“Do you really want to tell the world you dumped the next Shia LaBeouf?” He asks, his petulant face nearly driving me to laughter.
That’s really his aim? The top of the top for him is Shia? I want to tell him so badly to read the news and catch up on the latest events in the life of Shia. But I don’t. I’m tired of the fight, tired of his BS, tired of him not accepting that I’m breaking up with him.
“It’s over. Good luck in your acting career. I’m sure the world will love you,” I say, feeling defeated.
Chapter 16
Connor
“It’s over.” Jane sounds surprised by her own admission and I sense relief in the way her shoulders relax like the weight of the world has been lifted off them.
But Zac doesn’t accept her break up. “You won’t leave me. I’m going to be famous and you’ll forever hate yourself for leaving me.”
Jesus, doesn’t he realize how cringy it is to tell a girl that she obviously doesn’t mean it because you might, maybe, perhaps be famous one day? No, you won’t, I want to tell him. But this isn’t my fight. As much as I hate this shitty excuse for a human being, it’s Jane who has to handle this.
Jane seems tired of it, as if she’s had this conversation before and it turned out exactly the same as this time will. The look in her eyes screams that she’s trapped in a relationship that’s going nowhere. And she’s tired of it.
“Zac, I wouldn’t love you even if you were famous.”
Damn. I’m proud of her for just spilling it like that.
Zac isn’t done being an idiot arguing his own points like some kind of stupid devil’s advocate. “No, you would have been the only one to love me before. But now you’ll forever be the girl who broke up with me and didn’t support my career.”
That’s what this guy thinks will work? Does he think Jane is so stupid she’ll fall for this pathetic manipulation?
“It’s not your career if you’ve never made money doing it,” Jane says. She’s got a point.
“Do you really want to tell the world you dumped the next Shia LaBeouf?” Zac says.
I’ve… got no words.
“It’s over. Good luck in your acting career. I’m sure the world will love you,” Jane says, her whole body saying she doesn’t believe this is the end of things.
“Did you hear her?” I ask, leaning toward him just a little bit.
Zac’s bitter expression turns my direction. “This is why I tracked her phone. She’s just a cheating whore. How long have you been fucking her?” He’s on his feet in a flash and I cross my arms, amused at his little show of temper. He’s like a little dog, he can bounce around and make as much noise as he wants, at the end of the day, he’s still a little dog.
“I’ll fight for her,” he says, lifting his fists while dancing on his feet a little, like a guy who’s watched too many Kung Fu movies without any real knowledge how fighting really works.
“Zac, don’t.” Jane sounds like she can’t believe how stupid her ex is being right now. I find it impressive that she doesn’t sound surprised, just upset she has to tell him again to stop being an idiot. It makes me wonder how many times she’s saved him from himself.
As I stare at him, I wonder what I should do. Knock him on his ass? Or stay put so he can have that feeling that I really don’t see him as any kind of threat.
I think that’s the winner.
“She said it’s over. Leave.” I say and he seems to deflate a little bit.
It’s a bit of a relief that he has no idea what’s really going on between Jane and I. If he was more in tune with her, he might be able to figure out that she’s not here willingly. That she’s here because I require it. But he’s so caught up in his narrative that I’m fucking her that he has never let the thought that it might be anything else cross his mind.
It’s sad, really. I bet he could fix everything if he’d save her from me.
“No,” he says, his fists and feet resuming their movements. “We’re going to fight for her.”
Jane continues being the voice of reason. “Zac, even if you won, I wouldn’t take you back.”
Again, he seems to feel the words like a blow. I’m wondering why the hell he’s not backing off. What is with this girl? Why is he fighting so hard to keep her? There’s more to this, I know it.
I glance at her and her whole body tenses as her hazel eyes meet mine. The way her lips part is an invitation, and I want nothing more than to see my cock slide past those pretty pink lips.
As if reading my thoughts, she swallows, the motion of her throat enough to knock every thought from my mind. Fuck.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Zac tense up and know what he’s going to do next. I sidestep as he lunges at me. He’s swinging wildly as if he’s just hoping to at least make contact once.
He doesn’t.
I grab his collar and hold him away from my body. I’ve got enough length I can keep him from landing any blows. Still, he twists as he continues swinging wildly. With him in tow, I walk toward the front door holding him like I’m taking out the trash. An apt description, I think.
Opening the door, I shove him out. I watch with more than a little satisfaction as he sails into the wall across the way. The thud of him hitting, and the surprise in his eyes as he bounces off and turns to me is worth it.
“I hope I don’t see you again,” I tell him, knowing by the way his eyes widen that he hears the threat loud and clear.
“You’re not getting her money,” he says, impatiently shifting his shaggy blond hair out of his eyes and straightening the lapel of his button down shirt.
“You’re shit if all you wanted was her money,” I say, everything suddenly making sense. Of course he doesn’t want to lose her. What a loser. “Get a job,” I tell him, closing the door.
On the other side I hear him shout at me. “I have a job! I’m an actor.”
Chapter 17
Jane
Oh, my god, I’m finally single.
