Donut Overthink It

by Shantel Tessier

  “We can’t discuss an ongoing case with you,” he says.

  “You tried to arrest me over this case,” I snap. “And you arrested my friend.” Where is he now? Is he still out on bail? We were supposed to have a meeting with him yesterday afternoon, but I’m not sure if it took place since I left after I found out Aiden was married.

  “We’re done here,” the officer states and then walks toward me to exit the door. Aiden pulls me to the side to allow them room to leave. Once the door shuts, I turn on the brothers.

  “You guys have to prove he didn’t do it.”

  Asher sighs. “I’m working on it.”

  “Find the woman,” I demand.

  “We’re trying,” Aiden answers.

  “It can’t be that hard …”

  “She doesn’t exist,” Asher interrupts me.

  “What does that mean?”

  Aiden answers me. “Nate informed me yesterday in his meeting he would go to the police station and tell them her name and number. Along with his plan …”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” I demand.

  “There was nothing that you could have done for him,” he says simply.

  “I could have told him not to do it,” I growl.

  “That’s why I didn’t tell you. Nate going up there and proving you were innocent was the best thing for you.”

  My mouth falls open. I run a hand through my hair. “So what is the plan?”

  “We’re gonna do what we do best,” Asher answers.

  AIDEN

  My brother exits the conference room to go work on getting this case settled and fast while he leaves Hadley and me alone.

  She stares straight ahead out the floor-to-ceiling windows. “What do you mean by she doesn’t exist?” she asks, tightening her fists down by her sides.

  “The number he gave us is no longer in service. And her name is a fake.”

  “What about where she lives?” She goes on, and I shake my head. “Did he not pick her up for their date?”

  “No. She met him at the restaurant.”

  “What did she look like?” she asks.

  “Dark red hair. Brown eyes. She was about five four. Five five. She was already waiting at the table, and she left right after she proposed the sex and he turned her down. So he didn’t get a visual of her car.” I shrug. “She could have left in a taxi.”

  “What about surveillance at the restaurant?”

  I shake my head. “Not available at the location.” I’m not gonna tell her everything that is involved in this case. It would scare her. Cops don’t search this much for a misdemeanor in Chicago. They got other shit to deal with.

  She runs a hand through her hair. “What about the evidence they had on me?”

  “No longer relevant.”

  She spins around to face me. “They tried to arrest me. It’s very relevant. What did they have, Aiden?”

  I walk over to the conference table and pick up the folder and hand it to her. She yanks it open and gasps as she looks at what’s inside.

  “Pictures? These are of me the night that I ran into you at dinner.”

  “Yes,” I say even though she didn’t ask me a question.

  “How …? Who took these?” she demands as she looks them over. There’s one of her and Nate sitting at the table. Another of them walking out. A third of him helping her into his car. And the fourth is of them standing outside her apartment building. His hand on her lower back as he escorts her to the front door.

  “Your guess is as good as mine.” I sigh. “But it proves one thing.”

  “What is that?” she asks, tossing them onto the table. They slide in various directions from her force.

  “They were taken of you. Not me.” I look down at the pictures of her and Nate sitting at the dinner table. Someone had taken pictures of her and me, and her and Nate in the same night. Same place. Someone was following her. And they probably still are.

  “It doesn’t make any sense,” she whispers.

  “You’re staying with me up in my penthouse,” I say without thought.

  “Aiden, we can’t—”

  “This is not up for discussion,” I interrupt her.

  Her jaw tightens. “I work here. And as far as the company knows, you’re married.”

  “You think I give two shits what they think?” I shake my head. “I’ve been parading women through these halls for years, and no one has ever cared about my fake marriage.”

