Set on getting this task done and then getting home after two dances, I weave my way around the edges of the crowd and slip into the hallway. The line for the restroom is super freaking long. I tap my foot at the end and then pull out my phone and search Google for a certain name. I'm becoming a stalker, but it brings me joy every time I find no new hits. Nothing has been written on him for the entire week—no words or pictures with hot women.He'd left his calendar for tonight suspiciously blank, but I find it hard to believe Vincent Valiant will spend a Friday evening locked away in his castle. It's only a matter of time before he moves on completely.Then what will I do?The line gets shorter until I've almost reached the doors, my time alone ending when a door further down the hall opens and a man I've seen before steps out. He eyes the crowded line until his gaze hits me."Ms. Marshal.""Davis?" I ask as he stops in front of me. The man has many layers, but I never expect
He doesn't call out to stop me or explain himself. I want nothing more than to turn back and see if he watches me leave, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction in case he does. With my head held high, I make it to the end of the hallway and then slip back into the crowd, working my way to our table. I pass Ashley and Charlie on the dance floor and point toward our place to let them know where I'm headed.A few feet away from his roommate, Derek grinds against a woman. Her blonde hair is up in a high pony tail and her miniskirt barely covers her butt. Good for him. Derek makes eye contact and his eyes widen for a second as if I've caught him doing something bad. To ease his worry, I flash him a thumbs up and keep walking.I knew I shouldn't have come out tonight. I'd rather be home watching crap TV with Ben and Jerry.A few men bump against me and beer splashes from one of their glasses. It hits my wonderful boot right on the top, discoloring the leather. I slip on past them an
I snap forward uncomfortable with his touch. It's not his fault. My head is screwed right now. I'm a mess. I shouldn't go out of the house and most certainly shouldn't have alcohol.With a quick breath I bring myself back to the situation and turn ready to apologize for freaking out, but a large beefy body stands between me and the man I've been dancing with tonight.The man reaches out and slams his fist on the man's chest. My mouth falls open as I watch the scene, and my dancing buddy holding his hands in the air like someone's pulled a gun on him or he's about to be arrested."What are you doing here?" I ask, pulling on Vincent's security detail's arm. I force him to turn and face my direction. I've only met him once since Vincent doesn't use him all the time, but there's no mistaking his identity.The security guard, whose name I can't remember, smiles. "Mr. Valiant feels more comfortable if I stand watch."Dancers swarm around us and we stand out like two unmoving poles
It's wrong, but I miss him, and even though my head says I need to stay away, my heart can't bear the thought. I want him with everything I have. I need him.His fingers score across my body, pushing my shirt high enough I raise my hands and let him pull it over my shoulders and past my head. I've missed this man and my heart soars being in his arms. He touches me and it's as if no time has passed, but also I've gone a lifetime without him. Vincent squeezes my breast, flipping my bra up and resting his head against my chest."Missed you so much, Mackenzie. I tried to stay away and let you leave me, but I can't. It's too late. Whatever your problem is, we'll work through it."I jerk away, infuriated he doesn't even remember what the problem is. His WIFE. In doing so, my hand hits the door knob and it rattles, reminding me where we are. I peek out looking through the window to the empty hallway."V, the window. What if someone sees?""Roman will keep the hallway clear.""What
"Thank you. I don't know what happened. The van came out of nowhere." My light was definitely green. I'm sure of it.The older man shakes his head. "It's not your fault. He was trying to beat the light but missed. Never even put on his brakes. I think he sped up, the bastard."Fifteen minutes later I sit in the back of an ambulance as one paramedic finishes checking my blood pressure for the second time."Your blood pressure is good even though you saw a bit of action today. Huh?" he asks with a smile, trying to diffuse the stressful situation, but it doesn't help.I only nod, watching as people pick up the pieces of my precious baby from the middle of the road and casually toss them onto the curb where they land in the grass. It's a murder scene with none of the blood."Your airbag didn't deploy. You're going to be okay, but if you'd want, we can take you to the hospital.""No, that's okay. Do you think I can drive my car home?"He presses his lips together. "I heard the
I stumble on the first step going down the staircase of the apartment building."Fucking eh."All I need to complete my Monday morning is a montage with The Bangles singing "Manic Monday" as I take my first steps down the sidewalk.Manic isn't the way to describe it. I don't have a thesaurus handy, but as I storm off toward the looming skyscraper a few blocks away, the words that come to mind are bad, horrible, the worst, tragic.I'd woken up late and jumped in the shower, but there wasn't enough time to blow dry my hair so it hangs wet behind me. My heels clatter on the sidewalk, my feet already hurting, but I left my sneakers at work on Friday and didn't have another pair other than a big bulking pair of rain boots that would look even more out of place walking the four blocks than three-inch Payless knock-off Manolos.A grate takes up half the sidewalk in front of me, one I walk over every day and never have a problem, but at the exact moment I'm about to pass over it, a b
EVEN NOW ANGER over our conversation makes my footsteps heavy, each one falling to the concrete with my broken heel. But if I'm being honest, I am more pissed at myself than I am at Vincent. I like him too much. I excuse too many of his actions. I let the jerk of a boss into my heart and the only one hurt by it is me.Now that I am no longer in his home or curious about what we need to discuss, I've found other things to contemplate. Half of me worries his idea of discussing it later will include him trying to work out a demented arrangement between him, me, and his wife. Something I'll never agree to, not in a million years.It doesn't matter how often I remind myself Vincent is a cheating asshole. No matter what I say inside my head, a little voice is always waiting to argue with me—one that says to hold on and wait it out. See what he has to say. For whatever ridiculous reason I trust him. After everything I still want to believe.I want to blame it on hitting my head in the a
Vincent's swallows, looking at whatever meat sits between his two pieces of bread. "Another peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich, I assume?"I smirk. He has no idea of the adventure that's waiting for him in his next lunch. "No, Jock bought strawberry jam this week, and I told him you loved it with bananas."His pinched face displays disgust at my suggestion and I keep my excitement hidden. I so got him. Then my mistake hits me. I've played my cards too soon. Now Vincent knows my plan and he can get his own lunch again tomorrow rather than eat strawberry jam and bananas.Damn it.Although would he really get his own food two days in a row? Isn't that beneath him? He probably made the law secretary get it for him today.Vincent stalks toward me, the sandwich held in his hand, but he stops a foot away. For whatever reason I find it disappointing."Your games were funny last week, but I need an actual assistant. Someone who will do the work I hired her to do around here."