shouldn’t have fired Wrecker and put that incompetent bastard in. Ghost has fucked everything up and—”
“I like the changes,” the petite woman with green-streaked hair interrupted. “And I know Master Z wouldn’t put anyone in as manager who wasn’t a good Dom. Ghost never seemed—”
“Shut up, Tabitha. You know nothing,” Dogget snapped. “The asshole ignored her hard limits even though she was screaming at him to stop. He—”
Valerie struck the back of the leather couch so hard the sound filled the air—and made them all jump. “Enough. Ghost would never ignore someone’s hard limits. If there is anyone in this club who is honorable, it is the Colonel.”
Dogget scowled. “Jesus, you’re Barry’s ex. What the fuck would you know? You have no clue what—”
“On the contrary, I’ve scened with the Colonel; you haven’t.” She stared him down. “I don’t know what bullshit you’re trying to peddle, but you’re not only lying, you’re setting yourself up for a lawsuit, as well.”
He turned pale, and his mouth snapped shut.
Bringing up lawsuits to a realtor? Easy score. Heh.
Now, should she give Ghost a call and warn him about this turn of events? She turned and…
Oh-oh. Perhaps she’d been a…bit…loud.
Every person on this side of the bar was staring at her—including several of the gold-banded Masters. Master Sam nodded to her. Arm around Gabi, Master Marcus was studying Valerie. Master Cullen was grinning.
Her face heated to the point she knew she must be dark red. No meditation was going to quiet her nerves tonight.
At least, the Masters would tell Ghost about the rumor-mill.
Valerie swallowed. Or they would once he finished scening with the redhead. The thought was like a drenching of icy water. Straightening her spine, she headed out the door.
“Yeah, Scott, we pushed the gossip big-time.” Barry grinned at the sound of gleeful laughter over the phone. “The rumors are all through the club. Some members are planning to call the owner to get GI Joe’s ass fired.”
As the noise in his kitchen escalated to slapping sounds and screams, he muffled the receiver against his chest. “Jesus fuck, you bitches stop fighting. Alisha, fetch me a drink.”
Damn, he missed Valerie. Kahlua and Alisha hadn’t been nearly this bad with her around.
Putting the cell back to his ear, he heard, “You’re a good friend, Barry. I owe you.”
“No problem. That’s what friends are for.” Barry took the glass of whiskey Alisha handed him and started to fondle her breasts, but she moved out of his reach.
Great, what got up her ass?
On the phone, Scott was still complaining.
Barry scowled. “We won’t be there long either. Can’t afford the fees without the huge discount you gave us. Any chance you’ll get the job back?”
“No way,” Scott griped. “Grayson was a real cold bastard on the phone…the fucking asshole. The extra money was sure nice. My bitch-wife’s a real tightass about what I spend. I don’t suppose you have some you could spare?”
“Fuck no. I’m broke.” Two more potential contracts had fallen through, all because he’d lost his temper with a nitpicky asshole client who wasn’t satisfied with the work he and his crew had done. Who said he’d been drunk on the job.
Didn’t take much to mess up a man’s reputation.
A twinge of guilt ran through him…because he’d spent the evening destroying another man’s rep.
Then he shrugged. Served Ghost right for stealing Scott’s job—and being a stick-up-the-ass prick.
Chapter Seventeen
In her bedroom, Valerie squinted blearily in the bright light. There should be a law the sun wasn’t allowed to be so bright when she was in a crummy mood.
Bah. She blinked, trying to find a particle of energy. None. Her muscles, her bones, even her hair felt tired.
How long had she been awake last night?
Worrying about Ghost and those rumors had turned into thinking about making love with him and then into a misery-fest. Because she wasn’t what he wanted, and it hurt.
She should have known better. Naturally, he preferred a prettier, sexier, younger woman.
And then, in front of an audience, she’d defended the guy who dumped her.
Did that make her honorable…or pitiful?
Just stop. Tossing the covers back, she sat up. She didn’t feel bad about standing up for him. Their non-existent relationship was a separate matter from Dogget’s smear campaign. Defending him had been the right thing to do.
Hoping to outrun her…ghosts, she went for a morning jog and let the cool, salt-laden air soothe her.
But not too much. Because she could hear the Colonel’s deep rasping voice. “Always maintain situational awareness. Move like a badass,