  Her eyes narrow. “Aiden—”

  “Not up for discussion, Hadley,” I snap, interrupting her once again. “We will go to your place during lunch and pack you a bag.” Then I turn around and exit the room, slamming the door behind me.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  HADLEY

  I DROP MY BAG ONTO THE FLOOR OF his penthouse with thin lips. My mind is telling me this is a bad idea, but my heart is beating out of my chest with excitement. And that’s what makes me so mad. It was supposed to be just sex. Now he’s trying to protect me. Like he cares.

  He reaches down and picks up my bag, walking into the open living room and down a hall to the right. I follow him much slower. I take in his expensive furniture and lack of photos. Big black and gray rugs dot the white hardwood floors. A white leather couch and loveseat sit in the middle of the living room facing the floor-to-ceiling windows. A fireplace stands to the right.

  “I put your things in the closet,” he announces, entering the living room once again. “I’ve got some drawers you can use—”

  “I’m not moving in. I’m just here for the night,” I interrupt him, hoping he doesn’t hear the nervousness in my voice.

  His jaw tightens. “You’re here for as long as you need to be.”

  “Just tonight.” We’ve been distant all day since our meeting this morning. I’ve been in a pissy mood, and so has he. And Asher wasn’t any better. I heard them fighting about a client shortly afterward in his office.

  “Hadley.” He growls my name. “I’m not in the mood to fight with you,” he snaps and then walks toward his door. “If you wanna order food, the takeout menus are in the kitchen drawer to the right of the sink.”

  “Where are you going?” I ask quickly. Suddenly not wanting to be alone.

  “Back to work.”

  “What?” I check the time on his stove in the kitchen. It’s almost seven. “You didn’t mention it earlier.”

  “I spoke to Asher an hour ago, and we are going to go meet up with Nate at his mother’s house.”

  “I wanna come,” I say, already heading toward him.

  “No,” he says and opens the door. “Stay here.” Then he slams it shut.

  I let out a huff of air. What in the hell am I supposed to do until he returns?

  I plop down on the couch and run a hand through my hair. You know what? Fuck this. I’m gonna go out and have drinks with Andrea. I grab my purse off the couch and dig through it, looking for my phone. But it’s not there. I start patting myself down, thinking my dress has pockets, but it doesn’t. “Where did I put it?” I wonder out loud. Then it hits me. I left it in my desk drawer. I make my way downstairs to the office and frown when I see the lights are still on. Aiden had turned them off before we left. I walk down the hallway to my office and enter but come to a stop when I see Bianca sitting in my chair. “What are you doing in here?”

  She places her hands flat on my desk and stands. No look of surprise on her face. “Thought you were gone for the day,” she growls.

  I tilt my head at her hard tone. “Does Asher have you working late?” She just stares at me. “I thought he and Aiden had to go meet with Nate?”

  She lets out a rough laugh. “Fuck, you’re stupid.”

  I pull my shoulders back at her remark. “Excuse me?”

  She walks around from behind my desk. “First, you fuck a married man. Then you fall in love with him.”

  My teeth clench. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh, I know enough. I know th
at you’ve followed him around like a dog in heat for the past three months. I know that you drool all over this fucking desk for him while he fucks every woman he can find. And I know that he’s not gonna leave his wife and kid for a prostitute.”

  My heart starts to pound in my chest at her words. “How do you …?” Does everyone in the office know that the cops were here to arrest me last week? “Did Asher tell you?” I demand, taking a step toward her. It wouldn’t be hard for her to see the papers regarding me on his desk. But Aiden assured me that they were going to keep my case private. No matter what.

  A slow and devious smile spreads across her face, and it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. “No one told me.”

  “Then how do you know?” I snap, getting really tired of her game. Bianca has never been a close friend of mine, and I’m starting to see why.

  “So tell me which one was better in bed, Nate or Aiden?”

  “What are you …?” My words trail off as hers sink in. How does she know Nate’s name? Why would she think I slept with him …? “Do you know Nate?” I ask her.

  “I saw him with you at dinner.”

  “You were there,” I say more to myself than to her.

