Chapter Colin Adams
COLIN ADAMS
That woman is going to be the death of me! The only reason I haven’t fired her is because of Hanna!
Or is it?
How long am I going to keep using that excuse? The truth is, I actually like Isabelle—and the way she gets under my skin.
“Damn the moment I kissed her for the first time,” I muttered, my voice low and full of irritation.
It was a mistake—because now I want more. I need more. And she knows it. The plan was for her to be in my hands, but somehow, it’s the other way around.
I was about to try and get some work done when I noticed Helen walking toward me.
“Colin, you have a visitor,” she said. I searched my memory, but nothing came to mind. I wasn’t expecting anyone.
Could it be…?
“Is it who I think it is?” I asked, a flicker of hope—or maybe dread—crossing my mind.
“Yes,” she said softly, a small knowing smile curving her lips.
“Big Colin! How’s life treating you?”
“The same as always.”
Yep, him again—Henry Grant. My dear friend, at least that’s what he liked to call himself. I hadn’t been expecting him, but one look from Helen and I already knew what the “mystery” was.
“So… you mean stressed out as usual?”
“Whatever,” I muttered. “What do you want?”
“Nothing.” He dropped into a chair, stretching like he owned the place.
“And what’s your deal with showing up here just to annoy me?”
“Boredom.”
“Fantastic…”
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Isabelle walking from the kitchen toward the garden, and the moment our eyes met, a rush of heat went through me. I could swear she gave me a small smile—and I might’ve done the same.
What the hell am I doing…
“The hell was that, Colin Adams?”
“Why are you calling me that?” I snapped, startled.
“Don’t change the subject,” he said with that smug little smirk, and I already knew where this was going.
“I’m not a mind reader,” I deflected, though I knew damn well Henry wasn’t about to let it go.
“Not five minutes ago, Isabelle looked like she’d gladly kill you if she could—and now she’s smiling at you like that. Oh, you slept with her.”
“Shut up!” I hissed, pointing a finger at him. “Keep your damn voice down!”
“Make up your mind—do you want me to shut up or be subtle?”
“I want you silent.”
“Not gonna happen.” He made a ridiculous face.
“We didn’t sleep together, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Hmm. So you’re still in the flirty phase, huh?” He chuckled. “Do you do this with all your employees?”
I had no idea how to shut him up without physically removing his vocal cords.
“Henry, I swear, you know I hate you, right?”
“As I’ve told you before,” he said, smirking, “I’m the closest thing you’ve got to a friend.” He winked, then called out, “Jeanne! Red wine, please—whatever’s in the stallion’s cellar!”
Jeanne froze, eyes wide, and I nearly grabbed him by the collar, that’s how pissed I was.
“No violence, please. This face is my livelihood—it’s how women fall in love with me.”
“What the hell are you really doing here?” I demanded.
“Nothing. I told you. Just came to talk. Though now that I’ve seen what’s possibly going on between you and your pretty employee, we definitely have more to discuss.”
“Who I’m involved with is none of your damn business.”
“Hmm.” He grinned, all mischief. “So it is true—you’re falling headfirst into this thing?”
“Henry…” My fists clenched.
“Sorry, couldn’t resist.”
The idiot was laughing like a lunatic, and out of the corner of my eye I noticed Isabelle glancing our way every now and then, curious. But it wasn’t just that—there was something different in her eyes now. The fear she used to have when looking at me… it was gone.
And that wasn’t good. Because she should be afraid.
That woman can’t get any closer.
“Anyway,” Henry said, waving off the tension, “jokes aside, I wanted to let you know we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other this month. I’ll be staying in town.”
“Because I clearly don’t get enough bad news on a daily basis,” I muttered.
“Oh, don’t pretend. I know you’re thrilled.”
“Ecstatic. Over the moon.”
“Just saying—we’re going out a few nights. We’ll drink a few… or all of them, I don’t know yet. Hit a theme park like a couple, maybe adopt a dog.”
The man was insane.
“I’ll adopt the dog if it means you’ll leave me the hell alone,” I said.
And I meant it. If that’s what it took to get Henry off my back, I’d do it.
“The dog part’s negotiable,” he said, grinning.
“It’d still be easier for me to adopt one than go drinking with you.”
“Oh, sure,” he said in a mocking tone, clutching his chest dramatically. “Hi, my name’s Colin Adams, and since I have a private bar, I’m too important to go out with my one and only friend!”
I couldn’t help it—I laughed. The guy was out of his mind.
“I still haven’t figured out what your actual problem is,” I said, shaking my head. “Whether you were born this way or it started after you got rich…”
He grinned, unbothered. “I just know you’re not adopting a dog—because you already have one at home.”
“Do I what?!” I snapped, thrown off.
“Yes, you—big dog!”
I swear, I was on my feet and chasing him for at least five meters after that stupid comment.
Isabelle walked in just then, carrying the wine. Before she even got close, Henry shot me that look.
“Don’t even think about it,” I hissed through gritted teeth.
“Thank you, gorgeous,” he said with a grin.
“You’re welcome,” she replied politely.
“Colin’s told me good things about you. Seems you’ve made it a whole month here. Congratulations!”
I hadn’t said a damn thing, but this idiot had an impeccable sense of timing—and apparently, a perfect memory of the last time he dropped by.
“Yeah. Broke a record.”
“Is he still an ass to you?”
“Henry!” I growled.
“Sometimes,” Isabelle said, both of them looking at me. “Other times, he’s calmer.”
Shut up, Isabelle! Don’t encourage him…
“I see. Well, in that case, thanks again.”
“Anytime.”
She headed back to the kitchen, and that bastard just kept smirking at me.
“You know… you two make a cute couple. You know what I mean?”
“That’s enough! Drink your wine and get out.”
“Wow! Is that any way to talk to your friend? I’m hurt,” he said dramatically, even pretending to wipe a tear. “I’ll go chat with Joshua for a bit. At least he likes me. See you later, big dog!”
HE DRIVES ME CRAZY!
There’s no way I’m surrounded by this many idiots…