Protecting You (The Boston irkpatricks #1) (4 page)

“I mean if you feel the need, but we do clean our equipment,” she said, sounding offended.

“This is just for extra precautions. Think of it like wearing a condom if you’re on birth control.”

Jocelyn couldn’t take it anymore. She busted out laughing. Cat lady looked enraged.

Jocelyn spoke up when she contained herself. “Alright come on, we have to get you back for your dinner meeting at six. It’s four-thirty. Let’s get serious.”

Cat lady hopped on the pole. I must say her moves were pretty impressive. I guess this is where all the old strippers end up. She taught me moves to get me through my first night on and off the pole. My muscles were killing me. The workout was phenomenal. I made an appointment to come back for additional lessons later in the week.

“I think I’ve been a good sport all day,” I said to Joc. “I’m ready for bed. I’m so exhausted. I had a very long day.”

“You can go to bed after your dinner meeting.”

We pulled up to the house. I had a million bags. Jocelyn helped me carry them. As I walked up to the door, I still had my sunglasses on. I was barely able to get a knock in due to all the bags in my hand. I heard Brendan fumbling with the knob. For Jocelyn’s sake, I hoped he had clothes on. When he opened the door, he just stood there staring at me. He didn’t speak.

“Is he okay?” I asked Joc.

“Earth to Brendan, are you there?” I said, waving my hand in his face.

“Uh, yeah. Yeah. Let me get the bags. Come in,” he said.

Chapter Six

Brendan

I couldn’t believe my eyes. If I thought Joella was beautiful with blonde hair, she was even more stunning with black hair. She looked so fucking hot standing at the door. I was speechless. My tongue was practically hanging out of my mouth. She was calling my name and asking what was wrong with me. I was brought back to reality when she asked me to pick up the bags off the floor. I reached down and grabbed them. I took the remainder of the bags from Joella and Jocelyn and placed them on the sofa.

“So how was your day,” I asked.

“It was great. We had lots of fun and tons of laughs,” Joella said.

“This girl here is a trip,” Jocelyn chimed in.

Wait, are we talking about the same person who left my house eight hours ago, because that person doesn’t smile at all?

“That’s great. I’m glad you had fun,” I said. I wish she would want to have fun with me.
Gawd forbid.

“I have to get going. It’s my grandson’s birthday,” Jocelyn said.

“Thanks for everything, Joc.”

Jocelyn and Joella hugged and kissed each other goodbye like they have been best of friends for years. I walked Joc to the door while Joella started carrying her bags up to her room.

“Brendan?”

“Yes?”

“I see the way you look at her.”

“Come on, Joc. She hates me.”

“Give her time. She told me she’s running from an abusive relationship. She needs to heal.”

“Did she now?” I said, trying not to laugh. “I’ll be sensitive to her feelings.”

“You better be nice. I’ll find out. See you tomorrow.”

I can’t believe she told Jocelyn she was running from an abusive relationship. I guess I did force her into that.

I went back inside and sat on the sofa. I was watching an
All in the Family
marathon on television. I was laughing at something Archie was saying when she came back down the stairs. She changed into shorts, tank top and flip flops. I had the air conditioner on so it was very cold in here. I could see her nipples harden through her tank and I could feel my dick start to harden along with them.

“Are we having our dinner meeting?”

“Yes. We can go into the dining room. I have everything set up. I want to talk about everything for tomorrow and what steps are to be taken. I also want to talk about the video recorder.”

“Sounds like a plan. Let’s go”

“Right this way. I jumped up off the sofa and led her to the dining room. I had set up two plates, wine glasses, and flatware. I had the wine chilling and food sitting under hot plates, courtesy of Marco.

“Wow, it looks great. I’m impressed,” she said.

That means I actually did something right today. I’m shocked.

I pulled the chair out for her and poured wine in the glasses.

“I hope you like steak. I wasn’t sure.”

“I love it.”

“Okay, great.” I sat down across from her after I served the food. I raised my glass to her.

“I want to thank you for taking my case and for agreeing to this whole mess.”

“No problem. You’re welcome.”

