Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Bennett
Who the fuck is that? Nothing, and I mean nothing showed up in her file to hint at a boyfriend.
Yet, there she sits at her local bar across from a very average looking man.
I’m furious, but I don’t understand why.
I don’t date. I don’t want to date. I fuck.
Regularly. Without strings. Without repeats.
I don’t form attachments, not to anyone; it’s not what I want, it’s not what I’ve wanted in ten years.
Nevertheless, here I sit at a table in the corner out of eyesight from Peyton, getting jealous because a woman I’ve never spoken to is having a drink with another man.
I’m stalking her, but that’s for her safety, and yes, she’s piqued my interest, but it doesn’t mean I have any intention of forming a relationship with her.
So why the fuck am I jealous? I don’t understand what’s going on right now, I just know I want her away from him. Now.
Peyton
I’ve laughed more tonight than I thought possible after the way my day started, but that’s Harry for you.
You can’t be anything but happy around him.
I don’t know what I’d do without him. Luckily, it doesn’t seem like I’m going to find out any time soon, seeing as he’s decided he’s moving in with me until we get to the bottom of my creepy note giver.
“Darling girl, my gaydar is not ringing so he can only be looking at you, and let me tell you, you want him to do more than look.”
“Who?” I ask as I go to turn on my bar stool.
“Don’t you dare turn to look. Have I not taught you anything? For fucks sake, Peyton. Be subtle!”
I can’t help but laugh at his dramatics; he really should have gone to theater school. Instead, he teaches kindergarteners, although maybe that’s where his flair for the theatrics has come from — five-year-olds sure can be dramatic.
“I want to see who you’re talking about.”
“I’m going to use the restroom, and I have a feeling he’s going to take that opportunity to come over here.”
“What? No, he wouldn’t. I’m sitting with you, he doesn’t know you’re gay. We could be married!”
“Darling girl, that man does not care. He has ‘take what I want’ written all over him.” With that he gets up and heads to the men’s room.
I feel him before I see him, it’s the same feeling I had at the coffee shop this morning. So it’s not a real surprise when the same man appears at the side of my barstool.
“I don’t know who the fuck he is, but he can goddamn well move along.” His deep, gravelly voice is a low-pitched rasp that leaves goosebumps across my skin. That is until his words register. He cannot be serious? Who says shit like that?
“Excuse me?” I splutter, shocked at the audacity of this man. Screw the fact that he is the sexiest man I’ve ever met. You don’t just walk up to a complete stranger and say something like that.
“You can do better than him.”
“You mean you?” I play along.
“I’ll gladly trade places.”
“Too bad I’m not looking for a replacement,” I smile sweetly at him.
“Oh sweetheart, I wasn’t asking,” he smirks at me.
“I think you should go back to wherever you were sitting. I’m not interested.”
“Everything okay here?” Harry’s voice interrupts whatever tall, dark and dangerous was about to say.
“Everything is fine. He was just leaving. And so are we, are you ready to go home, darling?” I’m laying it on thick, but there is no way I’m letting this guy know that Harry and I are not together. He most certainly does not need any more encouragement.
“Sure. If that’s what you want.”
I merely nod in response, letting Harry know I have no intention of talking to this man for a second longer. But, of course, Mr. Arrogant has no intention of letting me leave without having the last word. Leaning down, his lips brush against my ear.
“You might be taking him home tonight, but it’s me you’ll be thinking of when he’s trying to make you come.
” I gasp at his words, words that cause my sex to clench.
“Next time it will be my head between your legs, and my name falling from those gorgeous lips. Make the most of tonight, it will be your last night with him.”
A chill runs down my spine. Could this man be my stalker?
Could he be the one who slipped the note under my door?
I pull back to look him in the eyes. No, I don’t think so.
I’m getting all sorts of vibes coming from him, but none of them are menacing.
Still, I hope I don’t see him again, tonight has been more than enough.
It’s just a shame my aching sex doesn’t agree.
Bennett
I’m shaking as I watch them both walk through her front door.
I might have told her to make the most of tonight, but the thought of him touching her, of them together, fills my veins with ice.
I’m already thinking of her as mine, which is fucking ridiculous.
