by J B Heller
Now he was shaking his head while looking up to the night sky with his fingers laced behind his neck. He was making me feel like a silly little girl. My voice came out as a whisper when I responded, “Yes.”
He strode towards me and grabbed my shoulders, squeezing them tightly. I knew he didn’t mean to hurt me, but he did. I winced and he let me go. “Ivy, are you really that naive? Men like that don’t care about an audience. And that club was so crowded, nobody would have even noticed him slipping his grimy hands up your dress.”
Now I really wanted to throw up. He was right, I didn’t think. Tonight, I dressed like a tramp, and was subsequently treated like one. It was a mistake I would never make again. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes at the thought of just how badly it could have gone. He stepped back up to me and gently stroked my arms.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to make you cry. You just freaked me out in there. I need you to understand you can’t go around dressed like that if you don’t want the kind of attention that comes with it,” he said gently.
I wiped my eyes before the tears could fall. I took a deep breath and pulled my shoulders back. Right, it’s over, it could have gone bad, but it didn’t. Lesson learned.
“Thanks, I know you were just looking out for me. It wasn’t my idea to go out dressed like this, but I did agree to it, so what happened here was my own fault. Not to worry though, it won’t happen again,” I told him.
His eyes roamed over my body, clad in this awful red scrap of fabric. When he looked at me, it made me feel sexy and desirable. When the scum in the bar looked at me, it made me feel cheap and dirty. I liked this much better. His gaze heated my skin, and I felt tingles erupt where his hands where gripping my shoulders.
He was looking at my lips as if he was starving and I was a delicious treat. His grip tightened again, but this time I didn’t whimper from the pain, I moaned from the pleasure of his firm possessive touch.
“Ivy! Oh My God! I thought I’d lost you! Are you okay?” Tessa shouted from across the parking lot.
Bloody Tessa! Gabe was finally looking at me the way I’d always wanted him to. Was, being the operative word. As soon as Tessa’s voice burst our little lust-filled bubble, he yanked his hands from my arms like I was a leper. I spun on my heels and threw my best glare at Tessa, not that she noticed. She just kept on blabbering.
“That all happened so fast, that scumbag grabbed you, then your boss decked him and the next thing I know, you two have vanished. I’ve been looking for you all this time,” the words spilled from her mouth.
She finally took a breath and stared at Gabe for a moment. Unfortunately, before I could cut her off, she started blabbering again, “I think it’s about time you introduced me to your boss there, Ivy. After all, he did just prevent me from having to go all crazy arse bitch on that sleaze in there.”
She blew her bright red fringe out of her eyes and stuck her hand out towards Gabe. He looked at her, then looked back at me with a 'who the fuck is this' look in his dark eyes. I was off in dreamland, caught up in everything Gabe. Tessa cleared her throat to snap me out of it.
“Oh, right, sorry. Gabe, this is my cousin Tessa, Tessa, this is my boss, Gabe.”
Gabe didn’t like her, I could tell. I had learnt to read his expressions over the years, and this was one I was familiar with. Come to think of it, he didn’t like very many people. I wanted him to like her though; she’s my family... My only family.
I kicked his ankle since he was being rude. Tessa was still standing with her hand outstretched, waiting for him to shake it. He grumbled under his breath, took her hand in his and shook it once before dropping her and. Tessa beamed and a small smile lifted the side of his mouth. It was hard not to return Tessa’s smiles, even when you’re mad with her. It irritates the hell out of me.
“Right, well, do you ladies have a way home?” Gabe’s voice was so deep; I loved hearing him speak.
“I drove here, so I’ll drive us home,” I responded.
He scrunched his brows again and shook his head. “No, you’ve been drinking. You two should take a cab.”
I shrugged him off. “I don’t drink. So I’m good.”
“What? I saw you in there with a drink in your hand.”
I smiled at him; he thought he knew everything. But I had never, and will never touch a drop of alcohol. “It was iced tea. I don’t drink, Gabe.”
