Playing For Love

by J. C. Grant

“The vet's here. The others are checking the property for anything else. It'll be an hour or so. Stay inside,” David instructed again as he gripped Chance's thick, leather, studded collar and led him out to the garage.

  I watched, confused as to why the vet wouldn't come inside or why I couldn't go out to the garage, so I followed. Opening the garage door, I saw a young man and David looking at the cars.

  “Hi,” I said, shutting the door behind me.

  “Austin.” I could hear the warning in David’s voice.

  The man looked up then.

  “Mrs. Taylor, you should stay inside until they check the garage and cars for snake eggs.”

  My stomach twisted, my breakfast threatening to make a reappearance. I walked back toward the door, using every ounce of my self-control not to break into a run. “David, make them check the house.” My voice sounded screechy to my ears as I slammed the door shut in my sudden, overwhelming burst of fear.

  It felt like an eternity before David brought Chance back in.

  He pinned me with a I told you look. “That's why I said stay inside.”

  “But what if they're in the house?” I repeated over and over hysterically.

  “Calm down,” he laughed. “It wasn't poisonous, but it laid eggs recently. And Chance is fine.”

  I hadn't touched Chance since it happened; I’d been too freaked out. Now I felt bad.

  “We're gonna take Chance and go to the gym. They checked the truck. So we're good to go.”

  They checked the truck... the eggs could be in my car?

  At my horrified expression, he explained, “They're checking everything. It'll be fine.”

  “What if I wake up covered in snakes?” I breathed.

  “You're afraid of snakes?” He sounded as if he was just coming to this conclusion.

  “Yes!” I yelled.

  “Okay. After they're done. I'll find a snake wrangler or something to come out and check again.”

  “And then again. Another one. A better one.”

  “Yes. As many as you want.” He tried to smother his grin.

  I was too terrified to walk through the house. David got my purse and phone and a change of clothes for us as I stood in the open area between the living area and kitchen.

  “Sweet girl, you're seriously freaking out.”

  “Yes! I am!” I was on the verge of tears.

  He looped my purse and bag on his wrist.

  “Hop up,” he muttered, grinning as he grabbed me around the waist.

  I jumped up and wrapped my arms and legs around him, climbing him in my desperation not be on the ground. He easily carried me out to the car, putting me in the front seat much like a child. I didn't care that some of the men saw. I couldn't care less as long as snakes weren't getting me.

  David tried to soothe me on the drive to the gym. His hand rubbed over my thighs and hands, squeezing and massaging.

  “Austin, you have to calm down.”

  This completely overshadowed the bullshit with Dawn and Zach. They didn't even rate right now.

  “I have to meet that guy at your house today for the wall repair. Do you two want to go with me?” he asked patiently.

  “I don't want to go back to the snake baby house alone,” I said incredulously.

  That's definitely not happening.

  *****

  “Movers will be here next Friday,” David said as he pulled into my driveway.

  “I won't be able to start writing until the photoshoots are done anyway.” Then abruptly, I added, “I want to paint that office before I set up in there.”

  “Whatever you want.” He paused as he parked and turned off the ignition. “You know what color you want?”

  “Black,” I continued excitedly, “and I want all the furniture mid-century, in either black or pink. Everything but the desk.” I looked at him then. His eyebrow went up and that half-smile formed on his chiseled face.

  “Anything you want.” His voice gave away his delight at my thought-out office or my excitement.

  As I let Chance out of the back, I watched David walk out to meet the repair van that parked in front of the house. Then I heard a voice call out to me, getting David's attention as he turned to assess her.

  “Hi!” I called to my neighbor.

  “Did you move?” she asked once she was at the fence separating our properties. She was five-five, average build, shoulder-length dark brown hair, fortyish, and she looked to be of Spanish decent, but I didn't know.

  “Not yet.” I walked closer. “But the movers will be picking up a few things next Friday.”

  “Did you sell?” This was why I had kept my distance the past three years, she was nosy.

