Interception (Distraction #3)

by Angela McPherson

  Rixon and I were strictly professional but became friends the longer we worked together. In some ways, he reminded me of Tristan. Women threw themselves at him based on his looks. Regardless of how many times I'd reassured Tristan, he didn't trust me spending time with him, especially alone. He had a valid reason to not trust Rixon. At the start of the year, Rixon took his flirting to a new level. I let the issue go, but Tristan not so much.

  At the end of the day, nothing and no one else mattered, as long as we worked through the rough patches.

  I shook my hands and took a deep breath. "Hey. Remember the story Professor Edwards asked me to look into?" I picked at my chipped black polish. "The one about the two PAs who were given a slap on the wrist for allowing students to cheat on exams?"

  Tristan studied me. "Yeah?"

  "Well, I wrote it, and now Edwards wants me to write another big lead story."

  "That's great, Spud!" He raised his mug in appreciation.

  "Thanks." Again, I squirmed on the seat. "Yeah, the deadline is midnight, so I may be home late." I held my breath.

  "You working alone on this one?"

  Shit! "Um, mostly."

  In less than ten seconds, Tristan's proud smile shifted into an agitated scowl. "Got it. All right," he said, tone flat. "Listen, I've got a late practice anyway, and a couple of tests to study for." He sighed.

  "You know, maybe I can skip out early. How about a late dinner?" I smiled, hopeful to salvage what was left of his amicable mood.

  "Don't worry about it, Elle." Tristan glanced at his cell. I cringed when he didn't use my nickname. "Better get going." He rounded the bar and placed a chaste kiss on my forehead. "See you later."

  I didn't want to end the morning with tension between us. "Tristan, please, don't leave. Not like this." I stood and faced him, though he kept his back to me. I dropped my eyes to my feet and frowned. "I thought we–"

  "I don't want to be late. Can we not do this now?"

  Snapping my head up, I said, "No, Tristan, we can do this now."

  That got his attention. When Tristan turned, his honey-brown eyes hardened.

  I swallowed up the space between us and reached out to move the hair that always fell across his forehead and into his eyes. "You know you're the only womanizer I love?" I grinned.

  He chuckled, and the tension evaporated. "I gotta go." Face dangerous, he added, "You spend a lot of late nights with the dick, but I understand why you have to." He bent slightly, leaning next to my ear. "Doesn't mean I have to like it, though." Tristan pulled me close.

  I breathed in his earthy, spiced scent.

  "Love you, too, Spud. Always."

  Tristan

  In the car, I turned the ignition and backed out of the driveway even as regret surfaced, begging me to run back inside to apologize and admit the truth.

  I cut my eyes upward, catching my reflection in the rearview mirror, but all I saw was Elle's face. "Dammit!"

  I loved Elle, more than she could possibly comprehend. When wrinkles claimed her skin, I'd love and want her still. So what set me off after a morning making love to the single woman who held my heart? One name: Rixon.

  The idea of her spending more time with the pretentious prick threw my temper into a tailspin. Every goddamn time. Graduation couldn't come soon enough.

  Elle switching majors meant longer hours dedicated to school, which I expected. I was proud of her for finally going after something she truly wanted. Excitement radiated from her any time she wrote another piece for the paper. Elle came alive for the first time since her sister passed away. I never wanted to see the light in her eyes fade again.

  When I met Rixon, I itched to ram my fist in his pretty-boy face. His fucking accent, sly smirks, and lingering glances directed at Elle, all of it, festered under my skin. The fucker was worse than a bad case of jock itch.

  Elle could handle her own, so I tried my best not to fixate on the situation. If anything, he could have his fantasies; the woman was my–and only my–reality. But Rixon used every excuse to keep Elle working late with him instead of wrapped up at home with me. Still, Elle never played into his hand. Hell, I didn't think she even picked up on his ridiculous flirting.

  My temper remained in check, but the sleaze ball blatantly eye-fucked her every time I showed up. Those looks led me to wonder what he did while I wasn't around. So, one night a few months ago, I arranged a get-together:

  "Hey, how about we go out tonight?" I grabbed a towel and wrapped the terrycloth around my waist.

  Elle peeked over, cheeks pink, no doubt from me washing her body, my mouth paying close attention to certain areas. "What did you have in mind?" She ran a brush through her hair.

