no to Lola when Lola needed to work, and Aimee was so flexible when it came to Lola’s sometimes changing shifts. Lola tried to help out as much as she could at Aaron’s Place, trying to take some of the stress off Aimee, but it never seemed enough.

“Oh will you stop. I know that look! Will you please stop feeling bad for me. I do what I do, because I want to! You and Boyd are like family to me, I wouldn’t help out with him if I didn’t want too. Besides, he is a walk in the park.” Leaning back in her chair, knowing the mess was just going to have to wait.

Boyd!?! A walk in the park? Were they talking about the same kid?

“Um, Aimee, I think you might have gotten the straightening iron a little too close to your skull, because you are speaking crazy talk.” Lola said as she made a circular motion with her finger next to her temple, as she took the seat across from Aimee’s desk.

“Very funny. No, I’m serious. Boyd is an angel for me. He never talks back or gives me a hard time. He saves that all for you, Sweetie. Maybe if you lightened up on him a bit, he wouldn’t grate on you so much.” Aimee cringed, regretting her words the instant they were out.

“Really, Aimee? Why don’t you tell me how you really feel.” Lola snapped. She was happy that Boyd was angelic for Aimee, after all he was with her more often than Lola wanted, but still, Lola thinks Aimee might be looking through rose colored glasses toward her brother. “Look, Aimee, you know I would be sunk without you, but let me be concerned about Boyd, okay?”

The friends didn’t speak any more about Boyd. With file in hand, they walked outside to where Jerry, Wes, S&D’s construction supervisor, and the building inspector stood. Lola kept back as the group answered questions and discussed code details as well as the updated plan modifications.

The group was now off to the almost finished aquatic building. Wes looked over the much shorter man’s head across from him, and winked at Lola. She winked back and nodded with her head for him to join the group. As she watched them head off in the direction of the site, Lola turned on her heels and headed back into the center. She found Boyd and the others having a four on three football game on one of the massive screens. Lola melted into one of the recliners and watched the realistic looking players, play a good game. She watched as Boyd’s profile showed enjoyment and excitement at the screen. Perhaps it was because his team was winning, or because he didn’t know she was there, or maybe because the game platform showed them to be playing on the field at Gillette Stadium, who knew. She watch for several minutes before Boyd was aware of her presence.

Turning from his friends, “Hey Lola. Did you have sex with Wes last night?” Boyd asked. With hoots and hollers from his fellow gamers.

Before Lola could fade into the fabric of her recliner, Wes picked that time to go looking for Lola. “Uh, well that was bad timing on my part.” Wes stated with a small smile and a tinge of red to his cheeks.

Running over and grabbing on to Wes’ wrist, he pulled. “Hey, Wes. Are you here to play video games? Move over KP, let Wes sit down. Everyone, this is Wes. He’s my friend.”

“Hey, Boyd, my man. How’s it going?” allowing the teen to pull him.

“Good. I’ve already beat all my friends on the newest Madden. Want to play?” Boyd asked as he pulled Wes toward the group.

“Wish I could, but I actually have to head out to the equestrian site. Thought Lola would want to join me.” He said, as he ruffled Boyd’s dark head, and looked toward Lola.

“Can I come?” Boyd asked Wes, but then looked toward his sister.

Lola was just about to respond for him to remain, when Wes responded with, “Absolutely. Come on.”

With a group of boys that now wanted to join in on the jaunt, Lola found herself saying , “Guys, Boyd will be right back, why don’t you wait here.”

The trio walked out of the center, into the sunlight. Wes and Boyd were talking about what kind of things Boyd has seen here at the center as far as the different construction vehicles and such, and Wes told him what each piece of equipment did. Lola found herself following behind, walking in silence, watching as the pair in front of her conversed. Wes was so patient with Boyd’s endless questions. Boyd, through his excitement, stuttered, yet Wes patiently waited until Boyd asked his question, and then answered in kind. He really was a good guy. It must have been horrible to lose his brother. Lola hasn’t asked him about Christopher at all, unsure if he would want to talk about him. Then Lola’s eye changed from the tall gorgeous man to the smaller one, that she considered just as gorgeous.

“Look Lola, the building is done. Look at all the windows!” Boyd said, as he abandoned his partner and ran toward the building.

“Boyd! Don’t go near there.”

“He’s fine Lola. Look, the crew is showing him around.” Wes said, as one of the S&D construction workers gave Boyd a hard hat and took him on a tour.

“Look, I get it, you want to be nice, but they don’t need to be bothered with him, they have work to do.”

“Will you relax. He’s fine,” as he pulled Lola toward his chest. He could feel her rigidness and he didn’t like it. He began to rub small circles on her lower back, slowly allowing his long fingers to extend downward, touching her fabulous ass. “I promise, he’s fine. Now, I believe it is time to pay the toll.” He leaned down and claimed a quick kiss before breaking and saying, “Speaking of Boyd, you never answered me this morning. May I take him riding?”

Being close to Wes like this, she couldn’t hold on to her annoyance with him. Her body betrayed her and gave into the feelings only he could cause, and currently was. Already her nipples were tightening and her core was humming with arousal, as his lower half was upturning into her belly. She tilted her head upward for a kiss and was rewarded with one. She didn’t oppose when he deepened the kiss, making it completely inappropriate for being in the wide open in front of a crew of at least thirty construction workers. They were interrupted by the buzzing of Lola’s phone.

“Excuse me.” She said as she answered her phone.

Wes watched as Lola spoke quietly on her phone saying, “Let me see what I can do. I’ll call you back.”

“Everything alright?” He asked, looking at her deep in thought expression.

“Yeah. That was Jeff, he needs to stay home with Kara. Nancy has been admitted to the hospital with a kidney infection and a couple of stones. He wanted to know if I’d cover his next couple of shifts.”
Oh how the money would come in handy
. The holidays were coming and Boyd really wanted a tablet like his friends.

“More shifts is more money…so why the long face?” Wes asked, as he tucked her flyaway hair behind her ear. Boyd rejoined them, still wearing the hard hat.

“Well, I have to make sure I have someone to watch Boyd. I know Aimee is tied up with these new issues and she has enough on her plate.

“I can stay by myself, I’m not a baby.” Boyd interjected, with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Boyd, we’ve talked about this. Not now, you can’t.”

“Why? My friends get to stay home without a grownup. You are just being mean.”

Wes wondered why Lola was so adamant about Boyd not being alone. But figured now was not the time to ask. Boyd’s constant tantrums toward his sister, were really getting on his nerves. Boyd reminded him so much of Christopher. He would throw a fit, knowing it would get him his way because his family couldn’t stand to discipline him. Rather than step on Lola’s toes, he opted for, “Look, if it’s alright with your sister, why don’t I pick you up after school tomorrow and we go see Blossom.”