  She laughs. “Took you long enough. Wow! Does Aiden know how stupid you are?”

  “Bianca!” I snap.

  She throws her head back laughing. “God, you’re as dumb as Nate. That poor guy never saw me coming.”

  Never saw her coming? “You’re the girl,” I whisper in total shock. “You’re the prostitute.” She must have worn a wig.

  She holds her hands out wide. “In the flesh.” Then they drop to her side, and she takes a step toward me. “How much do you think Aiden will pay to fuck me?” My hands ball into fists. “I think I could name my price. I mean he fucked you for free.” She looks me up and down with disgust. “I bet he’d pay me just to keep me from telling his wife that he’s been fucking his assistant.” Then before I can say a word, she jumps on me.

  Her hands land in my hair, yanking my head back, and I cry out in surprise. Placing my hands on her waist, I try to push her off me, but her force throws me back against the door. And my head hits so hard that my vision blurs. She steps away from me, and I fall to my knees. I’m breathing heavy, and my heart pounds in my chest. “Why?” I demand, looking up at her.

  She’s opening an envelope, and the contents fall onto my desk. “These are pics that I took of you and Aiden over the weekend.”

  “What?”

  “You really should close your blinds. Anyone can see into your window.” She smiles as she fans out the photos on my desk.

  “You fucking bitch,” I growl, getting to my feet.

  She looks up at me. “I may be a bitch, but you’re the one fucking your boss for money. And it’s gonna be plastered all over the news come morning …”

  I rush her, jumping over my desk. I wrap my arms around her and knock her to the floor. I’ve never been one for violence, but she pushed me too far. This is not only my life but Aiden’s too. He wouldn’t care if she sold the story that he was cheating on his beloved wife, but sleeping with a prostitute could ruin his career. I won’t allow her to do that.

  “Get off me,” she growls, slapping me across my face, and I cry out.

  I try to hold her down, but she’s too quick. She lands another hit to my face, and I taste blood. I sit up straight and reach over to my desk. Grabbing my office phone, I yank it off, grab it with both hands, and bring it down onto her face. Her body jerks as I hit her once. Then twice. After the third time, she just lies there, blood covering her face. I fall off her and yank my office desk drawer open with shaky hands and pull out my cell. I dial the police as I scramble to lean up against the wall, praying that the psycho bitch doesn’t wake up for round two.

  EPILOGUE

  AIDEN

  I STAND, MY TOES IN THE WARM sand. It’s a beautiful day here in Tahiti. The sun is shining, and you can hear the ocean roaring at my back. I’ve been here for two weeks, and I never wanna go home. Time seems to stand still here. The days last longer. The night’s darker so the stars can shine brighter. It’s calming. There’s not the constant sound of blaring horns and people running to get where they should have been hours before. It’s relaxing. Soothing.

  “Are you nervous?” my brother asks standing beside me.

  “Not one bit,” I answer truthfully.

  He slaps me on the shoulder. “Good because you shouldn’t be.”

  I smile as I watch the double glass doors open to the clubhouse, and I watch the woman I love walk through them in a white dress with Andrea at her side.

  It’s been two years since she found Bianca in her office trying to set her up. She managed to knock her out and call the cops before calling me. My brother and I were there before the police arrived. She had some bruises and was physically shaken up but otherwise okay. After doing a sweep of Bianca’s office, the cops were able to locate her cell that proved Nate and Hadley’s innocence.

  Asher and I dropped her stepfather’s case. I couldn’t hurt her anymore, and representing a man who took so much from her was something I didn’t want to do.

  She moved in with me right after the night Bianca got arrested. I unpacked her bag in my closet, and she never left.

  The following week, my divorce was final with Eve. Hadley said she wanted to take it slow, and I have done everything in my power to do that, but it’s been hard. I wanted to run away with her the next day and make her mine. Forever.

