Duke(106)

“I got a spare bedroom,” Dozer told her. “Hundred dollars a month, split electricity and internet with me, and if you know how to cook a good southern meal then I’ll buy all the groceries and clean the kitchen when you’re done. No strings, no sex, no expectations… though I won’t turn the sex down if you offer.”

Brain poked his head in, told Gen that Duke needed her, and she started to argue she needed to stay and help Sunny, but the look on his face told her something was up, so she came.

As Gen rounded the corner with Brain, she saw Duke standing next to his twin brother. “Gen, you remember Randall?”

Gen had worn all Armani today, and the jacket alone cost nearly seventeen hundred dollars. Pebbles had immediately recognized every piece, but Gen knew most men didn’t have a clue. However, as Randall eyed her from head to toe and back up, she could almost imagine him adding up the thousands of dollars in clothes and shoes she wore, which seemed surprising. However, she quickly noted his black designer Baxten jeans showcased his muscled body even better than Duke’s Levis. This man knew his clothes.

“Duke tells me you’re Frisco’s little sister?”

Gen nodded, and Randall said, “He also says the two of you have already had lunch?”

“Yes, but if you haven’t had anything, I’d be more than happy to sit and talk to you while you eat. I’m not driving so I can have a drink. I don’t know how Duke’s afternoon looks, but I’m free until my next appointment at five.”

Randall eyed his brother, then looked back to Gen. “I think I’ll take you up on your offer. Duke says he has some things to see to, perhaps he can join us later.”

Duke kissed the top of her head and told his brother, “She’s mine, Randall. In every way. No bullshit, yeah?”

“I understand. I came to make sure the issue at hand is resolved without things blowing out of proportion. I’m not here to make things worse.”

Gen tensed as she asked, “Issue at hand? What’s going on?”

“The gentleman involved in the accident across the street works for my brother’s construction company.”

Gen glared at Randall. “You know he’s a huge jerk, right? I watched him slap his girlfriend and call her a horrible name in a bar full of people, and tell her she had more coming to her. Dozer’s taking care of her now, ice on her face, making sure she’s okay, helping her figure out where she can move to get away from him.”

Randall shook his head with a happy smile as he looked at Duke and said, “I like her. She has spunk. No worries, I’ll just see how many embarrassing childhood stories I can fit in while we wait for you. Take your time.”

Randall offered his arm to Gen, and she grinned at him as she accepted it, and squeezed Duke’s arm with a smile as she let go and went back into the bar with Randall. She walked him to the rear of the room, found an open VIP table, and nodded to one of the waitresses. “Can you get his drink order, and me a rum and Coke?” She looked to Randall. “I’m going to make a pit stop in Duke’s office and I’ll be right back.”

She knocked on her way in to Duke’s office, but Dozer and Sunny were gone. She quickly opened the safe, put her weapon in, locked it back, and rejoined Randall at the table.

“Sorry about that.” She took a sip of her rum and Coke and asked, “Have you been here before? Everything’s good, but the steaks are to die for.”

“You removed your weapon. Why?”

Gen froze a second, drink still midair, and then put it down carefully as she asked, “Why would you think I had a weapon? Or that I removed it?”

“I smelled it on you earlier, and now I don’t.”

“Duke told you I know?”

He nodded, and Gen shrugged. “My carry license is void when I’m drinking. I may be dating an outlaw, but I prefer not to turn into one.”

“Did you carry before you met him?”

“Yes. I’m a Realtor, and regularly meet with strangers in empty houses and business offices. I’ve been trained, I know how to handle it.”

Randall nodded and smiled. “Good. I’d hate to think my brother has let his shit get you dirty.”

“You don’t seem to have a high opinion of your brother.”

He sighed. “I’m sorry, that’s not actually the case. I don’t necessarily approve of his choices, but I understand why he’s made them and I’m sad it’s the way things ended up.”

Gen tilted her head, sensing there was more. “And?”

He shook his head. “And, my life’s easier because he made the hard decisions, so it’s difficult for me to fault him for them.”