Page 62 of Stunner (Whiskey Dolls 3)

I wasn’t sure how long we stood there making out, but my lips felt swollen and bruised by the time he broke the kiss, and I was clinging to him like a freaking monkey.

“Okay, sweetheart. Get going so you can be back by the time I get home.” He waggled his eyebrows. “We have plans for this afternoon.”

I skipped out of his—soon to beour—apartment, feeling like I was floating on a cloud of happiness. I started my car and pulled out of my designated spot in the alley right beside Owen’s kickass Blazer. I was on cloud nine and there was no way I was coming down.

I arrived at my apartment, winding my way through the boxes that already littered the space, and stopped in the middle of the living room to take a look around. This had been my home for several years, and while I was going to miss the place, I was excited to start the next chapter of my life.

With that thought at the forefront of my mind, I headed for my bedroom while I scrolled through the music on my phone, turning the volume up as loud as it could go. I sang and danced as I packed the last of my belongings into cardboard boxes, feeling like nothing in the world could bring me down. There had been no way of knowing how wrong I’d been.

“Well, looky here. I get my own personal show.”

I whipped around on a gasp to find Daniel standing in the doorway of my bedroom. “What the hell are you doing here? How’d you get in?”

All that charm and charisma he wore like a shield was gone, and I had the feeling I was seeing the real Daniel for the very first time; the menace and hate behind his eyes sent a frigid shiver of fear down my spine.

He smiled in a way that made my skin crawl as he stepped into my room. “I heard you talking to those other whores you work with. All this time you thought it was your ex breaking in here and fucking with your stuff.” He chuckled and shook his head.

“It was you?”

“Easy as pie to pick a standard deadbolt. You should have known better.”

I stepped back, moving toward the bedside table where my phone rested. “But... I don’t understand. Why?”

“At first it was just because I wanted to be close to you. I took a few souvenirs here and there, went through your things.” He arched a brow. “Gotta say, you’ve got one spicy panty collection. You model that slutty shit for the new man you’re fucking?”

I inched closer to my phone, desperate to call for help. “Daniel—”

He talked over me like I hadn’t said a word. “Then it was because I wanted to see how long I could get away with it.” His face went dark. “It was the very least you owed me. I waited my turn while you were with that limp-dick country-club fucker. I knew it wasn’t gonna work out between you, but that was okay. I could be patient. Then you two broke up and what did you do? You turned right around and spread your whore legs for hisbest friend!” he boomed, making me jump. “It was supposed to be my turn!”

“Daniel, listen—”

“No,” he seethed, slithering closer and closer. “Now I’m gonna get what you owe me, bitch. Even if I have to take it from you, kicking and screaming.”

My phone started to ring, and I whipped around, lunging for it. Before I could grab it, he had me by the hair, yanking so hard my head snapped back and I screamed out in pain.

Owen

I kept a calm, soothing smile pinned to my face as I stood at the counter while Mrs. Fletcher kept my hand in a death grip. “Oh, thank you so much, Doctor. I can’t tell you what it means that you’d take the time to put an old woman’s mind to rest. Iwas so worried about poor Sprinkles. He just didn’t seem like himself.

I gave her boney fingers a reassuring squeeze. “It’s no problem at all, Mrs. Fletcher. I’m happy to help. If you feel Sprinkles isn’t himself, don’t hesitate to bring him to see me. That’s what I’m here for.”

She gave my hand a gentle pat before gathering her cat and heading out the door. With Mrs. Fletcher placated for another week, my shift was officially over. I bid my employees a great day and headed for my office to get Gus and Triumph, who’d come down to the clinic with me this morning for a bit of socialization.

“Come on, boys.” I gave my thigh a pat and they burst from their dog bed at full speed, their tails wagging in a blur.

I took the interior stairs at the back of the building up to the apartment and unlocked the door.

“Asher?” I called as I dropped my keys on the table just inside the front door. “Baby, you here?”

Nothing.

I pulled my cell from the pocket of my scrubs and tapped on her number. I held it to my ear, listening as it rang and rang until her voicemail finally clicked on.

I looked to the dogs. Triumph’s ears quirked up in question, as though he was asking me, are we just going to stand here, or are you going to get my mom?

“I guess we can swing by to get her, then head over to the dog park for a little while.” It would delay our afternoon fuck-a-thon, but that was okay. After all, we had the rest of our lives. “What do you guys say? Feel like going for a ride?” I asked, and was met with enthusiast barks so loud they made my ears ring.

“All right, all right. Just relax. I’ll get the leashes.”

---