Chapter 4
Travis stared at the woman across the table from him and wondered why the fuck he wasn’t attracted to her.
She was gorgeous.
Smart and successful.
She was also submissive in the bedroom. Although she’d made it clear from the start that her submissiveness didn’t go past the bedroom door.
Something he had thought he’d be okay with. But now . . . he wasn’t so sure.
Just like he wasn’t so sure about her.
Maybe it was because she was just . . . too polished.
Too perfect.
But wasn’t this what he wanted?
Someone who wouldn’t add to his stress. Someone who he could come home to after they’d had a normal day in a normal life. Where he wouldn’t have to constantly worry about them.
Because they were always safe.
Three weeks had passed since Lacey’s wedding and this was the third date he’d been on. The other two dates had come from some matchmaking site that Clay had signed him up to. They’d been fucking disasters. So he’d figured he’d try a date with a friend of a friend.
It was winding up to be a disaster as well.
Not through any fault of hers.
No, this was all on him. All because he couldn’t get a certain woman out of his mind.
Fuck.
Who knew that every glimpse of pink and orange would get his heart racing and having him instantly on alert?
Ridiculous.
He needed to focus on what this woman was saying . . . Jocelyn. On what Jocelyn was saying.
“I’m sorry, I’m rattling on about my job and I haven’t even given you a chance to talk.”
God. Even her laugh was perfect. Like twinkling bells.
Light and sweet.
Not raucous and loud. She didn’t laugh with her entire body.
Fuck.
He was not becoming obsessed with Caren Stanford. That could not happen.
There was no room for that crazy, rude woman in his life. He’d barely seen her the day of the wedding, even though he’d found himself looking for her.
Something else that had annoyed him.
He admitted that most things annoyed him. Maybe he was turning into a grouchy old man.
That subs ran from.
He’d never noticed it before Clay pointed it out. But a lot of the subs at Whip It did tend to back away from him. At least the ones who weren’t masochists. And he wasn’t even a fucking sadist.
So what did that say about the state of his mind?
He was pretty sure that he didn’t want to know.
“I wouldn’t say you were rattling on.” He forced a smile. “It was interesting stuff.”
“You sure about that?” she asked dryly. “I’d bet that you didn’t hear anything I said.”
“You’d lose that bet,” he said firmly. “I heard what you said.”
She leaned forward. “It’s all right if this isn’t working out. You can just say and we can call it quits. I don’t want to waste either of our time.”
Yeah. She was a seriously smart, nice woman.
“Sorry if I have been off my game. I just . . . I haven’t really done this before.”
“Done what? Dated a stranger?”
“Dated at all,” he said dryly.
Her eyebrows rose and she let out a surprised laugh. “Wow. Okay. I wasn’t expecting that. You’re a date virgin.”
He grimaced. “Don’t think you should really put me and the word virgin into a sentence together.”
She grinned and that perfectness slipped slightly. “Fair enough.”
“Sorry this hasn’t been the best date. I have been told I’m not great company. Sitting around and making small talk isn’t my thing.” He waited for her reaction. The other two dates he’d been on, well, those women hadn’t appreciated his blunt honesty.
Jocelyn’s eyes danced. “Understood.”
“You’re perfect, you know,” he blurted out.
She paused and to his surprise, she stared at him like he’d said something she’d never heard before.
But she had to know how beautiful she was, right?
“I’ve never heard that from a guy at the end of a date,” she said.
“Seriously? You should hear it all the time. You’re perfect. None of this was about you.”
“Right,” she said, still looking slightly confused. “This was a strange date, but you seem like a decent guy. Tell you what, if you decide you want to chance another date, call me. I promise, no small talk. You can choose the activity. You don’t call, no hard feelings. Okay?”
“Yeah, that sounds fair enough.”
She stood and he went to stand, but she waved her hand at him. “Don’t get up. I can see myself out.”
“Are you driving?” He glanced down at the single glass of wine she’d had. “You should get a taxi. I’ll wait with you while one comes.”
“I’ve had one drink, I’ll be fine. I got myself here on my own and I can leave safely on my own. I’ve lived in this city a long time.”
Even though his protective instincts didn’t like letting her walk out into the dark on her own, he knew he couldn’t force himself on her.
Something else that his brothers had drilled into him.
According to Tyler, he had no idea how to date or treat a woman. Which was ridiculous.
Although his last date had ended with her actually running away from him.
