“I can ride down with you.” I stuffed my hands in my pants pockets.
She shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”
I watched from the doorway as she pushed the elevator button and waited for the doors to slide open. When they did she stepped inside, but not before she glanced back.
Even with damp hair and a makeup free face, she was beautiful. “See you round,” she said.
I waved.
She was gone.
CHAPTER 10
Katie
The cab ride back to my place was somber. Part of me was exhilarated. It’d been more than two years since the last time I’d fucked, and it’d never been like it was with Griffin. My only regret was that I didn’t get to spend any real time finding out about his tattoos.
After I paid the cab driver I walked up the stairs to my apartment. My legs were shaky and a little sore, but in a good way. I opened the door, walked down the hall, and peeked in on Birdy. She was asleep. There was a guy asleep in there with her. I continued on to my room and quietly closed the door.
Thank God it was Saturday. No interviews. No place to be. I kicked off my shoes, got out of my clothes, and put on my pajamas. I didn’t bother to brush my teeth. I needed sleep.
I closed my eyes. Exhausted. Images of Griffin and I fucking, the way he looked at me. His stormy gray-blue eyes as he watched. His perfect lips on my mouth, on my pussy. I shuddered, my body aching for more.
I rolled onto my side and punched my pillow. Reid’s smirking face appeared next, which brought on tears. I loved him. I thought he was a good man. Up until last night he’d treated me a little dismissively maybe, but always with respect. Hadn’t he?
Nothing made sense anymore. It was as though everything I’d known was a lie. I needed to talk to him.
I’d call him right after I got a few hours sleep.
***
I heard someone pounding on a door. My eyes pushed open. The sun shone through the window. The clock next to my bed revealed in was eight in the morning. Not nearly enough sleep. I covered my head with my blankets, hoping whoever was knocking would go away.
More banging.
“Damn it.” Why did Birdy have to be such a heavy sleeper? I rolled out of bed, stepped into my slippers, and went to the door. I checked through the peephole and gasped. It was Reid.
“Go away, Reid. I have nothing to say to you.” My voice sounded gravelly, like I’d swallowed rocks.
“I’m not leaving until we talk.” He looked angry and sounded even angrier. He could go fuck himself.
“I guess you’ll be standing out there a while.” I leaned my head against the door and fought back tears. After a few minutes I didn’t hear anything and hoped he was gone. I checked the peephole. He paced back and forth in front of my door. I noticed he looked rumpled, his tan pants and black button up shirt slightly wrinkled. His cropped blond hair wasn’t combed to perfection the way he normally wore it.
“I’m coming in,” he said and pulled a set of keys from his pocket.
I’d forgotten about his key, the one I’d given him eight months ago but he’d never once used. “Don’t,” I said, stepping away from the door.
Reid pushed it opened and walked in.
“Get out,” I shouted.
“Katie. Please.” Tears filled his eyes. “Let me speak.”
I sat on the couch, picked up a throw pillow, and hugged it. “What? Tell me. What’s your excuse for the way you acted last night?” I wanted an answer, even though I was sure I wouldn’t like what Reid had to say.
He slumped into a chair across from the couch. His hands were in his lap and his head hung low, ashamed. “You know all the pressure I’m under.” His jaw clenched. “I’ve told you some of it, but you don’t even know half.” He looked up. Tears streamed down his face. “Sometimes.” He paused and clenched his fists together. “I can barely breathe.”
Reid looked over. I knew he wanted me to understand. He wasn’t a man of many words, but that excuse wasn’t going to cut it. My life wasn’t exactly easy either. Sure all the pressure I felt I put on myself, but that didn’t change the fact that it was hard, that sometimes I wanted to throw in the towel, give up on all my hard work. I didn’t though. I kept fighting.
“Come on, Kate. It was just some harmless fun.” He shrugged.
I leaned forward. “It wasn’t harmless, Reid. You hurt me.” I patted my chest for emphasis. “In here.” Tears collected on my lashes. I fought to keep them from spilling over.
