He shrugged his shoulders at me. “You were late.”
I just stared at him as I slowly stood up.
He turned his focus to Weston. “What do I need to see West?”
“You’re not going to like it.” Weston warned as he passed my phone to him.
Lawson strode forward and swiped the phone from his hand.
I watched as the anger visibly spread across every one of his perfect features. I hated this bastard for doing this. I hated the fact that he was invading our lives, making Lawson so livid and making me scared.
“Lawson.” I whispered. His name was a plea.
He looked back to me and his eyes immediately softened. “It’s okay baby. I’ve got you.” He said as he grabbed me and wrapped me up in his arms.
I relaxed instantly. It was amazing how his touch calmed me. I liked to think I was the type of girl who could take care of herself, but it felt good to have him to rely on. It felt like I was part of a team.
“I want to go home.” I whispered. I wanted to see Zef, and I desperately wanted to take a bath.
He stroked my hair. “I need you at my place Ells. It’s safer.”
I giggled, softly at first, and then louder until my whole body was shaking.
“El?” He asked, his voice was unsure. He probably thought I was losing the plot.
“Sorry.” I choked out. I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, I meant that I wanted to go to your house – I don’t know why I called it home.” I shook my head.
He tilted my head up and kissed me deeply.
“Do you know how happy that makes me?” He growled in my ear. “You calling my house home? God Ells.”
“Home is wherever you are.” I told him softly.
“Let’s go home.” He smiled.
I like the way that sounds.
56. Quinn
I hung up the phone and rested my head on my desk.
The shit is hitting the fan.
I had just got off the phone with Lawson – he was freaking the hell out, I was too. My best friend was being targeted. Someone was threatening her and it made me wild.
Lawson had filled me in on the latest threat, a message of El sent to her phone.
“You’re going back where you belong.”
I couldn’t figure this shit out. I didn’t know anyone who would want to mess with Ellerslie. She was sweet and kind. She was a shark of a businesswoman, but this wasn’t business. This was personal.
Lawson had taken her home, and I knew before he’d even said, that he meant home to his house. You could hear the pride in his voice.
He loves that girl.
He’d insisted that I stay with him too and I hadn’t objected. I didn’t want to be at our apartment alone, not with this nut job still out there. And I needed a break from Colt – he was getting attached.
I’d told El about my concerns and she agreed that I should cool it off a bit with him. Staying with him all weekend had been fun, but it had obviously given him the wrong impression.
El had also gushed over her and Lawson exchanging the ‘L’ word. I was so proud of him for embracing his feelings the way he had. He’d always been closed off, but now he was more open. I felt closer to him than I had in years and I had Ellerslie to thank for that. He’d even opened up to me about what had happened to him all those years ago – I was shocked, but grateful to finally be able to understand my brother a bit better.
I tapped my pen against the desk. “Macie.” I called through my open door.
She appeared a minute later. “Yeah Quinn?”
Macie was a pretty girl, she was younger than me, maybe about 23, she had shoulder length dark blonde hair and wide hazel eyes in her round face.
She was a fantastic PA. Far too experienced to be in the position, but that just made me love her all the more, I could give her tasks that I would usually have to do myself, and she handled them easily. I was going to need to talk to El about giving her some more responsibility – I didn’t want to risk losing her.
“I’m heading out for the day. Do you think you can you take care of that report for the Kraser account please? Just email me through a proof.”
“I’ve actually nearly finished it.” She admitted sheepishly.
I raised my eyebrows at her in question.
“I spoke to your brother earlier before I put the call through.” She explained. “He told me you would need some extra help until things were resolved. Ellerslie has approved me to have access to all areas, and asked me to work in with Weston to try and help cover the work load.”
I sighed in relief. “That’s amazing, thank you Macie. I really appreciate it.” For once, I wasn’t mad at my brothers interfering. I needed the help and until now I was too proud to ask for it.
“It’s no problem, I could use the extra hours, and I know I’ll enjoy the extra responsibility.”
“El is taking the day off tomorrow, I’m not sure she knows that yet.” I smirked. “But I’ll be in – I might be late, but I’ll be in sometime before lunch. You can get me on my phone or email, can you handle things until then?”
She smiled widely at me. “I’ve got this. You look after Ellerslie. We’ll be fine.”
I returned her smile.
She started to walk towards the door, but stopped and turned back. “Quinn?”
“Yeah Macie?”
“I hope she’s okay. I hope you all are.”
“I hope so too Mace.”
57. Ellerslie
I paused in the doorway and watched him move – I watched the way his shirt tightened across his back as he stretched his arm out, and the way his pants clung to his ass when he bent over.
