Death Knows My Name (Memory Keepers) (10 page)

My arm was yanked and my ass was off the seat as I was hauled to my feet. Michael’s eyes widened in shocked protest. I tried to meet his gaze but it was trained at the person over my shoulder. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. Eric.

Chapter 10

“What the hell are you doing, Eric?”

“Shut up, Mayne.” His eyes were still the gentler of the colors that his eyes could be, but the look on his face was barely contained ferocity that told me not to push it.

Michael was now on his feet, his jaw tight and fists balled. “Dude, let her go.”

“Sit. Down.” Eric spoke slowly, barely holding on to his composure.

“It’s okay, Michael.” I was careful not to use any endearing terms or anything that might seem too familiar between us that would set this beast off. “He won’t hurt me.”

I let Eric lead me off, away from the eyes openly gawking at the scene we had caused. I prayed no brave soul tried to play hero.

When we were a safe distance away, I shrugged him off dramatically as I boiled over with too many emotions. The one that was winning was anger. “I don’t appreciate this at
all
! Being manhandled and told to shut up, Eric, what the hell is wrong with you?”

“Then you should learn when it’s best not to speak.” His breath was shaky as ran his hand through his hair. “Shit. I’m Sorry. I was just at the end of my rope. That expression you made, it— Look, I am sorry. Did I hurt you?” He eyed me with concern.

“I’m fine.”

“You are mad.”

“You think? You went caveman on me!”

“I’m sorry, just promise to never make that face, or those sounds for that matter, in front of another man from now on if you want that man to continue taking breath in this life.”

I felt my jaw drop open, appalled. “You wouldn’t call him for your jealousy!”

“No. But the way he was looking at you, and what he was thinking, I would kick his human ass, and due to his injuries from the ass kicking, I would have to show him mercy by calling him.” His eyes softened as I fought a chuckle.

My heart ached. Eric hadn’t abandoned me as I had come to believe.

“Eric, I . . .” What could I say?
I love you. I miss you. I want you
. Nothing had changed. Those words wouldn’t make anything better. Knowing that we both still cared and always would made it all worse.

Eric closed the gap between us, his eyes hungry. Desire coursed through me like an electrical current.

“Mayne, please give—”

“I need to go.” I placed my hand on his chest and backed him up. “I should go.” I was telling myself more than I was him.

“Then go.”

His hurt spiked through me but I couldn’t stop. Not when it would risk his life. I turned, peeking down at my watch. Damn it, I was late. I swung around one last time to see Eric but he was already gone.

I returned from my break to a bunch of scowling faces. I tried to ignore them until I saw Devon’s.

Shit. I don’t need this, too.

“The office. Now.”

My co-workers didn’t even try to hide their delight as Devon barked the order. A part of me, a huge one, wanted to stick my tongue out at them or flip them the bird. Instead, I obediently stalked after him.

“I am so sorry I was late,” I said as soon as the door was closed. “This has been a horrible time for me and, wait, no. I won’t give any excuses. I was late and I am sorry. Won’t happen again.”

“Bullshit. You are always late. I can’t keep taking it easier on you because we are close. My other employees are starting to notice.”

“Oh God. Are you firing me?” Tears welled up in my eyes. This day kept getting better and better.

“What good would that do? I’d still just end up giving you money to pay your bills.” He folded himself into his desk chair. “Besides, this place is half yours, too.”

“Oh yeah, right. I offered to sign it all over to you. You do all the work here not me same with the bar.”

“I told you no. Drop it.” He took a deep breath. “Please just stop being late all the time. It makes me look soft.”

“I will try. I promise.” I covered my face as I asked my next question. “Um, I know I was late but can I make one phone call before I get back to work, please?”

Devon threw up his hands. “Let me guess, you want to use my office and privacy.”

“Please?”

After he left, grumbling the entire way out, I called Tammy. I tried to set a date for drinks at State of Mine but she was having none of that. I couldn’t tell if she was anxious to hear about my lunch with Michael or what but she said she’d stop by during her lunch at two. That meant I was going to have to beg Devon for another break. I was such a loser and totally taking advantage of our bond.

I missed the worst of the lunch rush, so I wasn’t really needed at the counter. After a bit of pretending to be a good employee, I headed back to the office to check if Devon needed anything. I may have been kissing up but only just a little.

“Hey, boss, need a break?” I poked my head into his office.

Devon frowned slightly, out of habit of hearing the boss word no doubt. “Don’t call me that. Are you offering to cover me?” he asked me in exaggerated shock.

“Yes, sir, I am, in fact, doing just that.”

“I like this new Mayne. Is Mr. Sex-capades from the other night responsible for this turn around?”

I debated if I should tell him that Eric was no longer an issue. But wasn’t he? Today had proven that he hadn’t completely walked away like I’d thought. Besides, I was ecstatic that he hadn’t followed my request to the letter. I loved knowing that he had never really left me. This was all too difficult to explain to Devon.

I sighed. “I guess you can say that. He helped me see the error in my logic and the way I responded by turning into a cave person.”

He spread his hands in the universal ‘What the fuck?’ gesture. “Haven’t I been pointing this out for years? What, my words aren’t worth shit?”

I laughed. “Nope, because what do you know? Besides, this guy and I aren’t technically involved anymore.” I was going to end it at that but a previous thought hit me. “And we never had sex-capades, only oral.”

“I think you should be told you have boundary issues. That was too much information.”

“No. Too much information would be telling you the girth.” I started to hold up my hands to indicate the substantial size.

“Ah!” Devon shouted as he jumped from his chair and flew out the door. “I don’t care!”

I sat at his desk and went over the paperwork he had already started. Once I caught up on what he had already done, I continued where he left off. I let myself get absorbed in the task.

