The Dumb Fuck Read online

  Kate’s eyes rolled and she snorted, questioning, “Riiight, he wanted to talk with you.”

  Waverly frowned at her, avoiding her questioning look, she felt emotionally overwhelmed. Kate noticed the welling tears.

  “Oh. Wow, he really got to you? Waverly, he’s into you, isn’t he? If you want him, do him. I’de do him, OK that’s it, I’ll go do him for you – problem solved.”

  Kate smiled at her trying to lighten the mood.

  “I’ve never seen you hold back from anything you want. Is it because he’s our client, our big, huuuuuge client?” Wiggling her eyebrows up and down Kate chuckled at her own innuendo, a hint of concern shining through her big brown eyes.

  Waverly shrugged, unsure of her own feelings.

  “I don’t want him. Even if I did, Kate, it’s not that simple. Yes, he’s our client, but he’s also the Dumbfuck Asshole, who got me fired back then. He screwed me over without a thought. Maybe, it’s my turn now, to you know, screw him over. I know it sounds petty, but I want him to want me, but I don’t want to want him. Because if he wants me, and I don’t want him, it’s a karmic win for me - but if he wants me, and I sleep with him, he wins,” she explained.

  Kate’s eyes popped open wide, both booted feet dropped to the floor with a thump.

  “Walker Rike is ‘the guy’, the ‘Dumbfuck Asshole’? Chicago’s wealthy, bad boy, business man? He’s the guy you fucked in the office six years ago and didn’t know…” she shrieked.

  “Kate”, Way scolded loudly, “Shhhh. You idiot, you’re the only person who knows, and I would like to keep it that way.”

  “Damn, sorry. You mean, even Benn doesn’t know? Way, think about it, you’re losing out on what might be amazing, head banging sex, part two. And, of course, yeah, getting back at the asshole. Go for it Way, fuck him over and beat him at his own game. I mean it’s not like it would be a hardship to have sex with him again, I just saw him when he came in for the presentation. Damn, the guy’s body is freakin’ amazing. I have never seen you stop from going after anything you want, why this. Do it, do him and be done.”

  Finally finished, Kate tapped her foot impatiently.

  Staring out her office window, Waverly saw nothing. Walker had used her once, absolutely crushed her, and she really did want revenge. Just to prove him wrong. Maybe Kate was right, usually, when she wanted something, she showed no fear, focused on it and worked for it until she got it. And, maybe she did want to have sex with Walker, just one more time. He deserved to see what he would never have again. Just to get back at him of course.

  “Maybe you’re right, Kate,” she mumbled, still staring out her window.

  “Way look at me”, Kate said softly, “I saw those tears in your eyes when I walked in, he hurt you then, and you want to get him back for it. Think of it as closure. Or a hate fuck, a chance for you to get back at him for making you feel bad and treating you like shit!”

  Waverly rolled her eyes.

  “Those were tears of frustration, Kate, not sadness. God, what if sleep with him, and it’s horrible? Or he’s into really weird shit?”

  Waverly asked nervously, still chewing on her lip.

  “I’m on your side Way, whatever you decide. That fucker, I may spit in his coffee the next time he’s here, I don’t care how absolutely gorgeous the man is. You just keep your soft, mushy, little heart out of it – retribution sex only.” Kate warned her.

  Waverly laughed and opened her desk drawer, pulling out a giant bag of fun size Twix, throwing a handful of them at Kate.

  “Eat your heart out, bitch,” she laughed, throwing an entire handful at Kate. Waverly suddenly felt much better, now that she had a plan. Giggling, they both unwrapped the bars, shoving them in their mouth.

  “Just, you know tell me if he has a huge dick, okay? Or tattoos, I know how you love tattoos. Please, please, tell me,” Kate whined.

  Way rolled her eyes, shoving another candy bar into her already full mouth.

  “I do love a nice tattoo,” Waverly sighed dreamily, smiling around her mouthful of chocolate. Sighing along with her, Kate sat up, reaching out for more candy bars, they both jumped, startled by a sharp knock at her office door.

