Chapter 9: Hendrix

Hendrix

I tossed and turned that night.

Thinking. Analyzing. Trying to make sense of why this slip of a girl had caught my eye. And through her pictures, nonetheless.

I'd memorized her entire profile.

From top to bottom: height, weight, and color of hair. The small speckles of gold in her eyes in one of the pictures - a close-up of her face. How she smiled at the lens with a carefree look.

What kind of outdoor activities she preferred.

Even her favorite ice-cream flavor would be forever ingrained in my head.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

This need that bubbled up inside was dangerous. For her. For me.

I didn't do relationships or any of the other shit attached to titles.

Running an agitated hand down my face, I tried to calm my agitation. "Fucking Jax and his bullshit. Didn't he realize the kind of future he was thrusting upon Beau?"

Jesus, I paused there. Everything around me felt out of place.

There was no us. Would never be anything other than a mutual exchange of benefits and some fantastic sex in between. Nothing more.

Been there once, and never the hell again.

A woman like her wouldn't want it anyways. Whores don't do love.

My foot pressed down on the accelerator as I zoomed down the seven-mile bridge that connected the Keys to Miami. Traffic was smooth, not too many cars out on the causeway at five o'clock in the morning as I made my way to the office.

I couldn't sleep.

My mind kept wandering back to her picture and that sweet smile that held just a smidge of sass.

A ping alerted me to an incoming message, and I looked over at the screen placed in a holder. Jax's name flashed across, and I pulled over. Why would he message me this early?

These messages will begin and not stop until you have checked the profile made for you on Craving Sugar. Don't make them escalate to harassment. I am prepared. ~Jax

That motherfucker.

"I'm going to kill him," I hissed out, angry that he'd start his crap this early. But then, just as quick at the annoyance mounted, it vanished, and I laughed. Laughed so hard, that for a moment I couldn't breathe. Could imagine him setting those messages up with that constipated face he'd make while concentrating.

Jesus Christ, the man was persistent.

If only he knew...

Every hour on the hour. Last warning. ~Jax

Was tempted to answer him, but then again, I was never going to let him know just how interested I'd become. More than interested. Needed to meet this girl on my own and figure out why I'd developed a slight obsession in the last ten hours.

Opening the web page once more, I checked to see if we had been matched, and nothing. Her profile had more views to it, as had mine, but nothing between us.

That didn't sit well with me, and I frowned. "She has until I reach the office to message me."

There was no way that I'd let her slip through my fingers. No one would have her, at least, not until I discovered what was so special first.

Maybe that was vain of me, but I gave no fucks. Beau could find me the same way the others had.

With my new resolve in place, I pulled back into traffic with my radio on full blast. It was just me, the occasional car, and the open road.

The smell of saltwater surrounded me, but today it didn't have the same calming effect. My restlessness was getting the better of me. Not knowing - having immediate answers - wasn't a feeling I was used to.

I'd never had to wait on anything. Taking what I wanted was second fucking nature.

That girl had ruined my day, and it was only half past five now. My time to think every Monday morning while driving from the Keys into the city was filled with curious questions:

Why was she on that site?

Had she been matched?

How soon could I have her pinned beneath me?

"Fuck," I hissed low, my hand pressing down on my hard cock. Her pictures had been my undoing. Chosen specifically to ruin anything with a pulse. The image of her in tiny shorts - that bikini - would forever be tattooed in my mind.

I pressed down harder on the accelerator, needing to get to my office and focus on anything other than her. I'd give her until midday to find me or else...

Else what? You weren't interested in this type of relationship.

People change. I changed my mind.

Now, I want her. Consequences be damned.

***

"You're here early, sir," Kaitlyn, my secretary, called out as I walked past her and into my office. I ignored her and the way she fluttered her fake lashes at me.

Rule number one for any man with a successful business: don't fuck anyone on your payroll. Not because of a moral high ground or anything, but because people tend to get the wrong ideas. Believed that they meant more to you than a tight hole.

My phone pinged again, and I tapped the screen.

Tap the link below if you like pussy... ~Jax

Following his next text was the link for Craving Sugar and the available babies page. Asshole.

For a forty-year-old, he was a bit infantile. Immature as all fuck, but a smart and ruthless lawyer. The epitome of an overgrown frat boy; how he flipped between characteristics will forever be a mystery.

Working. You should try it sometime. ~Hendrix

Ahhh...so you do know how to work a phone. Click the link, man, or I will for you. ~Jax

And because I'd become a sick bastard, I did, but my sole reason for doing so was Beau.

