by Lila Kane
I broke off when he unfolded his arms and stepped forward, eyes blazing with something akin to fury.
“Is that what you think this is?” he asked. “A prison?”
My throat dried when he stalked toward me, equal parts fear and longing shooting through my body. He walked like a predator. But not one out for the kill. He walked to me like he wanted to taste, to sample.
No, I had to be reading that wrong. It was simple anger smoldering in his gaze. Of course it was. I’d insulted him in his own house—a house he’d offered to let me stay in. But I wasn’t going to back down.
“I need to be able to call Tom,” I whispered.
Joseph considered this. “Davies will find you a secure line. You can’t use your cell phone.”
All right. A compromise. I hadn’t expected this. “And I need to be able to leave. I—I have a job and—”
“No.”
“What?”
He shook his head. “I informed your boss yesterday that you won’t be returning.”
My mouth dropped open. “ What ?”
“You don’t work there anymore.”
“You can’t just—no, that’s not—” My breath came out in a rush, cheeks blazing from barely veiled fury. I swiveled to the door. “I’m going there right now to fix what you did.”
In the blink of an eye, he was in front of me. Close enough I stepped on his shoes, nearly running into him.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
Fear rushed over me, reminding me of all those times I’d cowered in front of Don, waiting for the blow I knew was coming.
My lips trembled. “Joseph.”
Something flickered in his gaze. Just a flash of a softer side before he stepped around me and walked to his desk. “Come here,” he murmured.
I stayed where I was, facing the door and still frozen by shock and doubt.
“Samantha,” he snapped.
I jumped and then whipped around.
He gestured to his desk. “I need to show you something.”
Pulse racing, I walked around the desk and stood next to him. He pressed the screen of his computer and pulled up a video.
I leaned in. “That’s…that my job. I…”
It was the office I used to work at. A clean shot of the lobby. The camera switched views when someone walked in, and my heart lodged in my throat.
“Don.”
Joseph leaned in next to me, his cologne swirling around me and making me dizzy. His shoulder brushed mine when he opened another file from a different day.
“And again,” Joseph said, his voice a low rumble beside me. It rattled my insides. “More than three times since you filed for the restraining over, he’s come into your work looking for you.”
I clasped my hands together, squeezing them until my knuckles turned white.
“This is why there are rules,” Joseph said.
I licked my lips, my brain whirling. I thought I was safe. I thought after I filed the restraining order Don would leave me alone.
What an idiot. He’d told me before that he’d never let me leave, but I hadn’t believed him.
Joseph reached out, trapping my chin between his thumb and forefinger, his black gaze capturing mine. “This is just the tip of the iceberg. Your brother asked me to make sure you’re safe, and I’m not going to let him down.”
His grip softened, and his thumb brushed my bottom lip just slightly. Or had I imagined that? Then his hand fell away, and he stepped back.
“This is why there are rules,” Joseph repeated. “And I expect you to follow them.”
Chapter Three
After my conversation with Joseph, I called Tom. He’d only been able to talk for a few minutes between classes, and I’d clammed up. How did Joseph know about Don? What else had he and Tom talked about?
I’d almost brought up the rules more than once, but couldn’t bring myself to say anything. How could I complain about someone who was trying to protect me?
But that still didn’t take away the sting of how Joseph treated me. He really did seem as cold and callous as everyone made him out to be, and even if he was trying to help me, I didn’t want anything to do with him.
I paced in my room again, sorting through the events of the day. Trying to figure out how long I was going to have to stay in a place I clearly wasn’t wanted.
I couldn’t face Joseph again. What was I supposed to say to him? I wanted to yell at him, which just made me seem ungrateful. And I wanted to leave, but then I’d be putting myself right back in Don’s grasp.
I hated feeling like all my options had been taken away.
And now I didn’t even have a job. That part still made me fume. I should have told Tom that. How Joseph had taken away my job without even consulting me.
But I had a sinking feeling Tom was going to back up his friend. After all, he’d been there after the last time Don had put me in the hospital. And he’d only agreed to help me if I promised to put Don behind me for good. It was something I’d been trying to do for months, but it had finally happened three months ago for good.
Then the phone calls had started. Then Don had begun following me around. And the threats…
I sighed and walked to the window, watching the sun sink lower in the sky. Dinnertime. No way I was going down there.
A knock sounded at the door and I jumped. “Yes?”
“It’s Davies, Miss. Dinner is being served downstairs in the dining room.”
I walked to the door and pulled it open, giving him a smile. “Thank you, but I won’t be coming down tonight.”
He hesitated, then nodded his head. “Shall I bring a plate to your room?”
“No, thanks. I’m not hungry.”
He hesitated again and then backed away. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Davies.”
I shut the door and locked it this time. I needed privacy. Time to think. I needed a plan—a purpose. Something more than staying locked up here indefinitely.
When I was about to stand to go to the bathroom for a bath, another knock sounded at the door.
“Really, Davies,” I said loud enough he could hear me. “I’m fine. I don’t need anything.”
“It’s not Davies.”
My stomach jumped at the sound of Joseph’s voice. I stood by the bed but stayed away from the door.