God that is one fine body.
“I’m getting seriously concerned about you being a mind reader.” I said with a smile.
He looked up from the bath he was running and grinned at me. “I’ll never tell.”
I laughed as I slipped off my heels and kicked them out of the way. He’d even lit the fire. This man was seriously perfect.
“How’s Zef?” He asked.
“He’s good. I told him to stay downstairs, he’s on the couch.”
Lawson groaned. “Baby, he’s not allowed on the couch.”
I crinkled my nose at him and shrugged. “I guess he is now.”
“You are a giant pain in my ass Rush.” He teased as he pulled me into his arms.
I giggled. “You love me.”
“That I do.” He pushed my jacket off my shoulders and it pooled on the floor at my feet. His quick hands started on the buttons of my shirt. “Even if you break all the rules.” He growled.
I laughed. “Fuck the rules remember?”
He just laughed, finished undressing me and helped me into the bath.
“Are you coming in?” I asked as the hot water enveloped me.
“I am, just give me a minute, I need to shoot back downstairs quickly.”
I let him get to the doorway. “You’re kicking the dog off the couch aren’t you?”
“Who’s the mind reader now huh?”
I laughed as he disappeared from sight.
***
We took a long hot soak together and it was the most relaxing bath I’d ever had. I wasn’t sure what had me more relaxed, the warm scented water, the burning fire, or Lawson’s firm body behind my back.
After, I’d insisted he go and get some work done in his office. I brought Zef into the bedroom and called him up onto the bed with me. He’d snuggled up to my side and stared at me as I told him about the situation I’d found myself in and scratched him behind his ears.
I was startled awake by the side of the bed dipping down.
“It’s just me baby.” Lawson soothed as I jumped.
“Oh hey.” I croaked and stretched out my arms. My hand found something warm and furry and I tensed.
Uh oh. Caught with the dog on the bed.
I screwed up my nose and gave him my best ‘sorry’ look.
His face gave
nothing away. “Really Ells? The bed?”
I shrieked as he lunged for me and began to tickle me.
“The bed Ellerslie? The bed!” He growled over and over as I shrieked and laughed.
Zefer jumped up and bounced around barking at Lawson. He stopped tickling me and looked at his dog. “Down boy. We’re just playing.”
I watched in amazement as Zef nudged me with his nose and checked I was okay.
“I’m fine buddy.” I told him. “See?”
I wrapped my arms around Lawson’s neck and pulled his face down to mine. I intended to kiss him only softly – but when his tongue found its way into my mouth, I groaned and went with it. It was fierce and passionate. I was aching to take it further but Lawson abruptly broke away from me.
“Jesus you make me lose it.” He chuckled. “I came up here to tell you that Q’s here.”
I pouted.
“Don’t worry pretty girl. There will be plenty of time for that later.” He grinned down at me.
“There better be.” I mumbled back.
“Get that fine ass up.” He demanded.
“And you.” He pointed at Zef. “Get off our bed now.”
I laughed as Zefer whined and scampered off the bed and took off down the hall.
“On the damn bed.” I heard Lawson mumble as we followed the dog.
I ignored him – I was too busy dancing internally at him calling it ‘our bed’.
***
I was grateful to Quinn for bringing me some more clothes – I’d been here all weekend and hadn’t got around to doing any laundry yet so my supplies were running low.
“I think I’ll do some laundry and cleaning before dinner.” I told Lawson.
He smiled, but shook his head. “That’s sweet of you baby, but the cleaners will be here tomorrow so there’s no need to clean.”
“The laundry then?” I asked.
“Up to you Ells, they can do it, but you’re welcome to do your own if you prefer.”
I’d just tipped the washing powder in the machine when Quinn strolled in. “How are you holding up?” She asked, her eyes assessing me.
“I’m okay now I’m here.” I answered. “I got pretty freaked out when that came through to my phone though. I’ve clearly underestimated the reach this guy has.”
Quinn nodded. “Yeah I know what you mean. But if we’re still assuming that he’s connected to either Rush Communications, or Pierces Industries, then it wouldn’t have been that hard for them to access your number El.”
“That’s true.” I nodded in agreement. “I guess I’m just surprised that it’s directed at me. I’m new here – I barely know anyone. I’d assumed it was someone from Lawson’s past.”
Quinn looked at me and I could practically see the thoughts flying around in her head. “Oh shit.” She hissed. “Evan! What about fucking Evan?”