“That wasn’t my intention,” he said, his face hardening. “I can’t control what makes you sad and what doesn’t. That’s on you.”
I felt my mouth fall open. Was he for real? I clamped my mouth shut and swallowed. “So if I’m hearing you correctly, if I slept with someone last night, I should assume that won’t hurt you because there was no physical pain involved on your end?”
Reid stood. Ferocious wrath contorted his pretty-boy features. “You better not have.”
I swallowed again, fighting to regulate my racing heart. “Why? We aren’t together anymore. I gave you back your ring.” My eyes went to the small cut on his cheek.
“So you did? You fucked someone just to get back at me?” He ran his fingers over his short hair.
“I didn’t do anything that had anything to do with you, you narcissistic son-of-a-bitch.” I stood. My legs were wobbly, which made me think of Griffin, which made me blush.
“Unbelievable. Un-fucking-believable!” He went to the door, clasping the handle in his fist. “Who is he? What’s his name?”
I didn’t respond. It was none of his damn business.
Reid rushed over and slapped me across the face. “Tell me who the fucker is.”
The blow knocked me back against the couch. The tears I’d been fighting trickled down my face. My cheek burned and I put a hand to it. I knew I was shocked. I couldn’t believe the man I’d believed to be so kind, so sweet, so caring was nothing more than a raving asshole. I’d planned my life out with him. I’d imagined our children.
Reid was breathing heavily. “I’ll kill him.”
“Get the fuck out of this apartment before I call the cops.” The voice behind me was deep.
Recognition spread across Reid’s face. “Is this the guy? Some filthy drummer from some wannabe rock band who was just using you?” Reid leaned over, his face so close that when he spoke spittle hit my cheek.
“She didn’t fuck him. I did, Reid.” I knew that was Birdy. “And I’ve already called the cops, so unless you want to deal with more pressure from your father, you’d better leave now.”
“I don’t believe you’d do that, Birdy. Not with our history together. We go way back, further than you and this bitch. She’s nothing. A nobody. Surely you understand that.”
What the fuck? I was no longer sad. No longer scared. I was too fucking pissed. I stood and shoved Reid with all the adrenaline I could muster. He stepped back, shocked. “Get out!” I pounded my fists against his check. “Get the fuck out now!”
Reid laughed. “You’re pathetic.” He slapped me again.
The drummer stepped forward. I saw he held a tennis racket in his hands. It was raised as though he intended to strike Reid. The guy didn’t look very threatening, but it must’ve been enough.
Reid opened the door and took off down the hall.
Birdy was looking at the drummer, a smile on her face. “You’re an awesome lay, an amazing drummer, and a scarer of bad guys.”
He dropped the racket and rubbed the back of his neck as though embarrassed.
“You’re my hero,” Birdy continued, throwing herself into his arms.
He caught her and they kissed obnoxiously for what seemed like forever. Finally they stopped. Birdy untangled herself from the drummer. She came over. “Are you all right?”
I snorted. “Not by a long shot.” I looked over her shoulder at the drummer. “What’s your name? I keep calling you the drummer in my head. At this point you deserve a name.”
“I’m Brian.” He patted my shoulder awkwardly.
I threw my arms around his waist and tucked my head in his chest. “Thanks, Brian.”
He didn’t hug back right away. He kept clearing his throat.
“Hug the girl. You deserve it and she needs it,” Birdy said. “I’m going to make some coffee.”
CHAPTER 11
Katie
Birdy, Brian, and I sat around the breakfast bar drinking coffee and discussing my ex fiancé. I really wanted to talk to Birdy about what Reid said. I knew Birdy and Reid had known each other before he and I started dating. They partied in the same social circles, which was how he and I met. I’d never thought to discuss how far back she and Reid went. Birdy didn’t like Reid and I hadn’t wanted to discuss why. Maybe if I would have I wouldn’t be in the situation I was now.
“You doing okay?” Birdy caressed my back.
