Three of Diamonds (Hamden Series) (31 page)

“Okay woman, now you are just insulting me!” Wes exclaimed half joking and half serious.

“Gee, I wouldn’t want to do that. The mighty Adonis.”

Hearing her call him that, made his lightheartedness and humor vanish. He wondered if she knew the blood in his veins turned to ice.

“I’m sorry. Stupid of me.”

They sat there in silence for a moment, before he put his hand around the back of her neck, and squeezed gently. “My fault. Just not used to it being brought up in casual conversation when I’m not at Olympus. My apologies.”

Lola just nodded her head. She didn’t know what else to say, so she took a small bite of pretzel.

A few quiet moments went by, until Wes broke the silence, “Really, you don’t mind me taking him with me?”

“No. You’ve gone above and beyond with him this week, and I know he would love it. He has wanted to go for a long time,” Toying with the pretzel that she no longer had any appetite for, she squeezed tighter on the soft dough in response to her feeling she let Boyd down. “I just never could take him. Not from lack of trying. But if you feel he would be too much trouble, it’s fine, he doesn’t need to know you changed your mind.”

“He’s no trouble. Thank you, this means a lot to me.”

“Well, I’m not doing it for you, I’m doing it for him.” Lola watched as Boyd continued to play with the dog. “Thank you for offering to take him. He doesn’t get a lot of invitations such as this outside from Aaron’s Place.”

Wes twirled that around in his head before asking, “So, what are you going to do with the day tomorrow? You usually have Sunday’s off.”

“I don’t know, I’ll probably go to Aaron’s Place. There are always kids there who would love some one-on-one interaction. But the idea of truly being by myself has its merit too. Honestly, it has been so long since I have had a whole day to myself. Who knows, maybe I’ll call Jeff and just tell him to take another day home with Nancy and Kara, and work.

Wes listened at her indecisiveness and came up with a suggestion. “Well, I have an idea if you are willing to hear me out.” When she turned to him with curiosity etched on her face, he leaned in close and said, “We will be leaving early tomorrow morning, why don’t you and Boyd spend the night at my place. You can sleep in, then take a long bath or do whatever you want. I kind of like the idea of knowing you are there when I leave. Maybe it will be the best of both worlds and you will be there when I come back, too. I’ll just leave you the key.

Whoa!
Lola was speechless.

“Look, with the key you can come and go as you wish. No label, no stigma, just a choice for you.”

She chewed on the idea for a few moments, and thoughts of his incredible bathroom with gigantic whirlpool tub called to her. But what would this mean? “Really? Are you sure, you trust me?”

“Are you going to steal anything?” he asked quickly.

“No! Of course not.” giving his arm a gentle push.

“Then what’s the problem?” he winked in response to her adamant answer.

The problem was she wasn’t used to being indebted like this to someone. And that is exactly how she felt, like she couldn’t ever repay him for everything he has done for Boyd. Not to mention herself too. It hurt her to think that this sex between them was probably quite run of the mill for him, but for her, it goes beyond anything she imagined and surpasses her wildest expectations. She was afraid she, herself, was becoming a sex fiend.

“Don’t you have standing…plans for tonight?” She asked quietly, afraid to make eye contact.

She missed nothing. He didn’t know if it was a blessing or a curse. “They can be changed easily enough.”

Now, what the hell did that mean?

Feeling Boyd was neutral territory and more safe, she answered, “”Well you know, Boyd, is going to go nuts over the notion of staying at your place. Are you sure? I can just drive him to you tomorrow morning or directly to Seth’s house.

“No way, I want you in my bed. Besides, you can maybe demonstrate how you feel over the Patriot’s defensive line again. I remember something about panties dropping,” he said huskily, as he nibbled on her earlobe.

Feeling his tongue on her lobe made her body begin to sing. Hoping she was having at least a small amount of the same effect on him, she answered in a whisper “There is something about defending the red zone that makes me wet.”

“Wet for me, remember. To be continued,” Wes finished as Boyd bound toward them.

“Did you see me with Sadie? Can we get a dog?” Boyd asked, grabbing for Lola’s pretzel.

Lola choked on her pretzel as she cringed at the thought of a dog.

“Dogs are fun, Boyd, but a lot of work. I, myself, have been thinking of getting one. But, I’m not home enough to take care of it.”

“I could take care of it for you. Did you see me with Sadie? She loved me. I could walk her and feed her and play with her.”

“Way to go, Slick. Nice can of worms you just opened.” Lola said, enjoying Wes being put on the spot by Boyd.

After many more promises of perfect care, Wes laughed, put his hands up and said he surrendered. “Look, let’s put the dog on the back burner for now, okay? I have something else to tell you. Because of my constant pleading and overall nuisance I made of myself, Lola has granted you passage to go to the Pats game with me tomorrow. What do you think of that?”

“REALLY!?!” Boyd screamed, as he tackled Wes who looked thankful he was sitting down. “Don’t be thanking me, she said you could go.”

“But only because you kept bugging her.”

Casting her eyes downward, his lack of confidence hurt. She wanted the credit for him going, but she wasn’t going to spoil Boyd’s good news.

“That was bad of me. I, honestly, didn’t mention anything about it. She thinks you deserve to go, so she is making it happen. As easy as that. She is the one that deserves your appreciation.”

“Really?” Boyd looked from his idol to his sister, still not believing the words.

“Not only that, but you and me buddy are going to hold down the fort while she is working…at my place.”

“What if I fall asleep?”