“Evan?” The idea was ridiculous. I’d barely spent any time with the guy – I certainly never belonged with him. “No bloody way Q. He never even called or text me again after I told him I wasn’t interested. It’s more likely to be Baxter than bloody Evan.”
Quinn didn’t look convinced.
I pointed a threatening finger at her. “Don’t you dare fill his head with this shit.” I knew Lawson would jump on any information. No matter how ludicrous it was. “I mean seriously Quinn. People don’t stalk someone after two dates. Especially not dates that went that horribly.” I laughed.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m clutching at straws. But I still think you better suggest it to Lawson, he’ll get there on his own eventually anyway, so you may as well just get it out there and dismissed now.”
She was right, Lawson would think of it himself. He wasn’t going to leave any stone unturned.
“Fine.” I huffed. “But when he goes bat shit crazy, I’m blaming you.”
58. Lawson
“Evan Graham?” I was suddenly furious at myself for not thinking of it sooner.
“I don’t think it’s even worth considering cowboy.” El narrowed her eyes at me and shot Quinn a glare.
“Not worth considering?” I barked at her. “Are you fucking mad? He’s average height, medium build, has brown hair-”
“So does half of Boston.” El snapped back at me.
“I know it was my suggestion, but I think El’s right. It makes no sense to be him. They’re virtually strangers.” Quinn looked at me as she spoke.
“I’m looking into it anyway Ells. I can’t ignore this.” I ran my hand through my hair. “Mark’s had eyes on Baxter, and from what they’ve seen, his life is as you’d expect it to be. It’s unlikely he has anything to do with this.”
“I told you it wasn’t him.” El rolled her eyes.
“I know you did, but now I feel more comfortable believing it.” I spoke more softly. “But the thing is baby, if it’s not Baxter, then who? I was hoping he would be responsible so I’d have a reason to kick his ass.” I smirked. “But it doesn’t appear I’m going to be that lucky.”
El’s face fell. “I don’t know.” She whispered. “I have no idea why anyone would be doing this to me – to us.”
I reached out for her hand and pulled her down onto my lap. “I know I keep telling you that I’ll take care of this and it’s still happening, I’m so sorry pretty girl.” I told her quietly as I cradled her against my chest.
She pushed away from me and held my face in her hands. “Lawson.” She whispered. “I don’t expect you to fix everything. This is not on you – it’s on us. We’ll work it out together. I don’t want to hear you apologize for anything, you have been so strong and you’ve kept me safe.” She placed a soft kiss on my cheek. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
“Always.” I told her softly, speaking nothing but the truth. She was a big part of my world now, and I’d always do what I could to keep her safe.
I called Mark and told him to put a tail on Evan. El interrupted my call half way through and asked to speak to him herself – I rolled my eyes at her telling Mark that she would be covering his bill from now on. She was so damn stubborn. I didn’t need her money, but in truth, she didn’t need mine either. I decided to let her win this one. We’d come into this relationship as equals, and given my history with Piper, I was grateful for that.
I finished up my call and Mark agreed to let me know the minute he had eyes on Evan Graham. He also let me know that the cell number used to message El was an untraceable throw-away. So that was another dead end.
Evan was my focus now.
I’d worked with him for years. He was a real estate agent and had often sold properties that my company had built. He wasn’t my favourite person in the world – a fact that was helped even less since he’d taken Ellerslie out.
He’d been the one to show Quinn and El around the office when they arrived in Boston, if I wasn’t out of town at the time I would have done it myself.
And I would have met El first.
I smiled as I thought about how we could have met under different circumstances, but the truth was, I was glad that we met the way we had. Ells had shown me she wasn’t afraid of a challenge, and I’d shown her my worst side – yet she’d loved me anyway.
I am one lucky son of a bitch.
If Evan was responsible for this, I was going to end him.
“El are you happy to work from here tomorrow?” I asked as I sat down next to her on the couch – she was having the day off regardless. I wasn’t having her out of this house until I had eyes on Evan, but I was hoping she’d agree and we’d save an argument.
Her brow creased and I could tell she was about to tell me no.
“I’ve already told Weston and Macie that they need to handle things tomorrow. I’ll head in and check on them mid-morning. Y’all can work from here and there will be no arguments. Got it bitch?” Quinn told El in that no-bullshit way of hers.
El looked at Quinn for a beat before flicking her eyes back to me. “I’ll agree.” She paused. “But only on these terms.”
>
I smirked.
My little negotiator.
She held up one finger. “Number one, I want to walk Zef in the morning.” She held up a second finger. “Number two, you will actually let me get some work done without hovering.” Another finger went up. “And number three… I want… Chinese food for dinner tonight.”
Rushed Page 30