Wow, she actually didn’t snap or insult me.

“I
need
this wine after today.”

“Sorry about all that.”

“Jocelyn’s great. I see why you like her.”

“We got each other through tough times. When I got divorced, there were days when I couldn’t leave the house. I was devastated. I’m normally a strong guy. I guess we all have our weak moments. Jocelyn would come over and force me to walk around the block. She would give me pep talks. She would set up golf outings for me and Stan, who was her husband.”

“Was?”

“Yeah. He was great. He was like a dad to me. He passed away three years ago from colon cancer. She’s now widowed.”

I noticed Joella tense up and get uncomfortable. I wonder what that’s all about.

“I paid all his medical bills and funeral costs. It was the least I could do for them.”

“That was really nice of you.”

I noticed that her eyes sparkle with the darker hair.

“Joella, I know I didn’t say it when you came in but I like your new look. It looks great. I like the darker hair so much.”

“Thanks,” she said smiling. Her face was beat red. I think she exuded more confidence with this look.

“Can I ask you a question if you don’t mind?”

“Sure.”

“You said Jocelyn and Stan were like your second parents. What happened with your real parents?”

“My mom still lives in
Southie. I talk to her all the time. We’re very close. She and my father are separated. He’s a junkie and lives in a crack house. She holds out hope that one day he’ll get clean and come back to her. She practically raised us alone. He’s never going to come back. She needs to accept it and move on while she’s still young.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said.

“Don’t be Joella. I act like he’s already dead. It’s easier that way. I hate drugs and the fact that this drug mess is happening in my establishment really pisses me off. It cost me a father. It’s not going to take everything else from me. The worst thing is that my cousin Billy knows this about my father and knows how I feel about drugs in general.

“If something is going on, I will find it.”

“I can’t wire you because of the type of clothing you will be wearing, so I’m going to give you a wireless device. It’s an earring. You will wear it and it will capture everything in front of you and also the audio. If you see or hear anything make sure you turn to that direction to get it on video.”

“Okay.”

“There are eight girls that work there. You will be number nine. Some girls don’t perform every night, but they work the poles or talk to the people. I’ll introduce you to everyone tomorrow, and watch Billy because he’s a perv.”

“Must run in the family.”

I shot her a look. She really thinks I’m a pervert.

“I’m a guy. What do you want? Are you ready for dessert?”

“Sure.”

“So, have you slept with any of the dancers?”

“No, why would you ask me that?”

Is she jealous? I can only hope.

“For investigative reasons.”

“They are not my type.”

“Oh really,” she said raising her eyebrow. “What’s your type?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“For investigative reasons.”

“For Joella the cop or Joella the human.”

She sat in silence like she was trying to read me. Good luck with that honey.

“The cop.”

“Liar.”

“Get over yourself.”

“You.”

“Me what?”

“You’re my type.”

“I’m here on business not pleasure.”

“Maybe you
need
pleasure.”

“You don’t know what I need,” she said standing.

Why is she always running?

“Don’t go?” I begged.

“I’m going to do the dishes.”

“I’ll get them.”

“It’s okay. I’m a guest.”

“I’ll help you.”

She washed the dishes and I dried them. We worked in unison. I couldn’t help but look at her ass as she reached up in the cabinet as she put the dishes away.

“I’ll get that for you.”

I reached up to the cabinet to put the dish away. I felt my pulsating cock rub up against her lower back. I swear I heard her moan. I was so fucking horny.

“Are there any more dishes or bowls to put away?” I asked. I really hope so.

“There’s two more,” she whispered seductively.

I reached over her again, rubbing up against her. This time I lingered a little longer. She threw her head back. I was torturing her. I knew she wanted me. I just wanted to tear her tank top off and fondle her, but I moved back, away from her and continued to dry the dishes. I have to think logically. There is
no way I‘m going to be able to live with this beautiful woman in my house for almost three months. My hand is going to end up getting more action than me.

She finally turned around. She had a weird confused look on her face.

“I’m finished washing the dishes. I’m going to turn into bed. I’ve had a long day.”

