Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Ray glaring at Brody. “Well isn't that nice of him?” Ray huffed.
“Cass, I have to run, thanks for the key, I'll see you tonight. Enjoy your lunch,” he winked and headed back out front, the little bells jingling as he left. I couldn't help but smile to myself as I watched him walk out of the kitchen.,
“What the fuck was he doing here, Cass? What key?” Ray demanded, looking after him. I closed my eyes at the sound of the anger in his voice.
“Calm down, he just needs a place to stay, he just moved here. I won't have him stay at the fire station over the holidays.”
“Don't tell me to calm down. Where is he staying, Cass?”
I bit my bottom lip. I didn't think Ray was a jealous guy, but maybe I had misjudged.
“Cass? I asked you a question.”
“He's staying at my place. I do have a spare room sitting empty.”
“The fuck he is!” Ray answered, raising his voice.
“Keep your voice down, May is outside.”
“I don't give a fuck who is out in the store. Bottom line, you're not going to share your place with him.”
This was not how I expected the conversation to go.
“Well, I am, Ray, he's a friend, and that is exactly what I plan to do.” I had to put a stop to this before Ray continued to cause a scene. The last thing I wanted was to argue with him in front of my customers. “Now, what did you stop in for?” I glared at him.
“I came to see if you wanted to come by tonight for a couple of drinks, but I think I've already got my answer.”
I was so behind on my deadline, I needed to get work done, but judging from how he had reacted about Brody, I didn't dare tell him no. “I will come by for one drink. I'll see you around seven.”
Ray stormed out the back-door minutes later. I was upset, I didn't like him telling me what I could or couldn’t do. Once I gathered myself, I took my soup back out front. May was sitting in the armchair in the front of the store, reading through the beginning of a new Danielle Steel book.
“Oh dear, I'm trying to remember if I have read this one,” she mumbled to herself.
“I'm pretty sure you haven't read that one,” I called over to her.
“Well, dear, she has so many, it's so hard to keep up.”
“It’s brand new, May, it just came out this week,” I said, giggling to myself. While May continued to look at the pile of books she had set on the small table beside her, I took a sip of my hot soup and started writing again.
* * *
I arrivedat Ray's alittle after six-thirty. I wanted to get this drink over with, so I could get home. It had been an extremely busy day. I still had work to do tonight, and I wanted to make sure that Brody felt at home and comfortable.
Ray had been so angry when he had left the store, and since I hadn’t heard from him the rest of the afternoon, I wasn't sure what mood I was going to find him in.
By seven thirty, he was pouring me a third drink even though I told him I didn't want anymore. He was onto his fifth or sixth, I had lost count. While he was busy, I stepped into the bathroom and pulled out my cell phone. I typed a quick text to Brody, letting him know I would be home in the next hour. Almost instantly my phone pinged with a message.
Brody: Thanks for letting me know. make sure you come hungry, I'm making dinner
I smiled and shoved the phone back into my pocket, flushed the toilet, and headed back out into the living room. I hated it when Ray drank heavily, especially when he was angry. He came up behind me as soon as I stepped into the living room and wrapped his arm around me, holding my drink out in front of me. I took the drink from his hand and went to set it down, but instead, he wrapped his arm around my waist and started kissing the side of my neck.
“Put the drink down,” he purred. I set the drink on the table and went to turn around to face him, but he held me where I was, continuing to kiss and suck on my neck. I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the smell of alcohol on his breath. I was having a hard time feeling anything but violated.
His hand ran down the flat of my stomach to the button on my jeans. With one hand, he opened the button and shoved his large hand inside my panties.
“Ray, please.” I grabbed his wrist to stop him.
“Please what? Why are you stopping me? Is it so wrong I want to fuck you that I want to taste this sweet pussy?” He breathed into my ear and sucked my earlobe into his mouth. He slid his hand deeper into my pants, pulling me tighter against him so I could feel his erection digging into me.