Karma's a Bit*h Read online

  “You mean when he broke in here?” Greg asked.

  “Yeah. I did like you said, threatened him with the security footage. Apparently, he didn’t listen.”

  Phen whirled on Greg. “You told him to threaten this guy?”

  Greg threw up his hands. “No! I told Archie to suggest that it was in his best interests to leave it alone.”

  “Which I did last night, after I caught him harassing Jake.”

  Phen pinched the bridge of his nose and fell onto the couch beside me.

  “I don’t get what he thought calling Phoenix would accomplish,” Greg continued in a softer tone. “Other than causing trouble between you two. But why would he care about that?”

  I shrugged. “Maybe he thinks it will ruin my life. Or maybe this is just his first angle of attack.”

  Phen was staring into space, one hand running over his hair in a soothing motion, I remembered from our childhood. Greg eyed him with worry and compassion.

  I tugged Phen’s hand and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Hey, big brother, calm down. Take some deep breaths for me.” To my surprise, he did as I said and even gave me some of his weight.

  “I’m just trying to look out for you, Archie. After what happened with Ma…”

  “I know that. I appreciate it. I do. But you’ve got to remember, I’m thirty years old. I make my own choices, and I have to live with the consequences.” I exchanged looks with Greg. “Only now, you and Jake are involved, and I can’t let that slide.” I sighed. “Jake is my fault. I shouldn’t have hired anyone.”

  “You don’t want me here?” came a soft voice from the hallway.

  My head whipped toward the sound. “That’s not what I meant.” I pushed Phen off me without a care where he landed and rushed over to Jake. He’d gotten dressed and was trying to make himself as small as possible in my hoodie. I took his hands. “I hate that you’re involved in this now. Brett’s not leaving it alone after last night. And I can’t stand the fact that he targeted you while I wasn’t with you.”

  “Archer, we talked about this.”

  “I know, but that was before he followed us and called my brother.”

  Jake glanced at Phen, who had resumed pacing by the windows. “So, what do we do? I’m not leaving you. I don’t think it’d help anyway.”

  “He’s right,” Greg put his two cents in. “Jake’s an easy target, and I doubt Brett would care if he was no longer working for you or not.”

  Jake’s shoulders straightened. “Easy target?”

  “Relax, tiger. He just means that you’re obviously important to me.”

  “Oh.” Jake’s face flushed with embarrassment.

  I sighed and pulled him over to sit with me. “Most of the time, people get bored with being angry at me, if they even knew it was me in the first place. Especially if I don’t acknowledge them. Looks like Brett’s a special case.”

  “Most of the time!” Phen yelled.

  Shit. I peeked sheepishly over my shoulder. “I forgot you were there.”

  Phen rolled his eyes. “Archie, this isn’t funny.”

  “I know. I really forgot. I must be getting senile.”

  “No, you’re just too distracted by your boyfriend,” Greg said with a grin.

  “Well, he is distracting.” I leered at Jake, who frowned and rolled his eyes.

  I pretended to shudder. “That’s creepy.”

  “What is?” Jake asked.

  “You looked exactly like Phen just now.” I curled my lip. “Do I have a brother complex?” I eyed my brother, then Jake, then Phen again. “No. Definitely not.”

  Phen collapsed, this time in his own chair, and let out a strangled growl. “Can’t you be serious for two minutes?”

  “I could, but where’s the fun in that?” I hopped up and went to the kitchen to start coffee brewing. Jake followed me and grabbed some bread and shoved two pieces in the toaster.

  “Babe, I can make you something better than toast.”

  “No, this will do for now. My stomach is a little upset from last night.”

  “Could’ve fooled me,” I said into his hair. I slapped his butt and laughed when he jumped. Smiling, I turned to lean on the counter and caught my brother staring at me with an expression that somehow combined amazement and worry.

  I softened my smile, and Phen blinked, nodding like he understood.

  Phen cleared his throat. “So, Jake, why don’t you join us for Valentine’s dinner with our ma and nonna?”

  The toast popped, and Jake slapped a hand to his chest.

