“There you go, fellas. The lady doesn’t find you to her liking. Turn her loose and go find something else to do.” David said.
“I got somethin’ to do already.” The man who held her said. Her captor’s hold seemed to loosen just a bit as he spoke, and taking advantage, she suddenly jerked free. Then she did the dumbest thing David had ever seen. She sent her knee into the man’s groin.
Unbelievable. David shook his head, even as he yanked her behind him, trying to protect her from the ensuing chaos. He couldn’t do any real damage to the men without attracting more spectators, which was something he didn’t want. And the woman was gasping behind him, scared out of her wits from the sound of it. But damn it all, he definitely did not want to lose his pants out here scuffling in the middle of the sidewalk with common drunks. One of the men started to throw a punch. David cursed loudly as the Bonnie Rimmer ran around him, evidently not as frightened as he’d thought, and leaped onto his attacker’s back. She couldn’t weigh over a hundred pounds, but she wound her fingers in the man’s hair and pulled with all her might.
Enough was enough. A glimpse at his watch told him it was time for his performance. David grabbed the man away from her and sent him reeling with a firm kick to the rear end, then stalked the other two, every muscle in his body tensed. Too drunk to persist in their efforts, the men scurried away. David turned to face Bonnie, and she was…tidying her hair? Really? Good God, was she nuts?
He saw her look toward her bag, which now lay in a puddle on the sidewalk, but she made no move to retrieve it.
“You don’t want your bag?” he asked with all the sarcasm he could muster.
“Oh.” She glanced at him. “Well, of course…” She made a move in its direction, and he shook his head. He could see more raggedy clothing falling out the opening, and if there was one thing this woman didn’t need, it was hand-me-downs.
He took her arm in a firm but gentle hold, ignoring her resistance, and started her toward the bar. He automatically moved her to his right side, bringing her between his body and the building, protecting her from passersby. He held his temper for all of about three seconds, then gave up the effort.
“Of all the stupid, harebrained…lady, what the hell did you think you were doing back there?” She damn well wasn’t used to living or being in alleys, or going without. Everything about her screamed money, sophistication and royalty. Even now, with him hustling her down the sidewalk, she had a certain grace, a definite poise, that didn’t come from being underprivileged. She glanced up at him, and he noticed she smelled nice, too. Not heavily perfumed like the women in the bar, just…very feminine. Her wavy shoulder-length hair, a light brown that looked as baby soft as her eyes, bounced as he hurried her along. She was practically running, but he couldn't help that.
She cleared her throat. “I appreciate your assistance, Mr…..whoever you are”
Without slowing his pace, he simply glared at her.
“Stop pulling me and answer my question. Who are you? What the hell are you up to?” she asked him.
“That’s two questions.” He growled, his patience at an end.
She didn’t even attempt to listen to him. “Answer me, dammit!” She said and stumbled, then glared up at him defiantly.
“Maybe that is not really any of your business.” Everything inside his body clenched.
“I’m making it my business because you are pulling me away with you.” Digging in her heels as he tried to haul her through the front door, she forced him to slowdown. She was wide-eyed again and he noticed her mouth was hanging open as he dragged her into the bar. “What are you doing?” There was a note of shrill panic in her voice as she took in her surroundings. David had no time to consider her delicate sensibilities.
Still gripping her arm, David trotted her toward the nearest bar stool. “You are coming with me.” He said. He stared down at her, trying to intimidate her with his blackest scowl. The music was picking up tempo, signaling his cue. She popped right back off the seat, those eyes of hers accurately portraying her shock.
“Now see here! I have no intention of going—”
He picked her up, dropped her onto the stool again, then called to the bartender. “Hey, Mark. Get I and little Miss perfect here a drink.”
Mark, a huge, jovial sort with two front teeth missing, grinned and nodded. While David had been watching her before, he and Mark had been having a conversation.
“What’d she do?” Mark asked him.
“She owes me. Big…And I have to talk to her. Keep your eye on her too.”