  As for Trevor. He never was a real threat to her life. I just didn’t like the fucker. He wanted what was already mine. I make sure to throw it in his face that she belongs to me every chance I get.

  As my soon-to-be wife walks down the wooden walkway to meet me on the beach, I straighten my shoulders and give her a big smile. She returns it. Happy tears already run down her face.

  She looks absolutely gorgeous. And this time, when I say I do, I’m gonna mean it. For the rest of my life.

  THE END

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  UNDESCRIBABLE

  Adjective

  Too unusual, extreme, or indefinite to be adequately described; indescribable

  CHAPTER ONE

  SLADE

  I TOSS BACK THE REST OF my Red Bull then throw it in the trash at the end of the bar before I order a beer. I have no idea why I am even at this bar. I spent the first half of my day in airports. I’ve been away in San Francisco on a case for the last three weeks, and it finally wraps up next week. I flew home to be with my family on my father’s birthday, and after we had dinner at my parent’s house this evening, Josh talked me into coming out with him.

  I lean up against the bar as I take my beer from the bartender. I bring the bottle to my lips as I spot a blonde at the other end sitting on a bar stool. I tip my beer to her and give her a small smile, before taking a drink. As I set the bottle down, she is already standing in front of me. I watch the overly perky blonde smile as she looks up in my eyes.

  “Do you come to Big Daddy’s often?” she asks, bringing the pink alcoholic drink up to her mouth. She parts her dark red lips and lets her tongue guide the straw between them, sucking on it seductively.

  “Yes, you?” I can feel my dick getting hard as I imagine her calling me daddy while she gives my cock the same attention she is giving the straw.

  “No.” She smiles sweetly and shakes her head, causing her light blonde curls to bounce. Then she gets a serious look on her face and leans in towards me. “Why don’t you show me around?” she asks as she runs a finger down my chest.

  I look down at her massive cleavage. That must have cost her several months of paychecks. “What is it you want to me to show you?” I ask, placing my hand on her hip and pulling her closer to me.

  She grinds into my
hard cock. “I have something in mind,” she whispers, placing a hand over my bulging zipper.

  I look down to her hand and then back up to her eyes. “So do I.”

  She licks her red lips seductively. “Well, then show me.”

  I bring my beer to my lips and finish it off in one drink before tossing it into the trash. Taking her hand, I pull her away from the bar. Wondering where I can take her, I spot a dark booth over in the far corner. I place my hand on the small of her back, guiding her to it.

  “Someone might see us.” She looks around with a smile on her face, then straddles me and licks her lips. “I like that.”

  Her kiss is desperate as her lips attack mine, and her tongue forces its way into my mouth. I place my hand between her thighs, thankful for the easy access her short denim skirt allows, and pull her panties to the side. I slide a finger into her and her lips pull away from mine, releasing a moan and laying her head on my shoulder, grinding her hips on my hand.

  I notice a guy walking towards the booth. It’s so dark back in this corner that he probably can’t see us, but even if he can, I don’t care. I’m known for this kind of thing; fucking a girl that I don’t know somewhere in a corner. It’s nothing new.

  “I’ve wanted you for the longest time,” she says as she fumbles with my zipper. I don’t comment because, honestly, I have no idea who the fuck she is and couldn’t care less.

  “Wait. I have to get to my wallet.” There is no way I am fucking without a condom, so I always keep a stash in my wallet. She sits up on her knees to allow me some space then squeals as she is pulled from my lap.

  “What the fuck?” I ask, looking up at a bald biker wannabe. I look to my left and watch as the blonde chick storms off towards the exit, not even bothering to look back.

  Well, shit!

  Two hands slam down on top of the table in front of me. “Were you about to fuck my woman?” he growls.

  I look down at my hard dick bulging through my jeans. “Yes.” I lean back, placing my arms on the back of the booth. There’s no reason to lie; he knows what I was about to do. “Although,” I look up at him. “She never mentioned she had a boyfriend.”