by Kreig, K. L.
I’m so caught up in Addy talking in my other ear that I almost don’t hear Gray’s response. But the minute his words register, I freeze. My lungs stop working and I don’t know how long I go without taking a full breath.
“What did you say?” Because as I replay his words, I’m not at all certain I heard them correctly. I couldn’t have.
“You heard me, angel.”
“Gray—”
“Stop. We’re not going to have this conversation a thousand miles apart, but I mean it, Livvy. Now, go have fun with your friends. I can practically hear Addy bouncing on the floor. I love you, angel.”
“I love you, too,” I manage to say. I drop the phone into my lap and stare straight ahead, Gray’s words tumbling around and around in my head. Words I can’t believe he really meant, but I also know Gray. He doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean.
“What kind of sexual haze did he put you in this time?” She shakes my shoulders. “Wow, it must have been really good.”
“It was,” I mumble.
“Come on, let’s go. Kam’s in the car downstairs waiting.”
“Yeah, let me just grab my purse.” And give me a couple of minutes to pull my shit together. I look down at my hands. They’re trembling.
“Okay, but I’m going down. She’s got a bottle of champagne already open and I can hear the bubbles seducing me all the way up here!”
She bounded out, none the wiser of the turmoil my addled brain was now in. I spend a couple of minutes in the bathroom, getting myself together before heading down to meet my friends. I decided to put Gray’s words away for the evening and revisit them tomorrow with a clearer head.
Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done.
Chapter 32
Kam had reserved a small private room at the back of this upscale club and it’s filled to the brim with family and friends of Addy’s. The doors are open and people are milling about between the room and the club, which is already hopping for a Thursday night. And I had the unfortunate luck to run into John, who Kam invited for some reason. Apparently the asshole decided that since he couldn’t have me, he’d settle for Kam. And believe me when I say that when I get a moment alone with her, I’ll make sure she knows what a d-bag he is. I have yet to see Kam fall for a guy, but I certainly don’t want her first time to be with this vag-sniffer, no matter how good-looking he is.
“How have you been, Livvy?” a deep voice asks as I’m helping myself to a second piece of cake. It’s stuffed with some sweet decadent filling that I can’t seem to get enough of and I don’t care if it just ends up on my thighs. It’s too good to pass up.
“It’s Livia, and I’m good. Thanks.” I don’t even turn to look at the intruder because I know exactly whose brown eyes I’ll be staring into.
“My bad. I heard Gray call you Livvy at dinner.” Gray? Like he knows Gray well enough to be on a first name basis. This guy is such a loser.
I spin on my heels and John’s standing so close, my plate hits his chest and my cake goes flying. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” He grabs a napkin from the table, and pulls at my blouse, smearing the frosting that’s splattered on me.
“Stop,” I spit. “You’re making it worse.” And this feels too intimate. Having another man’s hands anywhere near me just feels wrong.
“Sorry,” he mumbles. I push my way past him and through the club to the bathroom. A few minutes later, with the blue stain mostly gone, and now sporting a giant wet spot on my pink shirt, I’m making my way back to the party when I spot him.
The stalker.
Only he’s not looking at me. He’s looking at John, and by the thin line his lips are drawn into he seems mighty pissed. I’m conflicted. I feel panicked, but a strange sense of relief at the same time. I haven’t seen him since that day at the café, but I’ve still felt his presence occasionally. And by the way he’s staring John down like he wants to cut off his dick, I get the feeling he’s protecting me, which is the relief part. But I don’t know why, which has my heart racing and my blood running cold. Has Gray hired this man to keep an eye on me? If so, why? Is he suspicious?
I return to the party, making it a point not to acknowledge the man watching me. Watching out for me…whatever. I try to stay out of his line of sight, hiding in the back corner of the room. I also make it a point to stay as far away from John as I can, which doesn’t seem too hard since he’ll talk to anything with cleavage.
“Ah! I love this song!” Addy screams as the new funky Bruno Mars tune blares through the speakers. “Alright ladies, time to shake some ass,” Addy announces, her words slurring together a bit.