There was no Eric, no Valience, Tammy, or Michael. It was just me and this stack of papers. I was just about finished up with what was left of Devon’s work when he poked his head in.

“Keep your hands where they are and don’t move them at all.”

I looked up, grinning. “I promise to behave myself. See, I even did the rest of your paperwork.” I held up a sheet of paper like a truce flag.

“You rock! I knew I kept you around for a reason. Oh yeah. I came to tell you there is a smokin’ hot little redhead here looking for you.”

“Oh wow, is it two o’clock already?” I asked, glimpsing at the clock as I jumped to my feet.

“Who is she? She’s cute. You know I love redheads.”

I nodded. “Yup. The rumor is she’s great in bed, too.”

He rolled his eyes. “Let me guess who started that rumor.”

I grinned. “It’s good for her ego and rep. It even has you more curious. I can see it in your naughty, little gleaming eyes. You want to find out for yourself if there is any truth to my suspicion. I know how the mind works.”

Devon rolled his eyes again. “Says the girl who dropped out of college the first week.”

“Screw you. Don’t be an asshole, or I won’t introduce you to my sex pixie friend out there.”

I bumped past him as I walked out the door. He followed close behind me.

Tammy was easy to spot mixed in with the other customers. I waved at her when we spotted each other and Devon followed me over to the corner table.

“Hey, Tammy, this is my boss, Devon,” I told Tammy. I turned to face Devon. “This is Tammy.”

Devon shook his head at Tammy. “I am more than her boss. Mayne is just being Mayne.”

He reached his hand out and shook hers. “Mayne was just telling me about your sexual reputation.” He winked at her.

Tammy’s face reddened and she eyed me in horror.

“He’s kidding!” I assured her. I faced Devon. “Tell her.”

“I am kidding. She just told me the rumor she started.” He smiled at her.

He was good. I saw her turning to mush in his hands.

“Okay, Devon, you can let her go now and return to work.” I frowned at him and mouthed,
What are you doing?
at him.

He shrugged and dropped her hand. Tammy grew uncharacteristically quiet. Devon must be making her nervous. A lot of girls found his creamy toffee skin, deep black hair, and sea-green eyes that seemed to be as fluid as water disarming. He and Dante looked a lot alike actually. They were both over six feet, had the same swimming, liquid eyes that looked at you as if you were truly the only one they could see without having to try that hard. With Dante, I knew it was true. Not only did his eyes tell me, but his posture, words, and actions told me. He was completely mine, and I missed him. I felt like I was betraying Eric the way my heart ached.

I gulped, swallowing the pain. Devon watched me from the side of his eye as he turned his body slightly toward me, blocking me from the rest of the room. He leaned forward to whisper in my ear.

“You okay?”

I nodded. “I just realized that you and Dante look as if you two could have been twins.”

“Yeah, me being the hot one, right?”

I laughed and pushed him. “Go.”

When Devon walked away, he rewarded Tammy with one last soul-snatching grin.

I sat down. “Don’t even think about it. He is evil. He never settles for just one.”

She waved my warning away. “I didn’t come here for your hottie boss. I spoke to Michael. He called me shortly after your lunch, which was interrupted. You want to tell me about this tatted-up bad boy who accosted you at Marigold’s today?”

I sighed. “It wasn’t as bad as it looked. That was the ‘not so much involved anymore’ guy.”

“You didn’t tell me he was badass! Girl, face tattoos?” She was doing her southern drawling like crazy.

“I’m sure Michael made it sound worse than it actually was.” I brushed it off.

“What he said was some crazy tattooed face man roughed you up then dragged you off while you let him, all the while looking terrified.”

“I was not terrified. He didn’t rough me up, nor is he crazy. He did drag me away, and I did let him. He was extremely jealous and I didn’t want to give Michael any time to say something Michael-like.”

“Is this guy stalking you?”

“Yes. He was, but not so much now.” From the look on her face, she was horrified. “No, I can’t explain it. But, Tammy, seeing him today made me realize how much I want him back.”

“Even if he says he went to counseling, most would advise you against returning to your abuser.”

“Tammy, Eric has never beaten me and he never really stalked me.” Okay,
technically
he had, but the rules were different for him. But how could I explain this? I couldn’t. So I just left it alone.

“Mayne—”

“Tammy, just leave it. I am not going to defend it. What I do is my choice. I am not asking for opinions or advice on how I live my life.”

“I was just trying to help. You’re my friend and I’m concerned. I don’t like men grabbing on women and dragging them like they are their property. It’s not right. But you’re right, it’s your life.” She leaned back against the chair and huffed, pouting.

She was wrong, though. A part of me wanted to deny it, but I actually was his property and that’s how I wanted it. I wanted him to own every piece of me. I also wanted every piece of him. I wanted to devour him, every inch of him in my possession.

“So, Sex Goddess, Michael has been all over you, right?” I said, trying to cheer her up.

“He has. What the heck did you tell that boy I could do?”

“I just educated him about the sexual prowess of those you would least expect. He saw my point. And if you disappointed I promised him a threesome with us.”

“What!” she shouted, drawing the attention of those around us.

“He knew I was kidding.” I shrugged like, ‘what’s the big deal?’

“I have no idea what to say to you.”

“Just say you love me and let me get back to work, babe.”

We made plans to meet up the following night, she waved goodbye, and I returned to work. The rest of the day inked by, but it gave me time to try and figure out how to get Eric back. I know I was the one who decided we had to end it. Today had done a lot for me. Mostly it showed me that I had been fooling myself. I couldn’t live without Eric. Not for the rest of my life and not even for the rest of the day.

I knew what I had to do. Once I decided it seemed so obvious.

I had to die.