Signs of Interest 9

Business

@J Hontz and S Pickrel 2009 - all rights reserved

Justine took her plate to the sink.  Then she eyed the two men.  "I have a job.  I have a class to teach in ninety minutes."

Luc looked over at Justin.  "Uhm, you can't cancel?" he asked her. "Just for today?"

She gave him a look.  "No.  It would be irresponsible."

"Oh," Luc replied frowning hard at her. Then he turned back to Justin. "I'd better take her then. You and Goldie will be all right?  Yell if you need me."

"We'll be fine," Justin said. 

Goldie rolled her eyes. "We were both fine and actually could find our way around town before you two showed up, you know.  I suppose," she added, frowning at Justin, "you're going to shadow me all day."

"Count on it," Justin said easily.

Goldie sighed. "I need time to plan and then to draw. You're awfully distracting."

Luc gathered up the keys and was waiting on Justine to get her stuff together. "Yeah, he's always been a pain in the ass."

"It's what I live for," Justin drawled. 

Goldie shook her head and got up to go give Justine a hug. "I'm so sorry to have drug you into all of this.  Be careful, okay?"

Justine nodded.  "You too girl friend.  Be smart, ok?" she added, layers of meaning in one short question.

"Yeah, promise," Goldie said, her eyes wide as Luc casually draped an arm across Justine's shoulders and steered her toward the door.  She stood watching as Luc opened the car door for Justine and then walked around the Jeep and climbed in. She was still watching as the Jeep drove off.   "Wow. I'd never have guessed that."

"Guessed what, babe?"

"That she'd fall for a guy like Luc," Goldie replied.

"Why's that?"

"Oh, she just liked looking at guys like you two at SCA events but she always dated the straight-arrows. All clean shaven and hair perfect, you know?  She used to give me a hard time about dating the hippie types."

"Well underneath SCA, that's Luc."

Goldie's eyes went wide. "Really?"

Justin laughed.  "Yeah really.  Anal.  Conservative."  Then he dropped his voice to almost a whisper.  "But underneath all that, he's a rebel at heart."  He said it spy to spy.  What he didn't say was that it was literally true.

"And what are you, deep down, underneath the scruffy beard and jeans?"

He didn't miss a beat.  "In love."

Goldie blushed. "I wasn't trying to.. I mean, I wasn't looking for that sort of admission. It's just that I don't know anything about you.  What your favorite color is, whether you had a dog when you were growing up, if you have brothers and sisters and whether or not your mom baked you cookies."

"My favorite color is yellow, we had pets, just not dogs, I have eight siblings and my mom didn't bake.  She did other things though, like read to us."

"Eight brothers and sisters?" Goldie goggled. "Yellow... interesting. I've no idea what that tells me about you though."

He shrugged.  "You wanted to know.  I'm happy to answer questions when I can.  Yours anyway."

"What questions can't you answer?" Goldie asked. "We need to get over to my place. I need to paint."

Justin finished clearing the table and loading the dishwasher.  "About my job," he said as he worked. 

Goldie stopped putting stuff away and turned to him frowning. "Since it is all intimately involved with me, apparently, I don't see why you can't tell me what is going on."

"I know you don't," he said.  "Besides you already know what's going on."

"Circular reasoning," Goldie muttered. "You know, it's hard to trust you when you keep secrets."

He turned off the water and and wiped off the counter before he answered her.  "And a very convenient excuse, too, isn't it?"

She looked at him for some time before she answered. "I don't think of it that way. But my parents lie to me all the time.  It makes me feel ... I don't know. Not very good.  Because I'm never sure what is true and what isn't."

"I guessed.   But see the thing is that one of the things you need to accept about me is there will always be things to do with my job that I  can't talk about, even with you.  It's not personal, it's not nefarious and it's not about deceit.  It just is."

"Yeah, I know," she said, not looking at him. "You ready to go? We can go to my studio at the school or my place. Your choice.  I just need my stuff. Not to mention some clean clothes."

He moved to block her path, but didn't touch her.  "Goldie, look at me.  Don't hide from me."

She wrapped her arms around herself and looked up at him. "I didn't know I was."

He kissed her gently.  "I'm not angry and even if I were I'm not going to reject, or try to hurt you or hate you or walk away and leave you alone.  I'm not you're father, Goldie."

She sighed. "I don't think every man is like him, you know. It's just... I can't figure out why  you love me."

