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Authors: E. L. Todd
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enchanted like most women. She was indifferent. She said she wasn’t dating so I knew she wasn’t looking for romance. It made my life a lot easier. I hated rejecting women and making them cry. I hated being the bad guy. With Aspen, I didn’t have to worry about that.
My absolute favorite quality about her was her empathy. She sympathized with me, understanding that it was difficult for me to command respect from people when I told them what I did for a living. And she also understood that most women viewed me as a piece of ass. All they cared about was the package I came in, nothing else. And when I was seduced with roofies or other substances, it didn’t feel good. I had a new respect for women in that regard. They were constantly preyed upon because they were small and desirable. They were hardly respected as human beings.
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
Her deep voice brought me back to the present. “How beautiful you look tonight.” It was the truth, in a way. I went off on a tangent but the thoughts stemmed from her appearance.
“You really are worth every penny.” She clanked her glass against mine then took a drink.
“I would have said it whether you paid me to or not.”
“You’re smooth,” she said playfully.
I knew she was dodging the compliment because she was used to men giving it to her, not because she didn’t believe me. She and I were alike in that respect. There were days when I wanted to wear a mask just so I could walk the world unnoticed. Aspen would do the same.
“Hey, watch this.” A guy a few feet away picked up a flute from a passing tray, and my eyes could hardly believe it as he poured the champagne on the waiter’s head. The guy bust up laughing, finding the action extremely humorous.
Did that just happen?
The waiter had the grace not to yell or start a fight. He held the tray without dropping it then wiped the liquid away with his sleeve.
“Hilarious, right?” The guy wore a tuxedo with a lime green bow tie. His face was covered in a full beard and his hair was long and unkempt. He looked like a homeless person who mugged someone outside the charity event.
Two guys stood beside him and they chuckled along, acting like two mindless cronies.
I wanted to intervene and do something but I honestly had no idea what was going on. Why would an attendee at a black tie party dump champagne on a waiter? It didn’t make any sense. Did the waiter do something?
“Jerome, give me your glass.” The guy reached for it and prepared to throw it again.
Whatever the reason they were throwing drinks, it was uncalled for. I took a step to intervene but it was too late.
Aspen marched over, her back perfectly straight, with the strength of a Roman soldier. Her gown trailed behind her, and her dress glittered as she moved. She carried herself with grace and confidence.
“When will you grow up, Lance?” She snatched the glass from him before he could throw it. “Don’t embarrass Dad like this.”
“Why don’t you take a chill pill?” he countered.
“Good one,” she said sarcastically. “Still using taunts from sixth grade. That’s really impressive.”
He narrowed his eyes at her and looked like he might hit her.
“No one is forcing you to stay,” she said. “Just leave if you’re going to be nothing but a nuisance to everyone.”
“Do you ever get tired of being a bitch?” he snapped.
My fists clenched at my sides.
“Another good one,” she said sarcastically. She turned away and walked back to me, her head held high and her shoulders back.
Lance grabbed another drink then prepared to throw it on Aspen.
I ran to him then knocked the glass down. “Touch my girlfriend and I’ll break your arm.”
The crowd noticed us and turned in our direction.
I gripped his arm then pinned it behind his back. Without hesitation, I kicked his knees out from under him, using my martial arts training. “Do you understand me?” I leaned toward his ear as I
My absolute favorite quality about her was her empathy. She sympathized with me, understanding that it was difficult for me to command respect from people when I told them what I did for a living. And she also understood that most women viewed me as a piece of ass. All they cared about was the package I came in, nothing else. And when I was seduced with roofies or other substances, it didn’t feel good. I had a new respect for women in that regard. They were constantly preyed upon because they were small and desirable. They were hardly respected as human beings.
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
Her deep voice brought me back to the present. “How beautiful you look tonight.” It was the truth, in a way. I went off on a tangent but the thoughts stemmed from her appearance.
“You really are worth every penny.” She clanked her glass against mine then took a drink.
“I would have said it whether you paid me to or not.”
“You’re smooth,” she said playfully.
I knew she was dodging the compliment because she was used to men giving it to her, not because she didn’t believe me. She and I were alike in that respect. There were days when I wanted to wear a mask just so I could walk the world unnoticed. Aspen would do the same.
“Hey, watch this.” A guy a few feet away picked up a flute from a passing tray, and my eyes could hardly believe it as he poured the champagne on the waiter’s head. The guy bust up laughing, finding the action extremely humorous.
Did that just happen?
The waiter had the grace not to yell or start a fight. He held the tray without dropping it then wiped the liquid away with his sleeve.
“Hilarious, right?” The guy wore a tuxedo with a lime green bow tie. His face was covered in a full beard and his hair was long and unkempt. He looked like a homeless person who mugged someone outside the charity event.
Two guys stood beside him and they chuckled along, acting like two mindless cronies.
I wanted to intervene and do something but I honestly had no idea what was going on. Why would an attendee at a black tie party dump champagne on a waiter? It didn’t make any sense. Did the waiter do something?
“Jerome, give me your glass.” The guy reached for it and prepared to throw it again.
Whatever the reason they were throwing drinks, it was uncalled for. I took a step to intervene but it was too late.
Aspen marched over, her back perfectly straight, with the strength of a Roman soldier. Her gown trailed behind her, and her dress glittered as she moved. She carried herself with grace and confidence.
“When will you grow up, Lance?” She snatched the glass from him before he could throw it. “Don’t embarrass Dad like this.”
“Why don’t you take a chill pill?” he countered.
“Good one,” she said sarcastically. “Still using taunts from sixth grade. That’s really impressive.”
He narrowed his eyes at her and looked like he might hit her.
“No one is forcing you to stay,” she said. “Just leave if you’re going to be nothing but a nuisance to everyone.”
“Do you ever get tired of being a bitch?” he snapped.
My fists clenched at my sides.
“Another good one,” she said sarcastically. She turned away and walked back to me, her head held high and her shoulders back.
Lance grabbed another drink then prepared to throw it on Aspen.
I ran to him then knocked the glass down. “Touch my girlfriend and I’ll break your arm.”
The crowd noticed us and turned in our direction.
I gripped his arm then pinned it behind his back. Without hesitation, I kicked his knees out from under him, using my martial arts training. “Do you understand me?” I leaned toward his ear as I
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