  I sputtered a laugh. “It’s just dinner, Jakey. Not a wedding.” I pinned Greg with my stare. “Greg can come, too. Ma loves Greg.” I gave him a grin worthy of the Cheshire cat, and his glare clearly told me to go to hell.

  Jake

  His mother? Was I ready for that? As his employee, I could’ve handled it, but as his boyfriend…we’d only just gotten together.

  Archer’s eyes remained steady on my face, and he read my growing panic. “Too soon?”

  “Um…”

  “It’s okay. I get it.”

  There wasn’t a trace of hurt or disappointment in his face or voice, but I felt it all the same.

  “When is it?”

  “Valentine’s Day. We make reservations every year at Ma’s favorite Italian restaurant.”

  I glanced at Phoenix and Greg, who made no move to hide their interest. “Do you think…” I leaned in to whisper in Archer’s ear. “Could we go out on a date tonight?”

  “Hells to the yes.”

  I smiled and stopped strangling the bottom of Archer’s shirt. I hadn’t even realized I’d grabbed it.

  “Then, if all goes well…I say yes.”

  “To the wedding or dinner?” I blanched, and Archer hooted. “Oh, my God, your face!” He braced himself against the counter and shook with laughter.

  I slapped his arm. “Very funny.”

  “I’ll call the restaurant and see if they can fit in two more at our table,” Phoenix said. “If you’re coming, Greg?”

  Greg looked at Archer, then Phoenix, then me. A sly smile came over him. “Oh, I wouldn’t miss it.”

  “Why did he say that?” I glanced between the brothers. “Archer?”

  “Um…” Archer hummed.

  “Well…” Phoenix hedged.

  “This is going to be a disaster.”

  “Not a disaster,” Archer said, caressing my shoulder. “Ma is very…”

  “Protective,” Phoenix finished for his brother.

  “Right. She doesn’t take crap from anyone. But that’s why I know she’ll like you, Jakey. You’re not full of crap.”

  “Thanks? I guess.”

  Archer grinned and drew me in for a tight hug. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she likes you as much as I do.” He paused. “Maybe not quite as much as I do. We don’t want a MILF situation going on.”

  “Archer!”

  “Gross!”

  “Archie!”

  Archer took off as his brother tried to grab him. He hurdled a club chair and his laughter left a trail of joy in the air behind him.

  Shaking his head, Greg came over to grab a cup of coffee.

  “Thank you for your help this morning,” I said.

  “Don’t sweat it. I’m used to cleaning up after Archie.”

  “It wasn’t his fault.”

  Greg eyed me over his cup. “This time. But nine times out of ten, it is.”

  “What happened to Titus?”

  “The owner?”

  I nodded.

  Greg shrugged. “He’ll probably get fined and maybe have to do some community service.”

  “Oh.” I slumped. “But it wasn’t his fault.”

  “I thought you said you don’t remember much?”

  “Some of it’s coming back to me now. That cowboy was using derogatory slurs. And…I might’ve…thrown a punch.” My stomach turned, but I held firm, sick of being so afraid all the time.

  �
��I know.” Greg smirked. “But he denied it, remember? I’m not charging you, and we’ll make sure the court’s aware Titus was acting in defense of you, Archer, and Miss Wilson.”

  I’d have to be satisfied with that because there wasn’t much I could do about it. Unless Archer had any ideas.

  “What are you thinking about so hard?” Archer asked.

  I hadn’t noticed him returning, and I grabbed the bottom of his shirt again. “Titus and his friends.”

  Archer nodded. “I asked Phen to look into it.”

  “You did? When?”

  “Just now. It’s no big deal; they were helping us—”

  Archer choked as I threw my body against his and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Thank you,” I croaked into the wonderful smelling skin at his neck.

  “Shh. Hey.” Archer rubbed my back. “Titus is a big boy. He’ll be okay.”

  “But you didn’t have to ask your brother for help.”

  His shoulders moved under my arms. “Well, he helped us out. Kept you safe. Honestly, it’s probably the least I could do. I wish I could do more.”

  I pulled away to peer into his eyes. “It’s enough, Archer. You’re amazing.”

