“Sounds good. And good luck.”
“Thanks.” She turns and calls over her shoulder, heading for hair and makeup on the opposite side of the room from me.
I go back to my desk and check over the list of the reports that were e-mailed to me this morning. After going through each one, I notice my numbers are right on point with some of the other people who have been on air here for years but vary depending on the state. I check to see if Kathy has e-mailed me back, and when I see she has, I open the e-mail and my heart sinks. Once more, she’s dismissed the ideas I had on ways to promote the products on my schedule.
Not ready to give up, I go through some of the past projects she’s headed, finding they have performed well but not great by any standards. I would understand her being set on using her formula if it was working, but it hasn’t been. By the time I’m done going over all the information I’ve found, my brain is tired and I’m confused and convinced that maybe it’s me she doesn’t like.
“I’m back,” Samantha says, stopping at the edge of my desk, and I look up at her. “I’m just going to grab my purse. Want to meet me at the elevator?”
“Yes, I’ll be right there.” I start to shut down my computer, thinking maybe food will make me feel better, but stop when an e-mail from Sawyer Markel, my old social worker, pops up. My bad mood instantly lifts when I see she sent me her cell number along with a brief message asking how I have been and letting me know it will be easier if I call her. After I program her number into my phone, I meet Samantha, and I head out to lunch with my hopefully new friend.
“So what do you think?” Samantha asks as we finish up lunch.
“I’m not sure I’m a good judge. I was starving, so I think I could have eaten my own hand,” I admit, and she smiles, looking at my empty plate before pulling off one more piece of her sourdough bowl and popping it in her mouth. “Did you enjoy it?”
“It was good, but there is nothing like having seafood while looking out at the bay. Have you ever heard of Fisherman’s Wharf?”
“I went to San Francisco once with my ex and he took me there, though we didn’t have the clam chowder. We went to some fancy restaurant with his father. Honestly, I don’t even remember the meal. I think I slept through most of it.”
She cracks a smile then gets a faraway look in her eyes. “Every time I go back home to visit my family, I make them take me there to eat as soon as I land.”
“What made you choose Seattle if your family is in California?” I know I could never be that far away from Jamie.
“I wanted to prove to myself and my family that I could survive on my own. So far, I’m doing okay, but I don’t know if I will stay here after my contract is up with IMG. My sister just had a kid, and I feel like I’m missing out on all the fun aunt stuff.” She pulls out her phone and shows me a photo of an adorable baby with chubby cheeks.
“He’s cute.”
“Right?” She looks at the photo herself then tucks it away in her pocket. “Do you have family here in Seattle?”
“My brother’s here.”
“That’s cool. Are you two close?”
“Yeah, very.” I smile. “He’s annoying, but he’s also my best friend.”
“I have a brother, so I get it.” She grins, and I grin back.
“Actually, he has a show this Friday and I promised him I’d show for a little while. Do you have plans?” I ask, hoping she says she doesn’t.
“My only plans involved me lying on the couch in my pajamas, eating junk food, and watching reality TV, so no.”
“Well, there won’t be junk food but there will be alcohol, and the groupies who show up when he and his band perform are more entertaining than any reality TV show you might watch, so you’re night will be the same minus the pajamas.”
“Sounds like a good time to me,” she says, checking her watch. “Darn, it’s already time to get back. I’m going to use the restroom really quick.”
“I’ll wait here.” Once she’s gone, I pull out my cell and notice I have a couple messages from Braxton and one from Troy. I let out an annoyed breath as I read Troy’s message explaining he didn’t see the point of mailing my box like he said he would a week ago, because he will be in the city tomorrow evening and wants to meet up to give it to me. Even though I have no desire to see his face, I tell him that I can meet him at the coffee shop near my building.
I exit his message and go to Braxton’s text next, chewing the inside of my cheek as I try not to smile as I read.
Braxton: I wish I could have taken you on this trip with me. I thought about kidnapping you more than once but didn’t think it would go over well. Call me when you get home tonight, I should be in my hotel by then.
I shake my head. I don’t know how I can be annoyed and enamored with him at the same time. I message him back, letting him know I will call but that he might not want me to, since I mostly want to yell at him about the watch I’m currently wearing. As soon as I press Send, he messages back.
Braxton: I like when you’re angry with me. I like it more when you let me have my way with you.
I message back, ignoring the way my spine tingles.
Me: I’m serious, Braxton. You really need to learn about boundaries.
Again, his response is immediate.
Braxton: We don’t have boundaries between us.
Gah, he really makes me want to scream. Instead of texting him back, I shove my phone into my bag then get up. I take Samantha’s and my trash to the garbage across the room then wait for her near the front door, ignoring my watch as it seems to buzz nonstop, laughing to myself. He might have been able to force me to wear it, but he can’t force me to use it, and I know that is really going to annoy him.
