Rewriting the Rules (7 page)

“Yeah,” he slaps my shoulder. “Yeah, dude, you really are. On another note, Avery’s getting cuter and misses her Godfather.” He shows me a picture of my princess and I smile. Even though I don’t want kids and can’t image being called Dad, Avery is the closest to a daughter I’ll have.

“How’s Jane?”

“Good,” he smiles. “You know she asked about you the other day. Do you think you can give us a good deal with your workouts? She’s feeling depressed and can’t get rid of the last ten pounds. I tell her she’s beautiful the way she is, but she doesn’t listen to me.”

“No problem. Have her email me.” I don’t tell Carter I’ll do it for free. He doesn’t like anything given to him so I’ll make a deal with Jane. She’ll make me her famous chili once a week and I’ll help her out. To me, that’s a fair deal.

“Ladies, if you’re done chatting, we have a game to play,” Will calls out.

“So listen here,” Sal tells us. “I had this fine-ass honey last night. My damn, she did things to me I didn’t even know we could do. Three rounds my friends.” Sal puts up three fingers with a smirk on his face. “And she’s coming over tonight with another fine-ass honey. I’m in heaven.” He kisses his fingers and raises his hand in the air. “I’ve been taking this herb that’ll help me last all night.”

“A pill?” Will laughs.

“No,” Sal counters. “Not a pill, it’s a powder, you fucker. You mix it with hot tea and it’s supposed to help your endurance.”

Carter’s settled and has a great family, while Sal is Rochester’s biggest manwhore, and I make a mental note to keep Charlotte out of his hands. He has no shame and will sleep with anyone with a pussy.

I nod and order a few rounds of shots. I’m going to need vodka to get through tonight.

“How’s everything with Andrea,” Will asks.

“Broke up with her this morning.”

“Damn, so she’s free,” Sal shouts, raising his arms in the air, sporting the biggest grin on his face. “I know we’re best friends, but man . . . please let me tap that.”

“If you want chlamydia, be my guest.”

“What?” The guys start shouting out questions and I explain what happened and hear them groaning and holding their balls.

“Damn, that’s a shame,” Sal shakes his head.

“Fucking whore,” Will states. “You guys were always together. When the hell did she have time to cheat on you?”

“I didn’t go with her to the city during her last few shoots,” I shrug. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t give a shit and I’ve moved on. No point wondering about it.”

“Good man,” Carter tells me. “Plus you have other things to worry about.”

I quickly turn my face to his and have to calm myself down before I knock him out.

“What things,” Will asks.

“Nothing. Carter doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“Oh. Okay. Whatever. Let’s drink and play.”

After a few hours at the bar, I head out and get in my car needing to get home. When I walk in, I lock the door and head upstairs to my room. The smell of Charlotte hits my nose and I instantly think of her and immediately force her out.

She’s not mine and will never be mine.

Chapter 8

Charlotte

The next morning, Troy and I have breakfast outside as he fills me in more about his business. I love listening to him talk and see his light shine when he talks about his clients.

“I’m so proud of you, Troy.” Reaching out to touch his hand I see a brief smile on his face and then he retreats to the Troy I don’t like.

“Call Will.”

“I need a job as soon as possible,” I blurt out. “I’m avoiding Will because he gave up his life for me and made sure I got a good education and landed a good job,” I lower my voice. “Telling him I left Michigan, and my job, won’t make him happy. Sure, I left with good reasons, but he won’t see it that way. I can’t disappoint him.”

“I may be able to help you out with that,” Troy says and guides me inside his house. “My friend is looking for a spa manager and you majored in business with communications, right?” I nod, surprised he still remembered my major. “I’ll call him now and get you in to see him.”

“I know I can handle the spa world. It shouldn’t be too hard. I was a manager back in Michigan and I’m a faster learner too.”

“Will told me about your job so this should be a simple move for you.”

“You kept up with what was going on with me?”

I see him shrug and he doesn’t answer. “I think you’re going to rock the shit out of this position and he’s going to love having you.”

“Okay,” I blush. “Thank you.” Our faces are so close together. I want to feel his lips on mine. Not wanting to think, I lean in and kiss the corner of his mouth. Better than nothing. “Thank you again.” Slipping out of his embrace, I head upstairs and decide to take a nap, and well, relieve myself.