  “Khome ihn,” Way called, her mouth full of candy. The door swung wide and of course, there stood the Dumbfuck Asshole.

  Hands casually tucked in his pockets, looking like he owned the place, Walker sauntered directly to Kate, stuck out his hand and drawled, “You must be Kate Peck, I’m Walker Rike. Also known as the Dumbfuck Asshole.”

  Way choked, bits of chocolate and cookie spraying all over her desk, Kate’s eyes were huge, her face flushed as she turned and looked at Waverly with a wicked, chocolaty grin.

  “Nice to meet you in person Mr. Rike,” Kate cooed up at him, brown eyes dancing, as she shook his hand.

  “Please call me Walker” he commanded, in his low growly voice, grinning at Kate as if they were co-conspirators, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly.

  “All right, Walker, call me Kate,” Kate replied in a breathy voice, not letting go of his hand.

  Walker smoothly removed his hand from Kate’s death grip, sliding it back into his pocket.

  “Kate,” Waverly snapped, glaring at her.

  Did the guy have to mesmerize everyone with that deep, velvety voice and those stupid blue eyes?

  Kate managed to snap out of her ogling, “Oh, uh, right, I’ll just, you know, leave and let you two, you know, whatever.” Kate gave Walker a last lingering once-over and turned to leave.

  “Thank you, Kate,” Walker replied, turning and locking eyes with Waverly, he spoke again, without looking away.

  “Oh, Kate, for the record, I have two tattoos.”

  Waverly rolled her eyes as Kate giggled like a schoolgirl, calling out to them from the hallway, “Bye Way, enjoy, text me later.”

  Waverly could feel her face flushed, with anger and embarrassment. Could she never catch a break with this guy, would she always look like an immature teenage girl in front of him? Narrowing her eyes, she looked him over openly, of course, she found him attractive, who wouldn’t? Sure, his shoulders were broad, and he stood a good couple of inches taller than her. There were other men who had that masculine, rugged look, not the pretty boy band, metro look or hipster, faux lumberjack look. She was drawn to a man who looked like a man, who knew how to fix a car, was taller than her so she could wear the heels she loved. A man who had a deep, rumbly voice... No. Fuck. A cold shiver ran through her, he was everything she just listed.

  Leaning forward with both palms flat on her desk, she raised up out of her seat, and whisper-shouted at him, “What the hell are you doing here? Are you stalking me? You have a business to run, don’t you, or does it run itself? Did we not finish this morning? Is there something I missed? I really think there’s something wrong with you!”

  There was absolutely no change in his expression, he didn’t move, simply watched her. Walker took in her hair, loose and wild now, pulled free from the earlier style she had it in. Her clear gray eyes were slightly red-rimmed, some of her eye makeup smudged as if she had been crying – had he made her cry? He felt a twinge of regret, was it because he hurt her or because it might hurt his chance of a repeat encounter with her, he wondered.

  Pulling his hand out of his pocket he carefully placed her phone on her desk in front of her.

  “You left your phone at my office.”

  Falling back into her seat with slumped shoulders, Waverly huffed out a defeated breath and stared down at her traitorous phone.

  This man scared her, and she hated being scared, being scared was all you knew when you came from an abusive family. Walker Rike intimidated her, annoyed her and intrigued her. He rattled and raised memories and feelings of a time she didn’t want to think about again. Yes, she wanted to hurt him, wanted to see him crazy with want for her, despe
rately, wanted him crushed – by her. But, she also wanted to be able to walk away from him the victor, unlike the last time. Just like he had been able to do with her, carefree and unscathed.

  “You ran away from me, Waverly.”

  Taking small, hopefully, unnoticeable breaths, she tried to calm herself. If only his voice didn’t affect her so intensely, every time he spoke, she felt chills, as if he was whispering right into her ear.

  “I’ve thought about you. About that night. The two of us, it was fucking amazing. Don’t you want to see if it’s even better now, that you all of this experience? Go to dinner with me. I could even show you my office if you still find the smell of a copier arousing. Or are you afraid of me, of how it would be?” Walker taunted her.

