She disconnected the call. She felt the frustration along with that bit of hurt ease its way into her heart. Desi had hurt her so badly. It had taken until just recently to start exploring the possibility of dating again.
What hurt the most about breaking up with Desi, besides finding him in bed with Celetia, was that she allowed him access to her desires. She trusted him. He’d betrayed her trust and now ruined her ability to give another man a chance. It didn’t help that Desi had her followed either.
That night after work with Colt they’d grabbed a nice dinner and discussed their new clients. They were bouncing ideas around, and then Desi showed up and made a scene. She shook her head. The embarrassment she felt knowing that her boss, her good friend Colt, knew she had an ex-boyfriend who stalked her was horrible. But then Colt stepped in. He protected her and got Desi to leave her alone and to give her space. Colt was so pissed off at her for not telling him how bad things had gotten.
But now Desi was starting to bother her again. She didn’t want to tell Colt. He would totally freak out. Desi had been away for a while on some business trip. Involved with a business she knew nothing about, because the man evaded her questions. He wanted to know everything about her, yet Desi wasn’t willing to share anything about himself. He had a cold, heartless look about him sometimes. It was like he would get lost in thought, or in another place, and then suddenly snap out of it.
His behavior had worsened, months after their casual dating. He became possessive, and she had that uneasy feeling in her gut each time he exerted a show of possession and ownership. She didn’t like it. For weeks, for months, she contemplated breaking things off with him, and then she didn’t have to. The son of a bitch cheated on her with that Brazilian goddess. The woman’s boobs were so fake and so big they looked distorted. Chastity’s were real. They were large, but not too large for her small frame.
Her phone rang again, and as she looked at the caller ID, she saw that it was Desi again.
She grabbed the phone and her purse, along with her clipboard, and headed out. Perhaps a night out in a club would be enlightening. Staying home, keeping the doors and windows locked, and listening for every strange noise, was getting old. If Desi kept this up, she would have to tell Colt, and maybe contact the police, for that order of protection.
* * * *
The Jewelry Box was crowded tonight. But now both Nash and Riker were seeing it through different eyes.
“She said meat market. Does it really look like a fucking meat market in here? Does she have any idea how much money we spent on those booths with the privacy curtains?” Riker asked.
“I think that was her point. Those curtained booths turned into private sex booths, and we both know it.”
“Shit, Nash, I fucking know that. Damn, I’ve used those booths. Not for sex of course. Just to fool around a little. Loosen up the ladies.”
“You’re an ass.”
Riker laughed. He reached for a shot that the bartender placed on the bar. Riker swallowed it quickly, and then placed the empty glass back down.
They both turned toward the doorway. Nash’s chest tightened.
The woman in question entered the room. Chastity was wearing a sophisticated-looking dress that showed off her every curve, yet enticed the eyes with just a smidgen of cleavage from what appeared to be one hell of a rack. Nash immediately noticed the men checking her out, and damn did he just feel a burst of protectiveness and possessiveness come over him.
“She stands out like I don’t know what,” Riker whispered.
“Like a woman with class?” Nash replied.
“Not a side a beef?” Riker asked sarcastically.
Just as she spotted them, she placed her hand over her heart as if surprised to see them standing there, watching her. But before she could make her way toward them, one of the many men moving in for a closer look took her hand and spun her gently toward him.
They couldn’t hear what the guy said, and that didn’t matter, because Riker and Nash were in front of the guy in a flash.
“Take a hike. She’s with us,” Riker stated, and the small crowd dispersed.
“You okay, Chastity?” Nash asked her.
“Yes,” she stated then turned away from him. “So, is this the typical crowd for a Friday night?”
“Pretty much,” Nash replied.
“Well, I’ll assume that you’ve told your staff about Colt and I coming here tonight. Do we have their full cooperation?”
“Yes,” Riker stated this time.
Nash stepped a little closer to her as he led her toward the bar area. He inhaled her perfume. Once again, taken by the soft, light scent. It was very appealing. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a half-up, half-down style that accentuated her features. She had a lovely jaw that led to plump, sexy lips. When she poked out her tongue to lick the lower one, he imagined tasting her and drawing in that tongue to his own mouth. Shocked at what was an instant desire for the woman, Nash cleared his throat then ran a hand through his hair. He turned to look around the room. He needed to stay clear of her, and of these sudden emotions. No woman drew him away from his thoughts of Maggie or how he failed her. He couldn’t get involved with another woman, even if he wanted to. He couldn’t offer her protection. He had failed as a man, a lover, and a federal agent.
“What are those?” she asked with a clipboard in hand and a pen in the other. Her expression was more serious now. Her nose was scrunched up and she looked cute. That was so crazy. He never liked cute before. Maggie wasn’t cute. Maggie had been a seductress.
Just then, as Nash looked toward the direction she was pointing, he spotted the booths. The curtain opened, and a woman was re-buttoning her blouse, her lipstick smeared on her face, and her skirt pushed up to her waist still.