  Archer’s smile started slow and spread into a sparkling grin. “You took the words right out of my mouth, babe.”

  “We should go before we get a peep show we didn’t ask for,” Greg whisper-shouted.

  Phoenix nodded and pushed Greg ahead of him to the door.

  “See you later, losers,” Archer said in farewell.

  Phoenix yelled over his shoulder, “Don’t get into any more trouble!”

  “Archie, I’ll take a drive and visit Hagerson. Don’t go looking for him.”

  Archer saluted Greg, and we waited for the door to close. Archer went and locked it and slid the bolt into place.

  Turning to me, he blew out a breath. “You okay?”

  “Yes, are you?”

  “Yeah. They can be a bit much when they tag-team.”

  “They’re worried about you.”

  “I know. I’m lucky to have them.”

  “We should probably get some work done.”

  “Probably.”

  We stared at each other. Archer’s cocky smile came out to play. “Race you to the bedroom?”

  “I can’t run. I’m hungover, remember?”

  “Ah, yes, that evil vodka shot. Here, let me hold you to my bosom, me lord.” Archer swooped me into his arms like a bride.

  “You are so crazy.”

  Archer kissed me as he walked, only running into the wall twice, and threw me on the bed. I struggled to right myself, but he was on me before I could. I gave up and lay limp underneath him. His body shook, and I gazed into mirth-filled eyes. I sighed, loudly, and his grin widened.

  Archer bent his head, and I savored the feel of his lips and the taste of his tongue, memorizing the moment. We made out and cuddled until we both fell asleep. It was the laziest, best day I’d ever had in my life.

  Chapter 17

  Archer

  “Okay, champ.” I massaged Jake’s shoulders as I stood behind the desk chair. “Now, I know I said minimal hacking, but I think we need to do the unthinkable.”

  An audible click in Jake’s throat indicated he’d gulped. “Hack Brian Hart’s Tinder.”

  “Soo quick. Like, in and out. They’ll never even know you were there.”

  “Only his password.” Jake craned his neck to see me. “I’m not doing any of that movie shit where I go in the back door and mess with the programmers and battle it out in cyberspace.”

  “Right. Password only.” I bent to kiss him. “Good luck.” I pecked his lips again. “I believe in you.” Once more.

  “Go.” Jake palmed my face, trying to hold in his laughter. “You’re too distracting.”

  I grinned and leaned over his shoulder. “Really? How distracting?”

  “Archer!”

  “I’m going.” I lifted off him, where I’d been clinging like a monkey, and walked to the door. I glanced over my shoulder. Jake had his tongue between his lips and a cute wrinkle in his brow. I was smiling like a dope, but I couldn’t stop.

  I shook out of it and continued to the kitchen. I needed to get some stuff done today, and I couldn’t spend it fantasizing about Jake. It was hard not to, though. I’d never been so gone on a guy before. I had to cool it, or I might scare him off. Work separately today, and then later, we’d meet Phen and Ma.

  We always made the reservation a year in advance for the following Valentine’s Day, otherwise we might disappoint Ma, and that would hurt. I stopped filling the dishwasher. Ma wouldn’t approve of what I did. I hated lying to her. Now that Phen had an idea of the truth, would he tell her or keep it to himself? I honestly wasn’t sure. My brother wasn’t above ratting me out if he thought it was in my “best interests.”

  I snorted. I guess I’d find out tonight…along with Jake.

  Despite my nerves, I was excited to introduce Jake. Ma would love him. She’d accidentally met one or two of my marks in the past when I’d been pretending to date them to get close. Guilt tried to crowd in, and I cringed. Christ, all these second thoughts hitting me were not cool.

  No. I shook my head. They deserved what they got. Maybe it wasn’t my call to decide that, but I’d made it my place, and I stuck to my guns.

  I finished cleaning up a bit, listening to the alarmingly increasing curses coming from the office, until Jake shouted.

  “Ha, I’m in! Yes! Oh, no. Gross.”

  I skidded to a halt beside him. “What? Oh.” I tilted my head and squinted at Hart’s dick pic. “That’s unfortunate.”

