Escape from Obsession (The American Soldier Collection 1)

“Nice meeting you, too, Gia.”

She walked around the front of the car, and put on her sunglasses as Dale cranked the music up loud. She slowly pulled out of the parking lot and saw Dale waving at his friends trying to look cool, but Gia kept glancing at that very attractive, nice football coach who was still watching her car.

Damn there are some fine-looking cowboys in Houston.

Chapter 3

The weekend passed and Sammy and Kaleigh were mad at Gia for not joining them at Casper’s on Saturday night. After thinking about how Friday night went, she was feeling a bit freaked out about the whole encounter with Garrett and then how easily she found Dale’s football coach as attractive, too. She was wondering what the hell was going on with her? She couldn’t take the chance of opening up her heart or her emotions to a man. Every time she thought about the steps it took to start a relationship she feared the end result. The first glance, the interest, the first date, the other dates, the kissing, the touching and holding that would turn to wanting and needing more. That was when she thought about the pain.

All the nights she sustained verbal abuse from Antonio. He never left marks on her body, but he just manhandled her. He was trying to mold her into the woman he wanted her to be. She had so desperately wanted to be loved and cherished that soon she had painted an image in her head of what she wanted Antonio to be instead of who he really was. She hadn’t even had sex with him until they were dating for three months. Even when she finally gave in to taking their relationship to that next level, there was something deep inside telling her that it wasn’t right. She had felt stuck, but her mistakes were her own. Wanting, prioritizing the wrong things in life had been her downfall. She had eventually believed she loved him, but did love come with such heartache and fear? Did love have to be so difficult and such a struggle to work at? Why couldn’t it be like the love stories she read about in books or the stories she heard from friends who met their soul mates?

God, how lame is that? How stupid to think that someone who would care for her as a person, an individual, and as a woman really existed. She had learned the truth about men, about sex, and about exposing one’s soul to the devil just to feel alive, appreciated, and special.

The tears rolled down her cheeks as the feelings of failure and regret filled her soul. Bad things happen to people all the time. They survive, they move on, they forgive and forget. But somehow, despite her show of strength in front of Teddy, her dedication to the dojo and Sensei Lee, and her accomplishments at work with her career, she still felt that tug inside of her. The connection to Antonio and the fear that one day he would find her and demand her return, make her do as he had wanted, and make her succumb to his ultimate demand she couldn’t let herself be part of. That night he told her about his desire for her to sleep with Valdere had been a shock and a knife to her heart. It was an indication of his lack of respect for her as his lover, his girlfriend, and his so-called everything.

It was pure luck that those other men had showed up pissed off at some bad business deal. But they had come so close to having her and forcing her to have sex with them. Gia shivered as she lay in bed, cuddled in a blanket despite the eighty-degree weather outside. It was late and tomorrow would be a long day as she had promised Dale she would study with him one more time before the big test. Jim and Teddy weren’t aware of the conversation Gia’d had with Dale’s coach, but Deanna was.

That had made her chuckle. In a matter of minutes Deanna had Gia sharing her thoughts about how nice-looking the coach was. Deanna apparently was in the supermarket the following day and bumped into a gossiping mom who had seen Gia talking with the coach. He was a hot item in the area and many women were out to snag him. That was also when she found out that Wes was Garrett’s brother. She nearly had a heart attack as she collapsed in the chair. That was when she explained to Deanna what had happened on Friday night at Casper’s and how she hadn’t gone back and wasn’t certain she would.

Deanna had calmed her down and told her a little bit about the McCallister men, including the fact that they had an older brother, Gunner “Gunny” McCallister, who was a Texas Ranger and hung around Casper’s, too.

The whole idea that this could be more than coincidence was all Deanna kept talking about. Then she pushed for Gia to go back to Casper’s and told her that it was time to move on.

Easier said than done. How do I move on after something like this? How do I take a chance on trusting another man, allowing my emotions and physical attraction to lead me to potential disaster? How?