It doesn’t stop the possessive thoughts from taking over my body, though.
I’m pressing call on my phone before my brain has fully registered what I’m doing.
“Boss,” my number two greets me through the phone.
“I’m going to send you a picture. I need everything on him ASAP.
” I hang up before Tony can ask any questions.
Questions I don’t yet have the answers to.
I send through the photo I snapped of her date — the word tastes sour in my mouth — earlier at the bar.
Tony will run it through our facial recognition software and should have something for me soon.
My eyes focus back on the apartment across the street, my fists clench at the thought of what they could be doing in there. It is taking everything within me to stop myself from marching across to her front door and breaking it down. My phone ringing breaks me out of my destructive thoughts.
“What do you have for me?”
“Not much, what exactly is it you’re looking for? He’s a stand-up citizen, not so much as a speeding ticket. Teaches a kindergarten class at his local elementary school. Tell me what it is you want, and I’ll see if I can find it.”
Shit.
I don’t need him to be a good guy, I need something I can use, something to get him away from her.
“What about girlfriends? Anybody current, or any issues with ex’s?”
“If he swung that way we might, but your boy is gay.”
“Run that one by me again.” My body has stilled at his words.
“He’s gay. Your boy isn’t seeing anyone at the moment, from what I can tell, but if he were, it wouldn’t be of the female variety. Want to tell me what this is about, boss?”
“No. But you’ve given me what I need. Thanks, Tony.”
“Sure thing.”
Dropping my phone into my lap, I rest my head back against the headrest and take my first real breath since I saw her sitting next to him at the bar.
You little brat. It appears my girl likes to play games.
The light to — what I know to be — her spare bedroom comes on, and my body completely relaxes. A part of me had still been worried they’d share a room. Gay, bi, straight: it doesn’t matter. No one other than me gets to touch her.
I check the tracker on my phone, noting that both of Barclays’s cars are still at his property. It’s late, I can’t imagine that he’d pay her a visit now. Still, I hang around for another hour to be sure, I won’t take any chances when it comes to her.
Before I leave and head home for the night, I make my way to her vehicle and place the small tracking device to the inside of the rear bumper. There’s no escaping me, sweetheart.
Climbing into my car, I have a rare smile on my face. I’m already excited to see her tomorrow.
***
I walk into the gym, my eyes already scanning the area, looking for her. I find her on a rowing machine, skin flushed with a slight sheen of sweat to it. I want to run my tongue over every inch of her, gather up every drop of sweat and see if she tastes as delicious as she looks.
“So, as you can see, we’re not an overly large gym, but we have all the latest equipment, and our classes are all run by experienced well qualified instructors.
” I tune out the rest of what the girl showing me round is saying, far too engrossed in the sight of my girl working out.
I thought I might be taking things a little too far joining her gym, but judging by the looks she’s garnering from the male members, and some of the female ones too, I’m going to have to step it up.
“So, what do you think?” I return my focus back to the girl, she introduced herself at the start, but I can’t remember her name.
She’s irrelevant. Although, judging by the smile she’s giving me, she doesn’t seem to think so.
I think I probably should have been listening to her a bit better as I’ve definitely missed something here.
“Sorry, I was too busy looking around. I missed the last part of what you said.” More like all of it.
“Oh, well,” she fumbles her words, and I know I’m not going to like what comes out of her mouth.
Please don’t make a move on me. “Seeing as you’re new to town.
I thought we could go for a drink and I could show you around.
” Her hand reaches out and her pointer finger runs down my arm.
I should be turned on, objectively she’s an attractive girl, and before Peyton, I would have absolutely taken her up on a night of fun.
But, I have met Peyton, and this girls touch has the opposite effect of what she’s going for.
Using my other hand, I remove her touch from my body, a touch I never asked for.
“That’s kind of you to offer, but my girlfriend probably wouldn’t be best pleased with me.” I have given this girl no signs that I’m interested, but her face still sours at my rejection.
“Well, in that case I’ll get the paperwork for you to sign, and you can start your membership today if you want?” She’s all business again, something she should have been from the beginning.
“I’d appreciate that, thank you.”