  "Don't know. Out, drinks, maybe dancing?" I stepped behind her, resting my chin on her shoulder.

  She met my stare in the mirror and smiled. "Dancing, hmm." Elle leaned into me, feeding my need for her. The shower was about pleasing her, but my sanity could only handle so much.

  "I'm all for dancing." Her hooded eyes toyed with me. "Especially if tonight ends like our first time out dancing."

  I gripped her hips and jerked her against me, digging into her backside as a way of answering. She giggled, the slight friction begging me to bend her over the counter and take her.

  Elle interrupted my thoughts. "I'll text Alyssa to let her know."

  I planted a kiss on the top of her head, then moved from behind her, crossing my arms to keep from playing out the scene in my mind. "Good deal. Why don't you invite Rixon along?"

  She shrugged. "Sure, I'll ask. I think he mentioned his band having a gig at a bar downtown, though."

  "Cool. We can hang there."

  She faced me full on, mimicking my stance. The material covering her gapped in the front, exposing her tanned thighs, the same sensitive flesh I'd licked my way up moments ago. "What's going on here?"

  "Don't know what you mean, Spud. You two work together all the time. Figured I'd like to get to know him better."

  Elle stepped forward and draped her arms over my shoulders. "I don't believe that, but I'll pretend if only to prove a point."

  "Which is?"

  Elle lifted on her toes, her mouth hovering close to mine. "I notice how tense you get when he's around, but I assure you, there is nothing to worry about." She pecked my lips and backed away.

  Funny, she noticed me but remained oblivious to his shady antics. Yeah, I needed to see him in action, and she needed to wake up. "I trust you, completely." I did.

  Her attention trained to the reflection in the mirror, she said, "I can read between the lines, Daniels."

  Of course she could. "All right, I still don't trust him."

  She turned, observing me without a word.

  "Listen, I don't know him. So if we hung out and I got to know him, maybe I'd feel better about him monopolizing your time."

  Her green eyes turned electric as they bore into mine. "Fine, but I expect an apology when you're proven wrong."

  I stepped up to her and lifted her chin, grinning with wicked intent, and from the gasp and quick rise and fall of her chest, Elle knew it, too. "Looking forward to it, Spud."

  Later that evening, the girls decided to meet Bret and me at the location where Rixon and his band were playing. During the drive, Bret's knee bounced like he had to piss.

  "Man, hurry up. I don't want Alyssa around that guy."

  Why the fuck hadn't he said anything about him sooner? "I don't like him either." I stole a quick glance at Bret's tense shoulders and gripped the wheel tighter. "He try something?"

  Unfortunately, Bret shook his head. "Nah, he did an interview with a buddy my freshman year. Afterward, he invited him and a few other guys out to a strip club." Bret glanced at me and grinned. "I was the peon DD, and no way had I planned to turn that offer down."

  I laughed. Figured, horny bastard.

  "Anyway, Rixon nearly poured the bottle of Crown down Childers' throat. Man, the dude was shit-faced."

  "Wait, how'd
you get in?"

  "I had skills."

  I shook my head and grinned. "Fake ID, got it. Continue."

  "Basically, so all of a sudden, two chicks head over and start rubbing their shit in his face. One of them whispered something, and Childers followed the women to a back room."

  "So he got some action, no big deal." Bret's lame-ass story quickly stanched my kick-Rixon's-ass vibe.

  "Yeah, but someone planted a camera in the room. Those pictures led to his suspension. As soon as the paper released the evidence, Childers caught Rixon with his girlfriend. Well, ex-girlfriend." Bret leaned his head against the headrest.

  "Prick."

  "Pretty much. Get a move on, Daniels."

  The bar was known to showcase local musicians, most of them decent, which meant the band had potential. When we arrived, not too many people crowded the place, but the night had just begun. Bret and I headed inside, spotting the girls sitting in the far corner. My vision flared with red.

  Rixon caged Elle in her chair, whispering in her ear, which led to Elle laughing. One glance at Alyssa and I relaxed. Her leering expression told me she didn't like him either.

  Bret nodded to the table.

  "I'll be aight," I said, flexing my fingers.

