Bending the Rules

Chapter Nine

“You told him about Rex? About me?” Nat hadn’t realized her voice could get that high.

Jason looked miserable. His puffy eyelids and red eyes attested to the fact he’d been crying. Yet even that couldn’t detract from his beauty. God. Why had he covered up his face that night with Rex?

She wanted to see him and Rex fucking again, but this time without masks.

Think, moron. They know. What now?

She focused on her worries and not her stupid libido. This was what she got for letting herself have a life. Anxiety, stress, ridicule…

“I’m sorry. It’s just… Sam always thinks he’s in charge of our relationship. Then he admitted he had feelings for Michelle. But they never told me about any of it until earlier today.” Another tear tracked down his cheek, and Nat swore he resembled a fallen angel. Where was the snot? The blotchy face she got when she bawled?

Not now.

“So you tried to make him jealous by outing me and Nat?” Rex said with disgust. “Jesus, Jason. I thought you understood about being discreet. Her job depends on it.”

“I’m so sorry, Natalie. Sam was breaking up with me, and I wanted to hurt him. I didn’t know he’d take the news to heart or tell anyone about it.”

Nat swore. “Of all the people in the world to tell, you had to confess to Josh Jessup’s best friend.” My world is way too small.

Rex groaned.

“I’m so sorry.” Jason kept repeating the words like a broken record.

While she felt for him, she worried for herself, and Rex too. He’d gone ashen, not what she’d expected of him.

“Rex?”

“We can do damage control, Nat. You know if Josh finds out he’ll tell as many people as he can.”

“So we say Jason lied.”

“Well, I kind of gave Sam details,” Jason apologized. “He didn’t believe me at first.”

Rex groaned and sat on the couch next to him.

“What details?” Nat asked.

“Things about Rex. Things Sam would know.”

Nat swung her gaze to Rex. “Sam too?”

He flushed. “Hey, the community isn’t that big down here. There are only so many of us bi-boys, you know? Besides, Sam and I haven’t played in years. Jason and I had been together a few months ago, but nothing again until you.” He turned back to Jason. “I thought you said you and Sam had an understanding.”

Good to know Rex wasn’t a home wrecker. Panic settled over her. She could lose her job, her reputation. Her job. She’d worked her ass off to get that position. Yet a few bits of gossip and all her hard work would be for naught. Done in by her passion for Rex Samson.

No, by her own perverted desires. She hadn’t known he was Rex when she’d watched J and R going at it.

Yet hadn’t Rex been the one to get her hot and bothered in the first place? Hadn’t she gone to the club with Freddy to rid herself of the lust he’d caused? And could she be that stupid to blame the man for her own attraction? Damn, Nat. Get a grip.

Jason was saying, “…but he’s serious about Michelle. I didn’t know. Then he was all jealous about you. I didn’t mean to throw Nat under the bus, but I recognized her. Sam knows you two are dating. Hell, everyone knows. So I kind of said I was a part of you two. It was stupid and you have no idea how sorry I am.”

Rex leaned his head back against the couch. “Shit. It won’t matter what’s true or not. Josh will run with this to ruin you, sugar.”

“Tell me something I don’t know. We’re sure Sam told Josh?”

Jason nodded. “He’ll go to Josh for comfort if he hasn’t already. They’re best friends.”

Nat didn’t know how to feel. A curious numbness stole through her. She needed time to process.

“This isn’t how I pictured our first argument would go,” Rex said, the fight all out of him. “Talk to me, Nat. What do you want to do?”

“I… I don’t know.” It didn’t matter what spin they put on it. Whether they convinced people to not believe the rumors or allowed them to stand, a whiff of scandal and Nat was gone.

“I think I need to go,” she said at last.

Rex nodded. “I’ll take you home.”

“I’ll get a cab,” Jason said, still crying. “I’m so sorry, guys. Freddy will ban me. Sam and Michelle are ditching me. God, life sucks.”

Nat didn’t hear him. She needed to find a way to deal with the future. Plan. Strategize. Rex drove her home in silence, darting glances at her but not speaking.

When the pulled up in front of her home, she moved to leave when he grabbed her arm.

“I’m sorry, Nat.”

She nodded, caught between numbness and despair.