“Not a problem, you both are staying the night there. I’ll come by and pick you up before Lola leaves for work. I just have some personal stuff to do.”

“I get to stay at your place? Really Lola? Oh this is so awesome!” Boyd screamed as he hugged his sister tightly.

Smiling and laughing at his strength and clumsiness, she did say, “There are rules, Buddy-Boyd. You will be respectful, your regular bedtime rules apply and you will not go nuts. Capesh?”

“Capesh! Oh this is great. I can’t wait to call KP.”

Just for good measure he hugged his sister again. She would take his hug and his kindness any day of the week.

Gitta hated to put the picture away. It had become such a part of her daily fantasies and nightly realities; she couldn’t be caught with it. It was not the employee profile shot, but rather the one of Ms. Nash’s interview. Gitta was grateful for the camera feed all throughout Olympus. It helped her stay ahead of any unexpected visitors; such as the one she was about to receive. She heard the footsteps coming, she grimaced before putting the look of pleasure and happiness on her face, as she put the photo safely in her bottom drawer.

“Hey, Gitta. I need a file.” He asked.

“Of course. Is everything alright? Have my records caused you to question something?” She asked curiously but secretly loathing the man’s audacity. “Is there a file in particular?”

“Lola Nash.”

Interesting!
What could he want with her file?

“Here you go. Anything I can help you with, Wes?”

“No. Just something I need to do myself.” He said shortly, before finishing, “I’m taking the file, I will return it in a few days.”

“Of course.”
Very Interesting.

When he left, Gitta waited a few moments before picking up her phone and sending the text,

Interesting development. Meet me at the usual to discuss.

When her phone buzzed back a moment later with a confirmation and time, Gitta could not help but smile and think that this might be just what someone would need to knock Adonis off the mountain.

“You seem awfully happy tonight, Lola. Anything you feel like sharing?” Hank asked as he watched his favorite bartender, and friend, bounce around with an extra spring in her step.

“What are you saying? That I’m not a usually happy person?” sashaying her hips to the music, as she blended the order of frozen daiquiris.

“Oh, you’re happy enough, if you consider a lioness in heat happy.” He answered, trying to hide his smile behind his beer.

The “oohhhs” rumbled from around the bar, and everyone watched as Lola stalked toward Hank.

Knowing everyone was listening for her reply, she made sure she said loud enough, “You do know what a lioness demands when she is in heat, don’t you?” she leaned toward Hank, crouching down and low as a lioness would do to hunt. “She insists on being mated with, every fifteen to thirty minutes for four days!” She pounced half way over the bar, effectively causing him to lean back and fall off the stool. Hank fumbled to right himself back on the seat. Once positioned, she finished with her play, “so I will take your description as a promise, I do hope you are UP for the challenge.” Lola stood on a crate, and leaned over kissing Hank on the center of his forehead with a loud smacking pucker.

As the night went on more sarcasm was delivered, as well as sexual innuendos and many laughs. Lola loved her job. But she couldn’t help but wonder what Wes and Boyd were doing; if Boyd was behaving, and if Wes was regretting his offer for them to stay, or, if he had anything planned for them tonight. Thank goodness Boyd slept like a rock, Lola would be horrified if he caught her and Wes going at it.
Get a grip!
You still have a few hours before last call. You keep thinking about Wes and his bedroom and all that you’ve done, you are going to need a change of pants.

“Hey, Lola, a guy over there wanted you to have this.” Mary said as she passed a folded piece of paper to her.

Lola took the piece of paper and read the words. Her hands shook as comprehension dawned.

“Mary, who gave this to you?” Lola asked, knowing the color had drained from her face, as she scanned the bar.

“The guy over there, in the…oh, he must of left. Is everything alright?”

Lola looked back down at the note, rereading the words.

YOUR TITS LOOK NICE PUSHED UP AGAINST A WINDOW

“Uh?” trying to shake both the vivid memories of her up against the window and the thought of someone actually seeing her. “Oh...yeah, everything’s fine,” as she quickly crumbled up the note, threw it in the trash and went back to mixing drinks.

Lola tried to put the note out of her mind, but she just couldn’t. Someone knew. Someone saw. She tried to act normally, interacting with the regulars and filling table orders, but she just wasn’t herself.

After last call, inventory, and the till counted, Lola was eager to leave. She felt herself looking around making sure no one was in the parking lot waiting for her or would jump out at her. When she reached her jeep, she quickly got in and locked the door before pulling out. Feeling completely paranoid, she kept looking in her rearview mirror. When she was sure no one was following her, she headed off toward Wes’ place. As she pulled into the visitor parking, she looked up at the massive condo complex to the top floor. Looking up from her car, all she could see was his office and kitchen. Lola tried stretching her neck more toward the passenger seat trying to see the great room or his bedroom, but still nothing. She remembered looking at the houses in the distance and on goings of far off life, concentrating on the blinking of the lights. She is sure no one could see what they were doing, and in such detail To ensure herself, she made a mental note to walk around the building tomorrow, in the daylight. All she wanted right now, was to be inside, safely with Wes.

As she rode up the elevator she considered telling him about the note, but then decided against it.
How would he react?
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she could see fear in her own face. The knowledge that someone knew what they had done, like she was a whore and her pleasure was for a price. Embarrassment and dread played across her face. Quickly followed by anger.
What if he knows who it is?
The bell chimed announcing her arrival on his floor. She found herself reluctant to step into the hall. She drove here with intent of needing to be safe, now that she was here, perhaps her original thought was wrong...or was it?