Page 25 of Another Round
He’s perfect for her.
He’s going to die.
I hurl the computer across the room. Shattering the laptop with his stupid face marring the screen. Black and gray plastic shards crunch under my shoes as I sprint from my apartment to hers. Ready to burst inside and drag his arse out.
I’ve lost it. I’ve really fucking lost it. But I don’t give a damn. Not anymore. Not when I realize I was so fucking wrong when I thought I had nothing left to lose.
The door’s already open and all four of them stare at me as they file out. The smiles sliding off their faces from my approach. From my threat. From my crazy. Fear, that I should never be the one to put on her stunning face, jerks Evie’s body and her sapphire eyes blow wide.
“What’s wrong? What’s going on?”
My gaze laser focuses on the idiot she was talking to. He widens his stance, his body stiffening from the tension in mine. As if he’s anticipating an attack. Preparing for a fight. Which I’m on the verge of doing if he doesn’t get the fuck out of here. “I need to talk to you. Alone.”
“Okay.”
Complete submission from my dominant tone that I should feel guilty about but don’t. I know it’s wrong to scare her, but I can’t stop myself.
“I’ll see you guys later.”
They murmur their good-byes, the girl thanking her for the long peach dress draped over her arm. Stupid motherfucker telling her he hopes everything is all right. Of course everything will be fucking perfect once he’s gone.
Only the clatter of their footsteps down the steps and the creak of the metal hinges sound in the quiet corridor. Once the heavy door clicks shut Evie’s on me.
“Is it Marta?”
“No, she’s fine.” I slide my hand on her back and guide her to my place. Knowing I can completely concentrate on her with all my safeguards in place. “Everyone’s fine. I swear.”
“Thank god.” The stress leaves her body under my fingers and she looks up at me. Frowning with the confusion I’ve generated. “Then what’s wrong?”
I lead her to the stool where I normally serve her dinner. She climbs up and slides her pert arse across the wood. Crossing her gorgeous legs out of habit. That tempt me more than ever knowing how close I came to having some other bastard touch them.
She takes in the mess on the floor behind me. Anxiety drawing down her face as she peruses the damage. “What happened?”
My palm cups her cheek to turn her back to face me. The only thing I give a damn about is settling things between us. Setting her straight about other men. Or the lack there of going forward. “I dropped it.”
“Andy?”
Now she knows I’m the one who’s lying. Silky hair brushing across my forearm as she tilts her head in worry and disbelief. Making the cords tighten from her concern over my stuff. Over my anger. Over me.
I place my fists on each side of the counter behind her. Locking her in place. Trapping her between my arms. Applying old interrogation methods she won’t be able to fight. “Who was that guy?”
She swallows and licks her lips. Responding to the demand pulsing in my tone.
“Josh. Lauren’s engaged to his older brother Logan.”
Tension surges between us from the proximity of our bodies. From her squirming in her seat. From her looking up at me with no way out from under my gaze. “Are you going to go out with him?”
Never fucking happening but I want to know what she intends. What she mistakenly believes I’m going to allow her to get away with.
“We just met.”
I don’t fall for her dismissive tone. As if the idea is preposterous. As if she’s never considered the possibility. As if I have nothing to be concerned about. “Are you going to go out with him?”
My voice is low, hard, almost unrecognizable even to myself with a possessiveness I’ve never heard. I’ve never experienced until now.
“Lauren is trying to fix us up. A double date. She thinks—”
“What do you think?”
