Let me know that I've done wrong,
When I've known this all along,
I go around a time or two,
Just to waste my time with you.
Tell me all that you've thrown away,
Find out games you don't wanna play,
You are the only one that needs to know
~Dirty Little Secret, All American Rejects
Chapter 11
SPOV
This was out of control.
Alcide Herveaux had mashed me up like two colors of Playdoh and I had no way of separating myself back.
I couldn't think straight; I hadn't slept a full night in an entire week; and eating? Ha. I couldn't even remember the last time I'd had more than a bite to eat. It was good for my diet, I supposed.
When I was at work, I was so focused on not thinking about Alcide that I hardly thought of anything else; and when I wasn't at work, I tried to test myself, to see how long I could go without seeing him again. Needless to say, he didn't help matters at all. I swear he was trying to tempt me, walking around in those damned jeans and white work shirts. My fingers itched to bunch the fabric between my fingers, to pull him to me and try to work him out of my system. And the looks he gave me practically annihilated my kneecaps.
I looked over as my blackberry made a series of noises, pulling my attention away from thoughts of Alcide again. This really was becoming a problem. The twice a week nightly visits rule had been killed before it could get off the ground. The one night I had planned on working in my hotel room, he'd shown up with a bottle of wine in his hand. This wasn't like me, but I wasn't entirely sure that I didn't like it.
I picked up my phone and scrolled through the series of emails that I'd been ignoring. There were a handful from Andre about the Leclerq job, a few from Bill's assistant with details on the colors he'd picked for the kitchen, and about fifteen emails from one Mr. Lafayette Reynolds that consisted of only three words: I need details. I hadn't responded to a single one.
I was in the process of deleting Lafayette's emails when the call came through. And, just my luck, I accidentally answered it.
"Shit," I murmured under my breath, pulling the phone up to my ear. "Hello?" I asked.
"Nice to talk to you too sweet thing," Lafayette's distinctive voice called over the phone. "Now why in the hell has your bitch ass been ignoring me?"
"What?" I asked nervously, looking around to make sure no one else was near.
"You've been ignoring me," he repeated.
"No I haven't," I said definitively. "I'm on a job. I don't have time to natter with you."
"Honey, we both know it's not the job that's keeping you busy. It's that handyman you've been nailing. Or is it hammering?" he asked with a laugh.
"Lafayette!" I shrieked, walking over to slam the door shut to the master bedroom where I was still set up. It was better to be on the second floor, as far away from Alcide as I could be.
His laughter filled the receiver. "What?" he asked innocently.
"I told you not to talk about that," I said under my breath.
"You afraid that one of the workers is going to hear me over the phone Sookie? That your dirty little secret is going to get out?"
"It's not a dirty little secret," I said. "That would imply that I'm ashamed of it. I'm not."
"Mmm hmm. Is that why you've been hiding him away in Shreveport?"
"I'm working here Laf," I said. "What do you want me to do? Drag him up to Boston and pull him behind me on a float along Boylston Street to announce it?"
"I'd go to that parade. Well at least if the handyman wasn't wearing a shirt." He made a satisfactory growl.
"Like that would happen," I murmured. "What do you want Laf?"
"Can't I call you to check in? What makes you think I want anything?"
"Laf," I said, rolling my eyes and picking my pencil back up. I had a short amount of time to get this done if I was going to make it out of work by six, and I wanted to get out by six. Alcide had a surprise planned for me. "You never call just to check in."
"Hmmm, well I suppose you're right. Just wanted to see what you've got planned for Mr. Compton's visit, unless of course you were planning on inviting him to join you and the handyman."
"What visit?" I asked with disinterest. "Wait!" I shrieked. "Visit? What are you talking about?" How could I have missed an important detail like that?
"Bill's visit," he repeated. "The one his assistant sent out an email about last night? At about nine?"
Shit. At nine o'clock last night I'd been up to my neck in a bubble bath at Alcide's house. I shook my head as I remembered how my phone had gone off, and how Alcide had thrown my phone into the corner when I'd reached to get it.
"Don't tell me you didn't get the message," Lafayette said through his laughter. "Oh that is rich. I'll bet you was planning for a little weekend rendezvous, weren't you?"