“Oh, not tonight, Addy.” The last thing I want to do is put myself on display with my unknown protector watching every move I make. Besides, I can’t seem to concentrate on much of anything besides Gray’s emphatic response to my question earlier.
“And what are you going to sex me into agreeing to this time?”
“Making you my wife.”
“Making you my wife.”
My wife.
Wife.
Wife.
“Sorry, chica. Not taking no for an answer. It’s my birthday, which means you have to do what I want.” Addy grabs one hand and Kam the other and between the two of them, they drag me practically kicking and screaming to the dance floor.
But once there, the infectious smile that Addy has on her drunken face spreads to mine, and I end up spending the next hour dancing with two of my favorite people in the whole world. My friends love me, flaws and all. Secrets and everything. And I feel blessed.
“Hey, looks like you have a couple of admirers, babe. And one of them looks like he wants to eat you up.” Kam whisper-yells in my ear so she can be heard over the blaring music.
I shouldn’t turn, but I can’t help myself. I see my unconventional stalker, as I suspected I would, but then my eyes lock onto the familiar hazel ones of the man leaning against the bar next to him—eyes I haven’t seen for two years—and it makes my knees almost buckle. I feel a rush of heat so potent, I nearly melt on the spot.
Those eyes.
That earlier sense of relief I had disappears quicker than my father’s paycheck used to. Because now I know it wasn’t Gray that sent this man.
It was Grant.
The last words he had said to me before he left me alone in this city came rushing back, as if he’d spoken them only yesterday.
“Will I see you again?” Grant is the only steady thing I’ve been able to rely on for years and he’s leaving me. Alone. I want to cry, but I don’t dare let myself because I know I won’t be able to stop.
“No, baby. You need to get away from everything and everyone, including me. If you see me again, it means you’re in danger.”
Before I can speak, he grabs my face, and he doesn’t just kiss me, he devours me like he’s trying to memorize how my lips feel underneath his, just as I’m doing. He moans into my mouth, pulling me closer. I feel his stiff erection prodding my stomach and God help me, I want him. I’ve wanted this for months, but neither of us would give in to our desires. If Peter ever found out, he would have killed us both. As quickly as his mouth was on mine, it wasn’t, and then I’m watching him walk away without so much as a backward glance or a way to contact him.
So if Grant is here, it means only one thing. That I haven’t escaped my past, as I’d thought. No. My past was now staring me directly in the face and I don’t mistake the worry and concern I see. And the only way Grant would be here, watching me, was if something was terribly wrong.
Chapter 33
“I have to go,” I mumble, making a beeline for Grant, who has now pushed himself off the counter and is heading in my direction. Our eyes haven’t left the other’s. It makes my heart flutter and I’m instantly disgusted with myself for feeling even a twinge of anything for another man.
Addy grabs my arm, stopping me. “Livia, what’s going on?” she asks, in a worried voice, alternating between Grant and me.
&nbs
p; “Nothing.” I try to move forward, but the grip she now has on me is almost painful. “Addy, it’s okay.” I look at her, pleading to let me go and not ask any more questions. She knows this look well.
“Okay, fine, but if you don’t come home tonight, I’m calling the cops.” She finally releases her kung-fu grip.
“For god’s sake, I’m fine. Grant won’t hurt me.” And that’s true. It’s not Grant that will hurt me, but some other unknown enemy. Apparently Grant has gone to very great lengths to protect me since he’s had someone following me for a while.
“Grant?” Her brows draw together in confusion, eyes flitting back and forth between us. Grant turns his attention to Addy and you’d have to be blind not to notice that he’s looking at her like she’s prey.
I smile at my overprotective friend. “I need to go.” I give her and Kam a quick hug. “I’ll be leaving with Grant, and don’t worry, Addy, I’ll be home tonight. He’s just a friend, that’s all.” A friend that you were once attracted to, my traitorous lady parts remind me.