I watch Connor close the door and turn to face me. Icy terror tickles down my spine as he stalks over to me. I feel like my luck has run out. He looks tense, furious, even, and I know the whole delay has pissed him off.
He stops before me and places his hands on the edge of the counter again. When he leans in, his scent overcomes me and I breathe deeply of him.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, needing him to know I didn’t want any of that mess to be a bother to him. My heart is slamming in my chest as he says nothing. He's staring me in the eyes like he can discern my secrets.
“We need to talk,” he says finally, his voice low and sensual.
“I’ll do whatever you want,” I breathe, feeling that tingling warmth flooding every bit of my body.
His pupils spasm and I feel my breath catch in my throat. How does he have such a profound effect on me? It’s not even anything he’s doing or saying, there’s just something about him that leaves me trembling like a desperate little horny bitch. I love it.
I want him to kiss me. Hell, I want him to do more. I want him to prove that whatever this is between us isn’t just lust. It’s mostly lust, sure, but there’s something else, some connection that’s undeniable.
But he steps back.
And every bit of my being silently screams at him to come back.
“We’re going to lunch,” he says, the words clearly an order, not a request.
I nod, wondering if I should ask if I need to change. I’d never expected to leave my room like this. It’s the situation that’s leaving me looking totally whorish and underdressed.
“Should I change?” I ask, and he looks me over.
After a moment, he shakes his head. Heat colors my cheeks as I think about stepping out in public like this. I mean, the shorts aren’t see through white, but they are short. And I’m not wearing a bra under this, so every little effect he has on my body will be obvious. Or if I get cold, I guess.
Something tells me it’s not a good idea to cross him. His moo
d seems to have shifted to business. There’s still a heat to him, but the sensuality is subdued. He moves around the room quickly before walking over to me again.
He grabs my ass and pulls me toward his hip. The movement is sexy as hell, but until my feet hit the floor, I’m unaware my legs are asleep. I almost fall.
He holds me tight to his body as the fire of pins and needles elicit a gasp from my lips. The pain is intense, but his hands on me, his kindness not to let me crumple at his feet helps ease the torture.
After a few moments, he leans away and I balance just fine on my own with only a little help from the counter. With his hand in mine, he leads me out of the room and locks it up behind him. I look around, expecting to see Zac. But he seems to be really gone. Finally. I thought I’d never get rid of him. Hell, a small part of me is still sure he’s around somewhere.
We walk down the hallway and I find myself wanting to ask him questions. Questions about Cami, about the drama they were talking about. Then again, I’m pretty sure that it was all some kind of role play. But the story is so fantastic I want to know more.
In the lobby, he leads me toward the door. We step into sunshine and he leads me across the street to a little place I was wanting to try but didn’t have the courage to risk. It looks like a dive, but the smell lingering around the place is amazing.
We step in and the scent hits me full force. It’s incredible, like garlic and grilled steak. As he leads me to a booth near the corner, I wonder how many times he’s been here. I sit across from him and he studies me as I look at the menu.
“Order whatever you like,” he says, and I notice how intense his tone is.
“Thanks,” I say, surprised. I didn’t expect him to feed me, but I’m not going to complain. “What’s good here?”
“I get the steak,” he says, and I realize that’s likely why he’s not even looking at the menu. He already knows what he wants. I look over the options, wondering when he’s going to start talking. He seems to be watching me, studying me like he’s debating where to start.
“I’ll try the steak,” I say, putting the menu down to stare at him. “I’m sorry I was listening to you,” I say, needing to explain myself. “I was bored to tears, and your role play or whatever was interesting.”
His eyes narrow a little bit.
“And I’m sorry I stopped you from having sex.” My cheeks burn red hot. He’s staring at me, but I can’t quite make out his expression.
I push forward, needing to fill the silence. “You know, if you’d asked me to go out with you, I’d have said yes.” I mean it as a joke, but he doesn’t respond.
It's driving me up the wall. “So, Cami seemed like a neat girl. Why did she run out early on you?” I ask, not really expecting an answer.
He doesn’t disappoint.
So I try from another angle. “So, do you role play like that often?”
I fall silent as a waitress walks up. Her eyes stay locked on Connor as he orders. Even when he’s done, she refuses to look at me or ask me what I’d like. Annoyed by the blatant insult, I make a joke. “Clearly she doesn’t want a tip, she wants the tip.”
Connor’s gaze meets mine and I see something quite like a smile struggling to cross his lips. “What did you want, love?” he asks me and my heart nearly stops with the endearment.
Chapter 18
Connor
“Order whatever you like,” I tell her as she studies the menu. The part of my brain telling me to use this leverage on her takes a backseat.
She seems shocked, as if she didn’t expect me to say that. “Thanks,” she says, “What’s good here?”
“I get the steak,” I tell her. As she looks over the choices, she seems totally at ease, not like a girl who’s sitting with a guy who might kidnap and harm her. This looks and feels like a date, not like I forced her to come with me, dressed in clothing that I know leaves her feeling a bit uncomfortable.
