Notes from the author:
Nope, no sex. Not even J&K sex. All plot. Trust me people when I say that I want Curt and Beth to hook up. Very. Badly. But the story's gonna go how it's gonna go. Nothing worse than a rushed fucking story. I won't be a party to it. LOL. Much love from your favorite stubborn fucked-up-erotica author.
--J
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Chapter 9
The past evening had been hell. Torturing myself over our new "truce" and what it meant about how forward I'd been. How stupid and reckless. But there was also Bethany's mind-blowing admission that she felt the same.
She felt the same.
I understood her point about keeping things professional of course, but I couldn't help feeling the urge to make my case rather than run away like a dog with its tail between its legs.
I wanted to try and convince Bethany to let down her guard. I wanted to do what she had accused me of, and seduce her. I wanted to do it properly, and fully.
But it wouldn't do. She'd obviously made her decision, and our business transaction was more important to her. I respected her for it, even if my cock didn't give a rat's ass about respect.
I sat alone in my office, all the documents before me blurring into nothingness. I cared nothing for my work. I smirked at the brief notion that maybe I should retire. It's not as if I couldn't afford it, but it was early. Too early to fold.
I was shaken from my trance when Joe came storming into my office.
"Joe, what the hell?" I barked, annoyed by his interruption of my well-deserved brooding time.
He said nothing, but plopped himself into a chair before me, his expression puzzling. His hair was mussed and his tie was loose.
"Joe?" I prompted. Something was up.
"Kate's pregnant."
My jaw went slack, "Holy shit."
"Yeah," he sighed.
Several moments passed before I could figure out something to say.
"Well, are you happy about it?" I asked.
"Conflicted," he muttered. "For the most part, I'm thrilled. But a part of me is terrified."
"Terrified?"
"Yeah," he sighed again. "I need to protect them. Her, and the baby. It's no longer just about me."
"You have Randall," I offered.
"Yeah, but as big as Randall is, and as qualified, I'm still concerned for her safety."
"I get you," I nodded. "I guess when it's just us, safety is somewhat of a 'who gives a shit' level issue."
"Yeah."
"So," I prompted. "What's the plan?"
Releasing a deep breath, Joe answered, "We're getting married. Don't know when exactly. Soon. But I'm thinking I'll take her up to meet my parents after the case is done."
"Jesus Joe I never thought you'd settle down," I grinned, shaking my head in amusement.
"Makes two of us," he chuckled.
"And look, I'm sorry about what I said the other day. I was out of line. If Kate truly loves you, then I'm thrilled for you, and I hope things work out. You deserve to be happy."
"Thanks man," Joe smiled. "And don't worry about the other day. I figured you just had a bug up your ass."
And then, the look. Again.
Fuck.
"Speaking of which," Joe chided.
"Joe, leave it alone," I warned.
"Who is Bethany?"
Fuck.
"How did you know her name?" I growled.
"Oscar of course."
Our P.I. Of course.
"So you ran her plates," I shook my head. "I should have known better than to have her come to the office. I wasn't thinking."
"Yes, apparently," Joe smirked. "So, tell me. Who is she, this woman who so easily clouds your judgment?"
"She happens to be my decorator, wise ass. I was meeting her yesterday to look at couches. She's doing my whole house. Margot referred her to me when she saw what a shit hole I'm living in."
"I see," Joe mused. "So your erratic behavior as of late has nothing to do with, oh, a major infatuation with this girl? She's a good twenty years your junior as I understand."
"You're one to talk," I retorted.
"Touché," Joe smirked. "Hell, more power to you if you like her and can manage to charm her."
I didn't know what to say. I wanted to tell the truth. I wanted to get it off my chest how fucking smitten I was with Bethany—how much I wanted and desired her. How much I envied Joe his relationship with Kate. And while I refused to give it too much thought, I envied him for another reason now.
One far more troubling.
Kate was pregnant. Joe was going to be a father.
Why did I feel
envy
of all things?
"Did I say I liked her?" I laughed dismissively. "Well I guess I do. She's a great girl. Very talented and dedicated, and extremely professional. But no Joe, not in the way you're thinking. She's my decorator.
And
she's not my type."
"Your type?"
"She's far too young. Inexperienced, and so forth. Doesn't look like she could take more than a single lash before using her safe word, assuming she enjoys pain at all, which is doubtful."
"So you've clearly given it thought then," Joe smirked.
I glared at him, annoyed that he drew that much out of me. It was what he did, and what this case was riding on.
"Well that's rather disappointing," Joe sighed. "After your odd performance the other day, and yesterday for that matter, I thought for sure something was out of place. You never did tell me why you went home so early the other day. Care to enlighten me now?"
"No Joe, I would not care for that at all. Sometimes you just need to let things be."
"Curt," Joe sighed. "I always pegged myself the stubborn son of a bitch. The one to go down swingin. The last one in a crowd to show weakness. You, my friend, need to come clean. Not to me though. Come clean to yourself. Come clean to your demons, whatever they be."
"Wow Joe, if that isn't the most poetic horseshit you've ever dished out. Get a grip man. I'm fine. For fuck's sake just drop it."
"Fine," Joe grumbled before assuming his all-business posture.
"So Ruiz will not be testifying, but the case is going to trial."
"Well that's fucking great," I rolled my eyes. "There was no persuading him?"
"Believe me, if I could have. I told him it would only make things look worse if he were to avoid testifying, but Ruiz is holding firm. Says that's why he's paying us."
"Hell," I shook my head. "Well, it's not like the prosecution has any iron clad evidence. At least not that they've disclosed."
"They would disclose it if they had something. If anything, they're working on some sort of exploitation. We can overcome that."
"I know
you
can," I spared Joe a bit of ego-juice. "I guess we'll just have to see what happens. Work with what we've got. And if we end up burnt to a crisp at the bottom of a ravine when Ruiz finally goes to prison, then I guess that's just how it is."
"You joke. And a month ago I would have laughed. But I have a pregnant fiancée Curt, and don't have that luxury anymore," Joe frowned.
"Yeah, I get it. So what the hell do we do?"