When I reach the edge of the dance floor, Grant is waiting for me. Now that I’m finally in front of him, I don’t know what to do. It feels like a betrayal to Gray to hug him, but it feels equally wrong not to embrace the person who means so much to me and to whom I owe my life. But in the end I don’t have to decide because suddenly I’m wrapped in his strong arms and can do nothing but hang on while he drinks me in. His scent wraps around me and it’s so comforting, it’s unnerving.
I pull away and he places a lingering kiss on my forehead.
“Your friends?” He nods to the dance floor where Addy and Kamryn are watching us with keen interest.
“Yes. Addy and Kamryn.”
“Addy the brunette?” he asks, his gaze finding her again.
“Yes.”
He acts like he doesn’t know her, which confuses me because he found her in the first place. To this day I’m not sure how he knew about her or that she was looking for a roommate, but in the end, it worked out and we are the best of friends. She wasn’t there when he helped me move in, but still. I never asked, because quite frankly I didn’t want to know, but all that’s quickly forgotten when he says those four dreaded words that never lead to anything good.
“We need to talk.” Entwining our hands together, he pulls me through the throng until we reach the bar and the man that’s been following me. “Thanks, man. I’ll be in touch,” he addresses my stalker, pulling me toward the exit without so much as an introduction.
“Grant, what’s going on?” I ask as he drags me quickly down the sidewalk and around the corner. Even though my mind is racing and I’m having a mini meltdown as to why he’s here, I can’t help but appreciate how very good he looks in his tight, well-worn blue jeans, fitted tee and black combat boots. Except that his hair is a little shorter, he looks exactly as I remember him.
“Not here, Livia.” He walks at a clipped pace until we reach a nondescript, dark blue Kia Rio another block and a half away. It’s clearly a rental, as the Grant I knew would never drive such a car. He’d be on his bike. That, and the Hertz receipt I see sitting on the console are dead giveaways.
Ever the gentleman, he opens the passenger door and waves me in. I huff and comply, my short black dress riding up my bare thighs as I make my way into the small interior. Grant notices and even in the low light, I see his eyes darken. When I hear him curse under his breath, I quickly pull it down as far as it will go—which isn’t far—not wanting to give him the wrong idea.
Quickly he’s settled and we’re on our way. Grant clearly remembers the way to my apartment; because I’m not giving directions and he’s not asking.
“Are you going to tell me what the hell you’re doing here and why you’ve had someone following me?” Now that the shock of seeing Grant has worn off, I’m suddenly starting to panic. I feel my throat swell and my lungs constrict. One, two, three, four, five. In, out. In, out. Breathe, Livia. Breathe. I take in slow, raspy gulps of air, trying to calm myself.
“Baby, are you okay?” Grant places his hand over mine and squeezes. I calm slightly, but his endearment feels wrong. I can’t let him think there is something more here than friendship. I love Gray with every fiber of my being and nothing will ever change that.
“Grant—” I start, but he interrupts.
“It’s okay.” He releases my hand and I feel oddly bereft. I hate myself. Grant is a friend and I do love him. One of the closest that I have. Had. I reach over and take his hand back in mine. He looks over and smiles, and suddenly an intense calmness come over me.
“I missed you,” I say. It’s true. I’ve missed Grant something fierce and I didn’t realize exactly how much until just now.
“Me too,” he replies softly, with a soft squeeze of his fingers.
“Are you going to tell me what’s happening?”
“When we get to your place. Will we be alone?”
“Why?” I ask, tentatively. I trust Grant with my life, but I don’t want to put either of us into an awkward position by having to turn down his advances, because I can clearly see his want for me flashing like a neon sign.
He turns his head and smirks. I may be in love with Gray, but even I am not immune to Grant’s charms. “Just to talk, baby. Nothing else.”
I sigh in relief. “Yes, it’s still just Addy and me, and that was her party we just left.” And suddenly I remembered that I didn’t bring my purse, which means I don’t have my phone or my keys. I groan and throw my head back against the headrest. Gray will be freaking out if I don’t call him soon because it’s already close to eleven. And we won’t be able to get into our apartment until Addy gets back. Shit.
“What is it?”
“I forgot my purse. Which has my keys. And my phone.”
