Page 126 of Into These Eyes
Leering at me, his whisky-soaked breath floods my senses with memories of my father trying to drown out what I now know was his guilty conscience.
“Get away from me, Simon,” I say firmly, shoving at his chest, wondering why the foyer’s empty. “Get out of my space.”
He moves even closer and trails a slimy finger down my arm. When I try to swat it away, he grabs my wrist in a painful grasp.
“Didn’t look like you minded yourclientin your space,” he snarls, trying to force a knee between my thighs. “Or is fuckin’ a convict what gets you off? You wanna bad boy, is that it? I’ll give you a bad boy, you frigid bit—”
His revolting breath and body suddenly vanish. I watch in horror as Gavin wrenches him away by his shirt collar and forces him toward the opposite wall. Flying toward them, terrified someone might enter the foyer and witness Gavin’s aggression, I grip his arm and take in the murderous look on his face.
“Gavin, don’t!” I beg, trying to keep my voice down. He shoves Simon so hard in the chest, he stumbles, careening toward the concrete wall behind him. At the last possible second, Gavin grabs Simon’s shirt before his face smashes against the unforgiving surface.
When I look into Gavin’s eyes, I don’t recognise the man I know. He’s gone. Replaced by the man who emanated the same rage at the mention of Jarrod Reid’s name, and I know without a doubt he could end Simon at any moment.
The sleaze wrenches free and grins. “Come on, convict. You gonna hit me for wantin’ to fuck that cock-tease? She worth goin’ back to prison?”
Gavin grabs him by the throat and hauls him away from the wall like he’s about to slam him against the concrete and crack his skull. Every hair on my body stands on end, my heart stuttering in fear.
“Gavin Lake, the man I hate …” I say firmly, not even knowing where that came from.
Like the flick of a switch, Gavin wrenches free of whatever hellhole he’d disappeared into. When his eyes snap to mine, I glare at him, shake my head and grip his forearm.
“I’ve got this,” I say, tightening my hold, our eyes locked.
Just like that, he releases Simon and takes a step away. Then another and another. Until there’s enough room for me tosqueeze in between them without occupying Simon’s personal space. I feel Gavin at my back, his heat radiating toward me, making me want to press up against that strong wall and forget all about the piece of shit before me. But I don’t. I need to stand on my own two feet. Gavin was right. I need to address what I should have over a year ago. I need to stop avoiding the problem and face it head-on.
“How many different ways have I politely told you I’m not interested? Yet you still act like you can take what you want, touch what isn’t yours. You have no clue what it means to be a man.”
Simon’s drunken glare sharpens. “You’re so fucked. You just don’t know it yet. And Dad’s gonna hear about you and this low-life scum, you fuckin’ slut. Say goodbye to your career.”
Before he shoves off the wall, I block his escape. Then I tap the small handbag at my hip. “I thought you might try something tonight, Simon So, whenever I’ve been alone, I’ve activated my phone’s voice recorder. Feel free to go ahead and squeal. Tell Daddy whatever you like.”
“That’s illegal. You can’t record—”
“Legal … illegal,” I shrug. “I’m not sure it’ll matter. Phones get hacked all the time, things get leaked on the net. Who do you think will come off worse? The woman who recorded the scum who’s been harassing her? Or the narcissistic prick who thinks he can take what he wants? I might lose my job, but your father’s firm won’t look too good if he keeps his slime-ball of a son employed.”
Stepping away, I give him my best smile. Rage flares in his eyes as they flick from me to Gavin, and for just a moment, I don’t think he’s going to back down. My heart thunders, knowing that if he continues to come after me, Gavin might very well end the night locked up.
“Fuck you,” Simon finally sneers, then slips past me and scurries toward the toilets.
“Merry Christmas,” I call after him.
He raises his hand and flips me off before disappearing into the men’s room.
Turning to face Gavin, I let out a shaky breath and press a trembling hand to my chest.
“Come on,” he takes my free hand, places it on the inside of his bicep and leads me outside. When we reach the kerb, he gazes down at me. “Well, you were fucking brilliant. That was some bluff. For a minute there, I’d forgotten you left your phone at home. The way that dickhead ran off to the loo … I think he might’ve shit himself.”
A laugh blasts from my throat, releasing the tension in my chest. I squeeze his bicep, brushing my thumb over the hard muscle. I want to lean into him, but stop myself, worried someone from work might see us.
Then it hits me.I don’t care.I don’t care if Simon tells his father or if someone else spots us. I don’t care about losing my job at all.
I lift my chin, and gaze at the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. His face tilts to the sky, his eyes closed as the wind riffles through his hair. As if sensing my stare, his eyes find mine.
“You look so peaceful,” I murmur.
“Just reminding myself to appreciate the small things. Standing out here in the breeze, at night … it’s not something you can do when you’re locked up.”
I tighten my grip around his arm, close my eyes and let the unnoticed wonders of the night wash over me. The warm breeze feathers my hair against my bare arms, sparking sensations the encounter with Simon had numbed.
