by J. S. Cooper
“What do you want?” Grant’s voice was frustrated as he looked at me for a brief second. There was unabashed lust in his eyes, and my body cried out in remembrance of the previous night.
“We have a problem.” Tyler pursed his lips. “We need to talk. Now.”
“Fine.” Grant let out a huge sigh. “I’ll be back.”
“Go and have a shower, Evie.” Tyler said to me softly.
“What?” I stared at him in confusion.
“Go and have a shower and get dressed,” he ordered me as Grant walked out of the room.
“Who do you think you are?” I said softly, not getting why he thought he could boss me around.
“I don’t think, I know.” He took a step towards me. “If you know what’s good for you, you will go and have a shower and put some clothes on.”
“Why?”
“Because that way, you don’t have to sleep with Grant again.”
“What?” My voice rose.
“Everything okay?” Grant looked back into the room. “What’s going on?”
“Evie’s just telling me what she wants for breakfast.” Tyler didn’t even look back at Grant. “Go down to the study and I’ll meet you there.” He looked back at me for a few seconds, and I could feel my chest rising quickly as I stared at his face. In this moment, I could see the ex-cop in him.
“Why did you leave the police force?” I asked him softly, wanting to get inside of his head.
“What?” He frowned.
“Was it because you didn’t like having to take orders?” I rolled my eyes. “You seem to think you can just boss everyone around. I’m surprised Grant lets you talk to him like that. You seem so insubordinate.”
“You think so?” He grinned at me. It wasn’t the response I’d been expecting to receive. His grin surprised me and delighted something in my soul. He was truly in a state of delight at my comments. His eyes were light and almost jumping at me. The smile on his face took me aback. It took him from a serious, hard man to an even more sexy and humorous figure. Why did he have to be so sexy?
“If you were my employee, you’d be fired for the way you talk to me.”
“It’s a good thing I’m not your employee then.”
“I hope Grant doesn’t fire you in the study.” I gave him a wide smile, showing him I meant the opposite of what I said.
“I don’t think I have to worry about that.” He laughed and ran a finger down my cheek. “If he fired me, I wouldn’t be able to do this.”
“You shouldn’t be doing it anyway.” I gasped as we stood there staring at each other. “You shouldn’t be touching me.”
“Why not?”
“Tyler, I’m here with your boss!” I pursed my lips and stepped back. “You’re being highly inappropriate.”
“I am?”
“You shouldn’t be touching me or propositioning me.”
“I’ve propositioned you?”
“You want to sleep with me!”
“What’s wrong with that?” He winked at me and licked his lips. I couldn’t stop myself from watching his pink tongue as it moved back and forth. I wondered what it would feel like on me.
“I’m not a toy.”
“Do you not want to be with me?”
“I’m not that sort of girl. I don’t go from bed to bed.” I could feel my face heating up. “Imagine if Grant heard you.”
“I don’t care if he hears me.” His eyes narrowed, and the smile left his face. “What you did last night was stupid. You know that, right?”
“I don’t need you lecturing me.”
“Why not? Because you have a super huge brain that you obviously haven’t been using?”
“Excuse me?” I gasped and reached forward to push him away from me. “You’re a jerk. What I do or don’t do is none of your business.” My hand connected with his chest, and he grabbed it and pulled me towards him.
“You have no idea, Evie. You have absolutely no idea.”
“What do you want from me? Is this some sort of game you’re both playing with me?”
“I don’t play games.” His lips came towards mine. “Let me kiss you.”
“No.” I swallowed and whispered back, my lips a mere inch from his. “You can’t.”
“I can.” He pressed his lips against mine lightly. I felt a sliver of electricity pass from me as his moist lips caressed me. “I can and I will.”
“How did Eugenie die?” I whispered against his lips as he pulled back. All of a sudden, all I could think about was the girl on the mantelpiece. My body was throbbing. My brain was fuzzy. My skin was on fire. And my heart was thudding. I stared at him and waited for his answer. I wasn’t sure why I’d brought her up as opposed to telling him off for kissing me. Maybe because my lips were still tingling from his touch.
“It’s a long story.” He paused, his features darkening.
“I’ve got time.”
“It started the way your story started...” His voice trailed off, and his eyes darkened, turning from blue to black.
“What do you mean?”
“She went to a club to make a little money.” He shrugged. “She fell into the hole.”
“What hole?”
“The hole of depravity and sex.” He sighed. “Do you know how the tale of Little Red Riding Hood ends?”
“She’s saved from the wolf.” I said slowly, my heart racing. “The woodsman comes and saves her.”
“No.” He shook his head, his eyes sad. “That’s the rewritten version. In the original version, the French version written by Charles Perrault, Little Red Riding Hood is tricked by the wolf, and she ends up being eaten. There is no one there to save her. At the end of the real story, all that is left is a fat wolf.”
“What are you trying to say?” I frowned. “What happened to Eugenie? Did Grant do something to her?”