“I’m pissed. I’m in shock.” I caught her gaze and held it. “I can’t believe I didn’t know this side of him existed. We’ve been together two years.” I watched her eyes, waiting for some indication that she knew the kind of guy I’d attached myself too.
She sighed heavily, like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. “I’m just glad you’ve seen him for who he truly is.”
Brian looked uncomfortable. He acted like he wanted to say something, but before he could his phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket. “Hey Griff.”
At the name, I blanched. My heart sped up and my knees got weak.
“Nah, just hanging with Birdy and Katie.”
There was a pause. Brian held up his finger and walked toward the living room. He lowered his voice. Birdy and I exchanged a look.
“What do you think they’re talking about?” I asked. I brought the mug of coffee to my mouth, but couldn’t drink. My stomach turned.
“Probably you,” Birdy said. She winked. I hadn’t had the chance to tell her where I’d been last night, but somehow she knew.
“What do you mean?” I decided to try playing dumb.
“I know you were with him. It’s all over your face.” She brushed some hair out of my eyes. “You’ve got that I’ve-been-thoroughly-fucked look.”
I looked away, trying not to blush. “Birdy, he… is…” I met her eyes. They were twinkling with happiness. “Amazing.” The word didn’t do Griffin and what had occurred between us justice. I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to explain it.
“I’m glad,” she said, sipping from her mug.
My phone rang. I answered. “Hello?”
“Is this Dandelion Katelyn Jayne?”
The voice on the other end sounded professional. “It is.”
“This is Bob Jeffries. I represent the Geller family.”
I covered my mouth.
“You there, Ms. Jayne?”
“I am.”
“It’s been brought to my attention that you assaulted Mr. Geller last night. He’s at the hospital getting stitches.”
“What? No I didn’t.”
Birdy gave me a strange look. She mouthed the word, “What?”
I shook my head.
“Are you denying that you threw a five carat diamond ring at Reid, which then struck his face, producing a serious cut?”
Fuck no. “I’m not saying a damn word. You want to take this further, you’d better contact my lawyer.” I quickly hung up the phone.
“What the hell was that all about?” Brian walked back in the kitchen.
“Reid told his family lawyer I assaulted him. He’s at the hospital right now getting stitches.” I walked over to the sink and dumped my remaining coffee. “The mother fucker is messing with the wrong girl.”
Birdy looked nervous. “He doesn’t care if the charges stick. He’s just trying to fuck up your life even more.” She slammed her hand on the counter. “That asshole!”
I sat on the stool and put my head in my hands. “I won’t let him get away with it.”
Birdy gave me a sad smile. “Remember earlier when we were talking about how it’s who you know more than what you know?”
“Yeah?” I didn’t look up. I couldn’t. Fear coursed through my veins.
“The Geller family can make trouble, big enough trouble that even my dad might not be able to get you a job.” She grabbed my hand, forcing me to look at her. “He’s managing partner, but there are those he has to answer to. In the end it comes down to politics.” She gave me a pointed look.
I understood all too well what she was saying. “I’m fucked, aren’t I?” I looked away, focusing on Brian. He was texting someone. I absently wondered who it could be.
“Maybe not.” She didn’t sound convinced.
I let my head fall to the white quartz countertop. “Fuck.” All my plans, all my goals, everything I’d ever wanted would be gone before I had the chance to get it, all because of Reid. I couldn’t let him win. But what could I do?
A light bulb flickered and clicked on. I’d taken an elective on a part of the law I thought was interesting. Private investigation. A lot of lawyers used investigators to get information for clients. It was considered a somewhat shady resource, but I’d found the idea interesting. It’d been one of my favorite classes.
For our final the professor let us “stalk” a person of interest. I’d chosen her and found out all sorts of interesting things I didn’t want to reveal in my paper or to the class. I’d given her the envelope full of information. She’d had me sign a nondisclosure and given me an A in the class. I hadn’t thought any more of it. There’d been too much else to deal with.
