Break My Fall(60)

“Why are you? You could have spoken to me anytime in that last month, but you didn’t, you ignored me. Now I’ve told you to leave me alone, so please go right ahead.” I knew I sounded like a bitch, but I was furious.

“You’re fucking impossible, you know that Lee? I don’t know why I bother.”

Ouch, that stung. “Yeah, I ask myself the same question about you Kyle,” I shouted, pressing my fingers to my temple.

“Fuck,” he roared, kicking the ground. People were gathering close by; we were causing a scene.

“Are you all right there Lee?” Mike’s voice broke through the tension and I was never so happy to see him in my life.

“She’s fine,” Kyle growled. “This is a private conversation asshole.”

Kyle stepped in front of me as Mike approached. “It doesn’t look all that private to me, boss.” Mike said stepping closer to us. I could hear the derisive way he said the word boss. Tension was emanating from both men and my nerves were in bits.

“Actually I’m not feeling well. Mike, could you give me a ride home?” I edged away from Kyle, but he grabbed my arm again.

Leaning down to me, he growled, “Don’t go ANYWHERE with him.”

I had enough of him and his macho crap. “Take your hands off me Kyle. You promised.”

Kyle released me as if I had burned him.

I straightened my spine and walked over to Mike, taking his outstretched hand gladly. I was going to go apartment first thing tomorrow. No room was worth this continuous heartache.





Lee





“Do you want to talk about it?” Those were the first words Mike had said as he pulled his car up in front of my house, Kyle’s house. I’d had to wait at the hotel for a couple of hours for Mike to finish his shift and I was grateful for the delay. I did not want to go home tonight.

Several cars filled the driveway and the sidewalk. Great, another damn party was all I needed. I unhooked my seat belt and turned to face Mike.

He really was quite attractive. He had a healthy look about him; broad and strong and he had normal seat belts in his car. He was real nice to me and I felt incredibly awkward right now. It was not fair to cause trouble for him.

I took a steadying breath. “I’m sorry about Kyle, it won’t happen again. I’m sorry that I dragged you into my personal life.” I was so embarrassed, my nerves were frazzled. I felt like I had walked into the twilight zone when I saw Kyle outside the hotel earlier. I could not keep up with him and his mixed signals.

If he wanted to speak to me, he could have any time in the past three and a half weeks. He chose not to though and I was not going to be a pushover for him anymore. I was not going to fall into his lap again, or his bed. His ignorance had hardened me. I was beginning to feel like Kyle hated me and wanted me all in the same breath.

“I don’t mind being dragged in Lee. I’m concerned about you.” He looked at me with a sympathetic expression; his brown eyes warm. It made a change for a man to look at me with kindness rather than disgust and anger.

“I’m fine Mike,” I muttered, fighting back to tears that threatened to fall.

Do not cry.

Do not cry.

Mike laid a hand gently on mine. I flinched, but forced myself to leave it there. “You’re not fine Lee. I know Kyle Carter better than you do. I get that he’s our boss, but the guy is bad news. He ruins women and doesn’t give a shit while he’s doing it. If you knew the half of what he’s done…” Mike stopped and sighed. “It looks like he has a party going on in there. Do you want to stay at my place for tonight, get a little distance from him?” Seeing my horrified expression, he smiled. “On the couch of course.”

I wished I had somewhere else to go. I did not want to go inside and face Kyle, Cam, or that bitch Rachel. I knew she would be inside. She never missed a party at our house. And If Mike was able to put two and two together; it wouldn’t be long until everyone at work realized I had slept with the boss.

I wanted to run.

I could not stay with Mike. I did not want to blur any lines and I wouldn’t feel safe. “No, no I’ll be fine Mike I swear,” I said, opening the car and stepping out.

He was around to my door in a flash. “All right, let me walk you to your room at least. Otherwise, my conscience won’t let me sleep tonight.”

I examined his face; he seemed genuinely concerned about me. My heart swelled. “Okay” I whispered, “Thank you Mike."





Kyle





She brought him back with her. I could not believe it. Lee had brought that douchebag into my mother-fucking house. I saw her walk through the front door and go upstairs with him. Pure rage boiled through me and I wanted to throw her over my shoulders and take her away like a damn caveman.