  Ran away? Dinner? Afraid of him? This man’s ego was unbelievable.

  Sliding out of her chair, around her desk and stepping up very close to him, Waverly pressed her entire body against his. She let the fingertips of one hand trail up over his shirt, feeling his broad chest of solid muscle. He had an impressive body six years, ago – he had only improved since then. Smirking to herself, she leaned in rubbing her cheek against his neck, her other hand sliding under his jacket, lifting her lips to his ear, she whispered.

  “So you think that I’m...afraid of...dinner?”

  Busy enjoying the definition of his firm abs now contracting under her hand, she failed to notice that his hand was working its way up to her jaw. Gently, but firmly her head was forced back to look straight up at him. Waverly blinked seeing his eyes heatedly watching her taunting ruse and roaming hands. Well, finally, Mr. Cool, Calm and Collected shows some emotion, she thought proudly, allowing him to hold her head in place. Watching him watch her, blue eyes to gray, he seemed to be searching for a specific something.

  “Watch out, Hippie Girl,” he cautioned, “I’m not a man you want to tease.” Wrapping his other arm around her waist, he roughly yanked her further into his body. Well now she she sensed a bit more emotion from the man, it was pressed up against her, and as impressive as she remembered.

  His head leaned closer, his eyes a darker bluer, mesmerizing, Waverly watched his lips draw closer, he paused, and she licked her bottom lip anticipating his kiss. Holding her gaze and watching her gray eyes grow darker, he tightened his grip on her.

  “Eight,” he growled.

  “What’s at eight,” she asked confused. Was there going to be a kiss or not?

  “Dinner at my house.”

  Abruptly releasing her, she watched him turn and stride right out of her office.

  Dumbfuck asshole.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Before her ‘dinner’ with Walker, Waverly visited Benn for drinks, Benn had been out of town hand holding a client on a location scout. A few Face Times between them had filled him in on a bit of what had transpired between her and Walker. Benn’s input was important to her, she needed his advice, his approval on the entire situation. Everything business related was covered first, while she sat uncomfortably on his ultra sleek sofa, sipping her Lemon Drop, finally, confessing the details of her encounters with Walker. While Benn listened, her phone buzzed with a text from Walker, giving her his address.

  “Gotta say Way, I don’t think that I’ve ever seen you this un-zen,” Benn remarked thoughtfully, reading her nervousness correctly.

  “Benn, he makes me nervous. The guy’s rich, powerful and an unemotional robot, he’s impossible to read, and that makes me nervous,” she admitted, fidgeting, her finger tracing back and forth over the seam of the sofa.

  “And, let’s not forget, he treated you like shit. This is a really fucking bad idea Way. Don’t go, let me tell him to shove his account up his ass. I’ve seen you nervous, Way, this is so fucking, far beyond that. I’m worried about you going over there,” he replied practically shouting.

  Pressing her hand on his knee, Waverly smiled fondly at him, then teased.

  “You sure you’re not worried that I’m going to lose us the account?”

  Launching himself off of the sofa, he paced his Bushmills 21 sloshing over the edge of his glass. Eyes following him as he moved back and forth in front of the sofa, she bit her lip. Turning to her, his eyes intense and focused behind his thick black glasses, he searched her face.

  “Fuck the account. Way, you know I’m not worried about the account, we’ll do more than survive, with or without it.”

  Benn stopped abruptly, rubbed his hand wearily over his face and groaned.

  “Way, please, for once, don’t make me, or Kate, or the business, your first priority. I want you to be your first priority,” he proclaimed, flopping back down on the sofa next to her.

  Waverly watched him thoughtfully, at times Benn could be fun, and funny too, but underneath there was always focus, strategy, he played the long game, that’s what made him such a successful part of their company. He could see what was coming down the road weeks before it happened. Patiently, he would listen to her babble and ramble, chiming in occasionally, and then he would spit out a profound, answer to her problem or thought. Rarely, did he use his serious voice on her, but when he did she listened.

  “What should I do Benn, I’m so confused,” she whined, leaning over to rest her head on his shoulder. With a sigh, he pulled her tight to his chest.

