Keep My Heart (Top Shelf Romance Book 7)

by Lex Martin

  “Were you thinking about me the whole time you were with him?”

  He’s saying things to rile me up, but I refuse to let him win. “You’re the last person I think about when I’m out with attractive, available men who know how to respect me.”

  “Liar.” He half laughs and takes a drink of water.

  I walk to him, getting ready to give him my best, and notice his knuckles are cut and bloody.

  “What the hell?” My face drops, and everything I was just about to say slips my mind. “What happened?” I’m generally concerned because if his hand looks that bad, I feel sorry for whatever took the brunt of it.

  Travis shoves his hands in his pockets and doesn’t take his eyes from me. “It’s nothing.”

  I notice the black T-shirt he’s wearing hugs his muscles and body in all the right places. The tattoos on his arms tell a colorful story, and I find myself gawking at a disheveled Travis King. All he needs is a leather jacket to nail the bad boy James Dean look, especially with that hair. Shit.

  He lets out a slight laugh when I swallow hard. “See, sweetheart. Told you. You’re fantasizing about me right now.”

  Being this close to him makes my skin burn with anticipation. The thought of his hands on me again is driving me mad, and it takes everything I have to push the thoughts away because I don’t want them. He does dangerous things to me, and I can’t continue like this.

  “There are times when I wish I could shut you up forever.” I walk to the kitchen and shove the tequila back in the freezer.

  “You mean there isn’t a spell for that?” He leans against the frame of the door.

  I turn my head and give him a dirty look. “If there was one that would work, I would’ve used it already.”

  As I walk past him, he doesn’t move but turns and continues to look at me. That’s when I smell the sweetness mixed with his cologne.

  “When did you start wearing women’s perfume?” My tone is accusing, but I already know the answer.

  His eyes shift slightly, immediately giving him away. Realization sets in as to what Travis was doing tonight, and my mind creates a repulsive picture.

  “God, you’re disgusting. Have some damn self-control.” The moment those words spill out, I eat my words. Self-control, Viola. Must stay away from Travis King and his royal cock.

  He doesn’t respond. Shrugging his shoulders, he walks the other way. As much as I fight it, I can’t stop the pang of jealousy that shoots through me, followed by anger. I remember why I’ve hated him for so long. He’s the king of all douches, a manwhore, and a one-upper. And I’m still the girl with a stupid crush.

  Chapter 12

  Travis

  Monday morning is proving to be more of a bitch than I anticipated. I work out and go straight from the gym to work, so there’s no opportunity of running into Viola. Turning the radio off, I drive in silence. My mind is running a million miles an hour, thinking of when we were kids and the first time Viola asked me about boys. We were sitting in our spot on her rooftop when she brought the subject up. The way she glanced up at me, acting shy and embarrassed as she asked me how to tell if a boy liked her was sweet. The wind blew her hair around her face, and I was surprised she had worn her hair down. I watched as she tucked strands behind her ears as she fidgeted.

  “Guys are simple creatures,” I explained, although I hadn’t much experience myself. The only girl I cared about spending time with was her, but I could never tell her that. “They will find any opportunity to be near a girl they like, even if no one else approves. He’ll just enjoy being around you.”

  “I kind of expected you to tell me they’ll pull your hair and make fun of your clothes or something.” She laughed, her body finally relaxing. I loved her laughter and tried to make her laugh any chance I could.

  “Well, that depends. Are you crushing on a five-year-old?”

  She threw her head back, exposing her neck, and let out the purest, rawest laugh I’ve ever heard. I wanted to bottle that up and lock it away only for me to hear it.

  “No,” she finally managed to answer, wiping away tears of laughter from her cheeks.

  Without thinking, I leaned in and caught one with my finger. She swallowed hard as I brushed my hand against her cheek.

  “If a guy likes you, he won’t be afraid to tell you.” The moment the words came out, I regretted them. I wanted to tell her. I wanted her to know that whatever she was feeling, I was feeling too, but I was a fucking coward.

  I didn’t know how to explain what I was feeling.

  “Oh,” she replied, her eyes lowering, and I could see the disappointment in her features.

  I was an idiot.

  “Are you excited for your birthday?” I needed to change the subject.

  She shrugged. I knew she didn’t have a lot of friends, so I wanted to do something to make her feel special.

  Viola Fisher was special. To me, at least.

  I didn’t have a lot of money, but I managed to scrape enough together from mowing lawns to buy her something. I thought about it for weeks, wanting to get her the perfect gift.

  I couldn’t let Drew know, though, because then I definitely wouldn’t hear the end of it. When I did finally pick out the perfect necklace for her, I wrapped it with some old wrapping paper I found in our attic and hid it under her pillow. Inside, I wrote a short note: When a guy likes you, he’ll make sure you know.

  I knew I was crossing every single line by writing that note, but I didn’t care. I wanted her to feel extra special on her birthday. When she wasn’t burying her head in a book or reciting the value of Pi, she’d talk to me for hours about all the characters and different worlds she’d read about. I never knew what she was talking about, but it didn’t matter. I just enjoyed being around her even if Drew poked fun at me for it.

