Page 42 of Takeover

As soon as he starts to leave, I close the door and turn to Tara.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Did you seriously just threaten my neighbor?” Her eyes widen, and her mouth opens like a fish. She kicks off her shoes and takes a menacing step towards me and punches me in the chest with one of her tiny hands.

I can’t help the laugh that escapes. “Did you hurt your hand?” I ask. I grab her by the wrist and examine the hand. Once I determine it’s okay, I drop it. She puts both hands on my chest and tries to push me away.

“Get out of here before I throwyouover the balcony.” She reaches inside her purse and pulls out her phone. I snatch it from her hand and throw it on the couch. Before she knows what’s happening, I snake an arm around her waist, lift her off the ground and walk us back to her bedroom. I slam and lock the door before I toss her on the bed.

“Who the hell do you think you are to come here and manhandle me?”

“I told you we need to talk, so that’s what we’re going to do.”

“There is nothing you have to say that interests me,” she all but growls.

“I can see how my actions might have hurt your feelings,” I begin.

“Hurt my feelings? You don’t have the power to hurt my feelings.”

“But she is my son’s mother,” I continue, despite her hostility. I raise both hands in a calming gesture. “And, yes, she’s a shitty mother, but Vincent still loves her. So, when she called and said she had been in an accident, I did go to help her, but I did it for my son.”

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I’d punch him again, but my hand still throbs from punching the wall of muscle he calls a chest. He crosses his arms and leans against my bedroom door. I want nothing but to hit and kick him, but I know I would only tire myself out.

“I don’t know why you’re telling me this.” I turn my back to him and refuse to look at him for another second. “I already know this story, remember? My parents are divorced, and my dad is remarried. You know who has never moved on? My mother, which is ironic since she’s the one who wanted out of the marriage. She’s always lurking around in the background somehow. You think Lindsay is the first ex-wife to call her ex-husband because she needs help? Nope. And that is why I don’t date men in your situation.”

He runs a hand through his hair, and for the first time tonight, the arrogance is gone.

“What situation? Divorced men?”

“Men with kids. I saw my father juggle it all, and I didn’t realize it when I was a kid, but my mom was a thorn in the evil one’s side. She’s an evil saint to deal with that. I’m not. I’m selfish.”

“Well then, what do you suggest we do about it?” he asks.

“Do what we agreed to. It was just one weekend.”

“Mmhmm,” he says. He finally steps away from the door, removes a pile of clothes from my bed, and sits. He pats the space next to him, and I sit but make sure our bodies don’t touch.

“We could do that, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since I dropped you off two weeks ago.” I snort and roll my eyes, but he grabs my chin and forces me to look at him. “It’s true. I barely got any work done, and I was an asshole to Hunter for the past two weeks. I fired him about a dozen times. And that’s all because of you.”

“Excuse me? You’ve been an asshole because ofyou.”

He inches closer and throws an arm across my shoulder. “You know how awful you are. I was so happy to get rid of you, but you’re like some sort of cold I can’t shake. I don’t want your awfulness to affect anyone else, so I have no choice but to keep you for myself.” He pulls me closer, and like a reflex, I lay my head on his chest.

“Honestly, Ethan, I’m not going to be in a relationship where I play second fiddle to your ex-wife. Or heaven forbid, feel like I’m sharing you with her. I told you, I’m selfish.”

“Explain what that means to me because the girl I spent the weekend with is as far from selfish as they come.”

“If I’m with someone, I have to be the only woman in his life. That’s it. This is why I’ve avoided men in your situation.”

“I’m hardly an anomaly, Tara. You make it sound like I’m some sort of convicted felon. She’s my son’s mother. That’s it. I’m a one woman man, so you don’t have to share me with anyone. Whatever interaction I have with her is because of Vincent. I can’t avoid her.”

“Who said anything about you avoiding anybody? I’m asking that you don’t fuck me, and then run off to save the day without a word.”

He takes both of my hands in his and squeezes them. “I’m sorry for that. That’s something that will never happen again.” He lifts both of my hands to his lips and kisses them before looking me in the eyes again.

“And I told you, I’m looking for the other half of a power couple, and you’re not it.”

“Oh, really? Do you want me to recite how powerful I am again? Google me right now. You’ll see.”

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