  “Look Way, I know that you think that you’re going to go over there all bad ass and revenge all over him, but this fucker didn’t get where he is by being played easily. And, I know you think that nice girl inside you can handle this, but Way, everyone who knows you, knows that you’re just a kitten inside,” he explained.

  Beginning to argue back, she paused when he squeezed her wrists, “Listen to me Way, I just want you to be very, very, careful.”

  “I’m always careful Benn, you know that,” she replied frowning, but he shook his head at her.

  “No. I know that what you want, you go after, and work your ass off for. Without caution, and that’s great, it’s what got you through all the shit times with your family. It’s what got you – us, where we are today.“

  Benn paused, searching for the right words.

  “You know, Way, you know, I love you like a sister. You’re my family. I would kill anyone who hurt you intentionally and to be honest, I’m pissed to find out that you kept this from me until after we signed the account.”

  With his scold, Benn squeezed her tighter to him, “But Way, I just think that this guy is a big, fucking box of everything that trips you up. The loving, blue blood family, the private school education, everything handed to him on a silver platter. You’ve worked your ass off for everything, what could you two ever have in common? You want to fuck him over for hurting you, fine. You just want to fuck him, I don’t ever want to hear the details, but do it. I just don’t think that this guy could ever see or even appreciate the awesomeness of you. Ever. And you deserve that and so much more.”

  Saying all of that had really worked Benn up, he was back to pacing again. Her eyes watered, Benn cared so much, she was so lucky to have him.

  With an abrupt stop, he slammed down his glass, looked over at her taking in her watery eyes.

  “Jesus, Way this is exactly what I’m talking about,” he sputtered, exasperated. “You’re crying because I said something nice to you.”

  Chuckling through her unshed tears she tried to lighten the mood, “No you idiot, I’m crying because I thought you were never going to stop talking.”

  Ben sighed, “Shit. Let’s go get you a cab. That client of ours is not going to fuck himself, you know?”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Handing the address to the driver, Waverly wondered why Walker hadn’t sent a driver for her. God knows he had the money, he could easily have bought her a car to use just for the night. It would help her remember that this wasn’t really a date, and that was good.

  He lived outside of the city, in Winnet
ka, a Chicago suburb ranked among the top twenty wealthiest cities in America. It wasn’t like she hadn’t ever been there before, WestMat had a number of clients who owned homes there, and, she had even gone out with a guy who lived there.

  After winding down a beautifully, manicured driveway, the cab pulled to a stop, the front of the house reminded her of the house in the Home Alone movie. Waverly stared, then just as she reached for her handbag to pay the driver, he turned and announced that his fee had already been taken care of. Smiling, she handed him money for a tip, telling him to “Keep the change, ya filthy animal.”

  He was not amused.

  Show time. Climbing the stone stairs, Waverly marveled that the house really was such a dead ringer for the Home Alone house, the shutters, the walkway... Just as she reached out, finger pointed to ring the doorbell, the door opened.

  Startled, she looked up into Walker’s deep, blue eyes, nerves getting the better of her she blurted out, “Are you home alone?”

  Nervous giggling erupted at her own joke. Walker, of course, did not laugh. She reminded herself that the man had no sense of humor.

  His eyebrows rose slightly in that calm, serious, you’re-so-juvenile manner.

  “Have you been drinking?”

  Definitely no sense of humor. Slightly embarrassed, Waverly snapped back at him, “Yes, in the taxi. I have a flask, very large. I use it on dates when the men won’t pick me up or force me to arrange my own transportation.”

  He would be drinking too, she thought to herself, if he had to have dinner with himself.

  He stood very still, his frame filling the doorway, simply staring at her. Then the corners of his mouth twitched, with disgust or amusement, she wasn’t sure, he took her in head to toe, then stepped aside only enough to let her squeeze past him

  With a pounding heart, she stepped inside, a part of her wanted to run, right out of the door and chase down the taxi. After a quick look back at him, seeing his eyes focused on her ass, another part of her might want to agree to anything he suggested. The thought surprised her.