Page 41 of Bourbon Sins
“Hold on,” I said, pulling on his sweaty shoulder that should have made me shake my hand about and squeal like a girl, but my deranged mind was turned on instead.
He turned slowly to face me as we stood in the narrow hallway of the first floor of the servant’s wing. Not looking happy, he crossed his arms across his chest—typical Kace stance—and waited for me to speak.
“I’m getting pretty sick of you acting like you can just boss me around and treat me like shit. Just because I come from a strip club doesn’t mean you can treat me like crusted human feces on the rim of a toilet seat. I am a human you know, and I have feelings just like everyone else.”
My chest heaved as I put an end to my childish rant.
“Are you finished?”
I nodded as I waited for his reply.
“First of all, I am your boss, so get used to it. Jett may make the decisions, but you report to me, and if you’re not following my instructions and doing as you’re told, then you will find your ass out on the streets faster than you can unhook your bra.” I was about to speak when he held up his hand. “Secondly, you’re lucky you made some kind of odd impression on Jett. You shouldn’t even be here right now, so you should watch yourself; you’re skating on thin ice, sweetheart.”
“What do you mean I shouldn’t be here?” I said, with my hands on my hips.
Kace snorted, actually snorted. It was the first time I didn’t find him attractive. Then his eyes narrowed on me and my attraction came back in full force. Bastard.
“You’re pretty, I will give you that, but you’re short, you have zero class, and you’re too weak to get involved in a sexual relationship with Jett. You’re accustomed to a type of emotional intimacy that you’re not going to find here, so not only will you be disappointed and get your heart ripped out of your chest when Jett doesn’t hand you his, but you’re going to waste everyone’s time by leaving because you can’t find the emotional intimacy you need.”
I stood there completely stunned. I didn’t know how many insults had just been thrown at me, but they didn’t feel good at all.
“What are you, some kind of psychologist?” It was probably the lamest comeback I’d ever had, but I couldn’t come up with anything better.
Kace just smirked at me as he continued, “Face it . . . Lo,” he said in a mocking tone, “you’re not cut out for this. Hell you couldn’t even get a couple of drinks right. If you can’t remember some damn drinks, then how are you going to remember all the steps to the dances? You are the slowest and the weakest out of all the girls, and you have absolutely zero motivation.”
“That’s not true,” I protested.
“Isn’t it? If you were motivated, you wouldn’t be dragging your ass in the gym and complaining the whole time. You wouldn’t be taking naps in the afternoon when you should be learning as much as you can from the girls, and you wouldn’t be wandering around the house tonight looking for trouble when you know damn well there is a curfew for you girls so you get a good night’s rest.”
I didn’t have a retort because everything he said was right.
“I don’t know why you’re wasting my time, your time, and Jett’s time when there are so many other girls who could easily take your place and do a much better job than you.”
I was completely deflated. Not only was I humiliated today during my first-ever presentation, but now I was being told I didn’t belong in the house. Usually, rage would be boiling through my bones, but when the words came from Kace, they hit me harder. I didn’t understand why his opinion mattered to me so much, but it did.
“Why do you hate me?” I said in a breathless whisper, trying to contain my rolling emotions. A tear slipped down my cheek and I quickly swiped it away, hoping Kace didn’t see.
When I looked up, I knew he saw the emotion pouring out of me, because he actually showed a little bit of sympathy. Kace walked up to me and stopped a foot away. He reached out and captured a strand of my hair with his fingers and pushed it behind my ear. The gesture was so small, but at that moment, I knew Kace cared about me. I could see it in his eyes.
“I don’t hate you, Goldie,” he said, using my real name. “You just don’t belong here.”
“Whose decision is that?” Another tear escaped from my eye and before I could wipe it away, Kace pressed his palm against my cheek and wiped it away with his thumb.
“It’s ultimately your decision.”
“So why don’t you let me make it? Why are you trying to drive me away?”
Removing his hand from my face, he blew out a long breath as he ran both hands through his hair. I watched his muscles ripple as he held his hands behind his head and looked at me. It seemed like he was going to confess something, but right when I thought he was going to act like a normal human, he closed off and stepped away.
“I just don’t want to waste anyone’s time.”
“I’m calling bullshit. There is something you’re not telling me.” I stepped closer so we were only a few inches apart. The heat radiating off his body was warm compared to the frigid attitude he’d taken on.
“Goldie . . .”
“What?” I placed my hand on his chest and ran it along his muscular pec. He sucked in a sharp breath of air from my gentle caress. Fuck, I was ready to explode. I wanted him so bad, and not just because he was a man and I needed someone to hydrate me, but because I neededhim, Kace. From the minute I met him, I wanted him to touch me, hold me, and fuck me.
“Stop.” He grabbed my wrist and held it out in front of him. “We can’t do this and I don’t want to. You’re . . . you’re not my type, and I would rather keep my job than give it up for what could be a half-decent lay.”