After paying the bill, he stood and turned. His gaze went to her immediately; he wasn’t certain how anyone could miss her. Tonight, she was wearing a neon pink silky shirt that dipped down in the front to show far too much cleavage for his liking.
Not your business.
But what the hell was she doing here? How did she end up in the same restaurant as he was in? New York City was enormous. This couldn’t be a coincidence, could it?
Although, it didn’t seem like she was following him. She wasn’t even on her own. There was a huge ass motherfucker sitting across from her.
And, yeah, he had no right to judge the fucker sitting there and staring at Caren’s cleavage.
But he was.
Was she okay with the way that asshole was drooling over her? Who was he, anyway?
The guy reached out a hand toward her and he felt himself tighten. Were they on a date?
What the hell? She’d only been in the city a couple of weeks. How the hell was she going on a date?
Maybe she used an online dating service like he had.
What the fuck was she thinking? That wasn’t safe for a woman on her own. Not in this city.
And yeah there was a part of him that was aware he was being a hypocrite since he’d used a service to meet women.
But that was different. He wasn’t a threat to any of those women. And none of them had been under his protection.
She isn’t either.
No. But it was clear she shouldn’t be allowed to live in the city without someone to watch over her. Going on a date with someone she didn’t know?
Unacceptable.
Of course he ignored the voice in the back of his mind that reasonably pointed out that she might know this guy. That he had no clue how she’d met him.
Or that she was even on a date.
And that he had zero right to insist that she allow him to protect her.
He was too outraged that she might have put herself in danger to listen to that very reasonable voice.
This was his cousin’s friend. And that meant that he had to look out for her.
As the guy tried to touch her, she shied back.
Oh, that just fueled his anger even more. It was clear she was uncomfortable. Maybe she wanted out of the situation. Did she even have a backup plan? Did anyone actually know she was here?
What if something went wrong with this guy? What was her security net?
He was about to inform her of the error of her ways. As soon as he got her away from Mr. Touchy.
Storming over to the table, he spotted the moment that she saw him.
Her eyes widened and her mouth opened in shock.
He came to a stop behind her date. This guy was even bigger than he’d thought.
Not that Travis was intimidated. Few people were as well-trained and deadly as he was. He knew how to take care of himself.
And Caren, too.
“Travis? What are you doing here?” she asked.
She had on that same bright red lipstick and feather earrings that had been dyed orange. The whole thing should have looked ghastly. Instead, there was a kind of charm about it.
The guy finally realized that there was someone standing behind him and turned to frown up at Travis.
What an idiot.
No survival instincts.
“Who are you? Do you know him?” the other guy demanded, turning back to Caren.
“No, she just guessed my name,” Travis drawled. What a fucking idiot! What was she doing with this guy?
No doubt she’d be grateful that he’d rescued her from this situation.
Although he was still going to scold her for coming here without an exit plan. With a stranger.
You still don’t know that . . .
“Yes, I do know him,” she said. “River, this is Travis. Travis, this is River.”
Huh, he didn’t look like a River.
River stood and Travis took a step to the side, not wanting to actually come in contact with him. River looked confused for a moment. Then a look of superiority entered his face as he took Travis in.
Probably sizing him up and deciding that he could take him if necessary.
Think again, asshole.
“Well, Travis, we were just leaving. Good to meet you.” There was a sneer to River’s voice that told him that he didn’t mean that at all.
That was fine with Travis. He wasn’t here to make friends with this dipshit.
Travis moved closer to Caren. “What do you think you are doing?”
“Sorry?” she asked.
“Yes, you will be soon. Get your stuff, you’re coming with me.”
Her mouth opened and closed as she continued to gape up at him. “Sorry?”
She didn’t seem to be getting this. He bit back a sigh.
“Caren, gather up your things. You’re coming with me. Don’t know who this guy is, but you shouldn’t be going out with people you don’t know.”
“How do you know she doesn’t know me?” River asked.
“You’ve met her before tonight?” Travis asked, wondering if he’d made a mistake and they were friends or something.
River shifted from foot to foot. “Well, no, but we’ve talked and?”
“Doesn’t count. Caren, come.” He held out his hand to her.
“Caren come?” she repeated. “Is this happening? Are you . . . are you all right, Travis? Are you having some sort of . . . moment.”
“Ahh, shit.” River grimaced. “Sorry. Didn’t realize. You okay, man?”
“What? Of course I’m okay.” What the fuck was going on now?