________________
I SIT IN the middle of my bed with a smile on my face after hanging up the phone. Sawyer Markel was more than willing to help me find a kid who could use the college money and told me that she knew the perfect recipient, a young guy who had lost his mother to cancer but still has managed to get almost straight A’s. He had a scholarship for Boulder University but still needed money to pay for room and board along with other necessities. After she told me about him I couldn’t have agreed more with her choice. I send Hanna an email with Sawyer’s information and explain the situation. Then with a smile still on my face I dial Braxton’s number. Once the phone starts to ring, I set it down next to my laptop.
“Dakota,” he answers, sounding tired. Not like he just woke up but just exhausted, like he’s been going nonstop.
“Have you stopped going since you left here?” I ask him, concern filling my chest.
“I’m in bed now, I’ve had meetings since my flight touched down.”
“I’m sorry,” I say quietly.
“I’m all right… and better now that I hear your voice.”
“Don’t be sweet when I want to be mad at you.”
“You don’t have to be mad at me. You can just tell me how much you miss me so I can tell you how much I miss you. And how pissed I am that I’m not going to be back until Sunday.”
“Sunday?” My heart sinks as I start to feel overwhelmed with disappointment.
“Sorry, baby, I had no idea this trip was even going to happen, but now that I’m here, I’m fitting in a few things I needed to take care of anyway.”
“I guess it’s part of the job, right?”
“Unfortunately,” he agrees with a tired sigh. “I was planning on taking you to dinner this weekend.”
I can’t help but smile. “Were you planning on asking me to dinner or just telling me that we were going to dinner?” My phone lights up, so I click on the green button. A moment later, I see his gorgeous face.
“Did you have plans with someone else this weekend?” he asks as I pick up my phone so he can better see me.
“I actually had plans with my very attractive sugar daddy, but he had to run out of town on business,” I say, and his lips curve up into a smile.
“Sorr
y you had to miss out on that.”
“Me too, especially since he feeds me and allows me to drink very expensive wine.”
“He sounds like a keeper.”
I shrug, unsure he can see it. “I don’t know. He’s also overbearing and is always doing things to get his way that I don’t always appreciate.”
“Maybe he does those things to make sure you’re safe. Sometimes us men want to protect the things that are most important to us.”
“Maybe,” I agree. “Then again, he might just be crazy, since we hardly know each other.”
“I think you might be the thing making him crazy. He doesn’t know what to do. You’re the one thing in his life he can’t fully control, and it’s driving him mad.”
“I think he’s making himself insane,” I grumble.
He chuckles. “So what are your plans for this week, now that you won’t be doing me?”
I laugh then lie down on my bed, holding him up over my face. “I’m going to Jamie’s show on Friday, and Samantha is going to come with me.”
“Samantha?”
I roll my eyes. “She’s one of your employees.”
“Sweetheart, I have a lot of employees. I don’t know all of them by name.”
“You should. They are all a part of your company. I watched a show once, and this CEO sends each and every one of his employees a handwritten card every year on their birthday.”
“You want me to send each of my employees a birthday card?”
“It would be nice, and maybe give them a gift too,” I say then frown. “Why are you laughing?”
“You’re adorable.”
“I wasn’t trying to be adorable. I was trying to help you be a better boss.”
“Most of my employees live in my building for free, have access to a gym and a swimming pool, and not to mention get great health and retirement benefits. I think I’m an okay boss.”
Darn, he has a point. “Whatever.”
His lips quirk. “It’s okay to say I’m right.”
“I still think a birthday card would be nice,” I reply, refusing to give in, and he laughs, the sound making me strangely happy.
“So, you and Samantha are going to your brother’s show. Any other plans this week?”
My stomach fills with worry. I don’t know how that watch works or if he is still digitally attached to me, but if he is, he might know about me meeting up with Troy. Even though I have nothing to feel guilty about, guilt still fills the pit of my stomach along with a hefty dose of irritation.
“Are you still digitally stalking me?” I blurt.
His brows pull together. “Pardon? Digitally stalking you?”
“Are you connected to all my personal stuff with your watch—you know, my e-mail and texts and stuff?” When he doesn’t answer right away but gets an almost panicked look in his eyes, I know he is. I also know he already knows about me meeting up with Troy and is fishing to see if I will tell him about it. “Are you going to answer me?”
“I’m not stalking you.” His voice is placating, which only serves to piss me off even more.
“Do you know I’m meeting Troy tomorrow?” I ask, and his jaw tics, giving me my answer. “You know.”
“I know,” he confirms.
“Do you understand how violated that makes me feel?”
“Dakota—”
“No, Braxton, you need to get this, really get this. Unless I tell you something, it’s none of your business.”
“You’re my business.”
“Bye, Braxton.” My thumb hovers over the red button on the screen.
“Do not hang up on me, Dakota,” he growls, sending a chill down my spine.
“Or what?” I see the wheels in his head spinning. He’s on the other side of the country, literally. He can’t just barge in, and even if he got on a plane, it would be hours before he was back here.
“Dakota, don’t play games with me.”
“Braxton, the only one playing games is you.” I hang up and drop my phone to my side, and when it rings a second later, I turn it off. He has another think coming if he believes he can just go through my e-mails and texts without me having a reaction. Who the hell does that?
“A crazy man,” I whisper, thinking I might be a little crazy myself, because even though I’m mad, I’m not as mad as I probably should be.
