Beatrice and Douglas by Kelly Lucille Read Free Book Online

to jump into some kind
of whatever it was with Douglas Bruce of all people.  She had watched for
years while he went through women like they were Chiclets.  She was not so
anxious to be added to his collection of past lovers, even if he was so good at
it he could be labeled the eighth wonder of the world.  She was pulling up
to the bed and breakfast with the picture of the line up in her mind, the great
pyramids, Niagara Falls, Douglas Bruce with that cocky smile on his face and
nothing else.  Hmm.
    She walked in the doors, still focused on the wicked fantasy
of Douglas Bruce wearing nothing whatsoever, when Mrs. Peal interrupted her
musing with an exuberant greeting.
    “Ms. Blue.  I am so happy to tell you, your young man
finally showed up after all.  And, my, has he planned a wonderful romantic
night for the two of you.  Gives me goose bumps to picture it.”
    “What was that?”  Please let that not mean what I
think she means.
    “Beatrice, there you are!  I was hoping you would leave
work before I had to come drag you away.”  Charles stepped out of the
parlor with a cup of tea in his hand and an indulgent smile on his face. 
Still dressed in his suit from work, he was smiling indulgently her way. 
Clearly, he was expecting her to be happy to see him.  This was going to
be so bad.  At least Douglas was still at the worksite.  As soon as
she had that thought, the front door opened with a crack and Douglas Bruce
stomped inside.
    “Since when do you duck out of the worksite without any
notice?”
    Looking from a confused Charles to an irritated Douglas
Bruce, she started shaking her head.  This was going to be so bad.   One thing at a time.
    “Charles, I don’t think you’ve met the carpenter, Douglas
Bruce, have you?  He works for Uncle Jack.”
    Douglas froze and looked from her to the good looking suit
standing at the door to the parlor.  He took him in with a glance. 
Sandy-haired, brown eyes, slick, and polished.  Did she just introduce
me as the fucking carpenter?  He narrowed his eyes between the two of
them.  “What the fuck is he doing here?”
    Beatrice gritted her teeth.  “Charles thought he would
surprise me by showing up for a night out.  We have not had a chance to
talk.”
    “Isn’t it romantic?”  Mrs. Peal said from the desk,
beaming at them and completely missing the tension arching the room.
    “No.”  He gritted out.  “Not going to happen.”
    She narrowed her eyes in clear warning for him to back
off.  Yeah, good luck with that one, sweetheart.
    “I have not had a chance to talk to Charles yet.  I
would appreciate a few minutes now.”
    “Not going to happen.”  
    “This is not up for discussion.  I need a minute with
Charles and you are going to give it to me.”  This time she snapped it,
clearly fed up, but she wasn’t the only one.
    “Not going to fuckin’ happen.  You can say anything you
have to say with me here.”
    “The hell I can.”  There was that sting he was used
to.  “Leave.”
    “Not this time, Bumble Bee.”  By now, they were toe-to-toe
and had managed to forget the audience watching with varying degrees of
confusion.
    “You are the most obnoxious man I have ever had the
misfortune to meet.”
    “Yeah.  That changes exactly dick.  I’m staying.”
    “What exactly is he staying for?”  Charles finally
broke in, the suspicion clear in his voice.
    Douglas looked at the put together business suit and
clean-faced good looks.  He saw red, or more likely, green when he
snapped.  “She’s moving on.  You should do the same.”
    “Are you out of your mind?”  Beatrice screeched because
it was either go totally shrew or commit bodily harm.  She turned and
looked at Charles, who had frozen. 
    “Is this true?” he asked.
    She swallowed her anger and reached for control.  “I’m
sorry, Charles.  I was going to call and tell you tonight that I didn’t
think this was working between us.  You deserve better than