"No," I said, shaking my head to the empty room. It wasn't a lie exactly. I hadn't planned on the entire weekend.
"Don't you lie to me. I know you too well Sookie Stackhouse."
"I've got to go," I said. "If Bill's coming, there's a lot that we need to get done. If he saw the house how it was now…" I trailed off. "Well, let's just say I don't think he'd approve." Alcide's crew had managed to repair the septic tank, much to the detriment of the rest of the house.
I hung up before Lafayette could say anything and braced myself against the makeshift desk. Shit. I had never shown Bill a project in the state Belle Rive was in. It wasn't awful, far from it, but it wasn't perfect. It had to be perfect for Bill. I had to be perfect for Bill. Despite the fun I was having with Alcide, Bill was still my goal. He had to be. I'd worked too hard for anything else.
After I managed to compose myself, I made my way down to the kitchen and found Alcide sitting alone, humming to himself while he wrote on the plans with a gnawed on pencil.
"Alcide," I said, smiling a bit when his spine stiffened.
There's no time for that Stackhouse, I reprimanded myself.
"Hey Princess," he said, spinning around on his stool and giving me one of those lop-sided grins that melted my insides. "I was just thinking about you."
"That's nice," I said, trying to maintain a business edge in my voice.
"I don't know about nice," he said. "More naughty than anything."
"Alcide-" I started.
"I was thinking about how you're going to look when I've got you naked and on my counter tonight."
His counter? Shit. No. No. I mustn't give in.
"You shouldn't-"
"I know. I know. I shouldn't talk about it here," he said with a shrug and a glint in his eye. "I can't help it. I can't wait to have you to myself all weekend."
"Alcide, I need to talk to you about that."
"Don't you even think about bringing a change of clothes with you. You aren't going to need it."
"Alcide," I repeated again, my voice more stern. If he wasn't going to listen, I would have to make him.
"Cause the minute you cross my front step, you're in a clothing free zone, and I'd hate to have to reprimand you for violating the rules." The look he gave me told me exactly how much he'd like to reprimand me, and how much I would enjoy it.
"Bill's coming," I said. There. Short and simple.
"Though you can wear those heels if you'd like."
"Did you hear me?" I asked.
"What?" he asked, his eyes snapping up to meet mine from their lazy perusal of my legs.
"I said Bill's coming," I repeated.
"When?" he asked, suddenly alert.
"Tomorrow."
"Mother fucker," he said, under his breath. He looked down at his hands before his eyes met mine. "When in the hell were you going to tell me about this?"
I heard the sound of work boots as they came through the front door, followed by the men's laughter as they made their way towards us. "Sookie," Alcide continued. "When were you going to tell me about this?" he repeated.
"Not in front of the men," I said, taking a step back.
"Fuck the men," he growled. "Were you planning on telling me this? Or were you just going to surprise me and not show up tonight?"
"I'm not having this conversation," I said and spun on my heel to face the men who had congregated behind us. I hoped they hadn't heard any of our conversation, but it was too late if they had. "Gentlemen. I just received an email from Mr. Compton's assistant that Mr. Compton will be here to inspect the house tomorrow."
I heard Alcide curse behind me, but refused to turn around. "As you know, it is important that we impress Mr. Compton with the work we've completed to date. I know that it has been a struggle, but I want the tile in the kitchen completed by the end of the day. That will have to suffice, since we do not have the materials in for the counter yet."
"But Miss Stackhouse," Hoyt started. "That'll take all night, and-"
"I will not stand for any excuses. If you cannot get the job done, I will bring in someone that can. Do you understand?"
"Yes ma'am," Hoyt said sheepishly.
"I will stay here as long as it takes, and I would hope that the rest of you are committed enough to stay with me."
"It's Friday night," Alcide said behind me. "These men have friends and families that they need to get home to. Plans that they've made that shouldn't be interrupted because Mr. Compton decides to bring his Yankee ass down here."
I whipped around on my heel and glared at Alcide. I knew exactly what he was talking about. Did he not think that it bothered me that our plans were upset too? Did he not know that the last thing I wanted to do on a Friday night was stay in Bon Temps waiting for tile to be laid?