“Don’t worry.” He doesn’t elaborate and I don’t ask. I know Grant has a sordid background since he was mixed up with Peter, but we’ve never talked about it.
“I need my phone.”
“Here, use mine.” He pulls it out and hands it to me. I can’t call Gray from another man’s phone. There will be too many questions. Questions that I simply cannot answer. So instead, I dial Addy’s number and luckily she answers. It’s noisy and I can barely hear her.
“Addy, it’s Livia,” I yell.
“Are you okay?” She sounds panicked and I hear her yelling for Kam.
“For god’s sake, I’m fine. I just forgot my purse. Can you grab it when you come home? I need to call Gray. He’ll be worried.” Grant stiffens beside me and releases my hand at the mention of Gray’s name. I look over at his handsome profile and notice his jaw ticking. The tension in the car suddenly feels so thick, it’s cloying. “Thanks, babe. See you in a bit,” I tell Addy as I hang up. I’m confused at Grant’s reaction, but by the way he’s working his jaw, I think it’s best not to ask.
“We only have about a half hour. She insists on coming home to save me from the Big Bad Wolf,” I laugh, only half kidding.
“She’s naïve,” he mumbles.
The rest of the ride is tense and quiet and I don’t push for answers like I want. The twenty-minute drive is one of the longest I’ve taken and by the time we reach my apartment, I’ve conjured up every single horrific scenario I can possibly think of, each one worse than the one I’d made up before. When we finally get out of the car, I think I’ve convinced myself Peter has risen from the dead and wants me back.
When we get to my apartment door, Grant pulls out a couple of screwdriver-looking things, sticks them in the lock and begins twisting them. Within seconds, I hear the lock turn. He does the same thing with the deadbolt and in less than thirty seconds, we’re in. I look at him and he silently dares to me ask, which I don’t.
Once inside, I head for the kitchen, pulling out a bottle of white wine from the fridge. For a woman who rarely drinks, I feel like that’s all I’ve been doing these past few weeks. “Want a glass?” I ask Grant.
“No.” He’s leaning against the k
itchen counter, arms crossed, watching every move I make and it’s starting to make me uncomfortable. I feel like he’s waiting to drop a Hiroshima bomb on me that will scatter my molecules to the wind and I’ll be forever lost. After I pour a healthy glass for me, I turn to him.
“Stop stalling. Tell me why you’re here.” I’m losing the battle against the water works and my eyes tear up involuntarily.
“I think you need to sit down.” There is concern and something else I can’t place in his voice.
“No. I don’t want to sit. Just tell me why the hell you’re here.” And then fix it so I can go back to my fairytale life with Gray.
Reaching out, he takes my free hand in his and leads me to the couch. He sits me down, taking a seat on the coffee table facing me. Our knees touch and he hasn’t let go of my hand. I know this ritual well. He’s grounding me. He’s making sure I don’t break apart into a million pieces right before his eyes. He’s done this a hundred times before. God, this is going to be bad. I just couldn’t possibly have predicted how cruel the universe would be to me. Again.
“A video surfaced a few weeks ago.”
Chapter 34
It’s nearly midnight and I haven’t heard from Livvy yet. I’ve tried her twice, but my calls just go to voice mail. We texted a few times earlier in the evening, but I haven’t heard from her for nearly two hours and I’m trying not to worry. I’m sure she’s just on the dance floor having fun with her friends and I don’t want to seem like a controlling, possessive boyfriend who can’t let his woman out for a night of fun.
Never mind the fact that’s exactly what you are, asshole.
I take another swig of my single-malt bourbon to chase away my anxiety. I trust Livvy. It’s the rest of the entire male population I don’t trust. Livvy’s an extremely beautiful and desirable woman, even if she doesn’t think so, and I know every heterosexual man at that bar will be salivating over her. When she described, in detail, what she was wearing, I begged her to put on a sack, or sweatpants, but she scoffed, saying no one would pay her a lick of attention when she was with Addy and Kamryn. They were both beautiful in their own right, but they didn’t hold a candle to my Livvy.