But now…
I’d put my desire to become a lawyer on hold a little while and try my hand at private investigation, and I’d dig up all the dirt on Reid Geller I could find. Then I’d make him suffer. I didn’t know how yet, or even what I’d do, but if I was any good maybe I’d live the American dream and open my own business. I could already see the sign: Katie Jayne, P.I. It had a nice ring to it. “Tell me everything you know about Reid Geller.” A plan was forming. Obviously I’d known nothing about the man I was going to marry. I’d accepted him at face value. I’d believed him, trusted him. I’d allowed him to walk all over me. I was done with that shit.
It was time I pulled on my big-girl panties and fought for what I wanted. Fire with fire. No more Mr. Nice Guy. Or Miss. Nice Girl. Whatever. I wasn’t going to let that asshole motherfucker ruin my plans. My life.
“What are you going to do?” Birdy asked, a smile dancing on her face.
“I’m going to make Reid Geller wish he’d never been born.”
TRAITOROUS HEART
Volume 2
CHAPTER 1
Katie
It’d been two weeks since my night with Griffin. I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t think about him. God, I thought about him: In the shower. At breakfast. In bed… Mmmmmm, especially in bed.
Images of his glorious body, the way he smelled, the sounds he made while we fucked, his voice, the way he moved, and the way he could sing…
He was a rock star hottie god, magnificent and stunning, not a man at all. And lately he was the star of my dreams. When I wasn’t thinking about him during the day, my subconscious dreamt about him.
Why didn’t I want him in my life? Not that he would reciprocate. He was busy and apparently a gazillionaire. I probably wasn’t his type.
Dammit!
From the information I’d gathered on Reid I knew sure as shit he wasn’t my type. It was surreal and sickening to realize I hadn’t really known the man I’d agreed to marry.
I pushed back from the small two-seater table that sat next to a window and took a sip of wine.
“Would you like a refill?” The handsome waiter at Dorvey’s picked up my glass in one hand and the open bottle of wine in the other. There was a slight smile lighting his face, making his lips appealing. They reminded me of Griffin’s.
I shook my head. No they didn’t. Nothing could compare to Griffin’s lips, not even tho
se of my ex fiancé, Reid.
I’d been sitting at the table for almost an hour. In that time I’d proceeded to drink most of the bottle of wine myself. I’d also ordered a chicken salad. It sat uneaten in front of me.
“Please.” I motioned toward the glass and he poured. When the glass reached half full, he stopped.
I shook my head. “Keep going.”
He winked. “Rough day?”
I made a chk-chk sound with my mouth and mimicked shooting him with my first finger and thumb. “How’d you guess?”
He emptied the bottle and placed the glass in front of me. “I’m a master mind reader.” He laughed. “Also, the empty bottle of wine gave me a clue.” He shook it slightly.
I nodded. “Excellent deduction.” I picked up my full glass and took a large drink.
The waiter watched and I wondered if he expected more.
I placed the glass on the table. “That’ll be all.”
He smiled, but I noticed disappointment in his eyes. Oh well. If he expected anything more than a tip, he was sadly mistaken.
Dorvey’s was a quaint little restaurant with low lighting and pictures of landscapes adorning the walls. Kind of like a bistro meets the Old World. I’d picked the place because it was across the street from Reid’s gym. My ex usually worked out from six to seven during the week. If he were following his schedule he should be inside.
The table I sat at made it easy to see who entered and exited the building. And since I was stalking Reid to find out everything there was to know about him, it was a logical spot. The information I’d already gathered gave me plenty of insight into the ass Reid was, but I wanted to know it all. What he did every night, with whom, and how often.
More than once I’d been so glad we’d never slept together.
“Do you want me to take your plate?” The waiter indicated my salad. “Or are you still working on it?”
I tilted my head and gave him a look that said “Get the fuck away from me.” The evening had been a total waste of time. And I was halfway to drunk. Either Reid had decided against working out or he was spending an extra long time at his gym today. My stalker tendencies were filled for the day. I wasn’t going to sit there a moment longer. “Just the check, please.”
Boxed Set: Traitorous Heart Volumes 1-6 (The Traitorous Heart Series) Page 4