  “No. I'm not—”

  “We aren't selling immediately. Might just rent it out,” David cut me off. “Hi, I'm David.”

  “Hi.” She looked to me. “Are you and Zach not back together?”

  I was surprised by her question. Zach hadn't been around much when we were dating, and he hadn't been around at all for the past thirteen months.

  “Why would you think that?” David asked casually.

  “Zachary's been over here several times in the past few days. When I asked, he said you had worked things out.”

  Worked things out? What the fuck?

  “Uh. No. I haven't spoken to him.” Which was technically true. He was still calling and texting every day, but I hadn't responded. David had the one time, but that was it.

  The repairman walked up, interrupting the neighbor’s next words. We quickly excused ourselves and went inside. I felt a bizarre amount of relief at being in a house that hadn't had a snake invasion. David showed the repairman to the guestroom, then returned to the living area where I had crashed on the couch.

  “You seem very happy to be here.” His tone was unreadable.

  “I am. A snake-free house. I'm fucking thrilled.”

  “It didn't get in the house,” he muttered.

  “It was huge; I saw it. How did it even get through the fence?”

  He didn't respond. I figured he just didn't know, then he admitted under his breath, “Burrowed under.” He quickly added, “Don't freak. It only happened because the fence wasn't on.”

  I huffed out a breath.

  Did he really think that made me feel better?

  “Now we know Zach has been coming over here, just like all his texts say.” He deftly changed the subject.

  “Are you still reading his texts?” I asked, staring at the ceiling.

  “Yeah.” He answered like it was a dumb question.

  Which I guess with David, it was. He would be reading my texts even if Zach wasn’t texting me.

  “Aren't you?” he asked skeptically.

  “Nope, too much stress and pointless.”

  After reading the ones from Dawn, I didn't think I could take it. It was the same reason I hadn't looked David up online since our first date—I didn't want any more shit running around in my head, confusing me and my erratic emotions.

  “I really wish I knew why you didn’t want to talk about him or deal with him—at all.” He studied my face and I closed my eyes against his scrutiny. “What's the neighbor’s name?”

  “Can't pronounce it.”

  “How's it spelled?”

  God, he's relentless.

  “I don't remember her name,” I grumbled.

  I heard his rumbling laugh. “I'll find out.”

  “Of course you will,” I muttered.

  I heard him moving around, and then he lifted my head and shoulders, setting them in his lap as he sat on the couch. I relaxed onto his strong thigh as his hand moved along my arm, the other combing through my hair, soothing me.

  “Have any more toys you want to try to sneak into the house?” he quietly teased after several long moments.

  “Shut up. I'm going to get a huge strap-on to use on you,” I blurted out.

  “Uh.” David and I both turned to see the repairman looking very uncomfortable. “Mr.
Taylor, it's done. If you want to come take a look?”

  I sat up, freeing David to stand. I watched as his big body stalked down the hall after the man. He turned, giving me a smirk and a wink just before he entered the room.

  God, he'd be willing to let me try it.

  Chance hopped up, taking David's vacated spot and I played with his soft ears and big, nugget head. The action relaxing me as much as David's rumble carrying down the hall. As horrendous as the day's events had been—dealing with my paralyzing fear and the conflicting turmoil over the cruel death, had been easier than dealing with the Dawn issue. A relief in comparison. That's when it sank in how completely out of control I had allowed my emotions to get in regards to Dawn. When David entered the living room, the repairman left without a word.

  “You paid him?” I asked at the odd departure. Actually, it wasn't that odd, I noticed a lot of people behaved strangely around him, or just famous people in general.

  “Yeah.” Then he turned his attention to Chance. “Buddy, you cock-blocked me hard this morning. Now this?”

  Chance nuzzled his head harder into my lap.

  “Perfect,” David muttered, going to my room. I heard him open my closet door. Then he yelled, “Getting all your shoes this trip.”

  “Knock yourself out,” I yelled back.

  Relaxing on the snake-free couch with Chance, I watched as David carried stacks of shoe boxes out to the truck.

