“Twittle? There will be no twittling.”

Laughing, Diego said, “Relax. I have no intention of doing anything with you. I just like pressing your buttons…or button.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“Seriously! Enough with the sexual innuendos.”

“Why? Am I making you hot?”

“You’re making me want to slap you around.”

“I’m into that.”

“Check please!” I called out in frustration as I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms. Diego just laughed while he patted his mouth clean with his napkin. It was going to be a long fucking couple of weeks at this rate.

Chapter Twenty Five

“She Keeps Me Warm”

Jett

“George, I understand that but I want to make sure we are ready to make a move when we can,” I said into my phone as I paced the length of my office.

“Mr. Colby, you just have to be patient.”

I wanted to laugh into the phone. Someone telling me to be patient was a joke, I was the most patient man in the world but when it came to finalizing this Lot 17 bullshit, I wanted it completed. I hated being apart from Goldie, now that I had her. The club wasn’t the same without her smart mouth and ridiculousness. Everyone missed her, even Miss Mary.

“I’m a very patient man, George, but what is taking so goddamn long? What is the city waiting for? Don’t they want to get this over with? Start making some money?”

“They do, but there is a process. Once I hear something, I’ll let you know. Until then, make sure your affairs are in order so that when we can put a bid in, we do so in a timely manner.”

“You know everything is ready to go, don’t treat me like a child.” I seethed. I’ve been working with George ever since I extracted myself from my father and there were times in our lawyer/client relationship where he acted like my father and I had to remind him who worked for who.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Colby. We will get Lot 17. You have good standing in the community and you want to use it for a good reason.”

Damn fucking right!

“Thank you, George. I’ll be in touch.”

I turned off my phone and gripped my desk as I looked out the window of my office. Was this even all worth it? I could find a new lot, some new land. Was I risking too much just because my dad was involved now? I was a prideful man but right now, was my pride getting in the way? I didn’t want to lose to my father, but I also didn’t want him to destroy the culture and feeling of New Orleans by putting a monstrosity of a building in a place where it doesn’t belong, especially when the lot belonged to the children so they could play.

The night had taken over the sky as I was trying to keep my mind off Goldie and figure out my next move. I looked at the time and noticed that it was past ten so I grabbed my phone and walked out to my master suite where I got ready for bed.

My suite was my escape, my only sanctuary and now that Goldie was no longer in the club, sleeping one floor below me, my bedroom seemed so cold and empty. The gray walls seemed large and uninviting as well as the chrome and black furniture that was scattered around my room. I used to find this room to be a place of my own, where I could think and step away but now it almost seemed like a jail cell.

I needed Goldie’s arms, her body, her heat. That is where I was comfortable.

As I brushed my teeth I thought about how in a matter of days, I became a pussy whipped man who could barely function without the sweet scent of his girl wafting next to him. I used to make fun of men like me but now that I was in their position, fuck, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I thought I had it all when I was with Natasha but fuck was I wrong. Goldie is having it all, Goldie is peace, she is my heart.

As I chucked my clothes into my dirty hamper, my phone chimed with a text message. Knowing it was my girl, it just had to be, I turned off my lights and got into my cold and empty bed. I pulled my phone out and read the message from her.

Goldie: Hi, handsome. You’re probably off gallivanting, trying to save the world but I just wanted to tell you that I had a good day, despite Diego’s ribbing and not having you to hold me. I was happy with my painting and felt like I really contributed to something. Tell the girls I miss them and slap Kace in the back of the head for me.

I laughed to myself and typed her back a message.

Jett: Hi, gorgeous. I’m actually calling it a night and headed to bed. I’m glad you had a good day. If Diego gets too lippy, you have my permission to castrate him.

Goldie: That would require me touching his penis. Do you really want me to do that?

Jett: Fuck no. I will hire someone. 

Goldie: Overbearing. 

Jett: Only for you, little one. Now, tell me what you’re wearing.

Goldie: Is this a test? Because if it is, I think I pass…

A picture popped up on my phone and it was a smiling Goldie, lying against her pillow with her hair fanned out around her, wearing a little tank top. She was beautiful. My chest constricted from just the sight of her. I saved the picture to my phone as my wallpaper and then wrote her back.

Jett: You’re so damn beautiful. How did I get so lucky?

Goldie: You strolled the cemetery, looking for fresh meat. 

Jett: And came out with a sassy, defiant man-eater. 

Goldie: I think I eat your manhood pretty damn well, if you ask me.

Jett: You’re pushing your luck, don’t make me come over there and test your skills.

Goldie: Is that supposed to be a punishment because it seems more like a reward to me. 

Jett: The only reward you’re going to get next time I see you is a slap to the ass. 

Goldie: Once again, it seems like you’re trying to punish me…

Jett: Did you think about me all day?

Goldie: Do dogs sometimes eat shit?

I cringed from her foul mouth but just shook my head and laughed. You could take the girl off Bourbon Street but you can’t take the Bourbon Street out of the girl, that was for damn sure and at this point, I don’t think I would want to. She keeps things…interesting.

Jett: I’m going to ignore that last text and let you try again. Did you think about me all day?

Goldie: Snob! And yes, I did. How could I not? Did you think about me?

Jett: Every damn second. Why are we texting? 

My phone started to ring and I smiled as I saw her name pop up on my screen.

“Hi,” I answered.

“God, I love your voice. How are you?”

“Much better now,” I admitted as I got comfortable in my bed.

“I feel like a teenager, talking to my high school crush right now.”

“You have a crush on me, Goldie?”

“I have a hell of a lot more than a crush, Mr. Colby.”

“Oh, yeah? Tell me about it.”

She laughed and said, “I’m not going to lie here and boost your ego. You know you’re hot, you know you own me, no need to repeat myself.”

“Sometimes a man likes to hear it.”