Pen Pal

25

He unfolds his arms, leans down into my face, and stares into my eyes. “Thanks for sharing your opinion on the subject. That’s the last time you get to do it. Mention money to me again, and you know what you’ve got coming.”

When I only stand there staring at him, he prompts, “Acknowledge that you know what you’ve got coming.”

“Why?”

“It’s called consent.”

I say haughtily, “I don’t consent to a spanking over money.”

“Don’t mention it again, and you won’t get one.”

“Remember when I told you I liked it when I wasn’t being irritated?”

Ignoring that, he adds, “But if you do mention it again, I’m considering you warned and fully informed of the consequences, regardless of whether or not you claim not to want it.”

I make a screwy face. “I think your logic is flawed.”

“How nice for you. Doesn’t change a thing.” He turns on his heel and heads toward the front door.

“Where are you going? We’re in the middle of a conversation!”

Over his shoulder, he says, “Not anymore, we’re not.”

“Get back here right now or you’re the one who’ll get the damn spanking!” Chuckling, he disappears out the front door.

An hour later, Jake the security guy shows up. He’s cut from the same cloth as Aidan: big, brawny, lumberjack-y. He even has forearm tattoos and a beard, too, though his is a lighter shade of brown and has a few streaks of silver in it. I let him in and show him around. We end up in my office. “Piece of cake,” he says confidently. “Where do you want the smart hub?”

“I have no idea what that is.”

“It ties all your devices together and acts as the nerve center of your security system.” When I stare at him blankly, he continues.

“We’re going to connect your alarm, security cameras, and doorbell camera to a wireless hub that controls everything and interfaces with your smart phone so you can do it remotely.”

Hub? Cameras? Remote control? I start to get nervous. “That sounds expensive.”

Jake grins knowingly. The bright pink piece of gum he’s chewing sticks out from between two molars. “Aidan said that if you mentioned money, I’m supposed to tell you that you know what happens.”

My face flames. I say acidly, “Did he now?”

“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. Just doin’ my job here.”

His tone is light and there’s a distinct twinkle in his eye. I am so going to kill Aidan the next time I see him.

“How about if we just set up a basic security thingie where I, like, punch in a code to arm the alarm?”

Jake makes a face at me as if I just insulted his mother.

“Seriously, I don’t need cameras and all that other stuff. I just want an alarm to sound if someone breaks in.”

“But you should have cameras so if someone does break in, you got it on video. It won’t help the police very much if they can’t identify the perp.”

All this talk of perps and break-ins is starting to unsettle me. I say, “Maybe we should just forget the whole thing.”

Jake laughs. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”

I’m taken aback by that. “Why not?”

“Because Aidan says you’re getting a security system. Which means, like it or not, you’re getting a security system.”

“I see.”

“Yeah.” He chews his gum and eyeballs me as if he wants to say something but doesn’t think he should.

“What?”

“Nothing. Not my business.”

“Uh-huh. Except your face thinks it is. Spit it out, Jake.”

He debates with himself for a moment, then says, “You seem like a nice girl.”

“Yikes. That sounds bad.”

He holds up a hand. “Hear me out. And do me a favor and don’t repeat this, okay?” I nod, anxiety blooming in my stomach.

“I’ve been friends with Aidan since high school—”

I cut in, “If you’re about to tell me he’s a flagrant womanizer, I really don’t want to hear it.” “No, that’s not what I was going to say.”

“Good.”

He c***s his head and frowns at me. “But if he was, you wouldn’t want to know?”

“Like you said, it’s not my business.”

He makes another face, and now I’m beginning to get exasperated.

“What now?”

“Just never met a woman who wouldn’t want to know if she was getting involved with a skirt chaser is all.”

“Fine. Is he a skirt chaser?”

“No.”

I throw my arms in the air. “You’re killing me! Get to the point already.”

“Okay, look. I’ll be straight with you. Aidan doesn’t get close to people. Doesn’t trust them.”

His pause seems meaningful. I say, “And…?”

“He’s had a rough time pretty much his whole life.”

When he stops and snaps his gum, I think I know what he’s getting at, and my cheeks grow hot again.

“Are you suggesting that I’m taking advantage of him? Because I specifically told him that I would pay for everything—”

“He likes you,” he interrupts, his voice low. “And Aidan doesn’t like anybody.” He glances pointedly at my ring finger, then meets my eyes again. “I don’t want to see him get hurt.”

After a beat where my brain resets itself and my heart melts, I say softly, “I like him, too. And I’m not going to hurt him, Jake. I promise.”