  But that was the last birthday I ever bought something for her. Over the next few days, she dismissed me, throwing me out like yesterday’s trash. Anytime I tried talking to her, she’d ignore me or walk away. By the time school started back up, we were no longer friends at all. I was a freshman in high school, and she was still in middle school. Between working on the weekends and practices, we barely even saw each other in passing.

  I pull into the parking lot and sit in my car a moment stewing on the flashback that resurfaced. I think about how different things would’ve been had I told her.

  A text from Drew interrupts my thoughts.

  Drew: Dude, what are your plans this weekend?

  I almost want to tell him that my plan is to fuck with his sister, but…well, that wouldn’t be kosher.

  Travis: No plans, other than getting laid.

  I reply with a smug smile.

  Drew: Glad to know nothing’s changed in the few days I’ve been gone. Come to the lake this weekend. We’re heading up early Friday. It’ll be fun.

  I think about Viola staying at our house alone, and I’m not sure I approve of that. She can take care of herself, but I’d rather be here if something happened.

  Travis: It’s Mia’s and your weekend to be alone. Enjoy it, dude.

  Drew: One minute, we’re happy, and the next minute, we aren’t. Dunno what’s going on. I think having people here will be better.

  I’m no longer smiling. Drew loves Mia and would do anything for her. I don’t like to hear things aren’t going as planned.

  Travis: If you want me there, I’ll be there.

  Drew: Good. I do. Travis to the rescue. I’m going to invite Viola too. Don’t worry, I’ll force her to be nice. I’m hoping she can get info from Mia. Be my recon.

  Travis: Fine. Do you ever stop working? You should be a detective, not a cop.

  I laugh as I hit send, then force myself to get out of the car.

  Entering the building, I take the stairs two at a time because I want to feel my body being pushed to the edge. Once on my floor, I walk past the administrative assistant's desk and give her a smile before I go to my office. As soon as I boot up my computer, B
lake storms in without knocking.

  “King.” He takes a sip of his coffee.

  I’m really not in the mood for his bullshit today, but I put on a fake smile and wait.

  “Crawford was impressed with your reporting. He actually asked if you could see him as soon as you arrived this morning.” Blake’s face is glum, and I know it chaps his ass that I received any sort of recognition.

  “Like right now?”

  Blake nods his head before walking away annoyed. I drop everything and make my way to the tenth floor, where the executive offices are. I’m trying to gain control of myself as I knock on the closed door. My palms are sweaty, and I can’t remember the last time that happened.

  “Come in,” a rough voice says from the other side.

  I put on a smile and open the door and see Sloan sitting behind his desk in a nicely tailored suit. His white hair is slicked to the side, and his face is cleanly shaven. As I step in, I see Alyssa sitting in front of her daddy’s oak desk. My mood instantly drops. She turns and looks at me and gives me a wink. I don’t let the smile on my face falter. I have to push our secret aside and be strictly professional.

  “Sit, son.” Sloan is the type of man who doesn’t waste time, so for him to even offer a pause before speaking freaks me the hell out. Alyssa crosses her legs, her skirt riding up her thigh, and leans toward me when I sit. I shift my body away from her, trying to make it unapparent.

  “I’ve given Alyssa the digital division of the European account.”

  I wait because I know this isn’t what I was called up here for. There’s more coming.

  “But she insists this account should be a co-project and that you’d be the perfect candidate. I looked over the reporting you completed Friday, and I have to agree with her assessment.”

  Alyssa is playing games, and her father is putty in her hand. He smiles at her proudly, and I know she has his balls in one hand and mine in the other. But this isn’t the type of project a person refuses, so I suck up the bullshit and smile. I guess we’ll be partners. The thought makes me sick.

  “Travis is going to be so helpful. I’m really excited for him to join me on this project, Sloan.”

  In professional settings, Alyssa is known to call her father by his first name. I’ve always found it odd, but he smiles at his daughter, his only child, the one who will inherit it all if she can prove herself to the company. We both want and need recognition in this industry, and though I don’t like the idea of it, I’ll do whatever is necessary because I do deserve this opportunity. I’ve worked countless late nights and weekends over the last year with little recognition from Blake. This could be my only chance.

  Sloan cracks a small smile. “Mr. King, you’re now partially in control of the digital division of the European accounts. It’s a large venture, but I believe you and Alyssa will do a superb job planning and executing greatness. There’ll be countless hours of digital marketing, branding, online meetings, and making sure our clients know why we’re one of the world’s best marketing agencies. You’ll have a team to work with, but that’ll come later. The two of you need a solid plan. I’d like a report by the end of the week. I’ll have the director of digital marketing send you a list of our current clients so you two can start compiling our award-winning strategy right away.”

  “Thank you for the opportunity, sir. I won’t let you down.” Standing, I hold out my hand, and he gives me a firm handshake in return. It’s a promise I intend to keep but thinking about the amount of work I’ll be doing alone doesn’t please me. I foresee sixty-hour weeks for an indefinite time period. Considering Alyssa's involved and my name is all over it, failing isn’t an option.

