“We’re not. I think we’re handling everything really well, don’t you think?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.
“Beer, food, and water, that is what’s going to make our lives awesome. It will be fun. Just some fun. That’s all you need.” He wasn’t going to take no for an answer. He wanted her close so he could tempt her.
She went to push some of her hair out of the way but it was already pulled back into a ponytail. She had such full, kissable lips.
“I promise this is all for us to have some fun. You deserve it. I’m thinking I need to hire you to put my shit into place,” he said.
She chuckled. “Okay. I’ll be there. What time?”
“Anytime you like.” He winked at her. “I will be waiting. If your sexy ass isn’t over at my place by nine, I’m coming to get it, Anna-Beth.”
“I don’t know your name,” she said. “How do you know mine?”
“I heard it. The guy who sold you this place. He called your name, and I put two and two together. It is your name, right?”
“Yes. I don’t suppose you’d tell me your name?” she asked.
“Rix.”
“Hi, Rix. It’s nice to finally meet you. Officially, that is.”
“Yeah.” He winked at her again. “It certainly is.”
****
The following day, Anna-Beth looked at the time as her workload just seemed to increase. Being new at the accounting firm, she wanted to make an impression, but her record spoke for itself.
Rix’s words followed her.
Her father had died doing his work and so had her mother. Being a workaholic ran in her family. She nibbled on her lip. She always took work home. That was what she enjoyed doing. Work, nothing else. Her life was focused solely on it.
The party, though.
Would Rix really do what he said? Come and get her? No man had ever forced her to have fun. It had been years since she went out and dated, or did anything with the opposite sex.
Would it be so wrong to want to?
The workload would be here tomorrow or Monday. She didn’t have to do everything now, did she?
Finally, at six, she decided to take her chances and logged out of her computer, getting to her feet. Nearly everyone had left and as she did, she thought about Rix. He was an interesting man. A biker. Someone from an MC. She didn’t know the name of his club, or who he was, but that didn’t matter. He’d been nice to her.
She stopped off at the liquor store on the way home, picking up a couple of packs of beer. She doubted it was enough and proceeded to make her way home. The walk was always long, but she liked it. Normally, it helped to clear her head of all the worries and stress of the day.
This was what she did. The same old patterns.
Anna-Beth thought back to the time in the city, waking up with a gun pressed to her head as they robbed her place. The men responsible were drug dealers after some quick money. They didn’t care about the trauma they were inflicting or who they were hurting. Both of them were in jail as she’d been one of many apartments hit.
They’d even robbed a cop’s house as well.
Anyway, she wasn’t going to think about that time. She’d never been so scared in her life.
She got onto her street and hummed as she walked all the way down, coming to less than twenty feet away when she heard the music. His house was lit up, whereas hers lay completely dark.
Taking a deep breath, she made her way to her home. She would change first. There was no way in hell she’d wear a bikini to any kind of party.
She didn’t take her time inside her home, nor did she shower. Quickly throwing on a pair of jeans, and a top that dipped in at the cleavage, clung to her waist, and expanded out at the hips, she let her hair down. No makeup, nothing. After running a brush through her long locks, she settled on some flat shoes, and she was done. This wasn’t the kind of party animal she was.
She left her bedroom, only to turn on her heel and look at herself.
“What am I doing? I shouldn’t go over there.” She went to remove her clothes just as her doorbell rang.
Who the hell would be calling on her?
She made her way downstairs, opening the door before she even looked out. Sure enough, Rix was there.
“I had this feeling you were debating coming to the party,” he said.
“Er, no.” She looked down at herself. “I don’t really know how to … party. I think I’m going to stay in.” This was so fucking embarrassing. She hated this.
He chuckled. “Sweetheart. We’re not having a rave. You look hot, but you’re going to be the only woman overdressed.” He took her hand. “I forbid you to ignore me.”