  “What on earth made him think that was a good angle?” Jake asked, head tilted in the same direction as mine.

  “I have no idea.” I shook my head. “Any Amys?”

  “I got distracted.”

  “I would have too.” I hoped the amount of wine I planned on consuming tonight would erase that memory.

  “Let’s see. He’s messaged a lot of women.” Jake raced through them too fast for me. “Plenty of hookups with no repeats.” He clicked and scrolled. “Here we go. Amy_Pensacola_2007.”

  “Pensacola? Florida?” I asked. “What’s that mean? That she was born there?”

  “Possibly. Or that she had an amazing vacation there in 2007.”

  “In Pensacola?”

  Jake chuckled at my tone and shrugged. “Never been.”

  “Hmm. You don’t want to, either. Now, Key West I can see us visiting often.”

  Jake grinned, and I had to blink and take a concentrated breath.

  “I’d love that!”

  I smiled and kissed his cute face. “Consider it done. We can celebrate your graduation.”

  Jake sprang from the chair and threw his arms around me. “That would be amazing. I’ve never been out of New York.”

  “What?” I tried to pull him away to see his face, but he refused. I had the sneaking suspicion he was teary-eyed. “How come?”

  “No money. No time.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut. Stupid. “Oh, shit. Your dad. I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” I’d also kind of forgotten he was eight years younger than me.

  “It’s okay.”

  I held him closer. “Is Key West okay with you? If not, we can go anywhere you want.”

  “Key West would be perfect.” He kissed my neck, my ear, my cheek, and my lips. “Thank you.”

  Lost in his touch, I gave him a sappy smile. “You’re welcome.”

  “So, Amy.” Jake cleared his throat and slid into the chair and continued to read. “She’s twenty-four, single, and living in Manhattan. She works at Erstin Myers, marketing firm as…” he clicked in a new tab and typed. “A sales rep.”

  “Hmm.” I studied her picture. “It looks like they’re buying her, not the product.”

  “Same technique pharmaceutical companies use.”

  “No. I mean, this is a front for an escort service.”

&
nbsp; “Prostitutes?”

  “Well, technically, they’re not supposed to sleep with their clients, but everyone knows that’s a bunch of baloney.”

  Jake’s face scrunched. “How do you know that?”

  “You can tell by the employee photos and their bios. They’re all attractive women in their twenties. No job titles or education under their photos. Nobody needing digital representation gives a crap about”—I bent closer to read the screen—“Savannah’s love of opera and French cuisine.”

  “Ohhh,” Jake breathed. “I thought it was one of those new companies where they let people bring their dogs to work and sit on bouncy balls.”

  I chuckled and petted his head.

  “Not adorable,” Jake said.

  “Yes, you are,” I countered.

  Jake huffed, adorably. “So, what are we going to do about this?”

  I straightened and crossed my arms to think. “Well, if we call and ask for Amy and ask her a bunch of questions about a client, she won’t tell us shit.”

  Jake nodded. “We’ll have to hire her.”

  I turned a grin on him. “Exactly. We tell her about Tamsin and the jewelry and ask her what’s up with Brian.”

  “If he knows she’s an escort, would he have given her any of the jewelry?”

  “I have no idea. But looking at her Tinder profile, I’d say she’s not just an escort. She’s hooking on the side. If Hart is hot for her, he might’ve given it to her to tempt her to come to him without an appointment.” I sat in the chair next to him.

  “Or he thought giving it to a prostitute was a good way to get back at Tamsin.”

  “There’s that,” I agreed.

  “Only one way to find out.”

  “Should we go through the service or Tinder?”

  “Let’s try Tinder. I don’t want to give them a credit card number.”

  Jake got to work creating a bogus profile and used my picture.

  I snorted as I read. “Loves Jack Daniels, Top Gun, and motorcycles?”

  Jake shrugged. “I don’t know what straight guys like.”

  I laughed. “Do you have a Grindr?”

  Jake shuddered dramatically. “I tried once. It wasn’t for me.”

  “Me either. I have—had—better luck at bars and clubs.”