  “I’ve already let Mr. James know that you’ll be taking on the project and to redistribute your other work,” Sloan says as I’m walking out the door.

  Moments later, Alyssa is running down the hallway toward me, but I keep walking.

  “Now we can officially spend more time together,” she says, way too excited about the project. I knew it. I refuse to do all the work while she sits around in her designer clothes that Daddy bought and looks pretty. This is a co-project but one that needs two people actually working. I continue to the elevator as she speaks. Doing this to spend time with me is pathetic and I already don’t like it. But I’ll swallow my distaste and work with her.

  She grabs my arm and I pull it from her. “Alyssa,” I say calmly.

  She’s looking me up and down like she would jump my bones in the elevator if I let her. I’m not playing hard to get, but for some reason, I think she believes I am. Instead of starting off on the wrong foot, considering I’ll be partnering with her, I just exhale slowly and regain my thoughts while giving her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she really believes I’ll be an asset to the project, but I’ll never know the truth. It bothers me more than it should. “Thanks for referring me. I really appreciate it.”

  She lifts her eyebrows and traces her bottom lip with her tongue. “You’re welcome, babe.”

  Once the elevator doors close, she brushes her fake tits against my chest and stands on her tiptoes to steal a kiss. My dick instantly reacts, but we can’t do this. Not here, not in the elevator that’s eventually going to stop and open on our floor. With this project, the dynamic of our relationship has to change regardless of the attention she’s starving for. Work must come first. I’ll have to push her away slowly as we move forward with our project.

  I put my hand on her hip and whisper in her ear, trying to hold her off. “Later.”

  The elevator stops, and she takes a step away from me. “Promise?”

  I give her a quick nod that’s full of lies as I walk past her and go straight to my office and close the door. I pinch the bridge of my nose and realize my life is spinning out of control. The very foundation I’ve built is slowly crumbling underneath my feet. The everyday structure I worked so hard to create has vanished because of this one project. While having an opportunity such as this should be a dream come true, the circumstance is a nightmare.

  What Alyssa and I have isn’t just a side hookup, at least not for her.

  Today, that’s been confirmed.

  I’ve never regretted sex until now.

  Last night with her was a huge mistake.

  I wake up in my bra and panties to an awkwardly quiet house. Warm sunshine splashes across the hardwood floor of Drew’s room and I walk to the window and open the blinds to let the sunlight in. I walk through the house trying to decide how I’m going to spend my quiet day. I peek out the window and see Travis’ car is gone and release a deep sigh. Thank God. I have hours before he comes home.

  I crawl back into bed and decide to finally read the text Drew sent me last night.

  Drew: Stay away from my friends.

  Ha. I love Drew, and I know he has my best interest in mind, but he has to realize we aren’t kids anymore. He doesn’t have control over his friends or me. I smile and send him a text back.

  Viola: There’s nothing to worry about. It was just dinner. How’s Mia?

  I only ask to get the attention off me and onto him and Mia instead. I don’t actually care much about how she is, only that she’s treating my brother well.

  Drew: Oh, hey, she’s alive after all. Wow. Good job. You officially pissed me off yesterday. She’s fine. She asked about you and what you were doing this weekend.

  I smile at the first part of his message. I don’t really know Mia on a personal level, but I do often wonder what Drew sees in her. She’s what I’d considered a spoiled trust-fund baby and a complete opposite of who I imagined Drew settling down with, but he talks highly of her, so I try not to judge.

  Viola: Why? What’s up?

  Drew: We’re leaving Friday afternoon to head up to Mia’s family cabin on the lake, and we want you to meet us. There’s plenty of room. But I told her you’d be too busy memorizing spells and potions.

  I laugh, hearing his voice in my head at another one of his lame cracks about my love for Har
ry Potter.

  Viola: Oh, he’s got jokes.

  Drew: Just messing with you, baby sis :)

  I roll my eyes and give in.

  Viola: Fine, count me in. I’ll head up early Saturday morning.

  Drew: Travis is coming up too, so just carpool with him. That’s if you don’t kill him before then.

  My heart races when I think about the water dripping off his body. Closing my eyes, I’m transported to a fantasy of his lips running across my skin, and I sit straight up, then stand to stop the thoughts.

  Viola: Whatever, Drew.

  Drew: Well, good, I was going to anyway. Is everything going okay? Travis’s chicks been keeping you company?

  I know he’s smiling.

  Thank God he hasn’t brought too many of them home. I had watched it more times than I wanted over the years, and once I was able to avoid it, I did at all costs. Now that the ghost of his touch haunts my lips, I’m not sure I could physically handle it. I swallow hard and know Drew’s waiting for a response, so I grab my phone. Sometimes I wish I could just say what I feel, but that time is not now.

  Viola: It’s fine.

  I type back, before sending another.

  Viola: Something like that.

  Drew: Good. Warning, though. Mia’s been a little hormonal.