  Bret laughed. "Sure, man." He took off, en route to making his claim, and I followed. "Baby," Bret said, pulling out a chair next to Alyssa.

  "Took you long enough," Alyssa cooed, leaning into Bret for a kiss.

  Elle glanced up at me with a tender smile that captured my heart, until Rixon pulled her attention from me. I zeroed in on Rixon's hand. He tucked a strand of hair behind Elle's ear, lingering longer than necessary.

  "Rixon." I crossed my arms, standing directly behind Elle.

  The bastard gave me the familiar fuck-off smirk, still bent over my girl. Mine. "Daniels, you showed." He stood. "For a second, I thought I was going to have to take your place."

  Elle's chair scraped against the floor. She jumped up, her body up against his. I ground my teeth but held my temper under control. Bret stood, ready to jump in if needed. Although, beating his ass did put a smile on my face.

  Instead, a quiet laughter bubbled from my chest. "Nah, Elle knows what she wants." Elle stepped into me, and Rixon laughed.

  "I like you, man." A band member hollered, and Rixon took his cue to leave. "Enjoy the show, will ya. I'll be back."

  "Looking forward to it."

  "Dick," Bret said, then nodded at me.

  Elle tugged on my folded arms, but I didn't budge until the asshole had made his way out of sight. "Tristan," Elle whispered, concern in her voice.

  I counted to three before giving her my full attention.

  "Hey," she said, loosening my arms and placing them around her waist.

  "You two looked cozy." I gritted my teeth.

  "He was messing with you."

  I raised my brow. "You got it backward; the dick was messing with you."

  She frowned. "I admit he was a little too close."

  "I don't like him, Spud. The guy has a thing for you." Elle squeezed her arms around my middle and glanced toward the stage. I followed her gaze. Rixon smiled at her and nodded. The drummer counted out a beat, pulling Rixon's attention to the crowd.

  A few screams rang out to our left. Immediate energy vibrated through the room. Rixon spoke, causing more women to squeal. Even Alyssa whistled beside us.

  Elle turned to me, understanding creeping in. Finally. "Okay. Maybe you're right, but I don't ever play into his advances. I drew a line in the very beginning. He knows you're it." A flush colored her cheeks. "But I think he enjoys messing with you too much. I'll tell him to knock it off, deal?"

  The woman never saw the wandering eyes following her every move the way I did.

  "So you've known he had a thing for you?"

  She allowed a single nod. "More specifically, I know you, and I didn't want you upset. Rixon is a sore spot for us, and I hate fighting with you over another man." She laced her fingers through mine. "Besides, I love you. Only you."

  "Enough with the macho-guy crap," Alyssa interrupted.

  "You didn't seem to like him," I countered.

  Amazon shrugged. "He's like every other asshole who wants what he can't have." She nodded toward Elle.

  Elle threw her hands in the air then sat again. "Way to stir up the storm, friend."

  Alyssa squeezed her eyes shut tightly, and when she opened them again, her face scrunched up, appearing to be in pain. "As much as I hate to agree with anything Shrimp has to say, I gotta on this one."

  I pulled out the chair next to Elle, laughing. "About time you got on board."

  "Bret, help me out here. You noticed that I had the situation under control, right?" Elle, sweet and too damn innocent, pleaded.

  Bret raised his hands. "Sorry, Elle, but you're on your own with this one." He leaned in. "Rixon is bad news. Be careful around him." He sat back then jutted his chin toward me. "Besides, I don't want to bail him out of jail because he kicked Pretty Boy's ass."

  "Enough. Let's drink!" Alyssa whistled, waving down a waitress.

  For a while, we enjoyed the evening. Rixon's band was a hit, and when their set finished, I'd almost forgotten why I didn't trust the bastard.

  "You guys are really great," Elle complimented when Rixon joined us at the table.

  "Thanks, beautiful."

  And then I remembered why I didn't like the little punk.

  A fellow band member came up to the table. "Hey, man. You up for a tat later?"

  Rixon lifted his sweat-soaked shirt, exposing the two Celtic tattoos on his left side. "What do you think, sweetheart?"

  Elle sipped her third drink through a straw, then giggled. "What?"

  "Should I get another?"

  Elle shrugged. "If you want? Don't see why you'd intentionally cause harm to your body."