“But I’m not sorry about us. It’s only a job, sugar.”

She tensed and glared at him. “Only a job? I busted my ass for three years to get that job, Rex. I love what I do.”

He sighed, looking tired. “I know you do, sugar. I just meant… Hell, I just want to make you feel better, but I don’t know how.”

She didn’t want to lash out at him. She knew this wasn’t his fault. He was a victim of circumstances as much as she was. “I know.” She leaned close to kiss him, and the soft hint of his breath warmed her where she’d gone cold. “I need some time to think. I don’t blame you for any of this.”

“That makes one of us,” he muttered. “I should have been more careful. But I was thinking with my dick. As usual.” He sounded disgusted with himself, which surprised her.

“Rex, seriously. If anyone’s to blame, it’s Jason.”

“Yeah, sure.” He cupped her neck. “I know you need time. Hell, whatever you need, it’s yours. Just… Don’t go too far away, okay? I love you, Nat.”

She smiled, and a deep hurt festered inside. Why, she had no idea, because the man of her dreams was confessing something awfully important. In this time when she’d need him most, he promised to be there for her.

She just wished she could accept his help without feeling like a failure.

“I’ll be fine.” She blinked hard to clear her vision.

He frowned, concerned. “Shit. Sugar, you call me if you need anything. I mean anything. Ice cream, to hit me, to hit Jason, some sex to ease this hard time,” he tried to joke.

Her watery smile didn’t help matters. Before she burst into stupid, unhelpful tears, she left the car and Rex behind.

The night hadn’t turned out anything like what she’d thought it might. The dinner with his parents had been amazing. Their time at the club even better. But those were fantasies, and she knew better than most how dreams could die.

Her parents hadn’t stayed together. Her first steady boyfriend—her boss a lifetime ago—had turned on her, stabbing her in the back to get his own promotion. She should have learned her lesson, but she had to try pushing the envelope. And not just by dating a major player in the city, but by taking her kink semi-public.

She knew better than to play out her games behind any closed door but her own. At least she used to hit the private spots outside of town. But being here, where so many people knew her, and knew each other…

Wiping her eyes as she stalked around her house, she eventually turned to cleaning to work off her energy. Monday morning and all its problems would come soon enough.

“I love you, sugar.”

Unfortunately, memories of Rex only made everything harder to handle. Because she loved the guy back, and she had no idea what to do about it.

Monday morning, she stared at the mayor standing before her desk. Lucky for her, Emily Deerborn, her boss, had come down with the flu, so the mayor, head of the city council, had taken it upon himself to give her the bad news.

“It’s a funny thing to hear. Especially about you.” To his credit, Tom Jessup looked uncomfortable. “But we all signed a decency agreement coming on to the job. Like the banks and educators, we public servants have a duty to the people of this city.”

“I know that, Mayor.” Nat refused to display any emotion. She’d cried out her frustrations yesterday and used tea bags and cucumbers to reduce the swelling under her eyes. Now she thought she just looked tired.

“You and Rex Samson, a fine upstanding young man, engaging in a bunch of…well, some odd activity with another young man? And in public? I frankly don’t believe a word of it.”

Even though your son started the rumors? And even those he didn’t get right. Public my ass.

“But,” Jessup continued, “our policy is to investigate any questionable issues involving staff. So you’re on a temporary leave of absence pending our review.”

She’d toyed with the idea of quitting and saving everyone the hassle, but screw Josh Jessup. The fuckhead wanted her job? He could fight her for it.

“No problem, sir.” She forced a smile. “I haven’t had a vacation in years. I’ll take the next two weeks to see family. You have my number.”

“Oh, well, I’m sure it won’t take two weeks.” Now he seemed worried.

That’s right, Tom. I do a lot of work around here. You think it’s so easy? Let your asswipe kid handle things. “Well, regardless, I’m going to take the next two weeks to think things over. And hey, while I’m gone, you can always have Josh take over. He’s been wanting my job for a while, hasn’t he?”

The mayor flushed. “Now, hold on. I’m not forcing you out to put my son in place. The council made the decision, not me personally.”

