Cocky Bastard

“Yes. I referred him to Aubrey. There’s no one else that the Bateman brothers would allow to touch their tockley. Except Aubrey.”

“Pardon?”

“Tockley—it’s an Australian term for important paperwork.”

He nodded and looked over at the curb as Aubrey parked.

Dumb fuck. Suck my tockley.

Now that I wasn’t supposed to know who he was, I could screw with the guy a bit. “So what do you think of the place? Coming along really well, don’t you think? Place was a real mess when I got here. I’m surprised Aubrey doesn’t have a man around the house to take care of things properly.”

Dick cleared his throat. “She does. Just not one who has the time or inclination to do this sort of work.”

“That’s a shame. Aubrey could use a man that takes care of all her needs.”

Dick narrowed his eyes at me, as Aubrey rushed from her car. She looked pale and frazzled.

“You didn’t tell me, Mr. Bateman’s brother was your landscaper?” Dick said to Aubrey.

“Brother?” Aubrey looked to me and I grinned.

“I thought Harry here was Chance when I pulled up.” Then the idiot added, “Now I can see the difference, of course. Twins always look different around the eyes.”

“Harry?” Aubrey’s panicked face cracked a tiny smile.

I spoke to Dick. “Aubrey calls me Harrison. She’s a stickler for proper names, isn’t she?”

He ignored my comment. I got the feeling this tool ignored anyone who wasn’t wearing a suit. Instead he spoke to her. “I was just about to tell Harry that his services are no longer going to be needed. Seeing as we’ll be heading to Boston soon enough.”

Aubrey spoke quietly. “That’s not decided yet.”

“I told you. It’s just a formality. I’ve already spoken to the partners. They want you.” Dick put his hand on the small of Aubrey’s back. I was barely able to stop myself from physically removing it.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Bateman.” He didn’t bother to look at me. “We better grab that file, sweetheart. Or we’ll be late for the deposition.”

Aubrey nodded. She looked back over her shoulder twice before disappearing into the house. A few minutes later, they came out together again. Dick nodded at me, and Aubrey looked down as they passed. I had started to dig a hole to put flowers in when they went inside, but I’d forgotten to stop. I now had a waist deep crater. I couldn’t look over at the curb as they got into their cars. My restraint was hanging on by a thread.

One car pulled away. Not hearing the second start, eventually I looked out to the street. Dick was gone, but Aubrey was still sitting in her car. Her head was leaning against the steering wheel. I walked over and got into the passenger seat.

Neither of us said a word for a minute. “What am I supposed to do?” She eventually whispered.

I blew out a heavy stream of air. “Do what’s in your heart, Aubrey. If that’s not being with me—it will suck—I’m not going to lie. But I want you to be happy. That’s how I’m sure I’m in love with you. If the choice is you being happy or me…there is no choice. You come first.”

She shook her head. “I believe you, you know.”

I took her hand from the steering wheel and lifted it to my lips, kissing the top. “You should. Because I mean it. There’s nothing I won’t do for you, Princess.”

She smiled. It was a step in the right direction. She believed me.

“I better go. We have a deposition in fifteen minutes across town, and I’ve been so preoccupied, I didn’t even realize that the file was at home.”

I opened the car door. If we had more time, I would have preferred to leave things for today. But, thirteen days. I had to ask. “Come home with me this weekend?”

“Chance…”

“I know. But I don’t have the luxury of time anymore. You have a decision to make. And Dick gets you all the time. I want to take you home with me. Show you what our life can be like. No crazy road trips. No interruptions. Just me and you. Give me a fair shot if you’re making this choice.”

“I told you. I can’t be with you like that. Richard is a good man. It wouldn’t be fair to cheat on him. Our kiss the other night was bad enough.”

“Bad? I thought it was pretty fucking phenomenal.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

“Fine. I won’t touch you. Sexually, I mean. I won’t.”