“Come down for dinner,” he said.
It took me a moment to find my voice, and even then, it wobbled when I spoke. “No, thank you.”
“Damn it, Samantha,” he growled. “Just come down and we can talk.”
“I don’t think there’s anything to talk about.”
His fist hit the other side of the door. “Don’t be stubborn. Open up.”
“No.”
“Samantha,” he snapped. “This is ridiculous. Starving yourself isn’t going to get you anywhere.”
I walked to the door and said clearly, “I’m not hungry.”
He cursed, and then fell silent for a moment. “Fine.”
I waited for another thump on the door, or for him to demand I open up again, but nothing came. After a moment, I heard the sound of his footsteps walking away from the room.
Slumping against the door, I let out a soft sob. Fuck. What was I supposed to do? I couldn’t dodge him forever or stay up here forever. I didn’t want to, and that was rude. He was giving me a place to stay.
A bath. I’d take a bath and relax and then figure this out later when I had better perspective.
After relaxing in the jacuzzi tub and then pulling on leggings and a tank top, I read a book in a bed. Long enough the sky darkened fully outside. Long enough my stomach started to rumble.
I tried to go to sleep, but when my stomach kept growling, I finally gave in and opened the door to my room. Outside, it was dim and quiet.
Good. Maybe everyone had left or gone to bed. I could sneak down, grab some leftovers from dinner if there were any, and haul ass back up to my room without any
one knowing better.
I padded barefoot down the hallway and then down the massive staircase. Part of me felt like I was in a movie or a fairytale, sneaking down from the tower in the middle of the night.
Quiet.
The thought almost made me smile.
In the kitchen, a small light illuminated the corner of the counter. I maneuvered my way to the refrigerator, then paused.
What was that? I listened for the noise again, but didn’t hear anything. Something outside, maybe.
Beyond the windows and the dark lawn, I could see the sparkle of city lights. Almost like a dream, and so far away.
I swallowed hard. Would I ever feel comfortable out there again?
Even with a restraining order, Don probably wouldn’t be deterred. But it was a step—a step I knew I’d needed to take.
I opened the refrigerator and peered inside. On a shelf level with my eyes, there was a container with a piece of tape on the side. It said, Miss Tolson .
My lips curved. Davies. He’d packed me up leftovers from dinner. I pulled it out, turned around, and then gasped.
“Late night snack?” Joseph asked.
With my heart lodged in my throat, flashbacks of Don eclipsing my vision, I couldn’t speak.
“Samantha,” Joseph said softly. His fingers gripped my arms. “Are you okay?”
“You scared me,” I choked out.
“You were wandering around in the middle of the night. I heard a noise and came to check it out.”
I swallowed down my fear and ducked my chin. “I’m sorry. That was rude. This is your house and—” I turned to put the food back in the refrigerator.
“What are you doing?”
“Putting the food back.”
“Fuck.” He snatched the container from my hand and set it on the counter. “You’re allowed to eat. Just because you were stubborn and wouldn’t come down for dinner doesn’t mean I’m going to deny you food the rest of the time you’re here. What kind of monster do you think I am?”
I backed against the counter. A monster? No. But a cold-hearted man who lacked compassion? Yes.
“I wasn’t being stubborn,” I said through gritted teeth.
He folded his arms. His dark eyes looked fathomless in the dim lighting, but I could see the outline of muscle through his T-shirt. His sweats hung low on his hips, making my stomach clench. Making heat bloom between my legs, even as I defended myself against his words.
Joseph had always managed to make my pulse race and my body long for his. But he had no idea. Maybe that’s why it hurt so badly that he was treating me the way he was.
“I’m not a kid anymore, you know,” I said, lifting my chin. “You used to brush me off when I’d bother you and Tom. You acted like I didn’t exist. But that was years ago. I’m an adult now, and I don’t appreciate being brushed off. I appreciate you letting me stay here, but—”
“You think that’s what this is?” he asked, advancing on me. My fingers curled around the ledge of the counter behind me. “A brush-off?”
My voice came out as a squeak. “I don’t know what this is. But I don’t like it.”
“You think I didn’t see you then?” Joseph’s voice came out rough. He stopped only inches from me. So close I could feel the heat of his body on mine. “In those fucking short skirts you wore, legs as long as day. Body curvier than anyone’s has the right to be.”
My heart slammed against my ribs, desire washing over me even as amazement zoomed through my brain. He saw me back then?
“And now…” Joseph leaned in, his hands on either side of me at the counter. “In that tank top that barely covers anything. I can’t help but see you. All of you.”
I lifted my chin automatically, inviting him in. I wanted his lips on mine, wanted them to travel down my neck to the hollow of my throat. It had been so long since I’d wanted someone else’s hands on me. Don had forced himself and I’d hated him for that.
But this…this was a longing I’d never felt with anyone but Joseph.
He exhaled, and his breath warmed my lips. I squeezed my thighs together against the onslaught of sudden need that overwhelmed me.
“Joseph,” I all but sobbed. Why wasn’t he saying anything? Doing anything? I could verbally fight against him all day—but I couldn’t stand up to this.