Poor girl! I’ve been like a sexual deviant all day.

“We can watch a movie. I have a whole wall of DVD’s. It’s still early. It’s not like you have to be up tomorrow morning. We’re not going to the club until three.”

“It’s probably not a good idea.”

She definitely thinks I’m going to seduce her.

“It will be okay,” I assure her.

“Okay, maybe for a little bit. I probably won’t make it. I’m
so
tired.”

I put the towel on the rack and we made our way to the living room. She sat down on the far right of the sofa.

“What do you want to watch?”

“You pick something out.”

Is she serious? I don’t think she wants me to pick.

“How about
The Departed
? It’s my favorite movie and it was filmed right down the street.”

“Sure sounds great. I love me some Leo and
Marky Mark.”

Of course she would say that. All women do. I wanted her to be comfortable. She looked so stiff.

“Are you cold?” I asked, trying to be hospitable.

“A little bit.”

“Let me get you a blanket and I’ll raise the air. I usually keep it low because I’m always hot.”

Right now, I’m fucking steaming and my balls are aching. I returned with a blanket and handed it to her. She finally took her flip flops off and put her feet up on the couch. I sat on the opposite end of the sofa with my feet up on the coffee table. I was afraid if I put them on the sofa, our feet would touch and that would set her off again. I kept my focus on the movie, but I could feel her looking over at me from the corner of my eye.

About a half hour later, when I finally looked over at her, she was sound asleep. I wasn’t sure what to do. I didn’t want to wake her, but I also didn’t want to leave her on the sofa either. I attempted to wake her.

“Joella, why don’t you go get in bed?”

She just shuffled around. Just my luck, I now had to touch her. I decided to carry her up the stairs. I lifted her up into my arms. She threw her arms around me unintentionally. I laid her on the bed and covered her with a blanket. I watched her sleep for a minute. Somehow I knew this woman was going to change my life. I wasn’t sure how, but I felt a claim to her. I moved a piece of her hair that fell on her face. I walked away and closed the door behind me. I went back downstairs to turn the television and lights off. I figured I might as well go to sleep myself.

I undressed down to my boxers and got in my bed. I was dying with her in the room across from me. I had to take care of myself, because no one else was. I am breaking records today.

Around 2 A.M., I was woken by a sound. It sounded like a scream. I didn’t know where it was coming from. I opened my door. I thought it might be coming from Joella’s room. I didn’t care about her privacy, when she might be in danger. I opened the door slowly. She was crying in her sleep, saying “No, no, not again, not again!” I didn’t want to wake her, but I also didn’t want to leave her. I went and sat on the edge of the bed. I held her hand and rubbed her head. I whispered her name, hoping she would wake up and come out of it. A few minutes into her nightmare, she woke up startled and got scared when she saw me sitting there.

“Why are you in here?” she yelled.

“It’s okay. You were having a nightmare. I heard you from the other room.”

She looked down to see me holding her hand and she yanked it away.

“I’m okay. You can go back to your room.”

“I can’t just leave you.”

“Please just go,” she insisted.

“Joella, are you okay? Seriously!!”

“Yes. I have nightmares, sometimes. I’ll survive.”

“What was it about?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I want to help you.”

“You can’t take the pain away. No one can. I just act like it doesn’t exist, but these nightmares don’t let me forget.”

“You can confide in me.”

She looked at me. She wanted to tell me, but I think she was afraid. She could trust me. I don’t think I could ever hurt her.

“I was engaged seven years ago when I went into the academy. He was a police officer. I was set to join the Philadelphia Police Department when I graduated five years ago. I was going to join him. We were so happy. I was scheduled to start as a rookie cop in a week. We were going out to celebrate that night, but he never made it. He was killed in the line of duty. He was shot down in the street by a gang. They never to this day found the actual shooter. I couldn’t join the PPD after that. I was devastated. I
applied to the Boston Police Department and when they accepted me, I moved right away. My family was pissed. They didn’t understand. My sister was pregnant at the time and I abandoned her. I buried myself in my work and made detective very quickly. I have nightmares about the whole thing.”