"Because you're you.  Because you make my dick hard enough to drive nails with just a look.  Because when you get sad you make me want to pull you close and protect you from everything that has ever hurt you or ever could.  Because I look at your art and I see a vision of life that stops my breath in my chest.  I hear you laugh and I just want to close my eyes and bathe in the sound of it.  I look at you and I want to spoil you rotten, tell you jokes to make you giggle, kiss you until you're dizzy...You're beautiful and smart and so filled with love.  And so afraid  of it. You're lonely and aching and afraid and so sure the only one you can trust to take care of you is you.  And all of it breaks my heart and then mends it again...over and over and over again."

"You keep confusing me, Justin. You don't even have to kiss me to make me dizzy.  Just being near you does that, and I'm not sure I like it. Because yeah, you're right. I'm not really good at trusting anyone. And I know it makes my friends crazy.  I don't know how to fix that about myself. I'm not sure I even want to.  Because everyone always leaves. It's normal. I won't hate you or be angry. I'll be okay when you do. I'll be okay. I'm always okay."
 
He swore savagely and yanked her closer, gripping her by her upper arms.  "The only way I'm leaving you is by death.  Whether you agree to mate me or not, I'll be next you for the rest of your days."  He gave her a tiny shake.  "Get it through your head, baby girl.  I'm like no one you've ever known.  I'm not going to abandon you.  I'd sooner be flayed."

She studied his face for a time.  "You keep telling me that. Okay. I believe you when you tell me that. I believe you are telling me the truth as you know it. And I believe you're different.  A normal guy would have gotten me into bed long before now."

He stared at her for a long moment, fitting what she'd just told him about herself in the mosaic of her he was assembling.  A normal guy.  A guy who'd leave her.  A guy who'd only want the sex.  Because that's all she had to offer so that was the only kind of guy she could expect or deserved.  And the false sense of intimacy was what she got in return.  Because that's all she thought she was worth and the aloneness, the loneliness that clawed inside of her was a well of emptiness she couldn't fill wasn't as agonizing for those few moments.  It made him want to rend her father limb from limb.  "Whether we ever make love or not, I won't leave you."

She shook her head. "Okay, okay. Can we go now?"

"Yeah."  He grabbed a set of keys from the table.  "Your chariot awaits, baby girl."

She led the way outside, feeling rotten, for what she wasn't sure. Well, okay, she'd disappointed him somehow. He thought she was something she wasn't. She wished she were the woman he thought she was. She wished she deserved him.

She climbed into the car when he held the door for her. "Thanks, Justin."

He tapped her nose, grinning at her.  "You're welcome."  "Your apartment?" he asked as he slid into the driver's seat.

"Please. Am I going to be okay to stay there now? Or are you going to want me to pack a bag and stay with you and Luc?  I'll do what you think is best."

"It's probably better if you don't stay there."

She nodded. "Can we take my tools with us? Paints, easel, canvas? I'm not used to being away from them. I need to paint, Justin. It's like .. I can't explain it. I'm just not right when I don't work."

"Hey, it's fine sweetheart.  We can take  whatever you want."  He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.  "If we need to, Luc can go live at Justine's."

"Oh. They're, uhm, mated. Right?  And he won't ever leave her?"

Justin shook his head.  "No, he won't."

"Okay," she said as Justin pulled to a stop at her apartment. "Oh," she said, eying a car that was parked next to her car. "It's Daddy.  He's probably been worried sick."

Justin's face set into impassivity. 

Harry Hawkins sidled out of his car, keeping his eyes on Justin. "Hi sweetheart. I was worried. I tried your cell phone."

"Dead, Dad," she replied, giggling. "I didn't have a charger with me. I told you that earlier. I'll make sure I have it from now on.  Come on in," Goldie said, opening the door.  "What do you need?"

"I just.. just wanted to be sure you were all right. Man, this place is a mess."

"Yeah, the cops went through it. I'll straighten it up today.  Do you need money?" she asked. looking hard at her father.

"No, of course I don't.  I was just wondering what you knew about the break in at the studio."

Goldie sighed. "Nothing. Justin, have you heard anything?"

"Nothing," Justin said.

Harry walked over to where Goldie's easels were set up, examining her canvases. "This is ... different."  He was looking at the flowers and teddy bear.

Goldie flushed. "I was just playing around. I know it isn't very good. It was fun. I just .. was entertaining myself.  I've given it to Justin. He sent me the flowers and the teddy bear."

"Oh?" Harry asked, looking around with a frown.

Justin locked eyes with him.  "Mine."  That he meant more than the painting showed in the feral light glinting

Harry shrugged. "Sure. I doubt it'll be worth much."

"Only if not much means priceless."

