Break My Fall(13)

“You should have warned me he owned this place Cam,” I said.

Cam threw her hands up. “Kyle’s private about things. He doesn’t like people knowing how much he has.”

I sighed deeply. “You still should have told me.”





Kyle





This was going to be harder than I thought.

I avoided coming home for three days after Cam warned me off. I thought three days would be more than enough time to forget about her. It never took me longer than a couple of hours to forget about girls, usually less. I had a business trip in Kansas, but by ten, thirty last night I couldn’t stay in that hotel room another damn minute.

I was not a coward. I didn’t run from anything and one pint-sized girl wasn’t going to make me start. No woman, no matter sexy she was, or how good she tasted was going to chase me out of my own house.

I’d caught the next flight and jumped in a cold shower as soon as I got home. I needed to call a truce and put a stop to this intense thing we had going on. I’d heard her moving around when I was getting dressed, so I’d given it a few minutes before I followed her downstairs. And holy hell the look of her barefoot in my kitchen had made my chest ache. I don’t even remember half the bullshit that had come out of my mouth. My focus had been on Lee in that nightdress. I was actually proud of my self-control for not bending her over the table and taking her there and then. The look in her eyes assured me she would have let me, but damn she looked so young.

She’d said she was eighteen; I had four years on her. Too old, I was too goddamn old to contemplate it. I was going to have to make sure she stayed away from me. She was a fucking temptation and the girl made me weak. I didn’t do weakness.

My phone buzzed on my desk, alerting me to an incoming call from Rachel. “Hey.” I said flatly.

“I need three hundred.”

Christ, that girl went through money like it was going out of fashion. “I’ll have it transferred into your account by lunchtime.” I hoped that that was all she wanted. I needed a Rachel free day.

“No need, I’m in the lobby. You can give it to me now.”

Fuck my life. “I’m on my way.”

I hung up and walked over to the bar in the corner of my office. Times like these were the reason Jack and I were such good pals. I poured myself a large glass of whiskey and chugged it back, before pouring another. If I needed a reminder of how devious women really were, then I need look no farther than the redhead waiting on me. It would serve me well to remember that. Women were only after one thing and it sure as hell wasn’t love.





Lee





I loved pizza. It was amazing. I tucked into my third slice of margarita as I listened to Derek and Cam chattering. Derek had looked at me like I was crazy when I told him it was my first time having pizza. Cam had changed the subject knowingly. They actually were quite comical together. I guessed Derek had more to do with it than Cam. He was a funny person.

“So how’s the job going Lee?”

I smiled at his question. “It’s going great. I really like it.”

Derek nodded and took another sip of his beer. “Where’d you say it was again?”

I swallowed the piece of cheesy crust before answering, “The Henderson Hotel, just off 11th street, do you know the place?” Derek's eyes bulged and Cam nudged him in the ribs. “What?” I asked warily.

“Nothing, nothing,” Derek said a little too eagerly for my liking. “I’m just surprised you’re working there. I heard the owner has some issues with hiring young girls.” He directed the last bit towards Cam, who was shooting dagger-eyed glares at him.

“Okay, what’s going on guys?” I asked. They were freaking me out. First Linda, now Cam and Derek… Was there something weird about the owner?

“Nothing at all babe,” Cam said smiling. “Derek here just doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. Do you Derek?” He smiled bashfully at Cam.

“Keep his mouth shut about what?” Neither one answered and I got the feeling I was missing something.





Chapter Four





Kyle





“Do you want to do something today? I heard there’s a good band playing in The Avenue?”

I shook my head as I zipped up my pants. I had a killer headache and that skin crawling morning after itch to get her out of my house. “I can’t Candice. I have plans.” I picked her dress up off the floor and tossed it to her.

She pouted and sat up on my bed, twisting her black hair around her fingers. “I’m Gemma,” she snapped.

“Good for you.” How the fuck was I supposed to remember her name? I’d been wasted last night and she had been more interested in sucking my dick than having a conversation, which was fine by me. She was willing and I needed a release. That might make me an asshole, but it was either I fuck her or burst into the room next to mine and take my frustrations out on the tiny brunette who put them there.