Page 62 of Silver Edge
I shampooed my hair, thinking about his words. He was right. I was more comfortable around him than any man I’d ever known. He’d been so patient and took his time with every touch. “You have a point.”
He pulled back the curtain and peered into the shower.
“Aren’t you sick of looking at me yet? It’s the same tits and ass you saw earlier.”
“Oh, I’ll never get sick of looking at you.”
I flicked soapy water at him, and he retreated with a yelp. Sudsing the washcloth, I washed and rinsed the soap from my body. “What are you gonna do while I’m with Ton?”
“You don’t want me to hang out with you guys?”
My mind reeled with images of Ton’s incessant questions and accusatory tone. “For your sake, I’m gonna sayno. Trust me, Ton won’t like you. Not for any reason other than the fact that you’re around me and you’re male. To him, every man just wants to use and abuse me.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I have that interview with the reporter today. I’ll be gone for a few hours. Ton says he’s got to leave by five tonight to make his flight back to New York City. He’s got something going on tomorrow that he needs to get back for.”
I shut off the water and the curtain slid open. Drake stood on the other side, waiting with a towel open. “Why do you call himTonanyway?”
Banging at the front door downstairs drew our attention to the doorway. I gasped, hoping the door was locked and Ton wasn’t about to barge in at this very moment. Another, louder pounding confirmed the visitor still waited at the entrance.
“I think he’s here. Get dressed. I’ll take our coffee down and sit with him for a while.” Drake disappeared through the doorway as I dove for my clothes and brushed my hair with lightning speed. I managed to make it to the bottom of the stairs before he opened the door. The way Drake stumbled backward, I knew he’d realized how Ton got his nickname.
“Scarlet here?” Ton boomed, his almost robotic voice freezing Drake into silence.
“I’m here.” With a quick step, I ran across the floor and met Ton and Drake a few feet inside the club.
Ton eyed the place then looked down at Drake. I was sure Drake wasn’t used to looking up at many people with his six-foot-two height, but Ton gave new meaning tomutant.
“Please, come in. We’ll have coffee at the table near the kitchen.”
“I don’t drink coffee,” Ton said, his eyes not leaving me.
“Come on. Don’t be that way.” I slipped my hand around his elbow and tugged him toward the main hall then into the smaller stage area to the table off the kitchen. “Sit, and play nice.”
“Who are you?” Ton narrowed an eye, his chiseled cheek and jaw twitching. The tattoo of three X’s vibrated on his neck.
“Stop. It’s me.”
“Yeah, but you’re happy. What happened to Sarcastic Scarlet who left New York City with her grumpy, edgy mouth? Since when do you invite anyone in to have coffee?”
Drake pulled out the chair for me and Ton’s gaze fixated on every move we made. He was analyzing, sizing us up. His attention snapped to my eyes then the hollows of my arms, no doubt looking for track lines.
“Cut it out. I’m not high or drunk, and I didn’t fuck him. Although, I want to.”
It was Drake’s turn to choke on coffee.
“Scarlet,” Ton reprimanded.
“Well, that’s why you’re here, right? To yank me back to that plane with you by my hair because I’ve screwed up. Well, I didn’t. Okay, he didn’t, but that’s beside the point. Do I think about getting high?” I shrugged. “Sometimes, but I haven’t. Do I want to have sex with him? Absolutely, but I haven’t. Now, that ticket you bought for me is gonna go to waste because I’m not going back with you. You said it yourself, I’m happy. For the first damn time in my life, I’m happy.” I shoved my chair back with a loud squeal, wanting to pummel the beast in front of me.
“Scarlet, wait.” Ton held up his hands.
I poked my finger into his iron chest. “By the way, if it wasn’t for you, I never would’ve met Drake. So, your stunt of putting me in a job you knew I’d fail at backfired. I found a job in this place and I enjoy it. I can get lost in the music and not have to listen to crazy people ramble on about nothing.”
Drake stood up. “Scarlet, it’s okay. Calm down,” he whispered. “I’m going to touch your shoulders.” His hands gripped my shoulders and sat me back in the chair. “I’m sure Ton didn’t intend to set you up for failure.”
Ton sat forward, the chair creaking beneath his massive frame. “I sent you to Midtown Diner so I could keep an eye on you. I’ll admit, I didn’t think you were ready. I told you that. I didn’t know the ex-con scumbag would throw you out onto the streets. I thought you’d come home if you couldn’t handle it, not run off.”
You trusted an ex-con?” Drake asked, his voice taking on a reprimanding tone.
