Stanton Series Box Set: Stanton Series (Box Set)

by T L Swan

  Joshua really did see her as a friend and he feels that she betrayed him, like he feels Max betrayed him when he sided with me. Did I start this hate of betrayal in him when I betrayed him at nineteen… well not really but he thought I did. Fuck… and now his own mother has hit him with the ultimate betrayal. Betrayal, betrayal, betrayal… how many times can you say that word in one sentence? I continue patting the cat as I think. I’m onto something here. Joshua has a definite personality pattern. I need to talk to him about this but I will let him cool down first. A bridle gets thrown out of the stable at full pelt. He’s really losing his shit in there.

  Alf shakes his head. “That man of yours is losing his mind,” he sighs.

  I fake a smile. “Mmm.” Shit, he really is, not even joking.

  “Are you ok with him? Are you frightened at all?” he asks.

  I smile and frown. “Yes, I mean no, I’m not frightened.” What an odd thing to say.

  A white wagon comes down the track with dust bellowing behind it.

  “Oh shit,” Jason murmurs.

  “I will take you back to the house, lass,” Alf says to me.

  “Why?” I ask.

  “Amelie is here and it won’t be pretty,” he replies.

  My eyes flick to the stable that Joshua is in. He’s too mad to remember that I am even here. I think I need to calm him down. “No I would like to stay,” I murmur as I stand and walk toward the stable.

  The car pulls up and she jumps out angrily. She’s covered in mud and has obviously come straight from work. God, she’s frigging beautiful, bitch.

  Another one of her bridles comes flying out of the stable and lands near her car. “What do you think you’re doing?” she yells.

  Joshua emerges from the stall like the devil himself. “What does it look like?” he screams.

  “Having a temper tantrum is what it looks like. You child!” she yells back.

  “Oh shit,” sighs Alf behind me and I bite my lip to stifle my smile. Yep, she’s got him. He is totally acting like a child.

  Joshua rushes her and my eyes widen and I quicken the pace as I walk toward them. “You get your fucking horses off my farm.”

  “Joshua, be reasonable. I need some time,” she replies.

  “You are out of time!” he yells.

  I finally reach them. “Hello Amelie,” I murmur as I try to diffuse the situation.

  Her eyes flick to me. “Hello Natasha,” she replies through her anger.

  “Natasha, get to the house!” Joshua yells as he points to the house.

  I frown, fuck off asshole. Don’t speak to me like that.

  “Why can’t her horses stay in the bottom paddock? You’re being unreasonable Joshua,” I reply.

  “Because I fucking said!” he screams at me.

  I start to hear my angry pulse in my ears… go time.

  I narrow my eyes at him and he glares back.

  “Jason, get the float,” he yells.

  “Where will I take them?” Jason replies.

  “Out onto the fucking road. I don’t care!” he screams as he starts to storm towards the house.

  I stand still and my eyes flick to Amelie. Hot furious tears are forming in her eyes and she swipes them angrily with shaking hands.

  I look back at the crazy man storming towards the house.

  “Natasha, get here!” he yells as he keeps walking.

  I frown, as if I’m going to come with you, asshole… and you call me a drama queen.

  “What can I do to help, Amelie?” I ask. God, I feel sorry for this woman.

  “I don’t want your pity, Natasha!” she snaps.

  I nod. “I know. Can I help you load the horses or something?” I ask.

  She shakes her head and starts to pick up her things that Joshua has thrown out of the stall.

  I bend and pick up a bridle.

  She picks up the heavy saddle and struggles to her car and I run and open the back door for her.

  “You’re too good for him,” she snaps as she throws the saddle into the back of the car.

  Right at this moment, I kind of have to agree.

  “He’s just stressed out. Don’t worry about him,” I murmur as I throw in the bridle.

  I blow out a breath. “Where are you going to put the horses?” I ask as I wipe my hands on my jeans.

  She rubs her head in frustration. “I have a client who is away at the moment. I will have to keep them there for the minute.” Her accent really is lovely.

  Alf walks over and shakes his head sympathetically at her.

