The guns shouldn’t have been at his location when he got caught. It was a setup. He intended to lay low for now and keep the capo who had pissed him off on his toes. There would come a point when he reached out and when he did, Rix had something special planned for him.
Until then, he was more than happy to live the life of an ordinary guy. He had things in motion and so long as he played his part, he was going to have everything he wanted.
Pushing his way past the line, he grabbed two burgers, handing one straight to Anna-Beth.
“There you go, beautiful,” he said.
The guys around him groaned.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“A pretty lady should never go without food.”
“Tell that to my hips.”
“I happen to love your hips.”
“You’re a natural charmer, aren’t you? You’re used to having your way with the ladies.” She looked toward a group of five women. He followed her gaze and chuckled.
“Sweetheart, they chase the patch. Nothing more. I don’t have to work for their pussy.”
“Right, of course.”
Her cheeks were a delightful shade of red. “I like that I can make you blush.”
“I guess I’m not used to being around guys like you.”
“I’m not used to being around women like you,” he said.
“Really?”
He moved to stand behind her. Was it cherry he smelled? “Look at the women. They keep glancing over here and I can tell you right now they don’t see what it is that you’ve got. Their tits and ass are all on display and yet, I’d rather hang with you, eating my burger.”
“They want you.”
“Yeah, they do. They want the reputation that being with me gives them. Nothing more. Me, they couldn’t care less about.”
“You make it sound so cold.”
“It is. In my world, I’m the number one trophy. If they could land me as their old man, and I take them as my old lady, it’s the jackpot.”
She turned toward him. her brown eyes twinkling. “It’s like you live in a different kind of world.”
“I do. Where I go, there are no rules.”
“Then why are you living here and not with them?” she asked.
“Simple, sometimes your world invades mine and I have to deal with the consequences.”
“So, there is always a cost when it comes to your world.”
“Only when you have the right kind of people at your back. Tell me, Anna-Beth, who do you have watching you?”
She averted her gaze. He knew about her parents. Anna-Beth had no one. She was lonely.
“No one. I don’t need anyone to watch my back. I do everything by the book. I don’t break any rules.” She took a bite of her burger.
“Really. Well, I think it’s time you change your own rules.”
“What do you mean?”
He took the burger and plate from her, and without waiting, he shoved her hard, tipping her into the pool. She went in with a squeal. He knelt down, watching her as she broke the surface. “Why the hell did you do that?”
“Because I’ve got a bikini for you, and I think it’s time for you to let loose.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“But I want to get to know you. So how about we change that?”
****
Anna-Beth knew she should be pissed off with Rix for throwing her into the pool. Even more so for taking her upstairs and for her to wear this ridiculous bikini. It was completely obscene.
She wrapped an arm around her waist and gritted her teeth. There was no way she could go downstairs dressed like this. She didn’t look anything like those other women. Some of them even had fake boobs.
Pushing her chest out, she felt glad at least she didn’t have to worry about the fake boob department. She had more than enough to go around. There was plenty to share. Shaking her head, no, hell no.
Rix knocked and entered the room.
“Get out,” she said.
“It’s my room. My house. I get to go where I want.” He paused near the bed where she stood. She placed her hands in front of her stomach.
She wasn’t a small woman and had always embraced her curves, most of the time. When she was surrounded by women who were a lot smaller than her, insecurities started to come out.
“It really sweet of you to get this, but really. I can’t wear it.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not me.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m sorry. There’s no way I can wear this.”
Rix didn’t turn around. His gaze moved down her body as if he possessed her. Like he could undress her with his very gaze.
She glanced down at her body, only seeing imperfections, but he suddenly closed the distance between them and took her hands. At first, she fought him, not wanting to expose herself to him, or to anyone. Slowly, she opened her arms and there she was, in all of her naked glory for him to look at.
“I don’t like this.”
“What is there not to like?” he asked. “You look sexy as fuck.”
“I feel stupid.”
“Is this about the other women out there?”
“It’s … maybe I should just go home.”
“Nah, that’s not happening. I’m not letting you go home. You’re coming downstairs with me, right now.” He gripped her hand more firmly in his. She didn’t fight as he started to pull her downstairs. They passed so many couples making out and even having sex.
She tried not to gawk at them all. Rix didn’t seem to mind and so far, she was the only person who actually cared about what she was seeing. Entering Rix’s party was like entering an alternate universe where sex was the norm.
They entered his yard and she screamed as she lifted her up over his shoulder, carrying her away from the door.
“No, please, Rix, no!” She screamed as he threw her into the water for a second time. He joined her as he splashed beside her.
Drawing air into her lungs, she glared at him. “What the hell?”
“I don’t know you very well, Anna-Beth, but I think you’re allergic to having fun or at the very least, don’t know how to have it. I’m going to change that.” He took her hand, pulling her close.
“Some fun can be overrated.”
“Oh, no, the best kind of fun is shit that can get you arrested.”
She snorted. “Are you for real?”
“Absolutely.”
She shook her head. “No, I could never be arrested. I don’t think I could stand it. I hate it when a cop follows behind me. I always freak out.”
“That’s because you don’t understand that they’re just people like you and me. Everyone makes mistakes, baby. That’s what makes us human.”
“I don’t want to think about the mistakes they make. Kind of like doctors as well. They’re people we rely on a whole lot.”
“Oh, believe me, they make a whole lot of mistakes. You need to learn to live a little and accept it, and not allow it to bother you.” He stroked her hair back from her ear. “Did you leave work at work?”
“I did but I’m going to go in tomorrow to catch up.”
“No, you’re not.”