Chapter 11

 

Sitting at his desk, Troy let out a long sigh, running both hands through his hair. The amount of work he’d gotten done that morning — and the mountain of it still awaiting him after lunch — made him wonder if he might be flirting with brain fry by the time he clocked out and headed home.

“Hey, Troy.” Jack Folsom, one of the senior project engineers sitting across the aisle from his cube, leaned back in his chair, the gray handset of his phone laid atop his shoulder. “Got someone named, uh, Von for you. Says you’ll know who he is?”

Jack mouthed, “Who the fuck is that?”

Troy grinned, giving him a wave. “Send it over.”

He picked up his phone on the second ring.

“Pretty sure I didn’t give you my work number, dude.”

“Well, let’s just say I… know stuff.” The glee was plain in Von’s rumbling voice.

“Checking up on the old sergeant, that it? What do you want, jarhead?”

“Pays to know who I’m dealing with — even asshole buddies from the service. Especially that sort of asshole.”

“Maybe they don’t grow all of ‘em big and dumb in the Marines, after all. Learn something new every day.”

“So, I didn’t actually call just to bust your balls, Sarge. Got a question for you, actually.”

“Yes, I enjoyed the trip. No, still not moving. Yet.”

Von laughed. “So, you’re saying there’s a chance?”

“Sure, Lloyd.”

Both men busted up at once. They were huge fans of Dumb and Dumber, and anytime they crossed paths in AfPak, or on leave, they were constantly cracking each other up reciting lines from that absurd — but epic — comedic gem.

“Fuck, seriously though? I told Lace that if it wasn’t for her, I’d already be packing my bags. I was only half-kidding.”

“Wonder what I need to do to get you over that last half.” Von paused, an impish lilt sneaking into his voice. “How about this? I have a lead on a job. That is… if you decide you can’t stay away from our quaint little valley any longer.”

“I’m listening.” Troy surveyed the bland grays and taupes of the office’s landscape, his cock already stirring as his mind’s eye conjured up the lurid display of forced exhibitionism he’d witnessed in the crowded restaurant in White Valley. Maybe it really was time for a change?

“My friend, Keenan. I think I mentioned him. He’s…he’s on the board for The Coulee Group. Big engineering firm out here.”

“I’ve heard of ‘em. I thought they were into civil stuff though?”

“Oh, they are, but they’re getting into electrical and want to expand to mechanical too — which made me think of your sorry ass.”

“Now, we’re talking.”

“Anyway, said he can get you in there, practically guaranteed. Salary easily double, if you’re making what I think you are.”

“Trust me, it’s less,” Troy muttered, shaking his head. “But my, uh, reticence to move isn’t about money. It’s about her.”

“Lacey?”

“She… this is her home. It’s all she’s ever known, actually.”

Von didn’t say anything for a moment, then his voice dropped to a conspiratorial murmur. “Look, you and I — we know women like this. Hell, we’re married to them. Think about it, knowing what we know about their needs, what turns them on? What they masturbate to? Christ, have you ever seen what she reads? If they’re anything like my wife’s books, they’ll make your fucking jaw hit the floor.”

Troy chuckled. “Yep, I’ve seen ‘em. I’m not complaining”

“Neither am I. But the point is: they want more. They always want more, even if they wouldn’t be caught dead saying it. Maybe Lacey doesn’t realize that there can be more? Did you, when you were here?”

“I had no clue. Not one. I still have trouble believing it.”

“Believe it, Troy. And I only gave you a taste, a little sampler. This place… it’s unreal, dude. It even surprises me sometimes, and I fucking live here.”

“Okay, so what do we do then?”

“That mean you’re moving?”

“Hypothetically, asshole.”

“I think it’s time she visits. Don’t you? It sounds interesting in theory, right? But when you see it? Experience it? It’s a whole different thing. Tell me you weren’t thinking about calling Lacey and telling her you were never coming home? I saw you.”

“I’d never go anywhere without her. Never.” He took a deep breath, the very thought of being apart from her making him uneasy, even irritable. She was everything — and wherever she was — Troy would be right there with her. He’d follow Lacey to the gates of Hell if he had to.

“I understand that — and I respect it. Seriously. That sort of connection… it’s actually what we’re all about here. We just like to indulge in a few… enhancements.”

“Jesus,” Troy muttered, shaking his head despite his grin. “Understatement of the fucking century, right there.”

“So, put on your sales hat and sell her ass on a visit here. I guarantee, she’ll be blown away. This place was made for people like us, yes, but it’s a dream come true for women like her too.”

“Or a nightmare.”

“Not if you’re there with her.”

Troy sighed. “Look, there’s… something else. I can’t put my finger on it. Something up with Lacey. My friend — our friend — Hunter, he’s… well, long story short, she’s trying to be there for him. And I think it’s getting to her. Like, to the point it would keep her here even if I could talk her into a tour of Perv Disneyland you’ve got going up there.”

“So, fix it, Sarge. You’re good at that sort of thing.” There was a noise on the other end, Von’s voice muffling for a moment. “Hey, I gotta go. You can do this. Convince her. You do that, and you and I both know it will be the best fucking thing that’s ever happened to you. And Lacey.”