“I’ll try the steak,” she says, setting the menu flat on the table before her. There’s a bit of shame in her eyes as she talks. “I’m sorry I was listening to you. I was bored to tears, and your role play or whatever was interesting.”
Role play. She thinks it’s a sex thing. No wonder she’s been practically purring with desire.
She blushes a little and looks down before meeting my stare again. “And I’m sorry I stopped you from having sex.”
How much is she going to say while this desperate to keep the quiet from falling between us?
“You know, if you’d asked me to go out with you, I’d have said yes.”
Would she have? I remember the fear in her eyes when I’d cornered her in her apartment. Back then, she hadn’t rationalized what I was doing next door. She hadn’t decided it was a sex game. She’d still thought it was terrifying.
But she keeps talking. “So, Cami seemed like a neat girl. Why did she run out early on you?”
She barely hesitates, but I’m not going to answer anyway. I’m still torn between telling her it’s not a sex thing and letting her go on believing I’m the kind of guy who gets off on kidnapping and rape fantasies.
I don’t.
But then again, why the fuck to I care what this girl thinks?
But like a dog with a bone, she’s not done. “So, do you role play like that often?”
She finally stops talking and her eyes travel past me. I know the waitress is here, but I’m totally focused on Jane for a moment. When I look up at the woman, I see the look in her eyes.
“Steak, rare, with mushrooms. Fries on the side instead of a baked potatoes. Blue cheese salad.” She nods and I wait for her to turn to Jane, who’s not stupid. She knows what’s going on. And she’s not about to take it sitting down.
“Clearly she doesn’t want a tip, she wants the tip,” Jane says, and I see the anger in the waitresses eyes.
I glance over at Jane. She’s fucking amazing. “What did you want, love?” I ask her. And I see that look of beautiful shock cross her features. Her heart seems to skip a beat before beginning to race at the base of her throat.
“Um…” she says, her tongue unable to form words for a moment as she gathers herself. “The same as you’re having,” she says and I look up at the waitress. The woman nods and leaves.
“She’s going to spit in my food.” Jane sounds rueful and I shake my head.
“No, she won’t.”
“How do you know?” Jane asks, and I stare at her. As if realizing she’s asking a stupid question, she looks down, her pretty eyes flustered.
“So, how often did you role play a bad break up with that douche?” I ask her and her eyes snap up to mine, shock flashing like lighting in them.
“That’s not funny,” she says, but I see the smile breaking across her face like the sun coming out from the clouds. And just like that, she’s giggling. Maybe it’s the stress of the day, maybe she’s actually amused, but her reaction is infectious. And I smile.
It’s a relief she doesn’t know the truth.
Or is it?
If she knew the truth, she’d be the first person who’d actually had a real peek into the fucked up realm of my life. I mean, sure, my brothers have their women, but each of them only know bits and pieces of the whole story, I’m sure. I doubt that Kieran told Emma that his ex-wife was stalking him as recently as this year. I doubt that Kyle told Victoria the whole story about Kieran killing dad.
I mean, it’s a cluster fuck and it gets exhausting holding everything together by myself. But then again, I also don’t want to drag anyone else into the mess of my life. Especially not this shiny, bright human being who’s clearly got more problems that she’d like anyone to know about.
“My dad loves him,” she says softly, her eyes staring at something past me. I sense sadness in her voice as she speaks. Everything in her says her father is letting her down, and I agree. Her bastard ex is a total waste of oxygen.
She’s silent as the waitress comes and drops off waters for us. When we’re mostly alon
e again, she talks quietly. “I don’t know why. I feel like Zac was only dating me to get at my family money.”
“He was,” I tell her and she looks up at me in shock. I elaborate, “He told me I wouldn’t get your money.”
She lowers her head in shame. “I’d give it all away if it meant I could trust that anyone would love me for who I am.”
The words echo around in my soul. I’d give almost anything to find someone who would accept me for who I am. “It wasn’t role play,” I tell her, and she looks up at me in shock.
“I kidnapped Cami. I did it to find out if she was a threat to my family.” The words flow out and I expect her to stare at me like I’m the monster I am.
“Is that why you were asking her if she was going to kidnap Olivia?” She asks, and I realize she heard a lot more than she was letting on.
I nod.
“Well,” she says after taking a sip of her water. “I think you went about it all wrong, but I can’t fault you for protecting a child who can’t defend herself.”
“The law would,” I say, but she shakes her head, her pretty lips pursing a little.
“The law would also tell you that it’s twenty four hours before you can report someone missing. A lot can happen in twenty four hours.” She sounds as if she has zero faith in the whole system, and I find that surprising. Typically people who grow up with money feel like the law is perfect because they can always buy their way into the cop’s pockets.
“It took her four hours last time to snatch Olivia and wreck the car. Olivia almost died,” I say, feeling the same sensations I’d felt when Kieran called me to tell me Olivia was going to die.
“I would have killed her,” Jane says, her eyes lit with a fire that I recognize.
Chapter 19
Jane
Capture Me Page 73