Something cleared in his gaze, like a lightbulb going off. Sudden clarity.
He straightened abruptly, backing away from me with almost hasty motions. His breath still came quick, and when I dropped my eyes, I saw his sweats were tented. My gaze widened, locking on his. Oh, God…what if he felt the same way I did? I’d clearly turned him on.
Joseph plucked the container of food off the counter and shoved it into my hands. Then he turned away from me, his voice coming out gruff. “Next time if you’re hungry, come to dinner.”
And then he vanished from the kitchen, leaving me confused and a little hurt. What the hell had just happened?
Chapter Four
The instant Tom got out of his car, I hugged him hard. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
It had been two days of near solitude. I played cards with Davies until he had to do his duties, and wandered around the house. I even practiced my free throws on the basketball court. But I needed more than this. I needed to be out in the fresh air.
And more, I needed company.
Joseph wasn’t home often, and when he was, he tried to avoid me. We’d pass each other in the hallway, lock gazes, and then he’d look away, muttering a gruff “hello.” And if we ran into each other in the kitchen or somewhere else, he’d excuse himself.
“Sam?” Tom asked.
I only hugged him tighter. “I think this was a bad idea.”
He leaned back, gripping my arms to hold me at arms-length. “What do you mean? Did something happen?”
Before I could answer, Tom’s gaze left mine, and then he released me with a grin. “Joseph!”
I stepped back as they embraced, acting like they hadn’t seen each other in years. The sun beat down hard on us, and even though I was already ready to break a sweat, I didn’t care. It felt so good to be outside.
Since I’d broken things off with Don, I’d spent a lot of time with Tom. We’d gone hiking and tried new restaurants. We’d taken a ferry boat and had a carefree day.
But since I’d been here, I hadn’t even been able to sit by the pool.
“Sam?”
I snapped my attention back to Tom. “Sorry, what?”
He pulled off his sunglasses and narrowed his eyes on my face. “What’s wrong?”
“I…” I glanced at Joseph. And, like usual, he looked away. Screw him. I thought we’d had a moment in the kitchen that night. But he clearly didn’t want to remember anything about it. Or me. I smiled at Tom. “It’s such a nice day. I think we should get in the pool.”
If Joseph wasn’t going to pay attention to me, I’d use Tom being here to get what I wanted. At least until I had the chance to pull him aside. Then I had to figure out another solution, because I was not staying with Joseph another day.
I turned to Joseph with the same sweet smile. “Unless that’s against the rules.”
His jaw clenched. His eyes were covered by sunglasses but if I could see them right now, I knew they’d be dark as onyx. Smoldering with something I might have thought was lust as some point. But now, I was halfway convinced he hated me.
“Rules?” Tom laughed, slinging his arm over my shoulder. “Rules already? Getting tough living together?”
“You have no idea,” I murmured beneath my breath.
Joseph went along with the plan. We all changed into our swimwear. Davies brought drinks and made sure we had extra towels and an umbrella overhead.
I donned my red bikini, the only one I had. I’d tossed it in my bag last-minute when Tom reminded me Joseph had not one, but two swimming pools. I’d yet to use the indoor one. But today, I needed to be outside and feel the sunshine. Especially because I could already se
e the storm clouds piling up over the city again.
Tonight, we were expecting rain.
When I stepped back outside, I froze by the door. Joseph stood by the pool, his sunglasses still covering his dark eyes. He wore swim trunks and nothing else. I couldn’t help the trickle of heat between my legs. I couldn’t stop my body from reacting to his. Toned abs, muscular arms. God, even his legs were perfect. And then my gaze dropped to that vee on his abs, the chiseled line that angled downward and vanished into his low-slung swim trunks.
I definitely needed to get out of here. It was one thing lusting over a man who returned those feelings. And another lusting over a man who couldn’t seem to stand me.
Besides that, I couldn’t deal with his rules anymore.
With more bravado than I felt, I walked straight to the pool and dipped my toe in. When I glanced up and caught Joseph’s gaze, my confidence faltered just slightly.
He’d folded his arms, but he was frozen just like I had been. His lips were parted as though his breath had just caught.
“Better enjoy it while you can,” Tom said, coming up beside me. He pointed to the clouds. “Rain.”
“I know. Tom,” I started, ready to tell him I needed to talk to him.
But he was already distracted, taking a running leap into the pool for a cannonball. He splashed both me and Joseph and then came up laughing.
Dammit. I really needed to talk to him.
“He’s right,” Joseph said from across the pool. He removed his glasses and his eyes locked on mine for a long moment. “Better enjoy it while you can.”
He tossed aside his glasses, and to my amazement, he was running toward the pool as well. He jumped in just like Tom had and splashed me again. My mouth dropped open.
What the hell? He could act like a normal human being around my brother, but not around me?
What an ass!
I jumped in after him, a carefree laugh lodging in my throat before I hit the surface. Water rushed in around me. I let myself sink to the bottom, my ass resting on the smooth cement of the pool. Tom’s and Joseph’s legs treaded water nearby, their hands floating on the surface.