“If I were to tell you, then I wouldn’t be a good employee, would I?” He nodded his head slowly. “And I’m already close to getting fired, as you so delicately pointed out.” He stepped back and walked to the door. “Go in the shower, Evie. Shower and get dressed.” He walked out of the room briskly, and I stood there in shock, my body shaking in fear. This was not a joke anymore. I was in serious shit. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I needed to find a way to get out of here. And I needed to find it quickly. I certainly didn’t want to be anyone’s dinner. And I didn’t want to find myself in Tyler’s bed as well. And I knew I was dangerously close to both things happening.
8
You ever watch those horror movies where the woman runs right into the hands of the villain? You sit there and watch her slowly walking through the house, and you want to scream at her to go and hide in a closet or jump into a car or call 911 or do something other than walk towards the person who’s after her. It happens in every horror movie. You sit there with your heart in your hands, your brain screaming at the woman, begging her to stop being so stupid. You think to yourself, ‘If that was me, I wouldn’t be sticking around or grabbing a small kitchen knife. I’d be hiding or running.’ It’s so easy to watch movies and think that. It’s a lot harder to be in a situation of danger and know what to do.
I’m not stupid. I knew something was off in this house. I knew Grant and Tyler were bad news. I know I was dumb to come back with Grant after knowing him for barely ten minutes - and even dumber for having sex with him. I know many people would find it hard to believe I’m not a slut or someone who has casual sex a lot. I don’t. And I’m not even sure why not. I don’t have anything against casual sex. In fact, I rather enjoyed being with Grant that night, even though I was starting to question myself.
“Leave, Evie. Grab your clothes and leave,” I muttered to myself as I stood there. I couldn’t seem to move my feet, and I knew a part of me didn’t want to leave. A part of me wanted to find out what had happened to Eugenie. I was an investigative reporter, after all. At least, that’s what I wanted to be. How could I leave now that there was a real mystery righ
t in front of me? I know, I know. I’m dumb. I should have fled right away. But I was also intrigued by Tyler and I wanted to get to know him better. And I hated myself for it. It made me feel cheap. I walked to my phone and quickly called Hailey, figuring she’d know what I should do.
“Hey, it’s me,” I whispered as soon as she answered.
“Where the fuck are you, Evie?” Hailey sounded upset.
“I already told you that—” I started, but she cut me off.
“I can’t believe you hung up on me last night.” She was fuming. “Where are you?”
“I’m still at Grant’s house.”
“Who the fuck is Grant?” She screeched.
“The guy I met last night,” I said softly. “Look, I don’t think I should leave right now.”
“Oh my God, do not tell me you had a one night stand and now you think it’s going somewhere?” Hailey was shouting. “I knew this was a mistake. Please Evie, just come home.”
“Hailey.” I walked towards the bathroom so the two men couldn’t hear me. “I don’t think a one night stand is going anywhere.”
“So you did have sex with him?” She screamed. “I cannot believe this. You left with the bloody groom. The girls are furious with me. You have really screwed me, you know.”
“Hailey, stop it!” I said into the phone. “This wasn’t planned, trust me.”
“Was it good?” She said softly. “I hope it was the best sex of your life because I am going to kill you when I see you.”
“It was good, but that’s not what I’m calling about.”
“What are you calling about?” She sounded suspicious. “Oh God, do not tell me you’re pregnant.”
“Hailey,” I rolled my eyes as I spoke. “I had sex just last night! I’m not going to wake up knowing I’m pregnant.”
“Evie, I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with you,” she screeched again. “Tell me about this Grant.”
“Well the reason I’m calling has to do with another guy.”
“You did not have a threesome,” she screeched again.
“Hailey, get a grip.” I sighed, though my face warmed at the thought. “You know I didn’t have a threesome. You know I don’t do threesomes.”
“Well, you never did one night stands, either.”
“Hailey, non-judgment zone please.” I sighed. “I was doing you a favor, remember.”
“I know, I know. So what’s going on with Grant and this other guy?”
“So this other guy was telling me about this girl who died, and I think Grant did something to her. I think something fishy is going on.”
“Oh God, Evie, get the fuck out of there!”
“I think I should stay and try and figure out what’s going on.”
“Are you out of your bloody mind?”
“I was out of my mind when I agreed to do this job for you.” I sighed. “I didn’t even get my five grand.”
“I’ll give you five hundred if you come now,” Hailey pleaded. “Please do not go playing Nancy Drew, Evie. You’re not Nancy Drew or Veronica Mars.”
“What about Stephanie Plum?”
“Evie,” she groaned. “Just come home please.”
“Grant doesn’t want me to leave,” I whispered. “At first I thought it was a joke, but I think he might be a bit of—”
“Why aren’t you in the shower?” Tyler walked into the room with a frown on his face. I quickly closed the phone and gave him a weak smile.
“I was just calling my friend.”
“For?”
“To let her know I was alright.”
“So you’re alright?” He shook his head. “You’re stuck in a house you want to leave, yet you call your friend to tell her you’re alright? Are you crazy?”