"That's it, Herveaux," I seethed. "These men are grown adults that understand you need to work until you're finished. Maybe if you got off your lazy ass and gave them some direction instead of sitting here doodling all day, we wouldn't be in this quandary."
"Maybe," he barked, standing up and towering over me, "if you didn't change your goddamned mind every fucking second, we would have gotten the tile done a week ago."
God I wanted to hit him. Hit him and then pull him down and kiss him. Why was he so ridiculously infuriating? I heard one of the men cough behind us, but was too caught up in my anger to care. His eyes burned into mine, anger rolling off of him in waves. I guess I wasn't the only one upset.
"Last I checked, I was the project manager and you were hired to follow my orders." He wanted Ice Princess? I could give him Ice Princess.
"Last I checked, you're just a glorified interior designer. Shit you haven't swung a tool with those manicured hands of yours. A real project manager would be getting down and dirty with the crew."
Oh I'd swing a tool all right; right into his tool. "Fine. You want me to help? I'll help." I pushed up the sleeves of my sweater. "Where do you want me?"
"I've got a few ideas," he said, so low that I barely heard it.
I shook my head at him and turned to face the men. "The longer you stand there with your jaws on the floor, the later we'll be here tonight. So, unless you all want to grab your sleeping bags and braid each other's hair, I'd suggest you get back to work."
I would have laughed at the way the group scrambled if I wasn't so mad. Malcolm and Victor nearly knocked each other over in a hurry to get upstairs. Once the last man was gone, I spun around and glared at Alcide.
"Don't you dare say a word to me," I seethed. "Not one word."
And before he could respond, I walked out of the room and headed upstairs after the men. I could show them that I was willing to get my hands dirty.
We were at Belle Rive until 10:30 that night, and much to their credit, I didn't hear one man complain about staying late. After my showdown with Alcide, they were either too afraid or too stunned to say anything to me.
After the tile was completed to my satisfaction, I sent the men home and told Alcide to lock up behind him. I didn't want to deal with him tonight. Couldn't deal with him.
The drive back to Shreveport seemed long; excruciatingly long. I knew that the next day would be busy, that I would need to be on the top of my game when I showed Bill the house. Every minute that I wasn't in my hotel was one less minute that I'd be able to sleep.
My phone buzzed when I reached my hotel room, and I threw it to the side when I saw that it was Alcide calling. There was no way I was going to deal with him right now. Not when he'd called me a glorified interior designer. Yes, I'd said some insulting things too, but he knew how much that cut to the bone.
My phone buzzed again when I was taking my make up off, and again when I was changing into my pajamas. The guy was persistent if nothing else. That still didn't mean I was going to take his call.
By some stroke of good fortune, I fell asleep the minute my head hit the pillow, though my sleep was far from restful. I finally climbed out of bed at 5:30, leaving the mess of sheets behind me as I climbed into the shower and began to prepare for the day.
I checked my phone after my hair was dry, and laughed when I saw that I had seven missed calls from Alcide, coming at thirty minute intervals from 11 pm and finally stopping with the call at 2 am. There was one message, which came from that last call. A better person might have listened to it, but I wasn't feeling like a better person.
I poured myself into the plans until it was time to head to the airfield and pick up Bill. I had dressed with care, putting on a white dress that I knew Bill would like and my tan heels.
"Susannah!" he said, holding his hands out to me as he walked down the steps of the jet. "What a sight for sore eyes you are." He clasped my hands in his and leaned forward to brush a kiss against my cheek. "I was afraid you wouldn't be here. Daphne said you hadn't responded to her emails about my arrival."
"I'm sorry about that," I said, my stomach doing a flip as he tucked my hand into the crook of his arm. "I was so caught up on the project that I didn't have a chance to respond."
"I worry about you Susannah," he said, patting my hand with his free hand. "You work too hard on these jobs. I'm afraid you'll run yourself ragged."
I smiled as he opened up the driver's door to my small SUV and ushered me inside. "Nonsense," I said, taking a seat and turning to smile at him. "I wouldn't dream of giving one of your projects less than my very best."