"So priceless he's going to hang it in Susie's gallery," Goldie commented glumly.

"And Susie will thank me for it," Justin said.

"She'll laugh her ass off at it," Goldie retorted.

Harry was eying the canvas thoughtfully.  "Well, it is certainly not your usual style."

Justin folded his arms across his chest and let the wall prop him up watching Harry study the picture.  He could see the greed flickering his eyes.

"How is Susie?" Harry asked, dragging his eyes off the painting and onto Goldie.

"Fine. She's a bit nervous though. Had her security upgraded at the gallery, I hear.  So, Daddy, you need anything else?"

"Nothing, sweetheart. Just... I wanted to be sure you were all right. I'll call you soon, okay?"  Harry reached out for Goldie's hand.

Goldie put her hand in Harry's. "Okay, sure. Call me.  Talk to you soon."

Harry glanced over at Justin, kissed Goldie's cheek, squeezed her hand.  Then he nodded a good bye to Justin and headed toward the door.

Goldie followed him to the door and watched him get into his car and drive away.

"Where's your mom?" Justin asked as she turned back.

"Miami.  Why?"

"I just wondered what had happened, why you ended up fending for yourself with your father."

"She wanted me to go with her. I... Daddy was in prison and I just couldn't leave him up here alone. Besides, Miami's not really my idea of a place to live.  I'd have to let people see me in a bikini, and I sunburn easy."

The visual of her in a bikini had him hard, his balls pulling in tight to his body and desire glittering in his eyes as he clamped an iron hand on his lust.  He concentrated on thinking past the roar of the primitive animal inside of him that was slavering to take her.  Honor wasn't a concept the beast wanted to consider.  She was his, his mate, made for him alone.  His to claim, to protect and to possess.  His to treasure and cherish and love, and honor was getting in the way of all those things.  Justin gritted his teeth and didn't waste the energy trying to be logical.  He just pointed out that if she was unhappy they were unhappy and if she didn't trust them then she'd be unhappy.  The beast was sure that endless orgasms would solve that problem.  He'd consider the point later.  "I'd pay money to see you in a bikini, angel," he rasped.

She cocked her head as she regarded him. "Yeah, well... So, let me pack up the canvas so you can take it to Susie's."

"No rush.  You want to paint."  He moved towards the kitchen.  "I'll make some coffee."

"You know, I survived my whole life on my own before you showed up," she said as she walked toward the bedroom already slipping her shirt off over her head. "You gone for an hour or so wouldn't be so horrible.  Don't you, like, have to check in at the office or something? I'm gonna shower and change into the work togs."

"You're like elemental mercury," he snarled at her back.  "One minute you're doing what I say and the next you're forgetting you told me you'll do what I think is best to keep you safe."

She turned then, suddenly realizing her blouse was off and holding it up over her bra. Which, truthfully, covered more than a bikini would have.  "I thought I was doing what you wanted me to do.  How did I make you mad this time?" she asked, baffled.

"You're trying to get rid of me again, angel.  And you're trying to pretend this isn't serious."

"No, I'm not trying to get rid of you, but I am worrying you'll get into trouble.  I'll admit, I'm not used to having someone around all the time. It's... I'm used to being alone a lot."

"I'm not going to get into trouble," he said, staying where he was by sheer force of will.  "Do you like being alone?  Or are you just so used to it, you expect it?"

"Both, I guess.  When I'm working I kind of block everything out around me, so that is pretty much me alone with my work. And... uhm... nevermind."

"What?"

"Well, just that I don't have a big family, like you do. There was always just me and mom while dad was in prison, and then dad and me once he was out. He didn't want to hang out with me, and I wasn't all that happy about cigar smoke and poker players in the house all night long. So I kind of, you know, locked myself in my room."

"Do you know the one thing I'm looking forward to the most, the one thing I can hardly stand to wait for while you make up your mind?"

She shook her head no.

"Watching you handle being put first in someone's life.  Watching how you handle someone spoiling you."

"Spoiled?" she mused. "Does your dad spoil your mom?"

"Every chance he gets," Justin said, grinning. "Which pretty much means constantly."

"Most guys think it's the other way round. They want to be spoiled."

"Most guys haven't figured it out yet."

She frowned. "Figured what out?"

He smiled, a tender, wistful curving of his lips.  "That the happiness of their woman is their happiness."

"And vice versa too, yeah?"

"You want some coffee?"

"Please. I'll go shower.  Back in a jiffy."

He nodded and went to do battle with the coffee maker.
 

Next Chapter                                                                                                                          Home