Now he was looking at me like I was crazy. I suppose it’s not usual behaviour for someone my age. I’m twenty-seven and have no interest in drinking. Some would call me strange; others have called me worse.
“Like ever?” he asked.
I couldn’t help but smile at his confusion. “Yeah, like ever.”
“You make no sense, Ivy. You’re dressed like that, in a place like this, yet you don’t drink? What are you even doing here?”
I shot Tessa the look, the one that said you got me into this, now get me out of it! She cleared her throat to get Gabe to look her way. He didn’t, so she just started talking anyway, “Well, it’s all part of the new Ivy. It’s time for her to step out of the shadows and show everyone how amazing she is.”
The expression on Gabe’s face, at that moment, was not one you’d want to be on the receiving end of. Tessa’s jaw dropped as she instinctively took a few steps back. “What? What’d I say?”
“This was your idea? For Ivy to leave the house, looking like this?” He was gesturing to my scantily clad body; he licked his lips before returning his attention to Tessa.
“And what exactly were you going to do to that pervert in there when he was groping her? You can’t go out dressed like that without a guy to keep the low–life’s in check. Ivy is clearly oblivious to the dangers that places like this pose to women on their own. But you, you look like you know better.”
It was true, Tessa was more streetwise than me but this wasn’t her fault. I agreed to her stupid plan to loosen me up. “Gabe, stop, this isn’t Tessa’s fault. I’m tired and I just wanna go home and get out of this damn dress.”
I was exhausted and I felt like shit; this night couldn’t end soon enough.
“Alright, where are you parked? I’ll walk you to your car,” he said.
“Just up the next block.” I pointed in the direction we’d parked and he strode off ahead of us, before stopping and turning back to make sure we were following. We were of course, I’d be happy to follow that arse anywhere, that and I didn’t fancy running into anymore skeezy pricks tonight.
CHAPTER FOUR
Needless to say, the only action I got last night was from Mrs Palmer and her five daughters, to the image of Ivy in that fucking dress. She had successfully filled my spank bank for the foreseeable future. Previously, I didn’t even have a spank bank; I’d never needed one. Until now. It would seem my dick is only interested in Ivy. Traitorous bastard.
After I walked the girls to their car, I hailed a cab. Ivy had offered me a lift, but I swiftly declined. If I had to look at her in that damn dress any longer, my resolve to not touch her was going to fly out the fucking window. She looked downright edible.
I may refuse to screw her, but I saw nothing wrong with having a pull while I thought of her.
Ughh! This was ridiculous; I had to stop thinking about her.
Busying myself with the cases I should have been tending to for the last few weeks was the only thing I could think of to take my mind off her. I kept copies of all my files at the house, so I went to delve through them. Surely something would spark my interest.
Nothing. Not one fucking thing. All the cases I had at the moment are for cheating spouses and one possible embezzlement. Not enough to distract my one-track mind. I shoved the files back in the cabinet and decided to go for a workout. I’d been neglecting my daily workouts in favour of copious amounts of alcohol and splitting headaches.
I found a pair of trackpants and a tank, grabbed my gym bag and headed for the door.
It’s Monday and I knew I had to go into the o
ffice this morning and face Ivy. I used to enjoy spending time with her, but that was before I wanted to fuck her brains out. Now, I’m lying in my bed trying to think of ways to get around having to see her. I hadn’t stopped thinking about her all weekend. I was worried I’d walk into my office and act out one of the many fantasies I’ve had playing on a loop in my head, all starring her.
I eventually got up and had a shower before throwing on my usual work attire. A black t-shirt, black jeans and black converse. What? They’re comfortable. And I'm all about comfort, that’s why I generally go commando. Although, I have opted to wear underwear today, just thinking about seeing Ivy has my dick trying to do a happy dance and I don’t want my zipper making its mark again.
Grabbing my Ray Bans, keys, phone and wallet from the hallway table on my way out the door, I was as ready as I’ll ever be to face her. I sounded like a pussy and I hated it.
