Hammer's Pride by E.C. Land (brene brown rising strong TXT) 📕

if you think that. Willow and I’ve seen how he looks at you. He might be one scary-ass mofo, but I’m telling you now, that man has claimed you,” Quinn says.

“Okay, so if that were the case, why doesn’t he seem to show that to me? I mean, I know it’s been a couple days, but jeez, a girl can only take so much,” I say snippily.

So, what, Quinn’s right. I am sexually frustrated. Having Hammer’s lips against my own, his tongue darting in to dance with mine as we have some very hot make-out sessions only to stop abruptly each time and leave the room. I sometimes think he’s gone to get one of those other girls I’ve seen glaring at me to take care of the bulge I’ve felt behind his jeans.

“I don’t know, Avery, I’m not a guy, but I do know he’s into you. We can all see it. Doesn’t matter if it’s only been a few days. That man is gone for you. Maybe he’s trying to do good by you,” Quinn says, leaning forward until she’s bracing her elbows on the countertop near where I’m working.

“Why don’t you take measures into your own hands?” Willow suggests quietly.

“What do you mean?” I ask, unsure what she’s talking about.

“I mean, go to the clubhouse, get cleaned up, and seduce the man into taking you to bed,” Willow murmurs, a pink coming over her cheeks.

“I can’t do that. For one, I can’t leave the coffee shop, and for another, I wouldn’t even know how to seduce a man like him,” I mutter, shaking my head.

“Avery, why don’t you let us help you more with this place. You’re gonna kill yourself if you keep it up,” Quinn says gently.

How do I answer her without hurting her feelings? I don’t ask either of them to help more than they do because they have lives outside of this place, and I won’t let them mess up what they have. Me on the other hand, I don’t have anything.

Even this stuff with Hammer, he’ll realize soon enough I’m not what he wants. It’s why I take pride in holding my head up high even when all I want to do is crumple to the floor and sob into a pillow. I don’t feel good enough for a man like him, and it hurts. I need to just stop fooling myself and get him to see the truth. The sooner he sees that, the quicker I can get him to leave me alone, and I can nurse my heart. A heart I didn’t even realize he’d gotten into until just now.

Great, I barely know this man, let alone his real name; there’s no way he’d be named Hammer; all the guys go by road names and Hammer’s no different. And here I am, falling for him like what’s between us is quicksand, and it’s pulling me under as fast as it can.

“Avery?” Willow calls my name, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I’m still trying to get the numbers in the black a little more than they are so I can take you both on more,” I fib, coming up with an excuse. I figure this will keep them from asking more.

The bell on the door to the front lets us know a customer has come in, and I inwardly sigh in relief when both women shake their heads as they leave the back room. From here, I can hear them engaging the customers, and I relax somewhat. I finish what I need to do for the time being and go into my office. So much to do and never enough time to get it done.

Sitting in my desk chair, I notice my phone light up. I lift it up off the desk and look at the screen. Bile rises in my throat at the sight on the screen. But not just at the image that’s been sent to me but by the number.

Why?

I knew it, and yet I’m so naive to think it wouldn’t be this way. God, how can I be so stupid? Closing my eyes, I allow the tears to slip down my cheeks. This is my life, and it’s never going to be one where I get to have a happily ever after, like in the fairy tales where the prince helps the princess. I’m doomed to live a life hidden in the darkness all alone with no one to turn to. I shouldn’t have allowed this to happen.

Now I need to figure out what to do. I don’t want to leave here, but if I stay, it could cost me more than I could ever have imagined wanting. They won’t stop until I’m brought down to their level. That or I’m dead.

Leaning back in my chair, I pull my legs up and wrap my arms around them. To leave means leaving everything behind. The shop that I take pride in. Quinn and Willow. The club. Though that shouldn’t matter since I’m honestly nothing but a burden to them. All of them. I could give Quinn and Willow the shop. They could have it, and then Quinn could stop working at the strip club and have more time with her little girl. Willow would be able to help and go to school. Those two could work something out. As for Hammer, he doesn’t need me. From the image sent, he can do without the hassle of me raining on his parade.

A sob escapes me, and I can’t stop it. The image is now burned into my brain. Hammer sitting with one woman between his legs doing something I’ve wanted to do while his face is buried between the legs of another woman. Both women, I’ve seen at the club. Both women would love to see me gone, and now I am. I can’t go back there. Not this time. To look at him would truly gut me.

This is what I get, and as the message read, ‘You’ll never be enough