  "How 'bout you come hold my hand. Pretty sure your beautiful face would distract me from the agony of pins piercing my skin." He leaned in too close.

  Rage flared, and though I was confident Bret and I could take the band, I didn't want to cause any notice to us. "Get your own girl to hold your hand." I gripped Elle's thigh under the table, and she squeezed my hand, reassuring me.

  Rixon sniffed, covering up his stomach, and refusing to acknowledge my presence. "Too bad. Sounds like you've got guard-dog duty," he said, speaking only to Elle.

  "Knock it off, Rixon. Besides, I'd hold Tristan's hand, not yours." Elle turned, directing her attention to me. Her green eyes pleaded with me to stay calm.

  So I did, kind of. "Sorry to disappoint, but I don't want ink on my body."

  Elle tilted her head. "You don't want a tattoo?" She waited. Those perfect lips pulled up in the corner, toying with me.

  "The only thing I want on my body…" I paused, moving an inch closer. "Is you." Surrounded by people or not, I didn't care. Elle did things to me.

  "Pussy," Rixon muttered low, though loud enough to hear.

  Elle's eyes widened. I may have refused to play into his hand, but I sure as fuck wouldn't back down from the challenge. I held his gaze with mine for a brief second, daring him to pipe up again. The cocky bastard smirked but dipped his head down and away from the glare I shot at him. Satisfied he'd keep his yap shut, my attention circled back to Elle. I cupped her cheek and asked, "You ready to go home?"

  Elle's shoulders relaxed, and she smiled. "Please."

  A growl rose, and I rested my forehead against hers. "You know how much I love it when you beg." When I pulled back, pink traveled the space of her cheeks. "Let me cash-out. I'll be back."

  Elle kissed me soundly before turning to say goodbye to the others.

  The night ended perfectly. Elle wasn't blind to Rixon's games anymore, which was all I'd wanted. She was smart but tended to only see the good in others.

  I rounded a row of tables winding up to the bar when I heard Bret holler out my name. "Daniels, we're out, man." Bret lifted one hand while guiding Alyssa throug
h the throng of people with his other. Alyssa stumbled, but he caught her around the waist, keeping her steady.

  "See ya," I replied, but Bret had directed his attention to Alyssa when her hand flew to her mouth.

  I cringed, hoping for his sake she wouldn't hurl. Elle had taken a few more shots than she probably should've, but she wasn't near as lit as her best friend.

  Waiting to close our tab, I turned and found Rixon with Elle. My stomach knotted. She frowned and shook her head.

  "Motherfucker!"

  "Can I help you, handsome?"

  Shit. I hurried to answer the bartender. "Yeah, I need to pay my tab. Tristan Daniels."

  "Got it right here." She continued talking, but another band had begun to play, drowning out her high-pitched voice. Finally, she handed me the receipt. I scribbled my name, grabbed the card, and pushed out into the crowd, in a hurry to get to Elle.

  In a dark corner off to the side where we'd been sitting all night, Rixon leaned against the wall next to Elle. She tucked her arms over her chest and stepped back. I had relaxed for about a second before anger slammed into me. The music soared as I stalked to the corner, taking stock of my surroundings. No bouncers stood nearby. Good. No bandmates ready to jump in to save their asshole friend. Even better.

  By the time I'd made it to Rixon, I didn't hesitate. My right fist connected with the side of his cheek. Rixon swayed and stumbled backward, holding his jaw.

  I grabbed Elle's chin. "You okay?"

  Tears welled in her eyes, pissing me off more, urging me to pummel his sorry ass. "I didn't know he was going to try to kiss me."

  I should've anticipated him better. Fuck it, I never should have put her in the situation at all.

  Securing her in my arms, I soothed her. "Shh, I know." Looking over her head, I pointed every bit of my fury toward Rixon. "You stay away from her. Got it?"

  "All a big misunderstanding, mate." He attempted to grin, though he dropped the gesture to rub at the pain from my punch.

  I guided Elle behind me. "The only misunderstanding is you not knowing when to give up and back the fuck off." I stepped away from Elle, now toe to toe with the Irish prick. "But I assure you, if you glance at her wrong, let alone touch her again, someone will have to write articles for you. You got that, mate?"