When I got dressed for work this morning, I went to put on one of my old, below the knee skirts. After the weekend, I was ready to throw Confident Ivy in the bin. She was going to get me in trouble. And not the kind I was after. I wanted to get Gabe’s attention, not every skeezy prick in town.
That dress hadn’t been of my choosing and I should have trusted my gut when Tessa told me to put it on. When my gut said slut, it was usually right. I shouldn’t have worn it, I wasn’t comfortable and it made me feel trashy, certainly not confident and in control.
The clothes I had bought for my re-vamp were sexy yet classy. So I put my dreary old skirt back in my closet and pulled out one of my newer purchases. It’s so pretty, something I’d always liked but I was never game to try on. It’s fitted and black with red pinstripes and it stops just about an inch above my knees. The best part is the little pleated section at the back. I paired it with a deep red button-down blouse that matches the pinstripes and the new lipstick I bought.
Shoes had always been my weakness; I have fifty-three pairs to be exact. I perused my shoe collection to find the perfect ones, letting out a small squeal of excitement when I spotted the ones that will complete my outfit. They’re red peep toes with a bow on the top and a strap around the ankle. Perfect!
I checked myself over in the floor-to-ceiling mirror in my room. A huge smile spread across my face. This is the girl I’d always wanted to be; the one I’ve always been inside, but was too scared to show. I wanted to stay in the shadows. But not anymore. It was time the world met Ivy Cannon, the budding bombshell who was going to bring Gabe McLeod to his knees.
My confidence was back. I strutted out of my room, grabbed my to-go coffee that Tessa had sitting on the bench for me every morning, bless her, and left.
Walking out to my car an awful feeling blanketed my body. I knew this feeling, the feeling of being watched, and I hated it. Who could it be? My past was behind me; they were all in prison or dead. So what the hell was going on? Fear crept up my spine like an old unwanted friend. I dropped my coffee and bolted back up the porch steps and into the house.
Tessa startled when I slammed the door shut behind me and fastened all the locks. I was breathing hard as I pressed my back to the door; white sparks were dancing in my vision. This cannot be happening. Not again. I can’t go through this again. I slid down the wall as Tessa came running over to where I was now huddled on the floor against the door.
“What the hell, Ivy?” she asked.
“Someone is out there. I could feel them watching me.”
Her face paled. She knew my past; she had helped protect me from it before. She knew what it meant. And she knew when my gut told me to run, it was right. Tessa swallowed hard, closed her eyes and started to breathe deeply and slowly. I followed suit. This is how she used to calm me; neither of us thought we would have to do it again. Apparently, we were wrong.
When I had calmed down and felt steady enough, I got back to my feet and we sat at the kitchen table to talk it out, “Who could it be, Ivy? Your dad’s old crew are all dead or in prison. There’s no one left.”
“I know, I know. But there is definitely someone out there watching me, Tessa. I could feel their eyes on me.”
“I believe you, Ivy, you know that,” she reassured me.
She took me in her arms and held me tight. I sank into her hold and took all the comfort she offered. Tessa had always been my rock. I went to live with her and my Aunt and Uncle when my mother died in a questionable ‘accident’. I was seventeen.
My father was never a fulltime dad; he came and went. My mother never seemed to mind. She just said he had work commitments and that was that. I never questioned it because that’s how it had always been. I was a quiet girl growing up and my mother was my best friend. I didn’t care much for my dad’s company, probably because I never really knew him.
As it turned out, he was pretty high up in the drug world. My mother’s ‘accident’ was retaliation for a deal gone bad and I was next on that list. It took some time before I was in the clear. I was twenty-one when the last of my dad’s old associates had been put away and I was finally free of the never-ending fear and dread of being found.
As soon as I could, I took every self-defence class I came across. There’s a gun in my bedside table as well as Tessa’s, my glove compartment and even in my handbag. I thought knowing how to take care of myself would lessen the fear; but no, I’m as terrified today as I was when I was seventeen.