When I wake up from my nap it’s almost three in the afternoon. Slipping out of bed I make sure everything is packed in my suitcase and look around the bedroom. Part of me wants to beg Troy to let me stay with him. Part of me wants to show him how great we’d be together and I can help him around the house. If I live with him, it’ll give us a better chance to reconcile our differences and move on from the past. I hate knowing Troy doesn’t want me in his house. It doesn’t make sense. When we were younger he’d do anything for me. Now, it’s a complete twist.

A knock on the bedroom door grabs my attention. Troy walks in and hot damn. He’s wearing faded fitted jeans and a blue polo. The outfit suits him and hugs every delectable muscle. How can a simple outfit be this sexy?

As I study him with my eyes, I realize how much he’s changed. Before, he was sweet, tender, and never made me feel little. Now, it’s a different story. His body changed since I last saw him. His bulging muscles aren’t overly big, but enough that I want to lick his arms and fall asleep on him. I wonder how easily he’d be able to pick me up and fuck me against the wall.

Shit. I can’t think this! The man just broke up with his girlfriend and I just broke up with Shawn. I need to give this time. I need to make sure Will won’t kill me for leaving Michigan and focus on work. I will not be a rebound. If he wants me, he’ll have to tell me. Even though I want him, that doesn’t mean I’ll go for it. Part of me is scared he’ll reject me.

From looking at him, I see the intensity in his body and eyes. The way he’s looking at me with lust and desire, that doubt quickly goes away. I want to peel back his layers, and get to the center of who Troy Harding is and what he loves most. I used to know him, but things change. People change.

“Jason’s at the spa now. He said it’s cool if we stop in so you can meet him and fill out paperwork. We can get lunch after your meeting, and you need to see Will. I can’t let you hide from him.”

“Yes, sir.” His eyes darken, and shit, the ache and wetness come back in full force. He’s intimidating and controlling. I think I like this about him.

“Come, Charlotte.”

Oh, how I want to.

We get in his sleek silver BMW and head to Pittsford. The road we’re on is so busy right now and the traffic is ridiculous.

“I’m loving this weather!” I smile as the window rolls down. Turning off the AC, he looks at me and follows what I’m doing.

“Aren’t you scared the wind will mess up your hair?”

“It won’t be hard to fix my hair before we go into the spa. I love driving with the windows down,” I laugh and shake my head. “Wait, was Andrea a little high maintenance?”

He groans. “She’s the definition.”

I burst out laughing. Tears are coming down from my eyes. “Well . . . even though I can be girly, I still like the wind blowing through my hair.”

He doesn’t respond and focuses on driving. I look around and notice there are restaurants all over and quite a few businesses.

“What’s that?” I point at a plaza.

“Pittsford plaza. There’s a grocery store with a lot of other businesses.” Troy explains some of the places in the plaza and how big Wegmans is here in Rochester. “You’ll like Trader Joe’s too. All natural foods. On Sundays I shop at both places.”

“Oh, wow. Can’t wait.”

Troy makes a left hand turn into another plaza and I notice the sign of the spa. “We’re here. You ready?” Checking my hair in the mirror, I fluff it a little so I don’t look like a hot mess.

“How do I look?”

“Good,” he clears his throat. “Ready?” I nod and we walk out of the car and into the spa.

Walking in, two girls at the front desk stand up with smiles. The soft, classical music is soothing and I love the environment.

“Hi, how can I help you?” I look at her nametag.

“Hi, Megan. I’m here to see Jason. My name’s Charlotte.”

“Oh! It’s so good to meet you. He told us about you.” I watch her look at me and discreetly look at Troy. Both girls are blushing and I have to roll my eyes.

The door swings open and in walks a sexy guy with shoulder-length hair with broad shoulders, a little scruff on his face, and really nice brown eyes I’ve ever seen. His towering six-foot frame comes towards us and I have to swallow my tongue. Sweet lord, this is my boss.

“Hey, man,” he says to Troy and they shake hands. Turing his head to me, he gives me his panty-dropping smile. “Hey, I’m Jason.”

“Charlotte. Nice to meet you.”