  “Don’t, Alf,” she snaps.

  “I told you this would happen,” he says quietly.

  “I know, I know,” she mutters. “I had no choice.”

  “Natasha, don’t make me come and get you!” Joshua screams from up the hill like a madman. Is he kidding?

  “He’s trying to ruin my life,” Amelie snaps furiously to Alf.

  I frown. “How?”

  She shakes her head. “It’s not your concern,” she snaps.

  “That’s it!” Joshua screams as he starts to head back down the hill to retrieve me. Oh shit.

  “I’d better go,” I whisper. “Sorry.” My eyes meet hers.

  She tears up again and gets into her car angrily and I start to storm toward the imbecile who is raging like a lunatic coming down the hill.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” he sneers as I approach him.

  I glare at him and continue to walk past him toward the house. If he thinks for one minute I’m taking that shit he has another think coming. “Answer me,” he snaps as he walks up next to me. I keep walking angrily. He has got to be joking.

  “When I tell you to get to the house, you fucking do what I say!” he sneers.

  I stop on the spot and glare at him.

  The thing is that I know he is stressed out beyond belief and I should just ignore him, but just how much shit can I take before I crack?

  “Don’t talk to me,” I snap as I storm past him.

  “Fine! Don’t talk to me!” he screams.

  “Suits me!” I yell in reply.

  I’ve said it before and I will say it again. It’s a total mindfuck dealing with a cantankerous stubborn mule. It’s 6 pm and Joshua and I haven’t spoken a word since our blow-up over Amelie this morning. I am in the study reading on my iPad and he came in from outside about an hour ago. If he thinks I am putting up with his shit for one minute he is sadly mistaken.

  The door to the study opens. “Who’s cooking dinner?” he asks.

  My eyes rise to him above my iPad. “Not me,” I reply and drop my eyes back to the screen.

  He stays at the door and waits for me to look back up at him. I don’t.

  “Well I’m not either,” he replies.

  I keep reading and acting like I am uninterested in what he has to say.

  “Do you want to go out for dinner?” he asks.

  Hmm, typical. I have to practically beg to go out to dinner every other night because he doesn’t want to be photographed but when I am fuming mad he brings it out to dangle like a carrot.

  “No, thank you,” I reply. I so do but I am not falling for his bribe.

  “Fine, I will go alone then,” he replies and leaves.

  For fifteen minutes I sit in the study while he is upstairs. He wouldn’t go without me, would he? No, surely not. I continue reading.

  He pops his head in the study door. “See you later then,” he replies. My horrified eyes drop down to his clothing. He is going without me. Of all the nerve. I narrow my eyes and return to the book I have been pretending to read for five hours.

  “See you,” I murmur under my breath.

  He walks out of the study. God, I’m off him. I start to fume.

  He comes back in. “What are you mad about?”

  I screw up my face. “You can’t be that stupid?” I reply in a monotone.

  His eyes hold mine. “I’m not putting up with Amelie’s shit, Natasha.”


  “I don’t expect you to, Joshua, but you acted like a child throwing a tantrum,” I reply.

  He narrows his eyes at me.

  “I will not be spoken to the way you did this morning and I don’t give a damn who you are. I was embarrassed that my fiancé was ordering me around like I was one of his staff.”

  He blows out a breath. “I apologise for that. I was angry and I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

  I put the iPad down.

  He shakes his head in frustration. “It’s just her,” he mutters.

  “You know what? This little victim routine you have going on here is getting old.” I shake my head in disgust.

  “What do you mean?” he snaps.

  “Stop blaming her for everything. You were on that bed upstairs with a hard dick. It takes two people to have sex, Joshua, and if you were not aroused this couldn’t have physically happened.”

  He cuts in and shakes his head and I can see he doesn’t like where this conversation is going. “Natasha.”

  “Stop it,” I yell. “I don’t give a damn that you slept with her but you need to man the fuck up and stop playing the blame game.”

  “What?” He screws up his face.

  “Stop blaming everything on everybody else.” I stand and point my finger at him angrily. “You fucked Amelie, just admit it, and now you are making her pay.”