Getting over my mother’s death was the hardest thing I ever had to do. No seventeen-year-old should have to go through what I did. It took years of hiding before I was safe again. When it was finally all over, Tessa and I decided to move away from the town we had called home, somewhere nobody knew us. We started our lives fresh and never looked back.
I don’t know how long I sat there snuggled in Tessa’s arms before a wave of determination swept over me. I have built a fear free life for myself; nobody is going to ruin that for me. I'm as safe as I can be; I have a gun in my bag for goodness sake. I sat up, got to my feet and brushed the creases out of my skirt. I can do this.
Picking up my bag from the ground by the door, I began to unbolt the locks. Tessa was behind me instantly. “What are you doing, Ivy? We should call someone.”
I stopped what I was doing and turned to her. “I can’t live in constant fear. I can’t do that again, plus I have Trixie in my bag, I’ll be fine. I promise.”
I name my guns, so shoot me. Pun intended.
I gave Tessa a megawatt smile and finished opening the door. I strode towards my car, my confidence back in place, and Trixie firmly in hand tucked inside my bag.
For the whole drive into the office I felt like I was being followed, I’d developed a sixth sense for this kind of thing. I refused to be a victim. That will never happen again. I’m in control of my life, and I’m finally starting to live it the way I’d always dreamed. Screw you creepy stalky arsehole. I will not cower.
I pulled into my regular parking spot, slid my bag over my right shoulder, slipped the same hand into my bag and wrapped my fingers around Trixie. I opened my door with my left hand, stepped out of my car and turned to survey the parking lot. Nothing stood out, but I could still feel eyes on me. I held up my left hand and flipped the bird to anyone and everyone in the area.
Once in the office I felt eyes on me again, but I liked these ones. I could feel Gabe checking me out and it sent a thrill through my body. I took a little longer than necessary to fix my coffee, enjoying the feel of his eyes caressing my body. When I turned around, his eyes were glazed over, lust shining brightly through them. Goosebumps erupted over my exposed flesh.
I stepped towards him and his hand flew out in front of his body. He shook his head and I watched the lust fade from his eyes. I couldn’t stop the pout I knew was coming. Why was he being like this? It was clear he found me attractive why wouldn’t he act on it? It’s not like him at all. Usually Gabe sees something he likes and he takes it. Just not me, apparently.
“Who were you giving the finger to in the parking lot?” he asked
with a raised brow.
My jaw dropped; he saw that. Shit, that was embarrassing. “Oh, you saw that huh?”
A smirk covered one side of his glorious lips. “Yeah I did. I was fixing myself a coffee when I saw you pull in. What was that about?”
Gabe knew about my past. Even if I hadn’t told him, he would have found out on his own. The man has resources the FBI would be jealous of. I had no secrets from him.
“Someone was watching me when I went to get in my car this morning. And they followed me here. I was letting them know that I'm not afraid. I’m not a defenceless little girl anymore.”
I watched his expression morph from one of interest to rage in seconds. “Why didn’t you call me, Ivy? If you knew someone was watching you, you should have called me!”
“It’s fine. I’m fine,” I told him.
“I’m driving you to and from work from now on. And I don’t want you going out by yourself. You hear me? There will be no discussion about this.” He was pacing and pacing was never good. Then he punched the wall.
“Jesus, Gabe, settle down! You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“Hurt myself! You think I fucking care if I hurt myself right now? What if it’s someone from your dad’s past, Ivy? Those men are dangerous. You need to be more careful,” he fumed.
“Honestly, all that has been over for years now. I’m not even a blip on their radar anymore. Besides, everyone involved in all of that is gone; you know that. I’m probably just being paranoid.” I’m not being paranoid, but I had to say something to try calming him.
“Let me look into it, just to make sure no one’s been released on good behaviour or something stupid like that.”
It would ease his mind, and mine too. “Ok.”
He levelled me with a serious expression. “Until I know for sure, you stay inside and away from the windows.”
