Page 36 of For Love & Torture
Chapter 17
Grant
With the night over and the club closing, I take Isabel out of the building and find myself telling her, “Leave your car here. I want you to ride with me.”
“Okay,” comes her quick response. The woman never tells me no.
She really should tell me no more often.
It’s not that I think she’s weak, because I definitely do not think that. And it’s not that I don’t respect her, because I do respect the shit out of the woman. It’s just because she’s wasting her time with me.
But the truth is I can’t stand to see her with anyone else. I know that’s not fair to her. I know that makes me an ass. I’ve accepted the fact that I am one.
Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I tuck her into my side to shield her from the chilly wind. “The only reason I want to take you home is because I’m kind of worried that man might be stalking you. I know you live in a safe home with security covering it, but I just feel uneasy. You can stay with me tonight. And however long I feel it might be necessary. At least until we get his criminal background check back. And that usually takes about a week.”
She places her hand on my chest as she stops me. “You really want me to stay a whole week with you, Grant? It’s been a year since you and I have stayed together. Or had sex. You sure about this?” Her eyes stare a hole in mine.
My cock and I are well aware of the time that’s passed since I’ve been deep inside of her, penetrating her the way I love. And I’m not sure about this at all. But I am sure about the fact that guy is creeping me out. Keeping her moving, I start walking again. “Don’t look at me like that. I care about your safety. You know that. And that guy gave me chills. The way he looked at you when you weren’t looking wasn’t pleasant to witness. He had a hunger in his dark, sinister eyes. A hunger for you and only you. There were plenty of gorgeous women all around him, yet he only looked at you that way. I don’t like it.” The more I think about it, the more uneasy I am about him joining our club in general. It is supposed to be a safe space, after all.
“I didn’t notice that at all.” Her body shivers. “But I do think you’re overreacting a bit. I’ll stay with you tonight but not any more than that. I’m a big girl and can take care of myself. It was you who took me to the shooting range and taught me how to shoot to kill, if you’ll recall.”
The girl picks now to tell me no? What the hell?
Opening the passenger door of my Maserati, I help her get into the car. As I walk around to get into the driver’s side, I get the feeling I’m being watched. Taking a moment to actually look around, I don’t see anything but then nearly jump out of my skin as a flock of blackbirds suddenly takes flight.
“Fuck!” I slide into my car. “Please call someone tomorrow about removing the damn bird nests from the parking garage, Bell.”
She laughs a bit as she takes out her cell and jots that down in her notes. “Sure thing, boss.”
Peeling out of the two-story structure, I head for home. “You hungry?”
“You know me, Grant. I can always eat.” She puts her cell away and smiles at me, then pats her flat belly. “Even though I could probably afford to skip a meal or two now and then.”
“You’ve got nothing to worry about in that department, Bell. You know that. So, do you want a burger or a real meal at one of the all-night cafés?” I wait for her to answer just as more damn birds fly right in front of my windshield. “What the hell is it with the damn birds tonight? If one of those bastards flies into my windshield and breaks it, I’m going to be so pissed.”
“It is odd, isn’t it?” she asks as she looks out the window. “Maybe we have a front about to blow in, and that’s why they’re moving around when they’re usually asleep.”
Pulling into the parking lot of an all-night café, I make the decision for the both of us, as she never did tell me what she wants. Getting out of the car, I meet her in front of it and head inside. “If you want a burger, they have those too. I want a steak. A nice, fat, juicy one.”
Taking a seat at a booth by the window, Bell looks out of it and sighs. “We live like vampires. Do you realize that? I’ve never been so pale in my entire life. I never get out into the sun except for a couple of hours just before night falls.” Her dark eyes meet mine. “I think I need a vacation, Grant. About a week, or maybe even two. I want to go to a tropical island and lay out in the sun all day.”
Only now do I notice she is a bit pale. “I’ll arrange that for you. An all-expenses-paid vacation. Where to?”
“Tahiti? Aruba? Maldives? You name it, I want to go to it. And it would be nice if you joined me.” She holds my gaze.
“Me, having a carefree time on a tropical island,” I chuckle at her suggestion. “Does that sound like a thing I’d be doing?” The waitress places two menus on the table, drawing my attention. “How about a couple of coffees to start with?”
“Sure thing. I’ll be right back.” She hurries away to fetch our beverages.
Opening the menu, Bell looks it over. “No, you on a tropical island does not sound like a thing you’d be doing. However, it does sound like a thing you should be doing every once in a while. You work your ass off between the club and your position at Global Cellular. You need to take a vacation. And who better to do that with than me?”
She’s right, there would be no one more perfect to do that with than her. And why shouldn’t I take a couple of weeks for myself? I’ve worked damn hard at that club, on top of my normal workload as the CEO of Global Cellular.
“I’m getting the steak and a salad. How about you?” I try to get the thought of taking a romantic vacation with Bell out of my mind.
“I think I’ll have this Caribbean chicken with pineapple glaze. A tiny taste of the tropics. It’s most likely as close as I’ll ever come to being there.” She puts the menu down, and I see how tired she looks.
“I’ll pay for two tickets. Take a friend or a relative. Go, Bell. Don’t let my not going stop you.” I hand the waitress, who’s returned, our menus. “A steak and salad for me, rare, and ranch dressing on the salad. My friend here will take a Caribbean chicken with the pineapple glaze. And bring us a couple of waters with the meals, please.”