“No, are you?” I licked my lips nervously. “I’m about to go in the shower now.”
“Can I come in with you?”
“No.” My fingers trembled, and I dropped the phone. Tyler walked over to me, and we both bent down to pick it up. As we both grabbed it, our fingers touched and we stopped and stared into each other’s eyes. Tyler’s expression looked sad as he stared at me, and I could see him studying me intently. He reached up and brushed a piece of hair away from my eyes.
“You have beautiful green eyes. They remind me of the nighttime forest near the house I grew up in.”
“Oh?” I wanted to ask him more, find out where he grew up, why he was here now. Why he worked for Grant. What was his story?
“They have a dark green, almost brown hue to them. They’re inviting me in, yet I feel something treacherous lurking beyond their beauty.”
“You think I’m the treacherous one?” I gasped, and he nodded.
“There’s more to you than meets the eye, Evie.”
“There’s really not. I promise.” I stood up and tried to grab my phone away from him. “I’d like it back now, please.”
“Maybe, but not now. Maybe later.”
“What?” I frowned. “Give me my phone back.” I grabbed his hand and tried to remove my phone from his grip. My heart was beating erratically, and I could feel my face growing cold.
“Sorry.” He shrugged as he held onto my phone tightly with a death grip.
“Give it back.” I squeezed his hand as hard as I could.
“What are you doing, Evie?” Grant walked into the room and stared at us, his expression blank.
“Tyler took my phone and I want it back.”
“You took her phone?” He stared at Tyler for a second.
“Wasn’t that your order, Sir?” Tyler responded quietly, and I saw Grant’s eyes narrowing before he looked back at me.
“Come with me, Evie.” He held his hand out. “Let’s go and talk.”
“Talk about what? I want my phone.”
“Don’t you want to—”
“I don’t want anything but my phone.” I pulled away from him.
“What’s going on with you?” He frowned, his blue eyes eyeing me warily.
“I want to go home now.”
“I told you, that’s not a possibility right now.”
“Why not?”
“Let her go, Grant.” Tyler’s voice was soft as he spoke up. “Just let her go.”
“No.” Grant shook her head. “I’m, I mean, we’re not done.”
“Done with what?” I swallowed hard.
“Stop asking questions.” Grant turned away. “Take her to the room, Tyler. Let her sit there and think for a while.” He looked at me for a second and then left the room again. I stood there feeling scared and annoyed at myself. Why hadn’t I tried to find an escape when they had both left the room?
“What room?” I shouted nervously and looked at Tyler’s blank face. “What room is he talking about?”
“The playroom,” Tyler said, his expression cool.
“What playroom?” I asked again, desperately wanting to be out of this situation. “Please just let me go home.”
“That won’t be possible.” Tyler shook his head. “Not right now.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the door.
“At least let me shower and put some clothes on first. Please,” I begged him, and he paused. “Please. I don’t want to go into another room with just this cover on. I don’t want to be naked underneath.”
“Fine.” He pulled me to the bathroom and opened the door. I walked in eagerly, hoping I could climb out of the window and escape, but he followed behind me.
“What are you doing?” I froze as he locked the door.
“Letting you shower.”
“With you here?” I shook my head, my face red. “I can’t shower with you in the room with me.”
“It’s the only way you’re going to be able to shower.” He shrugged and leaned against the door. “It’s your choice.”
“Will you close your eyes?” I asked him softly, my body tense as I stared at him.
“Would you believe me if I said yes?” He grinned and reached forward and grabbed my b
athrobe.
“What are you doing?”
“Helping you get ready for your shower.” He loosened the belt and paused as the robe fell open. His hand dropped, and he stepped back and looked at me, my breasts barely covered by the thin material. “You should shower quickly.” He turned away, sounding mad at himself. “I’ll give you five minutes.”
“Five minutes to shower? What?” I blinked at him. “That’s not long enough.”
“Four minutes and fifty-five seconds left.” He looked at his watch.
“Whatever.” I reached in and turned the shower on and put my hand out to feel the temperature of the water. “Will you at least turn around please?” I sighed as I felt the water turning warmer. “Please?”
“Fine.” He rolled his eyes and turned around. I pulled the robe off quickly and entered the shower, letting the hot water cascade down my body. I wasn’t sure why I didn’t feel more panicked. I think it was because it hadn’t really hit me. The whole situation felt surreal. And if I was honest, a part of me felt safe when Tyler was around. I knew Grant was his boss and he would follow Grant’s orders, but I was also pretty sure he wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me. He wouldn’t physically harm me. I wasn’t sure why I was so confident of that fact, but somehow, inherently I just knew.
“Why are you doing this?” I said as I reached for some shampoo and rubbed it through my hair quickly. My body was on high alert, and I felt uncomfortable showering with him in the room, even though I knew he wasn’t facing me.
“Why am I doing this?” He repeated. “So you don’t try and escape through the window.”
“No, I mean, why won’t you just let me go. Why won’t Grant let me go?” I grabbed the body wash and started soaping my body up quickly, rubbing myself hard.