  “You two don't hurt yourselves.”

  “We won't.”

  I could hear his throaty laughter coming from the hall.

  *****

  Sitting in the truck on the way home after David had loaded it full of my shoes, my phone chimed, alerting me to a text.

  “Check your phone,” David ordered.

  “I don't want to read them anymore.”

  “Fine,” he muttered. He pushed a couple of buttons and I heard a disembodied voice.

  “You have five missed texts. And three voice mails from. Zach.”

  I watched David as he turned into our neighborhood. His face was drawn tight, jaw clenched.

  The voice continued, reading my texts. “From Zach. I made some calls. You're not legally married. Received. At. 4:06 PM

  “He's desperate and a fucking moron,” he muttered as he pressed a button and the music cut back on. “He needs to stop while he still can.” There was something dark, something threatening in his voice.

  I watched him, trying to place that tone.

  “So we are legally married?”

  His dark eyes swept over me as he pulled up to a stop sign.

  “Of course.” He seemed confused by my question and a little angry. “Do you think I would risk us not being legally married?” He paused. “That's why I paid to get the paperwork pushed through.” His expression and voice hardened. “Yeah, you're legally married to me. Bound to me with paperwork and tons of red tape.”

  “Okay.”

  “Fucking piece of shit,” he muttered under his breath as he pulled away from the stop sign. “He's desperate to get you back.”

  “I don't know why.”

  I didn't understand why he was doing this. He'd cheated on me with a famous pop star and he got famous from it. It really made no sense at all. Other than what David had said, he was trying to drum up some publicity for himself.

  “Oh, I understand why.” Then he muttered under his breath, “I'm gonna break his pretty boy face if he doesn't stop.”

  I couldn't help but laugh at that.

  “What?” he asked gruffly.

  “It's just... do you really have room to talk?”

  “I'm not a pretty boy,” he grumbled.

  “No, you're not,” I admitted. “You're gorgeous. Too handsome. My personal sex god.”

  “But not pretty,” he smirked. He reached over, sliding his hand up my thigh. “Personal sex god, huh? Just trying to keep your greedy little pussy satisfied.”

  “Uh-uh,” I denied.

  “All you ever say is ‘More, David. More. More. I need more’.” His voice slowly turned into an imitation my breathy cries, making me blush. “Never hear you say, ‘Stop, it's too much’.”

  I honestly didn't think it would matter if I did say stop, he still wouldn't. Not that I would ever say stop.

  We pulled into the long driveway, driving up and into the garage. David opened his door, getting out.

  “What about the—?” I started.

  “They found them an hour ago,” David said, opening my door. “About thirty feet down the hill.”

  “Are you lying?” I searched his face to find any signs of deception.

  “Not lying, sweetheart. Wait here and I'll check the house real quick.”

  He was being so understanding and patient about this. I knew it was ridiculous and I should just go in there and push my fear down or at least pretend to. But I waited in the truck like he said, jumping at shadows. Once he reappeared in the doorway, I released the breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

  “All clear,” he announced, walking over to me. “I'm going to unload the truck then get dinner started. You go change.”

  Going straight to the bathroom, I showered then dressed in one of his tees and nothing else.

  When I came around the corner into the living area, I was met with the broad expanse of David's bare back as he stood at the stove. He seemed to have the same idea as me—minimal clothing. Deciding to tease him a little, I walked into kitchen.

  “Give me twenty minutes,” he tossed over his shoulder.

  “Okay. Just looking for something to drink.”

  Opening the fridge, I leaned up on my tiptoes, pretending to look for something. Then leaned in, just enough to let the bottom of my ass cheeks peek out. It only took a few seconds for me to get a response.

  “Sweet girl,” he warned in a low rumbled. “What else you got on?”

  I turned, facing him. “Guess you'll have to find out.” Then I quickly jumped away, narrowly escaping his grasping hand.

  “I will find out.” His threat sounded like a filthy promise.