She took pity on him, since he kind of had to respond to Josh’s rumor mongering. The council had a responsibility to do the right thing until they knew more. “I know you aren’t,” she said. “But he’s someone who can fill in for the interim. Use him. In the meantime, I’m on vacation.”

He nodded, probably relieved she wouldn’t be throwing a hissy over the matter. “Fine, fine. I’ll let Emily know. Try to keep a positive mind about this, Natalie. I’m sure it will all blow over.”

“Yes, sir. I will.” She waited until he left, then mentally shot him the bird and grabbed her purse. The halls were especially quiet as she left, and few people said more than goodbye as she traipsed down the hall. She could only imagine what they’d been told and forced herself not to show shame or upset that she was being forced to leave.

Her cell phone buzzed in her purse. Probably Rex wanting to know how he could help. Yesterday had been tough, handling her problems on her own. And that bothered her. Normally she took whatever hand she’d been dealt and worked through her issues. Alone.

But her instinct when this shit hit the fan was to go to Rex. He’d help her just by being that calm, levelheaded guy everyone else seemed to lean on. He didn’t get spun-up over matters. He handled things and resolved them to his satisfaction. Or heads rolled under his sweet Southern drawl.

Nat needed to be her own woman, though. This was her career, not Rex’s. And it would do her good to take a break from him, to see just what he meant to her when he wasn’t around to cloud her judgment.

She returned home, packed a bag and decided to visit her sister Beth in Charlotte. A two-hour drive and she could clear her head on the way.

Once in the car, she paused. Doing the right thing, she dialed Rex. He answered on the first ring.

“Nat?”

“I’m okay. I’m on administrative leave, as I figured. I’m going to visit my sister in Charlotte for a few days. I need the break.”

“Shit. I’m so sorry—”

“Stop saying that,” she snapped, then sighed. “Sorry. It’s not your fault, Rex. Stop getting all guilty. You’re pissing me off.”

He chuckled, surprising her. “I hear you. Sorry. I mean, yeah, uh, you go visit with your sister.” After a slight pause, he asked, “Want me to come?”

“No.” Not wanting to hurt his feelings, she added, “I need this time to think about things. My job, you, my life… I need to think about where I am and what I want.” Would he respect that? Understand this had to do with her, and not him?

“I understand, sugar.”

“Do you?”

“Believe it or not, I do.” He sighed. “Years ago, something similar happened with me. So I get you. This isn’t about me or even us, I don’t think. It’s about you and what you need. Take your time. I’ll be here when you get back.”

“Not if I get back?” she persisted, still fascinated with his confidence.

“No. When. I know you, sugar. You’re hooked on me,” he teased. “Like Mama’s red velvet cake.”

His assuredness eased one worry dogging her—that she’d have to take care of him when she really needed to take care of herself. “Thanks, Rex.” I love you.

“No problem, Nat. Just remember, I’m only a phone call away. Love you.” He disconnected.

Immediately, she felt alone and lonely and resolved to re-grow a spine. With stiff determination, she called her sister. Always happy to hear from Nat, Beth welcomed her timely visit, pleased because Julie, her wife, had gone on a business trip.

“Great, little sis,” Beth said with a laugh. “It’ll just be you and me for a while.”

“Perfect.” Nat hung up and drove, thinking and not thinking, and missing Rex the whole time.

Rex kept himself occupied by his expansion in Charleston. He used the week to see to his business, trying to keep his mind off the woman making him simultaneously miserable and overjoyed.

She was the fucking light in his life, and he knew it now. Not that he hadn’t before, but the last few days without her had been hell. Fortunately business had taken him away from his folks, who would have seen right through him.

Brian, best friend that he was, had spent the weekend with Rex on the waterfront. He walked into the lounge of the hotel where Rex had upgraded to a suite for them both.

“Ah, there he is. My heartbroken best bud.”

“Fuck you,” Rex muttered when Brian sat next to him. He gave the waitress hovering nearby a wink, gratified when she blushed and bent all over backward to get him anything he wanted. At least someone still appreciated him.

He ordered himself and Brian some drinks and wings, then sat back to wallow in his misery. “She texts some but hasn’t called.”

“Woman needs some space. Give her time.” Brian didn’t seem worried. Then again, Brian was fat and happy with Faith. Not lonely and needing Nat.