To look at her picture and admire the natural beauty she possessed. A slip of a girl that I'd never met.

My reaction to her made no sense, but my dick liked what he saw and so did I.

A knock at the door caused me to look away from my phone. "Can I get you anything, Mr. Parker. Coffee?"

Nodding, I waved her in. "Black, and hold all my calls today. No visitors or last-minute meeting requests." Kaitlyn opened her mouth to speak, but the look I gave her caused her to close it. "As far as everyone is concerned, I'm not here. Understood?"

"Of course, sir, but what about the - "

"I didn't hire you to question my choices." Leveling her with a steely gaze, I leaned back in my chair. "I'm not here. Understood?"

"Yes." It left her in a whimper, and it took everything within me not to roll my eyes. Instead, I tilted my head in the direction of the door and made my request clear. For her to leave.

With a smile, Kaitlyn did so. Sashayed out, and for the first time her behavior bothered me.

Something I normally overlooked - found amusing - annoyed me.

Shaking my head at the thought, I opened my locked drawer and pulled out my laptop. Within three minutes I was back again on the site and writing down notes. Looking for a certain clue.

"Just where do you go to school, nymph," I muttered while flipping through her pictures once more. There was one of hers that made me pause. "Bingo."

I knew that library - the building behind her - like the back of my own hand.

I spent many nights in that building while in college.

Mulling things over in my head, I recognized I had two options. Show up, or message her.

"Here you go, sir." Kaitlyn placed my cup of coffee down, her body angled over my desk, eyes trying to see what I was doing.

"You may leave." The bite in my tone didn't escape her, and she jumped a bit.

"Sorry." She gave me a sheepish look. "Was just curious. Are you working on something new?"

"I'm sorry, is being curious part of your job description? Did I miss the memo for this change?" While she looked at me, eyes wide and with a hint of fear, I turned the laptop so there wasn't any visibility. "Get out, and make sure I am not disturbed."

"Of course." Kaitlyn scurried out and closed the door behind her, the small thud loud inside my quiet office space.

Fuck me, I could have been caught.

That wouldn't do.

What the hell was this Beau Carter doing to me? I'd brought this mess into my office and was considering breaking rules I'd set in place for a reason. Work and personal never mixed well.

Sitting back in my chair, I contemplated my choices.

Getting caught hiring a legal call girl was not on my list of top priorities. Going to her school and getting the information I needed wouldn't be hard, but costly. Without her schedule, I had no clue as to where she would be.

So instead, I clicked on the small envelope beside her name. "Message it is...for now."

From: NotOneForGames

To: HigherEd-CoEd

Date: Mon at 9:15 a.m.

Subject: Meet me...

Miss Carter,

I am quite intrigued by your short bio and pictures.

Meet with me. Tonight. I'll have a table booked at Zuma for 8p.m. sharp.

Don't make me wait.

Hendrix Parker

Short and to the point, I hit send and closed my laptop before my rational mind asked me to reconsider.

Fuck the rules.

We'd meet on my terms.

Picking up my coffee mug, I stood from my chair and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows inside my office. Stared out into the morning sky while appreciating the view of the small crashing waves below.

Outside my door, I heard as everyone came in and started their day. Greetings made, and then the opening of doors following the rush of people.

My name was called out by someone, but nothing came after. Instead, more movement followed. All the while I stayed where I was, watching the city of Miami come alive.

Seagulls flew across my line of sight, and I followed them toward a pier below just as my phone vibrated atop my desk.

Three small vibrations that caused a rush of adrenaline to spike my blood.

That wasn't a text.

On my next breath, the phone was in my hands and the screen opened. An email displaying Beau's response had come in, and I clicked on the link.

From: HigherEd-CoEd

To: NotOneForGames

Date: Mon at 9:40 a.m.

Subject: Not how this works...

Mr. Parker,

I am quite confused by your message. Have I contacted you before?

Do we know each other for such demands? From what I gather, as I am new to this sort of relationship, is that the woman decides the when and where.

Please remember that for future use.

I will not meet you tonight, but I ask that you accept my invitation to lunch tomorrow.

I'll message you the details later this evening.

Don't be late.

Beau Carter

She had no idea what her reply had done.

I was aroused by her refusal. Hard as steel for the line about being new to this.

Heaven help this girl.

I'd play her game, but win the war.

Game on.