“And if she tries to pike it?”
David gave Mark a conspiratorial wink. “Make her sorry if she so much as flinches.” He said.
Mark looked ferocious, but he wouldn’t hurt a fly. That was the reason they had not one, but two bouncers on the premises. But the lady didn’t know that. David was just trying to scare her into behaving and he wanted to find out exactly what she was doing in a place like this…and he knew he was going to find out.
“You are an asshole” she said and glared at him.
David cocked his head to one side. “You should be nice to me” he replied. “I literally just saved your life”
“And then you grabbed me too”
David wanted to reply, but suddenly the spotlight swirled around the floor. David and Bonnie watched as a man sauntered forward into the light. Women screamed, and David cursed and rolled his eyes. Again, he could never understand why any man would wear a G-string. His naked butt was not something he showed to more than one woman at a time, and even those exhibitions were few and far between.
This particular man wasn’t wearing a G string, and the women customers obviously thought he was a tease, and appreciated his show all the more. His eyes moved back to Bonnie Rimmer. Just like the other ladies, the man seemed to have her attention too. She wasn’t talking anymore…or moving. In fact she didn’t look as though she could.
Her eyes were even larger now, huge and luminous and filled with shock and disbelief. When the man slowly backed into the center of the floor, slid the zipper down on his leather jacket. He saw her gasp.Her intent expression, of innocence mixed with curious wonder, annoyed him, making him feel ….He wasn’t even sure what this feeling was. That he could feel his face heat angered him. He was too old, too cynical now, and oh, too professional to actually get jealous over a client. Damn her.Bonnie Rimmer was no longer a picture, but a real breathing woman. The lights in the bar illuminated her face and David let himself stare at her for a while. The pictures he had seen were clearly a shoddy portrayal of the woman because the real life version was so much better.The man on the stage seemed to notice her staring and focused his gaze on her, obviously enjoying the attention he was getting. David decided he didn’t have the time to watch her flirt with some stripper guy, so he held her jaw
She had pondered many disguises for this night, disguises ranging anywhere from that of a frumpy homeless lady, to a streetwalker. Somehow, she couldn’t imagine herself making a convincing hooker. She was slight of build and her body had never quite…bloomed, as she’d always hoped for. She did, however, think she made an adequate transient.She cleared her throat. Stiffening her spine, which already felt close to snapping, she said again, “I can't go with you”“Your little trio of drunks didn’t scare you enough?”“No. They didn’t. And It’s not like I come here all the time. I just wanted to….”His brows lifted. “You wanted to?”Bonnie stared at him for a while and decided that she couldn’t discuss her feelings and activities with a total stranger. She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter” she said. “But I can't go with you. My father can’t just tell you to bring me home. I am an adult and I sure as hell can do whatever I want to do.”He closed his eyes, his mouth twisting in an ironic sm
“You mean I should leave without doing the job that I was hired to do? “Bonnie felt a little uncertain with him glaring at her like that, but she said nothing.“I did get the impression you could handle yourself in almost any situation. Look at how well you took care of those drunkards? You didn’t even get bruised, and there were three of them.” He said in a tone laced with sarcasm.“I know what you are trying to do, and it’s not going to work. I did need your help, but I managed to lay one of them low.” Bonnie said, absolutely proud of herself.“That was after I showed up”She could feel the blush starting at her hairline and traveling down to cover her entire face.“Yes, well…”He seemed to give up. One minute he was rigid, his posture so imposing she had to use all her willpower not to cower. Then suddenly, he was idly rubbing his forehead. “Let’s get out of here first.”Bonnie hesitated. “Where to?” she asked.He gave her a puzzled look, “Well, you didn’t plan to spend the night
