Page 40 of Purrfectly Trapped

“Please,shona. Let me explain. Your my mate. That bite I gave you is important, I got so excited when you said yes, and my beast---”

“I think you’ve said enough. I want you to leave my apartment. Now.”

“Gretchen, I am not lying to you---”

“No, you’re making fun of me, and that is unacceptable.”

“What? I am not. Please, just let me show you---”

“Reg, leave before I call the cops.”

“Fuck. I’m sorry, I did this wrong, Gretchen, but---”

She had already pushed him out, walking him backwards to the door. Gretchen slammed it and threw the locks. Angry at herself and ignoring his knocks.

“I’ll go because you want me to, but we are not finished,shona,” he said through the closed door, but she was already walking away.

Emptiness threatened to consume her as she washed away the evidence of the night’s activities from her skin. Tears streamed down her face as she ripped the still warm sheets from her bed and tossed everything into the washing machine. She wanted no reminders of her stupidity.

Gretchen had heard some strange things before, but never had she had to deal with anything like this. The man was a lunatic. Or he was mean, picking up on her love of supernatural romance novels to poke fun of her.

Or even worse, he was both. Crazy and mean. She wouldn’t tell Elissa. One, because she didn’t want to upset her pregnant friend. And two, she did not want to get him fired.

Whatever his delusion, he wasn’t a bad guy. Just crazy.

Gretchen would do well enough to just forget about Reginald Cray. At least that’s what she told herself while she tossed and turned that night.

Focus on Cut It Out, and cut all the bullshit out of your life, literally.

You can do it.

ChapterThirteen

Gretchen heaved a sigh as she swept up hair and dirt from the day off the tiled floor ofCut It Out. The last few days had been rough on her, physically and emotionally. Who knew running a business could be so taxing?

Oh hell.

Who was she kidding? That wasn’t the cause of all her worries, and she knew it. She was missing Reg something fierce. Odd, considering their whole relationship, if she could even call it that, had lasted just one day.

She’d just never been so thoroughly and completely captivated by a man. He was on her mind every second of the day. His smile, his laugh, his sexy as fuck body.

But even when she forced herself to stop thinking about him, there was another horrifying fact. Gretchen had felt physically sick ever since he left that night.

Not just her heart, which felt as if she’d split it in two, but everything else. Even her hair hurt.

She had the worst stomach cramps ever. Maybe it was something she ate? Her period wasn’t do for another few days, and she doubted her one-night stand with Mr. Sexy-Crazy-Pants had made her pregnant. A home test confirmed she was not knocked-up. Thank goodness. But for some reason, the thought made her sad.

OMFG. Now, you sound crazy, she thought to herself.

“Okay, boss lady. I am done! You have a good one,chica,” Marion called out.

He interrupted her train of thought and waved as he took off for the evening. He’d followed Bonnie by just minutes, and now, she was truly alone in the salon.

Gretchen smiled and waved goodbye. She was so happy she had found the two of them. They were hard workers, friendly and easygoing too, which was a huge plus in her world.

The other new girl, April, was a bit quiet, but she did good work. After supervising her for her first few cuts, Gretchen approved and offered her a position. The young woman immediately accepted. It was another win-win. Unfortunately, Gretchen didn’t feel like she’d won anything.

It had been three days since she’d last seen Reg. Three days since he’d wined, dined, then proceeded to fuck her stupid. She’d been uncertain, and a little worried about what would happen afterwards. She’d always hated awkward mornings after, but they didn’t even get that far.

---