At the moment, nothing seemed more important.
Not even sleep.
CHAPTER 24
Ashton
Frustrated.
No other word could accurately describe how I felt on the drive home. There were so many things I had to tell Elena. The three months were almost up and I’d yet to ask her to stay. My plan had been to beat her home, make dinner, then tell her how I felt.
Then shit went downhill.
It started when the alcohol order for The Bluewater Grill didn’t come in and I spent the whole damn night trying to balance two bars of liquor between three restaurants. Then it only got worse when Pierre called me away. I had no idea that it was to deal with a debtor.
* * *
“Mr. Hawes, there is a gentleman asking for you? Says he owes you money.”
“What the fuck?” slipped from my lips before I had a chance to rein it in.
Pierre raised his hands, helpless. “I don’t know, sir. I’m sorry, I tried to dissuade him from staying. He wasn’t listening. Refused to stop making a scene at his table until I got you.”
“Thank you, Pierre,” I said, my hands shoved in my pockets to hide that they were balled into fists. “Point me to him and I’ll take care of it.”
Take care of it was right. I could pretty much guarantee that he would be leaving in worse shape than he arrived.
Pierre pointed to the table in the corner, where the man sat, arms crossed over his chest, a smirk playing about his lips.
Fuck.
I was going to kill someone. Using all my self-control, I walked over to him. Bastard was sitting alone. When I was sure I was close enough to be out of earshot. I bent down and said softly, “You will follow me to my office right now.” His eyes widened at my tone. “And if you even attempt to do anything but that, I will find you later and I guarantee I will be even less pleasant than I am right now.
He swallowed hard and nodded.
Spinning on my heel, I walked toward the kitchen door and down the back hallway to my office.
Stepping through the door, I turned and waited for him to follow me. The minute he was over the threshold, I shut the door and turned on him.
Grabbing his wrist, I wrenched it behind his back and stepped up into his body. If he moved, he would shatter his own wrist. A cry of pain slipped past his lips.
“You motherfucker. You crossed a line coming here today. I’m not sure what makes you think it’s okay for you to come here to handle our business, but I can guarantee you were fucking wrong.” I kept my voice low and controlled so as not to alert my staff.
“But, I—”
“I don’t want to hear another goddamn word from your mouth. You went too fucking far.” With an extra push down, I heard the bones of his wrist crack at the same time his knees buckled.
Blood seeped from between his lips, from biting either the inside of his cheek or his tongue. Either way, at that moment, I didn’t give a shit.
“I see you’re wise enough not to call any more attention to yourself. Let’s see if you can continue to use your brain.”
He nodded once, sharply.
“You’re going to walk out of here like nothing is wrong. Later you’re going to get your wrist checked out, and tell them you caught yourself with it when you tripped. Finally you’re going to meet me at the designated meeting place the next home game. That’s where we’ll discuss your loan and the increased interest rate. Do I make myself clear?
“Yes,” he choked out.
“Good, now get the fuck out of my sight before you leave with more than a broken wrist.”
He walked out and I flopped down into the couch in my office. I’d let anger control me again. I didn’t like the man I was without Elena and that bullshit kept me from seeing her before she left, pushing me over the edge.
* * *
At the stoplight, I glanced down at the clock. It was long after midnight. When I realized there was no way I’d be getting home at a reasonable hour, I’d called Miller and asked him to go over to my house and keep her company. After the bullshit with Palmer a few nights ago and now people coming to the restaurant to discuss business, I didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone—even with all the security I had on the house. I’m sure she’d already noticed the fact that Brock or Lewis went with her everywhere she went. Unless I was there, obviously.
Hitting the button to connect the phone to the car, I called Miller.
“Yo, bro, you on your way finally?”
“No hello?”
“Hey, I spent the night hanging out with your woman, and since you won’t let me have a go at her I kind of want to go out and find one of my own.”
My fingers clenched around the wheel. “You son of a bitch, you better keep your hands to yourself. I hope she kicks you in the balls for saying that.”
He burst into laughter. “Do you think I’m stupid? I like her. I don’t want her to hate me. She fell asleep on the couch about an hour ago.”
I sighed. I’d missed my chance . . . again. The words had almost slipped out in the restaurant, until Pierre interrupted.
Fucking hell.
“All right. I’ll be home in ten.”
I hit the end button before he said anything else to piss me off. Elena had been through so much. I just wanted everything to be perfect. She deserved it. The sight of the garage door was like a weight off my shoulders.
I quickly found Miller and Elena in the great room; Elena curled up at one end of the couch, Miller reclining in one of the chairs. Even asleep she was the sexiest woman I’d ever had.
With a nod to Miller, I walked over and scooped Elena up into my arms. For a moment I thought she’d wake up, but she only cuddled closer to my chest. Warmth spread through me at the trust she showed me every day when, given her history, she’d be within her right to be afraid to trust anyone.
“I’ll be right back,” I whispered.
Elena was light as a feather and I had no trouble carrying her up the stairs. I quietly tucked her into our bed.
Our bed.
I fucking loved the way that sounded.
I went back downstairs to talk to Miller. The second I stepped into the room, he put a glass of scotch in my hand.
I dropped down into one of the recliners, too exhausted to bother taking off my jacket or tie, and sank the entire glass in one.
“That bad?” he asked, lifting his own glass to his lips.
“You could say that.” The liquor burned my throat and I felt its warmth spread through my body. Setting the tumbler on the side table, I took my glasses off to rub at my eyes. “Adam Thompson showed up during the lunch rush to talk about the money he owes me that he doesn’t have.”
Miller’s jaw clenched. “What is with these fuckers?” he said through gritted teeth.
“I have no idea, but I sent a very clear message. I still have to deal with the rest of the inventory mess in the morning.”
“Good. Hopefully after word gets out about Palmer and Thompson that will be the end of it.
“I hope so.” I put my glasses back on and looked at Miller. “Was she upset I got stuck at work?”
Miller sighed. “Yes and no. She would have been fine had you not got her all worked up about needing to talk to her.”
I sat up so fast, I thought I’d fall out of the chair. “Goddamn it.”
“What were you going to tell her anyway?”
“I’m going to ask her to stay. I know she plans on leaving that piece of shit and I want her to stay her with me.”
He chuckled. “I figured that was it. She’s afraid, you know?”
I ran a hand through my hair and got to my feet, pacing the floor. “How could she not be? Look at what she’s dealt with up until now. Anyone would have reservations jumping into something else so quickly, not to mention trusting someone.”