  “Bullshit,” he sneers.

  “Is it Joshua?” I yell. “Seems pretty factual to me, wake up and smell the coffee. You can’t stand it when people… namely Amelie, don’t do what you want and expect them to do and then you get downright nasty in return.”

  He shakes his head. “You have no idea the shit she has caused for me in the last twelve months.” He sighs, defeated.

  Empathy wins. “No, Joshua, I don’t. Because you tell me nothing, but I do know that she doesn’t deserve to be treated the way you treated her this morning… and neither did I,” I reply quietly.

  He walks in and drops onto the black leather wingback chair. “I’m sorry,” he murmurs. “You are the last person I want to treat badly.”

  I stand and walk over to him and crawl onto his lap and put my arms around his neck and he drops his head sadly. I feel guilty for upsetting him when he already has so much on his plate but that behaviour was plainly unacceptable.

  “Joshua, you need to learn to accept that people don’t have to always do what you tell them to and when they go against what you want, you can’t be angry. It’s pointless. Nobody can determine things out of their control. Amelie is her own person and Max is his own person. Please stop being a control freak and having a personal vendetta against them.”

  His eyes flick to me. “Are you finished my therapy session, Dr Marx?”

  I smirk. “For tonight, Mr Stanton. Would you like to make another appointment?” I bend and gently kiss his lips.

  “No. I’m good.” He smirks.

  Chapter 13

  I sit as I watch him walk around the side of the court… field?

  “What do you play polo on?” I ask Adrian, who is leaning on the car’s bonnet next to me.

  “Field,” he murmurs into his coffee.

  I nod as I take a sip of mine and continue watching my man on the other side of the field as he prepares for his game. Orgasmic doesn’t even describe that polo outfit Our little game of horse and jockey last week has me all steamed up for those jodhpurs and that broad back. Of course, the small fact that I know exactly what that body is capable of, mind-blowing pleasure, only adds to the deal. He’s been withdrawn since our fight over Amelie the other day. I know he’s disappointed that I sided with her and I have explained that I didn’t but his behaviour is not on. He grudgingly agreed that he lost his shit with her but still is silently disappointed with me. Does he really think I will defend him even if I think he’s in the wrong?

  Security has never been so tight. Ben is walking next to him as they talk and there is a guard discreetly on each side of the field.

  “What’s with all of the security?” I ask.

  Adrian’s eyes flick around to the guards. “This is one of the only scheduled things that Joshua does. He can always be found here so they take extra precautions.”

  I frown as my eyes flick to him. “Has there ever been an issue?” I ask.

  He shakes his head. “No, just those idiots over there.” He points with his chin and I look over to the field next to us and see three photographers with long lenses on their cameras.

  “Do they want photos of Joshua?” I frown.

  “Yeah, among other things. There are about four or five players here who are followed by the paps, so it’s open slather,” he murmurs into his coffee again.

  “Bloody hell,” I whisper. “Stupid people.”

  “Thanks for coming with me today.” I bump Adrian with my shoulder.

  He smiles warmly. “That’s ok, Cinderella. I haven’t been to a game for a while.” Joshua is playing near LA so Adrian has met us here. We go home tonight.

  Up past the side of the car walks a handsome man. “Adrian.” He smiles as he puts out his hand and then kisses Adrian on the cheek as they shake hands.

  My eyes scan up and down the fine specimen, mmm, who is this?

  Adrian’s eyes flick to me. “This is Natasha, Joshua’s fiancée.” He gestures to me. “And this is Ross.”

  We shake hands. I have heard that name before. Who is this guy? “Hello.” I smile.

  “Ah, I have heard a lot about you.” He smirks.

  Oh crap, what’s he heard? “I wouldn’t believe any of it.” I smile nervously.

  He winks and smiles. His body language reveals that this guy loves himself. “So has he got you on lockdown?” he asks.

  I raise my eyebrows in question. “What do you mean?” I ask.

  “You know, under heavy guard, gorgeous and new in town. I imagine after the attempted hit he would be nervous to say the least.” He smiles as his eyes go to the field in front of us.