“I am giving her space. I told her I’d be waiting for her.” Rex groaned. “I’m such a pussy.”

“Yep, you are.” Brian smiled at the waitress when she brought their order. “Thanks. Keep the drinks coming.”

“I will.” She left.

“Quit flirting or I’ll tell Faith.” Rex ate a chicken wing with little enthusiasm. “You think Nat will come back?”

“Come on, man. Buck up. Of course she will. Harper’s making a huge fuss over this. You know he’s her assistant, right?”

“Oh yeah.” Harper loved Nat. That was a good thing.

“Well, he’s been ranting and raving to Freddy, who told me that Josh is a horse’s ass with a case of self-aggrandizing importance. Or maybe that came from Dylan, because I doubt Harper’s big on diagnosing narcissism.”

“Yeah, and?” He drank half his beer to put out the fire in his mouth. Damn hot wings.

“And word is no one believes the crap Josh is spouting. I mean, prim and proper Natalie Wielder playing sex games?” Brian snorted. “Yeah, right.” He leaned closer to Rex. “Though I have to tell you, putting on that show for you guys was super hot. Faith was totally into it.”

“She didn’t know it was me though, did she?”

“Hell no. Just that some random couple watched. She’s okay with you seeing us, but Nat might weird her out a bit.”

Kind of like Nat had been freaked about knowing they’d watched Brian and Faith, but Rex didn’t say anything. “So what else is going on?”

“The planner’s office is backlogged. Nat kept a tight ship and Josh is clueless. Harper’s breathing down his neck, as is Derrick. And Marly Bennett, Nat’s secretary, is pulling her hair out.”

“Isn’t Marly that pleasant older woman who always smells nice?”

Brian grinned. “Pleasant to you. She’s a right bitch to everyone she doesn’t like. Derrick only squeaks by because Dylan smoothed the wheels for him. She tolerates Harper. But she loathes Josh. She’s been complaining about him all week, and the woman has some clout at the office.”

“I like that.” Something good to come from this mess. Nat would be able to tell her real friends from the assholes at work.

“Still, from what I hear, it’s not guaranteed Nat will keep her job. That’s up to the council.”

“Not the mayor?”

“Nah. He’s small potatoes when it comes to council stuff. He just likes to think he’s integral to everything.” Brian took a swig of his beer. “I gotta tell you, bro, we’re more worried about you. Faith, Derrick, Dylan, Harper. Even Freddy. We all like you for Nat.”

Rex blinked. “Since when? I’ve run into Harper a few times. Derrick a bit more than that. They’re nice guys, but I don’t know them, exactly.”

“You know me.” Brian buffed his fingers against his chest. “And everyone loves me. Therefore, you’re golden.”

“Shut up.” He chuckled. Trust Brian to lift his mood.

“Look, she might not be the easiest woman to work with—Harper’s words, not mine—but Nat’s amazing at her job. And she’s always been more than fair with people who work hard. Again, Harper’s words. Derrick’s too. So you’ve not only got my seal of approval, and Faith’s, but all the Warrens too. Those guys know a lot of people.”

Things were starting to look up for Nat. Too bad she didn’t know it. He didn’t think she’d been keeping in touch with Harper either.

“Should I give her more space, Brian, or call her? What do you think?”

“I think your girlfriend has had more than enough time to be with family. A whole week and no Rex. I bet she’s missing you something fierce.”

“You really are a good friend, aren’t you?”

Brian grinned. “The best. I gave up my lady to be with you.”

“Liar. I happen to know she’s coming tomorrow to finish the weekend with you.”

“Oh, er. Well, I gave up tonight.”

Rex laughed. “You’re a good egg, Brian. I mean that.”

“Gah. Stop with the Goode shit. Seriously.”

Rex laughed again, feeling better about life in general. If Nat didn’t have to lose her job, she couldn’t be too mad at him. Because no matter what she’d said, she had to blame him, at least a little, for her current predicament.

But so long as she came home, he wouldn’t worry too much.

She just had to come home.

One more week. I can handle that.

He groaned and finished his beer. As requested, the waitress cleared his empty glass and brought him another fine S&F ale. Yep. I can handle one more week without the love of my life. I’m not that big a pussy, am I?