“Please say something, Bonnie” she heard her mother plead. “Are you alright? Are you hurt?”“I’m very fine” Bonnie replied. “I left mom. I wasn’t kidnapped.”They were not listening. “Thank God” said Robert, “We can’t wait for you to come home”“That’s why I’m calling right now, dad” Bonnie began quickly, scared that they would talk her out of it…just like they talked her into almost everything her entire life. “I wanted to tell you myself that I won’t be coming home…at least not now. All my life I’ve done everything you have asked me to do, but now I think I want to make this one decision for myself. I will keep in touch as much as I can to let you know that I’m fine and safe, but I won’t be coming home and I sure as hell won’t not getting married to Marcus.”“Baby, we understand that, and no one is asking you to marry Marcus now. Just come home first. That’s all we want”Too bad it took running away from home to get them to listen to her, Bonnie thought sadly. This might have starte
Bonnie fumed and snapped at him. She was really worried and in no mood for his sarcasm.”You know what I mean. What did my father say to you……”David laughed at her reaction, cutting her off. He shook his head, giving her a look that blatantly called her a fool. “I will tell you what I think. Don’t waste your time here, princess. Go back to your rich neighborhood, your fancy car and your fancier friends.”She was so angry, she nearly cried. It had always been that way. She never shed a tear over pain or hurt feelings, but let her get really mad, and she bawled like an infant. His attitude toward her situation infuriated her. David stopped at a traffic light, and she jerked her door open, trying to step out. His long hard fingers immediately wrapped around her upper arm, preventing her from leaving.“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he yelled.“Let me go.” She was proud of her feral tone. “Did you hear me? Get your hands off me.” She struggled, pulling against his hold.“Dammit
“I see.” Bonnie said quietly. She wasn’t sure how she felt about him hanging around her and watching her, but at least this way she didn’t have to always be worried about her father finding her and forcing her to go home anymore. This way, she could get what she wanted. “My apartment is close to here. You can drop me off and be on your way” “I don’t think so” David replied. “I won’t be doing a good job of watching you if i left you alone, would i?” “What did you say?” She asked. He didn’t reply, but let her figure out what he meant by herself. When she did, her mouth opened, but all that came out was, “Oh God.” Lifting one dark eyebrow, David felt triumphant. She was already realizing the implications of insisting not to go back to her parents…He hid his chuckle and said, “Come again?” Bonnie shook her head, then at the same time said, “Nothing…” She heaved a sigh, straightened her back, and then nodded. “Okay. I think we could try and see how it goes.” David stared at her, tr
Crystal Lakes, as exclusive and ritzy as it was, sat only about twenty-five minutes from the lower east side. It was one of those areas where you could feel the gradual change as you left hell and entered heaven. The grass started looking greener, the business district slipped away, and eventually everything was clean and untainted. Bonnie pointed out her house, a small white one, with a front porch. It looked as if it had been standing there for more than a hundred years, and was surprisingly different from the newer, immense homes recently built in the area. There were lights in every window, providing a sense of warmth. All in all, the place was impressive, but not quite what he’d expected. Somehow, he’d envisioned her stationed in real money. Any truly successful businessperson could afford this house. David stared around the isolated grounds. “So you decided to live here by yourself?” She nodded, not quite looking at him, her hands clasped nervously in her lap. “And th
He braced his hands on the door frame, deliberately looming over her. "From this second on, I call the shots, with no arguments from you. If you really want to continue to stay here, you'll do as I tell you, whatever I tell you." He waited until she'd backed all the way into the kitchen, then he added, "You understand all that?" Bonnie's mouth opened twice, but nothing came out. She was too stunned to think rationally, too appalled to react with any real thought. David dropped his arms and stepped completely into the kitchen, watching her, and by reflex alone, she started sidling toward the hall door. She had made a terrible mistake. Her instincts had been off by a long shot. David's smile was pure wickedness. "Where ya' goin', Bon Bon?" "I, ah, I just thought of something..." she replied. Like a loud blast, his laugh erupted, filling the silence of the kitchen. She halted, a spark of suspicion beginning to form. "What is so funny?" "The look on your face. Did you think