"You are too good to me," he said as he shook his head and returned my smile, shutting the door firmly and walking to the passenger door. I started the engine when he was inside and buckled.
"Did you have a nice flight?"
"It was lovely," he said. "But, please, enough about me. Tell me how you are."
Well, let's see. I've been screwing your foreman, and not managing to get a lick of sleep in the process.
Yeah. Probably not what he was looking to hear.
"The project is going well," I started. "We're a little behind schedule due to the storm, but you knew about that."
Bill chuckled and turned in his seat to face me. "I didn't ask about the project. I asked about you. I haven't seen you in ages."
"Two weeks," I said, with a nod. "It's only been two weeks."
"Is that all?" he asked. "It seems much longer. I guess I didn't realize how you spoiled me with your presence."
I should have blushed. I would have blushed two weeks ago, but now I couldn't force it if I tried. I uttered a shy dismissal and tried to change the subject.
"Have you been staying busy in Boston? Have I missed many functions?"
"I've been here and there," he said. I saw him shrug out of the corner of my eye as I turned down the road to Bon Temps. "But not nearly as much as when you are in town. My plus ones aren't nearly as entertaining as you are."
Why couldn't I take the flattery? Why couldn't I flirt back? It felt awkward, stilted. I needed to get back to a conversation where I would be comfortable.
"I'm sure you're going to be excited when you see the progress we've made," I said.
He chuckled. "Okay, I can see you want to change the subject. Why don't you tell me about what you've done. Have you been getting along well with Alcide?"
"Yes." You could say that. Well, at least up until last night. "We've figured out how to work well together. I think you'll appreciate the combination of our design aesthetics. We've created some really beautiful rooms."
"I wouldn't expect any less of you," Bill said.
I doubted he would expect what was really happening, but then again, he'd never know.
My breath caught in my throat as I pulled into the long driveway of Belle Rive and spotted Alcide's black truck. What in the hell was he doing here?
"What a nice surprise," Bill said, unbuckling his seatbelt as we pulled next to the truck. "You didn't tell me Alcide was going to be here as well."
"It must have slipped my mind," I said, plastering on the biggest smile I could muster. I slowly opened the door, dreading what was about to happen. I hoped Alcide would be able to keep his cool around Bill. Maybe I should have taken his calls after all. This was hardly the appropriate time to have a discussion.
"Lookie what we've got here," Alcide's deep voice drawled as Bill and I walked towards the veranda. I squinted into the sunlight and saw his tall figure leaning casually against the doorway.
"Hello Alcide," Bill said, stepping forward and offering his hand. Alcide took it and looked over at me as he shook it. His eyes flew over me in a possessive manner, so much so that I was sure he spotted something on me that I didn't know about. I looked down quickly and back up when I saw that everything was right.
"Nice to see you Bill," Alcide responded, turning back to face him. "I guess Soo- erm Susannah here has filled you in on all our progress?"
"Yes," Bill said, offering me a smile over his shoulder. "She's a real gem, isn't she?"
"Yes she is," Alcide said, with only a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "We don't know what we'd do without her." I scanned his face, noticed the dark circles under his eyes that let on how little sleep he'd gotten the night before. A part of me longed to reach out and offer him some consolation, but then I remembered what he'd said.
"I'm sure you'd come up with something," I said lightly, brushing past them as I walked into the front door. "Shall I give you the grand tour?" I asked Bill.
"Yes, let us give you the tour," Alcide interjected, placing far too much emphasis on the word "us."
"I'm quite sure I can handle it Alcide."
"I'm quite sure you can too, Susannah," he responded. "But I'll like to see Bill's take on things just as much as you would."
"No need to argue," Bill said with a laugh. "Why don't both of you show me?"
"Ladies first," Alcide said, making a sweeping gesture with his hand.
Fine. If that was how it was going to be, that was how it was going to be.
I led Bill through the finished rooms, stopping at the end of the tour to admire the work on the fireplace. "The detail work is quite intricate," I said, pointing to the pattern that had been worked into the flagstone. "We replicated the original fireplace as best as we could."
"It's beautiful," Bill said.
"And it heats up the house real good, doesn't it Susannah?" Alcide asked, giving me a lopsided smile. The bastard was trying to ruffle my feathers. Good luck with that.