Chapter 10
DAKOTA
I SIT AT a small table in the back of the coffee shop with an iced coffee on the table in front of me, the condensation on the cup melting down onto the wooden surface, the drink forgotten since I sat down. All of my attention has been focused on the familiar-looking man across the room, the same man I saw the day I had brunch with Jamie, the same guy I thought I saw at the movies.
I don’t want to assume he’s somehow connected to Braxton, but my gut is screaming at me that he is. I narrow my eyes on him when he looks in my direction, and he frowns, making me question my own sanity.
“Dakota.”
I look up at Troy, and he hesitates, like he’s waiting for me to stand and greet him with a hug. There is no chance in hell I’m hugging him. I can barely even stand the sight of his still-handsome face. With a sigh, he takes a seat across from me, and I glance at the guy across the room to see his reaction to Troy’s arrival, only he doesn’t react at all. Okay, maybe I’m being paranoid.
“Do you know that guy?” Troy asks, gaining my attention.
“No.” I pick up my coffee and take a huge gulp. Maybe I’m just on edge, because since I hung up on Braxton last night, I’ve been waiting for him to just show up or do something to let me know he’s still around.
“Okay…” His brows pull together. “Well, you’ve been glaring at him since I came in,” he says, placing his own cup of coffee on the table while leaning back in his chair, getting comfortable like we’re here to meet for a coffee date.
“Where’s my stuff?” I check the floor at his feet for the box or a bag, but there is nothing in sight.
“I left it in my trunk.”
“You left it in your trunk,” I repeat, sounding as annoyed as I feel. “Why didn’t you bring it in here to me?”
“The box is falling apart. I didn’t think you’d appreciate me leaving a trail of your photos on the sidewalk,” he replies, taking a sip of coffee. “I’ll get it for you when we leave here.”
I open my mouth to tell him that the box wouldn’t be falling apart if he had put it in a new box when he said he would mail it to me, but a shadow falls over the table and I glance up, blinking to make sure I’m not seeing things.
“Jamie?” I stand automatically to give my brother a hug, asking quietly, “What are you doing here?”
“I’ll explain later.” He kisses my forehead then glowers at Troy while moving a chair from another table, placing it with the back to the table between Troy and me before straddling it.
“How have you been, Jamie?” Troy asks with a hint of nervousness in his tone as he eyes my brother, who I have to admit looks intimidating. Not just because he’s much larger than Troy. His leather jacket, shredded jeans, and heavy-looking black boots would make any normal person cower if faced with him.
“Been good, Troy. How have you been?”
“All right.” He looks between Jamie and me. “I didn’t think you’d be here.”
“Funny, I didn’t think you’d be here either.” Jamie glances at me with a look that says I’m in trouble. “Last I heard, you were going to mail my sister her shit.”
“I was going to,” he agrees then clears his throat. “I just know how important the box is to her and wanted to make sure she got it.”
“It’s really nice of you to look after her like that, especially since you didn’t seem to give a fuck how she would feel when you slept with someone else after your ring was on her finger.”
“Jamie,” I hiss.
He turns to glare at me. “Where’s your box?”
“Jamie,” I repeat, softer this time, knowing his tem
per and how quickly this could escalate.
He turns to look at my ex once more. “Where is her box, Troy?”
“It’s in my car.”
“Why don’t you do me a favor and go get it,” he suggests, and Troy stands without another word and heads across the room to the door.
After I see him exit, I look at my brother, finding him watching me. “Was that necessary?”
“You said you would tell me if he asked to meet up with you, Dakota. What the fuck?”
“Who told you I would be here?” I ask, and his eyes narrow.
“That’s a whole other conversation we need to have. Why the fuck haven’t you told me about the guy you’re seeing?”
“Oh my God, I’m seriously going to kill him.” I squeeze my eyes closed and rub my forehead. “I can’t believe he called my brother, especially after our conversation last night. What the hell is wrong with him?”
“He’s obviously worried about you,” Jamie says, and my eyes open just enough to glare at him.
“Do not even think about taking his side on this, Jamie. You don’t know him. You don’t know the things he’s done.”
“Unlike you, Dakota, he talked to me, so yeah I do know.”
“He told you he stole my digital information?”
“If that’s your e-mail and shit, then yeah, he told me,” he replies, not seeming concerned at all by the fact that Braxton has basically come into my life and stomped all over it. Then again, he doesn’t know anything but what Braxton has told him. “I like him,” he mutters, and I blink in disbelief.
“You like him?”
“Yeah. I like him.”
“You don’t know him!” I screech then take a few deep breaths, hoping to calm myself down before I cause a scene. I thought I might have finally gotten through to Braxton. I thought maybe, just maybe, me hanging up on him and not calling him back or returning his texts or e-mails this morning might have worked to make him realize he can’t just take over anytime he wants to get his way. I guess I was wrong, and I also now know he has no limits. He will do whatever is necessary to get his way, including getting my brother on his side. My brother who has never liked any man I’ve ever dated.
The Wrong/Right Man Page 11