She closed her eyes and tried to rid her mind of making decisions she wasn’t ready to make. She was done dreaming, wishing, hoping on stars. It was getting late and she needed sleep. She didn’t have time or the desire to think about men and dating. As much as she would love to move on and possibly try at a relationship again, that panic and fear warned her to stick to her guns. Despite how good-looking both Garrett and his brother, Wes, appeared, she wasn’t ready. Never mind the idea of getting involved in a ménage relationship. That was ludicrous. She didn’t find it hard to accept that her cousin Teddy and his best friend shared Deanna. They were truly in love and those men would do anything for her. She watched in awe at the way they catered to her. It wasn’t overly done, but just little signs like a touch to the shoulder, a palm to her lower back, a kiss on top of her head as Deana held a sleeping Julia. They were all physical actions that showed the world or at least anyone who was paying attention that they adored their woman. Gia sighed. Feeling like that, or ever having such a close and loving relationship like that, seemed fantasy-like.

Garrett popped into her mind. Eyes closed, leaning back against the bed, she could see his image clear as day. Dark, mesmerizing eyes held hers as he crossed the room, the slight limp in his walk and knowing that he suffered an injury in the service adding to his sex appeal. It made him mysterious and tough. Muscles upon muscles, stone-like facial expression. He was a man in need. A man with an agenda. Just as he moved closer, and she was able to see those dimples in his cheeks and inhale the s

cent of his cologne, she felt the large, firm hands on her hips from behind her. Turning, there was Wes. Gia felt her breasts perk up, her nipples harden, and damn it, her pussy reacted, too. How the hell could her pussy react from a vision? She opened her eyes and took an unsteady breath.

“I’ve lost my mind,” she stated aloud as she adjusted her body into a lying-down position. She cuddled alone in bed as thoughts of having Wes or Garrett here, holding her, filled her mind. Damn it, Deanna. She recalled Deanna’s information on the way ménage relationships work and the thought mechanism behind it. To never be alone. To always be cared for and provided for. To be loved by multiple men and to give love in return. That was a fantasy all right. But one she couldn’t chance. Not after Antonio.

Remember the pain. Remember the fear at that moment when I stood between two powerful men who wanted nothing more but to own me. Never again.

* * * *

Gia had a long day at work. Just as she celebrated landing the big client for the advertising agency and a nice bonus, her boss Robert told her about another possible client in Dallas. They were having the first meeting here in the Houston offices on Friday and then if all went well a trip to Dallas may be in the near future. That made her nervous, even though Dallas wasn’t too far to travel. She found security in knowing that Teddy and Jim were in law enforcement and could protect her if she needed them. Not that she would place them in any danger, not with their growing family and all. It was just knowing that they were there and trained gave her peace of mind. Getting to her martial arts class in the morning was a priority.

Robert was so thrilled about her work and her ideas. It made her feel great, placed her in a positive mood, and succeeding in this position gave her an aura of sophistication and pride. This was more than she could have hoped for so quickly in her transition to creative design.

As she packed up her belongings and began to head out, Kaleigh called her.

“I’m stuck downstairs for at least another hour. Just head out without me. Sylvia is here, too.”

“Okay, I guess I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Only if you’re going to go to Casper’s with us on Saturday.”

“I’ll see. Bye.”

Gia hung up the phone and grabbed her things. She locked up the office and headed toward the elevator. Just as the doors began to close she heard someone yell to hold the door and then she saw the hands come between the doors and then Jeffrey, pushing his way inside.

“Damn, I thought I was going to miss it. Thanks,” he stated but sounded sarcastic.

She sensed his eyes on her and instantly she remembered Kaleigh’s warning about him. She kept her back toward the corner of the elevator.

“Congratulations on landing the Tyler account. That was impressive work. I loved your designs. They’re so different and classy,” he told her. She looked up at him. He was a tall man, about six feet, and well built. He was also pretty good-looking yet gave the hint of being slimy, untrustworthy, and creepy. It was odd, but he reminded her of a New York version of a whoremonger with a lot of money.