“You too. Why don’t you guys come to the office and I’ll get you all set.”

We follow him into the office and Troy closes the door. I look around and see various awards. The spa was named in the ‘top one hundred best places to work’ and has reached one million dollars in sales back in 2013.

“Troy filled me in with your background and history. I trust him and as long as you’re okay with the position, we’ll talk more about the responsibilities and get the paperwork done.”

“No questions on my end right now. I’m sure I’ll have a few after you’re done explaining the position.”

“Well, just let me know. I have to go over this shit with you for HR. But I’m one of the owners. The other three you won’t see as much, so you’re going to mostly be working with me, unless we have our weekly meetings.”

“Sounds good.”

“As a manager I’ll need you to work every day and you’ll have Sunday off. Since you are salary, if you need to flex your time, that’s fine. The days I really need you here are Monday and Friday for meetings.” I nod my head and wait for him to explain more about the position. “The spa needs to stay at or around twenty-five percent with closing sales and retail. We exclusively sell certain products and you’ll learn all of this as you work. I can start you at forty-five thousand a year. Does that sound good?”

“Yes, it does.” I try to keep professional. Jason hands me the paperwork and I quickly fill it out and listen to their conversation about sports.

Snore.

Finishing the paperwork Jason goes over some of the responsibilities and tells me more about the spa. I like what I’m hearing and everything sounds good. It’s a membership-based spa, which I have never heard of, but it makes sense. Some massages cost well over two hundred dollars. With a membership, it’s only sixty dollars and the member gets a sixty-minute customized massage. And as a manager I get discounted massages. Score. I’m going to need one as soon as possible.

“Everything sounds really good, Jason. Thank you so much for this chance.”

“You’re welcome. I’m excited to have you. This team’s great, and the ladies will help you out.”

“Sounds awesome! I can’t wait.”

“Okay good. Get the training done at home and I’ll see you Monday morning.”

“Sounds good,” I smile and shake Jason’s hand. “Thanks again!”

Troy’s hand rests on the small part of my lower back above my ass as he leads me out of the office. I wave to the girls and see the frowns on their face when they see his hand on me. I know ladies, he’s hot and he’s mine.

I love his hand on me. It’s a simple touch that sends tingles down my body and I feel light. He guides me outside to his car and opens the door for me. Settling in and putting on my seatbelt, Troy gets in and starts the car.

“Time to see your brother.”

Internally I groan and swallow the lump in my throat. This is going to suck major balls.

Pulling into his house, my jaw drops. It’s a massive two-story colonial with several acres of land and three large white columns in the front of the house. It’s semi private where my big brother lives. He likes his privacy and the ability to be alone to think. Looking around I let out a sigh because after everything we’ve been through, he’s become such a great man.

When Troy parks the car, I see the front door open and standing on the porch is my handsome brother. Rushing out of the car, I run up the driveway and jump in his arms. Hugging him tightly, I rest my face against his chest. I fight back the tears and the overwhelming guilt for not spending more time with him.

“What the hell,” he says and puts me down. “How? What? You’re here,” he stammers.

“Yeah, I’m here. Hope it’s okay.”

“Of course it is. But, what’s going on?”

Before I can answer, Troy places his hand on the small of my back and my body shivers from his touch.

“Come inside.” He tilts his head to the side indicating for us to follow him.

The inside of the house is unbelievably gorgeous. The white porcelain tiles cover the foyer, and the winding stairs are partially covered with a rug. We follow him to the kitchen and everything looks brand new with hardwood floors, and hardwood cabinets.

“Wow, Will, this is beautiful,” I exclaim and look around seeing the island in the middle of the kitchen with bar stools surrounding the outside. I walk to the sliding glass door and look outside to see an in-ground pool and the land surrounding his property. Everything is wide and open. There’s a barn-style building towards the wooded area. “What do you have over there?”

“My gym,” he smirks and grabs water bottles from the fridge and passes them along to both of us. “I have my clients meet me here to work out and I give them their plans for the week.”

“Ah, gotcha.”

I look around his massive kitchen and walk around, hearing the whispering and ignoring what they’re talking about. My mind is spinning. I need to figure out what to tell Will or else I’ll fall apart and I don’t want him to see me when I do.