"Yes, it does," I said with a fake smile. "We had to turn it on when we got stuck here in that rainstorm. I believe I told you about that Bill, didn't I?" I could play that game too.
"You did."
"I'm sure she didn't give you all the details though," Alcide said.
I scowled at him when Bill wasn't looking. "Why bore him with something so insignificant?"
That shut him up.
"You two have done a great job," Bill said, ignoring the tension in the room. "I can't believe the progress you've made. I've seen the pictures Susannah has sent up, but nothing could compare to seeing it in person."
"Thank you," we both said.
"Aunt Caroline would be proud to see her home restored so perfectly," Bill continued. "And I can't wait to see Mother's reaction. Would you mind giving me a moment Susannah? I'd like to call her and let her know how it's going."
"Of course," I said. "Take your time."
The minute he was out of the room, Alcide was next to me. "Why didn't you answer my calls?" he asked, his breath dancing across my cheek.
I looked around him and saw that Bill was well out of ear shot. "This is not the time," I whispered.
"When is the time then?" he asked, lowering his voice. "You won't answer my calls, and now I have to see you hanging all over him. What am I supposed to do Sookie?"
"I'm not," I seethed, "hanging all over him."
"You could have fooled me. I saw the way you were looking at him."
"And how, exactly, was I looking at him?"
"Like he's the prize you've always wanted," he spat out.
"That's ridiculous."
"Is it?" he asked. He shook his head and reached out to grab my hand. "Sookie. I'm sorry. I can't do this."
"Can't do what?" I asked, looking down at our clasped hands in wonder.
"I can't stand by and do nothing while you're with him. Not when I know what we're like. Not when I know how hot I can make you, and how hot you make me in return."
"Alcide," I said, letting out a small whimper when he ran his thumb across the veins of my wrist. The man knew how to tie me up in knots.
"Come over today," he commanded.
"I can't."
"Why not?" he asked, leaning in so close that I felt the stubble of his unshaven beard on my cheek.
"I'm having dinner with Bill. I told him I would."
"Fuck," Alcide said. One word, so packed full of emotion that I thought my knees were going to give out.
"I'm sorry," I said, and for once genuinely meant it.
I heard Bill's footsteps coming towards us and pulled loose from Alcide's grip.
"This isn't over," he said, low enough so that only I could hear it. "Not by a long shot."
"I never said it was."
I turned to face Bill, who was walking towards us with a smile on his face. "She can't wait to see it," he said, reaching out and placing his hand on my arm. I looked over at Alcide, who looked like he would have ripped Bill's heart out given the opportunity. "She told me to say hello to you," he said, looking at Alcide. "And she sends her love to you, Susannah."
We stood there in uncomfortable silence for a moment before Bill cleared his throat. "Shall we go, Susannah?" he asked.
I nodded, and followed after him as he said his goodbyes to Alcide. I couldn't meet his eye. There was too much tension, too much raw emotion left between us. I wasn't prepared to deal with it.
I was halfway out the door when I heard Alcide say my name, and turned around before I could stop myself. He stood there looking at me, promises of what was to come filling his eyes.
I shook my head and turned back around, heading into the sunlight and pushing Alcide out of my mind. For now.
AN: A couple of notes/announcements:
Thyra10, Sapfirerose and I have created a community and an associated challenge for stories that do not have Eric/Sookie or Sookie/Bill as the main pairing. Since you're reading this, you're inclined to be receptive to other pairings, and I think you'd enjoy the stories that will hopefully be created. Please head on over and give it a go:
www . fanfiction . net/community/When_Two_Wrongs_Make_a_Right/81488/
If you're looking for a good laugh, I'd suggest looking at the banner that the fabulous peppermintyrose made after pfloogs72 and I had on twitter regarding a hot iron fight for Sookie's honor between Heat Alcide and Heat Bill. I promise, you will not be disappointed.
http : //i42 . tinypic . com/2rrqxc5 . jpg
Okay, now that the announcements are over, back to the main show. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter of the Heat. While there is some drama, never fear, I don't believe in dragging it out too long. We'll have resolution soon!