  I fake a smile. How does he know that? “No not really,” I mutter.

  “Adrian, why didn’t you go to Macey’s art show last week? She was disappointed you weren’t there,” he asks.

  “Damn,” Adrian murmurs. “I totally forgot about it. I’ve been busy.”

  “See you do need me to keep your diary for you.” He gives Adrian a sexy look as he puts his hands into his pockets.

  Adrian smirks as his eyes hold Ross’s. “You being in charge of my diary is the last thing I need,” he replies.

  Who is this guy?

  Ben walks over. “Murph, I need you and Tash for a moment.”

  Adrian smiles. “Sure, excuse us Ross.” He grabs Ross’s elbow affectionately as he brushes past him and Adrian grabs my hand to take me with him and follow Ben.

  Ross glares at Ben and I feel uncomfortable… ok. “What took you so long?” Adrian asks Ben.

  “I didn’t see you. This may come as a surprise but I don’t watch you all the time you know,” Ben replies flatly as he manoevres through the cars.

  Adrian smirks.

  I frown. I’m lost. “Huh, what’s going on?” I ask.

  Adrian scratches his head uncomfortably. “That was Ross.” He shakes his head. “We used to date.”

  “Fuckwit,” Ben murmurs under his breath.

  I smile broadly. “Did you just save Adrian from having to talk to an ex, Ben?”

  Ben shakes his head in exasperation. “No, I saved myself from having to hear about it later.”

  Adrian rolls his eyes and I smile.

  We stop at another of Joshua’s cars at the other end of the field and sit on the bonnet.

  “I’m going to get some water. Do you guys want some?” Adrian asks.

  “Yes please,” we both reply and he walks off.

  Ben and I sit in silence and I can’t help but want to ask what’s going on with him and Didge since we went away. Last time I saw them together they were hating each other’s guts and now… who knows? I watch in awe
across the field as Joshua’s stable hands bring Jasper around and fuss over the expensive horse and Joshua mounts him gracefully. Even without Joshua’s money and celebrity status he has an inner power that is undeniable. If I met him in the street I would think to myself… this guy is somebody.

  “How does Ross know about the attempted hit on Joshua?” I ask as my eyes flick to Ben.

  Ben frowns at me. “He doesn’t.”

  I raise my eyebrows. “Yeah he does. He just asked me if Joshua was jumpy after the attempted hit.”

  Ben leans back on his hands and frowns as he thinks and Adrian walks back over to us with our bottles of water that he hands over.

  “Did you tell Ross about the hit on Joshua?” Ben asks Adrian as he takes his water.

  Adrian frowns. “No, he probably heard it on the grapevine.”

  “Have you told anyone?” Ben asks.

  Adrian shakes his head and the game begins at the sound of the whistle. I frown as I watch the field. Oh shit, the horses bang into each other as they sprint and I wince. This is aggressive and very fast.

  “Joshua has told nobody,” Ben whispers almost to himself as he stares straight ahead.

  I nod. “He wouldn’t have told anybody. He doesn’t tell people things that they are supposed to know, let alone something like that,” I reply.

  Ben crosses his arms in front of him as he thinks. “How does that fucking idiot know that?”

  I get the giggles at Ben’s accent.

  “What’s funny?” He smirks.

  I smile broadly. “I like the way you say fuck. It’s funny.”

  “The way he fucks is funny as well I imagine,” Adrian murmurs dryly as he takes a sip. My eyes flick to Ben and his rugged handsomeness. Somehow I just don’t think that’s true and my beloved sister comes back to mind. What’s going on with them?

  Ben shakes his head as he drinks his water, unimpressed, and then takes out his phone and rings someone.

  “Hey, can you go around to Ross Markham’s house and have a look at which security system he has?” He listens. “The address is in the filing cabinet under cock.” I smirk. Ben really hates this guy. He listens and then laughs. “Thanks,” he replies and hangs up. We keep watching the game. Joshua is very good at this. In fact, all of these men are very good at this, and ridiculously good-looking.