Chapter 1 #2
Cayden reaches for the bottle of wine, refilling my glass with way more than one serving. “If I were an insecure man, I’d think the way you just chugged that glass of wine was because you’re not having a good time,” he says, amusement glistening in his eyes.
“Sorry,” I say, meaning it. I don’t want him to think I’m not into him, because I am—I think.
Or I’d at least like to test the waters and see what happens.
“It’s not that. I’m really glad we came out.
” I tilt my head toward the bar, deciding on a half truth.
“My broker is here, and it’s got me on edge. ”
His eyes sweep the bar, no doubt wondering which person I’m referring to.
He never met Blake in person, I made sure of that, and other than an initial phone call when Cayden reached out to the brokerage, I’m pretty sure they’ve never spoken, either.
I’ve done my best to keep it that way, even scheduling our closing at the title company instead of at the office to keep as much distance between the two of them as possible.
“And you’re worried about that because…” he trails off.
I sigh, my half truth turning into about a quarter truth now. “He’s really against dating clients.” Specifically me dating clients, or anyone, for that matter. “He built his brokerage on strong ethics and professionalism,” a lie, as I’ve learned, “so this kind of blurs those lines.”
Cayden leans back in his chair, one hand on the table. I can’t help but notice the slow, sensual way his finger rubs circles on the base of his wine class. “In that case, you’re fired,” he says, smirking at me. “Professional relationship terminated.”
“Lucky for me, my commission check already cleared,” I tell him, smirking right back.
“Glad we cleared that up.” He taps the table, then leans forward and places his elbows on it. At least he’s also breaking all the fine dining rules tonight. “Because I’m hoping to get to know you very well, Tracy.”
I shift in my seat, a spark of excitement running through me. Maybe he’ll finally be the one. Maybe Cayden will push the lingering pieces of Blake from my memory.
Blake
I watch Tracy and Cayden in the mirror behind the bar. This seat gives me the perfect view of the two of them, so I can torture myself with every little flirtatious grin Tracy flashes him and every devious smirk Cayden flashes her.
And that goddamn dress. Of course, she wore the same one she had on the last time we hooked up. The second I laid eyes on her tonight, all I could think about was how it felt the last time we were together. The last time I was inside her. The last time she showed me a crack in her armor.
Throwing back the rest of my drink, I signal the bartender for another one even though I’m already three deep. I didn’t expect their date would last this long, or more accurately, I had hoped it wouldn’t. Thank god they’ve finished dessert, or I’d be shit-faced walking out of here.
The bartender, someone different this time, goes to grab my glass and I stop him, gripping it tight in my hand. “Just refill it,” I say, my eyes on the red lipstick still on the rim. He gives me a knowing look, then grabs the whiskey I indicate from the top shelf to pour me another shot’s worth.
My eyes find the mirror again, and I track Cayden as he pulls out his wallet to pay the bill. My hand tightens further around my glass when he reaches across the table to run his fingers along Tracy’s.
Why the fuck am I subjecting myself to this?
I lace my twitching fingers together on the bar top in front of me, forcing myself to tear my eyes away from the mirror before I do something drastic.
I’d been relieved when Cayden purchased his house and it appeared nothing had sparked between him and Tracy. But that relief lasted about two seconds before Tracy’s best friend Riley told her man that Cayden and Tracy were going on a date. And then he told me.
Emmett Raythorne may be on my shit-list right now, but he managed to move himself up a little with that seed of information.
Last fall, when he told Tracy about the illegal shell company I had set up in her name, I’d been absolutely livid with him.
Still haven’t forgiven the bastard—he created an absolute nightmare for me with Tracy—but he’s moving in a positive direction again.
Emmett was a big shot realtor from New York who I recruited last year.
We both saw the value in working with each other, after we put our threats and egos aside, and have been doing business together ever since.
He runs all my illicit deals through the shell company, and in return, he gets to use my brother, Skye’s, construction company for next to damn near no cost.
Only hitch in all of this was him telling Tracy about the shell company.
I had set it up in her name without her knowledge.
It was my way of keeping her close, of assuring she could never leave or I’d expose the fraudulent activity that’s going through her company.
Did I forge her signature with the setup of the company?
Yes. And have I been forging her signature on every deal I’ve funneled through there since?
Also yes. But to anyone who cares to look, it appears as though she’s the one behind everything, so it’s her name that will go down in flames before mine.
Not that I would ever let it get that far. But if I have to force her hand to stay with me at the brokerage, I will.
She wasn’t supposed to know about the shell company until absolutely necessary though, and Emmett spilling that info not only showed my hand, but created chaos between Tracy and me, forcing me to take even more drastic measures to keep her close.
She threatened to hang up her license and turn me in for fraud. I threatened her with the same, explaining to her just how many dirty deals were under her name already. If we both made true on our threats, we’d each be rotting in a jail cell right now, so we were at a stalemate.
But I’m not completely heartless. I gave her an out: sign a marriage license and be my wife, and the shell company gets taken out of her name.
Needless to say, she refused, and the stalemate continues.
My eyes flick up to the mirror again, just in time to see Cayden get up and walk toward the restroom.
Tossing the rest of my drink back, I give him a couple minutes before following. Getting up from my bar stool, I teeter slightly as my feet hit the ground. Guess I have a better buzz going than I realized.
I make my way across the restaurant, my fingers flexing at my side, and slip into the men’s room. Cayden is at the sink, washing his hands when I enter.
He arches a brow when he catches my eye in the mirror. “I’m guessing you’re Tracy’s broker from the way you’ve been watching us all night.”
“Blake Frenshaw, we spoke once on the phone,” I say, leaning against the sink counter.
Cayden dries his hands and tosses the paper towel in the trash.
“Look, man, not gonna lie. It’s pretty creepy to watch your realtors like this.
” He reaches out and grabs my shoulder. “But if it helps you sleep at night, I’m no longer a client of Tracy’s, so you don’t have to worry about what she does with me. ”
His grip on me and the arrogant look on his face send me reeling.
I grab his hand that’s on me and shove him backward into the wall.
Before he can recover, I’m on him, my forearm pressed against his throat.
“I want you to listen, Cayden, and listen closely. I don’t know what your intentions are with Tracy, but when you leave here tonight, you’re going to put her in a cab and send her home.
Alone.” I press into him a little harder, and his eyes turn to steel as he glares at me. “And you won’t contact her again.”
He shoves against me, and I step back, releasing him. The idea of this asshole getting anywhere near Tracy has my stomach churning.
Straightening his clothes, he says, “How about this? Why don’t we go out there and ask her what she wants?”
He smirks at me when I don’t immediately respond, knowing he has me cornered.
Tracy will go with him. I know it like I know the sky is fucking blue. I don’t get a chance to respond though, as someone else walks into the bathroom.
Cayden takes it for the win it is and leaves, no doubt to go ask Tracy to go home with him.
I turn the sink on, letting the water run cold, and splash some on my face.
Somewhere along the line, Tracy and I went from something beautiful to something tragic, and I don’t even know how we got here or where it all went wrong. But it has.
It’s gone horribly fucking wrong.
When I leave the bathroom and scan the restaurant, they’re both already gone. I head for the front door, hoping to catch a glimpse of them, and I do. Just enough to see Cayden get into his car, Tracy in the passenger seat beside him.