Page 22 of Falling for the Enemy

I couldn’t believe it and my tone suggested as much. “What are you doing?!”

“I was just making sure you are alright.”

It was literally the exact same thing that Robert had told me, his reasoning for bursting into my new place. He thought he had the right to, and I didn't know why, but Frank saying the exact same thing really got to me. Who did these guys think they were? I didn't need anybody to take care of me. I was out on my own for the first time maybe in my whole life, but that did not mean that I needed men to keep tabs on me and keep me ‘safe.’ I think it was just an excuse for them to act in a way that was not okay.

“I don't know what guys like you and Robert have in your head that tells you it's okay to follow me round, but you have no right. He has no right.”

“You just bailed him out of jail.”

“Yeah, and he's getting on a plane and getting out of here and out of my life. I would have told you about it if you would have asked, but instead you sneak around and what, try to catch me doing something?”

The more I talked, the more upset I got, and his excuses were just lame. It upset me even more that he couldn't even admit what he was doing. It was bad enough that he was acting like I was his property. It was insult to injury that he couldn't even admit it. I didn't know why I was so worked up, but I was.

“Just stay away from me, Frank, I mean it. I don't need anybody checking up on me. I'm a grown-ass woman. I will be fine without either one of you.” My rage was at a crescendo.

I didn’t ask who was in the car with him. I didn’t care. It had all come out in a flurry and that flurry was gone and I was second-guessing everything. It wasn't two incredibly horrible what he had done after all, but I was still mad. I knew that I was overreacting, maybe, but it still felt like a violation of my trust and privacy.

The sad thing was that I had come to Ohio not only to meet the requirements of the will so that I could sell the house and start a business, but also to get away from men and all of the drama that came with them. In that aspect, I was failing miserably.

All of the reasons why I had told myself that I didn't need to get involved with Frank were still very much valid. I pulled into the driveway, knowing that soon Frank would be pulling up right next to me. It was going to be really hard to keep my distance from him, knowing what he was capable of and knowing that he was right next door. I had to be strong now. I wanted things to work out, but I knew that it was best to part ways.

I deserved better than to be followed around. Even though Frank was a man with an Adonis body and a skilled tongue, he had ruined my trust and it was going to take some time for me to sift through all the feelings and unpack it all. I needed space, which was going to be hard to accomplish at the moment. I never should have made love to the guy next door. I couldn’t unfeel what he'd done to my body. He had changed me.

20

Frank

Afew evenings later when it was time to go back to work, I wasn't sure if I should go get Amber or not. A lot had happened between us, some good some bad. I didn’t know what I could have done differently, and I think that was what bothered me most. It wasn’t like there was some clear answer. I had done the best I could and now it was clearly not enough.

Was she going to go to work? I knew that it wasn’t her speed, but I didn’t even know if she was still there. I had gone home and passed out because I hadn’t had sleep in a long time. It was a hell of a day. Now though, I wished I had been more aware of what was going on. I didn’t want to wonder, I needed to know. It was clear by the way she answered the door though. She was going to work and asked me if I needed a ride.

I didn’t know how to respond because she wasn’t quite looking me in the eyes. I hadn’t secured another vehicle, so I did need one, and there was no one else that I would rather ride with than her. She was the woman who was going to change everything. I didn’t want to lose her right after I got her. My mind went to Robert, and I knew that I didn’t want to be him. He’d been desperate.

“Yes, thank you.”

Amber got in, didn’t say anything else, and I was ready to burst with questions. I wanted to know what happened with her ex. I wanted to know if she was still mad at me and if she was, I wanted to know why. I still hadn’t figured that one out.

The ride in was slow and Amber played music that wasn’t loud enough to hurt my ears, but definitely loud enough to make it clear that she didn’t want to talk. I started to say something, but I stopped. I should stop trying to push it, even though it would have been much easier to snatch her into my arms and make her mine. I knew all of her weaknesses, and it wouldn’t have been hard at all to use them against her.

She pulled up to the factory and didn’t say a word to me until we were out of the car. “Have a good day, Frank.”

That was it. She walked away and so help me, I was dying inside from the wonder that she left. I didn’t even offer her the same curtesy. I was so lost. I didn’t know what I was going to have to do to make it up to her, but I would. I walked in a minute or two after her and it was then that I noticed how many eyes were on Amber as she walked through the place. She was like a diamond in there and now she was glowing. I liked to think that it was because of us being together that made her that way, but I didn’t want other men sniffing around because of it.

I’d never felt as jealous as I did with Amber. Worst part was that she wasn’t even trying. It was not like she dressed to allure men or that she put herself out there or anything. It was just the natural draw that Amber had, and I saw. Hell, I was a victim of it.

Ignoring the stares that were sent her way, I went upstairs to my office and again, wished I was down on the main floor. It was full of life down there, something to do, always moving. It was what I needed right now. I was so tired of paperwork and schedules. It was better pay by far, but I didn’t like the office. It made me feel claustrophobic.

When I realized that several people didn’t show up for their shift, I made it a point to leave one position next to Amber open. I wanted her to see me and remember the night we’d had before. I needed her to remember that, not me punching out her ex-husband and following her to the cop shop. She was going to have to see me and not the guy that I had been showing off to her. She didn’t like the aggressive guy, ready to fight for her. I didn’t have to be that guy.

I expected her to have a reaction when I came back downstairs. The whole line was waiting on me and she questioned me with her eyes but not her words. I mentioned to the crew that a few people were no-call, no-show and it was understood. It didn’t matter how good I did with the hiring and schedules. There were still a couple of days a week where we were scrambling to fill spots. Amber may not have understood it though. There was a slight accusation in her face. She didn’t believe my reasons. Like ever since I first met her, Amber saw right through my ploy.

“So, you are working down here tonight?” Amber asked dubiously. The others were at their station, Amber was close, and I could smell her perfume. I was reminded how badly I had wanted to finish, how I regretted ever going to the door at all. I wasn’t able to finish and now I was hard, just getting a whiff of Amber. It was sad, really it was.

I was the one who took a step back and not because I thought the others would think something was up with us. This wasn’t corporate America, but it was still frowned upon for a boss to be with an employee. I wanted to do it again, but damn if I didn’t get away from her, I was going to want to do it right then and there on the floor.

Noticing that people were watching, I told her that it was just for tonight.

“If it is going to bother you, Amber, you know that I will find someone else. I didn’t think that it would,” I started. I didn’t want to go further. I wanted her to tell me that it was fine and I didn’t have to do that. I waited, and she finally said it, but damn if it didn’t seem begrudgingly.

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