CHAPTER TWO
– HELENA –
The look on his ruggedly handsome face flips from uninterested straight to ‘what the actual fuck?’ I cringe and mentally scold myself for simply throwing my idea out there. It’s him. I’m wildly attracted to the man, and it completely throws me off.
Normally, I’m smart and witty and can handle any kind of conversation with any type of person. All while Ballard can make me feel like I’m popping brain cells just being near him. Let alone when I talk to him. It’s like my jaw goes slack and I’m lucky there’s no drooling involved.
He’s the epitome of a mountain man. Rugged, muscled, grumpy, huge in every damn way.
Well, I haven’t seen the man naked, but his shoulders are broad, big biceps, thick forearms, massive muscled thighs, and I have to tip my head back to look at him.
If I lean my head forward my forehead would land on his nipple.
And why the hell am I thinking about his nipple?
My damn breath catches when he lifts his hand and rubs his reddish beard. Shit. I have to focus. Pretty hard to do when I can’t make sense of why this man is so damn attractive. With everything I’ve been through I shouldn’t even want to be ready for anything involving a man.
Though, I’m dead set to bring my father and half-sister to justice, and the normal way doesn’t solve shit. It’s why I suggested the sting operation to Orson, the sheriff, and he instantly agreed. Which landed my ass on Ballard’s doorstep.
“Are you going to invite me in, or just be cold while we’re standing here?” I raise my eyebrow in question and add, “You can at least hear me out.”
We’ve been standing with the door open for a handful of minutes, and I shiver. Night has fallen and winter is coming. I clearly didn’t think about standing long on his doorstep, because I left my coat in the car. Ballard steps back, allowing me to enter, and closes the door behind me.
He stalks over to the dining room table, picks up a card and holds it up.
Ugh. Did he really just invite me in so he can throw me out the door just as fast?
I voice the word I just read and instantly reply, “No? You didn’t even hear my plan.”
The annoying man shrugs, flips the card, so it now says, “Go.”
“You’re an asshole,” I grit.
He damn well bobs his head in agreement without a single outer visual of being offended and stalks to the door.
Staying rooted in place, I think of a way to persuade him to help me.
We’ve hit a massive roadblock with this case and I’m sure my plan will get the much-needed breakthrough to get evidence and put my father behind bars.
Ballard gives a short whistle, as if I’m a dog who needs to focus his attention to his boss. Asshole. On the other hand, the man does have a good excuse to use this method to get my attention since he can’t use his voice.
The man points at the door and holds up the “Go” card.
Ignoring his efforts to make me leave, I tell him, “It would be an official sting operation. Orson told me he’s worked with Stalwart Ridge Security lots of times. We can do this, I’m sure of it.”
He narrows his eyes and roughly jabs his hand into his pocket and pulls out his phone. He taps the screen and strides toward me as he holds up the phone. I glance at the screen to read what he typed and feel my face begin to flush as my eyes widen.
“What the hell,” I grit, and feel my anger rise.
The man shrugs as if he didn’t just type out how he wants a blow job in return for working together.
“Fake. Relationship,” I grit, just to be clear, and not thinking about the fact he’s trying to damn well blackmail me.
He taps the screen of his phone again and shows it to me.
I read the words out loud. “Fake with benefits.”
“Fake with benefits? That’s not...there’s no...what the...why?” I sputter and automatically take a step back.
He points at his neck and shrugs before he points at me then himself.
Filling in the blanks isn’t much of a stretch in his situation and it’s why I grit, “Don’t you have a list of women you can reach out to for a booty call? I mean, you’re using the phone just fine.”
I might be attracted to this man, though it doesn’t mean I’m ready to jump his damn cock. Not to mention, being intimate with someone is not something I’m ready for just yet. He’s waving the “No,” card again, which frustrates me even more.
“No? As in you don’t have a chick on speed dial?” Strangely enough this thought gives me a hint of relief.
He types something on his phone and turns the screen for me to read the words, “No, and no voice to sweet-talk a chick out of her panties.”
“Wow, how considerate,” I mutter and firm my voice to tell the egocentric horndog, “Not being able to talk might get you a pity fuck.”
A hoarse, breathy-sounding puff comes from him and his face twists with agony.
I release a deep breath. “You’ll get laid soon enough. Your nerves were damaged when the knife sliced your vocal cords. Only time will...”
My breath catches when he suddenly reaches out, roughly grabs my upper arm and drags me to the door. He grabs the handle while I press my boot against the door to keep the door shut.
“Okay, talking about your injury is a no-go, I get it. But stop thinking with your dick and being a huge asshole along with it. Be reasonable for one goddamned minute. Staying up here in and around your cabin is basically wasting your talent. I’ve read up on you, your background, your job, your capabilities.
We can do this together, dammit. Let me show you the file, tell you everything I know, and if you still don’t want to work with me.
..” I tip my head back to look him dead in the eye.
My heart leaps inside my chest to be this close to this imposing man. The way he stares down at me with his dark eyes. His spicy scent teases my nose with each breath I take. He tips his head back and breaks our intense stare.
His reddish beard doesn’t cover the damage he suffered from Nolan’s attack. There are a few small scars, along with three long ones on his neck. Some more scars on both his forearms where he warded off the attack. The skin is still an angry red but the scars should fade over time.
Ballard moves and catches me staring at his scars. The way his eyes narrow, the corners of his mouth going down, the angry frown appearing on his forehead...it’s safe to say he’s about to throw my ass out the door.
Knowing I’m out of options I blurt, “Fine. I’ll give you a blow job, but only after we found a lead.”
Getting intimate with someone means starting somewhere. A blow job would mean Ballard is the one dropping his pants, not me. He won’t be able to see my scars, even his reaction just now shows he would understand. Though, I’m certainly not ready for him to see my scars.
Ballard is the one who takes a step back now. Strangely enough I feel slightly disappointed that he looks as if he’s about to decline my counteroffer. He slowly raises his hand and holds up one finger.
One.
I jerk my chin down. “Yes, one lead for one blow job. Only if you agree to work together and uphold appearances that we’re a couple. I need a partner, so I don’t have to endure family shit alone, and have a witness with me at all times. Besides, you’re my only option to make it believable.”
He narrows his eyes and moves his hands slightly with his palms up.
“Why?” I voice in question.
He nods while I release a deep breath.
I guess I owe the man some of the truth. “Recently I...” My throat clogs up and I can’t get any words out.
Ballard steps closer and points at me, his scars, and touches his temple before making a slicing move with his thumb along his neck. A snort leaves me. This shouldn’t be funny at all and yet it somehow is.
“I have mental scars from a killer. That’s what you just pointed out, right? Well, dude, if you can point out my issue, then you can surely get yourself laid.”
The corner of his mouth twitches.
Though, a thought does enter my head. “You did a background check on me, didn’t you?”
He slowly bobs his head.
I place my hands on my hips while anger hits me. It makes sense for them to dig into my life with Royce being my father, and yet it still stings.
Mostly due to the obvious, which is why I ask, “Did you think I was in on things?”
The head bob comes faster this time, though he does hold out his hand. Great. Well, at least the man is honest. And apparently, it’s a deal if he wants to shake on it...which also makes him my new fake boyfriend.