  “I'm counting on it.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Saturday morning, a loud banging noise woke me up. It took me a second to realize I was in bed alone.

  Thursday and Friday flew by, David getting up with Chance, making our breakfast, then the three of us heading to the gym, and David fucking me senseless twice a day. That pretty much summed up our routine.

  We tried to ignore the harassing calls and texts.

  At least I did.

  “Buddy, you're gonna wake up our girl.” I heard David's deep voice rumble from the hall.

  The bedroom door opened. A second later, Chance landed on the bed, throwing his big body down as he wiggled and thrashed on his back. I cracked opened my eyes to see David standing at the foot of the bed shirtless, lounge pants riding low, and showing that delicious V.

  Damn... that shit's lethal.

  “Sorry, sweetheart,” he rumbled softly, drawing my eyes away from the veins running along that hard V of muscle. “I was trying not to wake you up. Your breakfast is in the warming drawer if you're ready.”

  “Yeah, okay. What time is it?” My unused voice was rough.

  We didn't have clocks in the bedroom, and last night I'd left my phone in the kitchen—needing a break from the calls. I was on a campaign to not be affected by Dawn and to get my emotions permanently under control.

  David dug his phone out of his pocket. “Eight twenty. We gotta get going.”

  “I have that shoot today, babe.”

  “I know. At ten. We're going with you. The reporter said he would be there, right?” He walked over to me. Leaning down, his breath warmed my face as he captured my lips in a soft, sweet kiss, his tongue licking gently into my mouth.

  “Yeah,” I breathed when he pulled back.

  “I told you.” His deep rasp was like a warm blanket wrapping around me. “I'll take care of all this. I'll deal with the reporter today.” Hi
s voice was sweet and tender. Reassuring.

  I watched David leave the room, his ass flexing under the thin material of those pants, and his back muscles slithered under his skin. Then Chance rumpled the sheets into a pile and dove in headfirst, reminding me my sexy-ass husband left me with a rambunctious dog.

  “Why are we taking Chance with us? This isn't the one who asked for him to be in the shots,” I asked when David came back in with my breakfast.

  “Why not? If I don't intimidate the reporter, Chance should.” I couldn't tell if he was joking.

  David crawled over me, settling his big body between me and Chance and turned on the TV.

  I took them in, sitting side by side watching TV, and it hit me why David chose Chance. They'd both suffered abuse, both had survived it. Both had the scars, physical—and emotional.

  He's the most sensitive man I've ever met and the most aggressive.

  And Chance was just like him.

  David

  Zach was really digging into my trust issues. I was trying not to think about those texts he was sending her, the shit he was saying... Fuck... just him calling every day was eating me alive.

  He was desperate, begging her to meet him, telling her neighbor they're getting back together. I knew what he was doing. It was the whole ‘I got your girl’ bullshit I was trying to keep her away from—the shit all these insecure Hollywood assholes pulled. My concern was, he'd already had her and she hadn't been with anyone since. I wasn't delusional, that asshole getting to her was a possibility. I just never thought he would be so aggressive about it—he was engaged. The fact that he wasn't more concerned about his moneybag finding out was more worrying. Truth was, if he could cause a big enough buzz by taking Austin from me, he wouldn't need his fame ticket. He'd have created his own.

  His relentless determination was really pissing me off. It was a big “fuck you” to me. I didn't want Austin knowing how much it affected me. I refused to let it affect our relationship. And I refused to lose her even if she did fuck him again.

  Even if he did “get my girl.”

  I wasn't giving her up.

  Fergus was working on getting rid of Dawn. I hadn’t told Austin, not wanting to scare her, but we were intentionally letting Dawn escalate. Fergus was having her followed, and she had gone by Austin's house twice now—not knowing where mine was. So I didn't care what was involved in getting rid of her as long as it happened. The more we had to deal with Dawn, the more likely it was Austin would consider Zach. He was pushing the ‘you're not legally married’ angle. He was pushing the fuck out of it. When she asked me last night, I'd felt sick.