Startled, I looked up.
Dressed in fancy clothing, there was an older, grey-haired man standing at the edge of the stairs, staring at me.
I stared back at him, mouth wide, when I suddenly realized that I was naked. I quickly snatched the covers and held them to my breasts.
“Who are you?” I demanded, frightened.
“Jonathan, Mr. Locklin’s butler.” Jonathan nodded his head back down the stairs. “I saw you two when you came in.”
My throat was suddenly dry. “Did you see us . . .” my words trailed off.
“Having sex?” Jonathan let out a chuckle. “Heavens, no. I’d never do that.”
I looked around, wondering why the hell Tyler’s butler was in his room staring at me. I decided that it didn't matter. It was probably time for me to get my shit and leave, but the problem was, my car was still at Roxy’s. Tyler drove us here.
“You’re wondering why I’m here,” he says at the confusion on my face.
Slowly, I nodded, watching him closely.
“I’m here to offer you a ride back home or to your car . . . whichever you may prefer.” He chuckled. “Tyler refers to the custom as the Drop Off.”
Anger swirled within me and I clutched the covers with fury. Tyler had sex with me and now was disposing of me like everyone else. I should've known better.
I knew I shouldn’t have come here! I raged at myself.
No matter how pissed I got at myself and Tyler, it was no less than I deserved. I mean, who goes on a date with someone who insults them on the very first day they meet, and then goes and has sex with them after?
A desperate one.
Or a really deprived girl, I thought to myself.
Ever since working for Christine, I never got to go out and enjoy anything for myself, nor had I had any real dates in ages. I suppose a momentary lapse of judgment could be excused if I hadn’t lain down with the womanizer from hell.
But the sex had been good—mind-blowingly good—and I had enjoyed every moment of it.
It was just sex, I told myself. Nothing more, nothing less. I need to walk out of here and forget about it and forget about him.
“You’re angry,” Jonathan noted, pulling me out of my reverie. “Don’t be.”
I knew I shouldn’t reveal my feelings to a stranger, but I couldn't help myself. “I just can’t believe how he can just . . .”
“Use you and then just leave?” Jonathan offered.
I nodded my head.
He walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. Normally I’d be jumping away, but he seemed sincere. “Honey, he does it to every girl that walks through that door.” Jonathan pauses as if debating on whether he should continue speaking. “But walking through that door and never coming back is the best thing that will ever happen to you.”
His words chilled me. “Why do you say that?”
He looked at me and I could see sadness in his eyes. “You look like a nice girl, nicer than the ones that usually come through here, and I’m sure you have a bright future ahead of you.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” I say firmly.
Jonathan stared at me and then let out a sigh. “Mr. Locklin has a past.”
My heart skipped a beat. “What kind of past?”
Jonathan took a long time to reply. “I don’t know if I should be saying this, but Tyler’s a scarred young man. Nothing a lot of men don’t go through at some point in their lives, but he took it hard, and because of this, he never stays with any woman for long. Most of them only get one night, two or three at most, but never much longer than that.”
Knowing that Tyler is a womanizer, I should have understood this. But then why am I getting so mad about it? It didn’t help matters that his butler was acting so mysteriously about him.
When I got right down to it, I didn't really know who Tyler Locklin was and had no business in his place.
“I think I’ve heard enough,” I said finally, looking around for my dress. “I’m ready to go now.”
Chapter 8
Tyler
I couldn't stop thinking about her. It wasn’t like me at all, my thoughts being consumed by a woman after a night with one. I don’t know what it was about Victoria, but she put a spell on me and it frustrated the hell out of me.
For the longest time, I'd been able to sleep with girls and leave them without a second thought. Now, it was hard to get through the day without thinking about her—her smile, her curvy figure, and most of all, her headstrong personality. Not only that, but hearing her story about her being estranged from both parents and struggling to make ends’ meet while working for a bitchy egomaniac made me feel for her. She made me want to be a better person, a better man. To provide for her.