Although, Aspen’s situation turned out to be a complete misunderstanding, one Weston had rectified immediately when he came back to town and realized some bitch had tried to keep them apart. Going through the whole pregnancy with her had kept me wary of guys and their intentions when it came to sex. It wasn’t like I was going to have a one-night stand with a guy only to discover he was the love of my life and a covert agent for the CIA, like Aspen had. Then again, eyeing Rhys Campbell up, if I’d met him somewhere else, I could actually see myself agreeing to the one-night stand part. And wasn’t it just my freaking luck that I’d finally met a guy who got me wet, but I couldn’t do anything about it because he was the kind of guy who hit on one woman while he shopped for another in a place like Dirty Players.
“Rhys,” I said while looking him up and down. “Looking the way you do, I’m sure you don’t have a problem getting women to say yes.”
“You like the way I look?” he asked with a widening grin.
I ignored his question since it had been rhetorical, because he’d have to be clueless to not know exactly how women—and likely some men—reacted to him. “You’re in a sex toy shop, so unless you’re here to buy a Pocket Pussy or a blow-up doll”—my cheeks heated as I looked down at his empty hands—“then it seems pretty obvious to me that you already have someone in your life. And yet here you are, hitting on me.”
“I don’t—”
Whatever he had to say for himself wouldn’t change my mind, so I interrupted him. “Not that it matters. You’re not the first guy to hit on me while I’m at work, and you won’t be the last. But the answer’s always the same. No.”
He looked even bigger than a moment before, with his muscles bunched up and his grey eyes shooting fire. “What the fuck?”
“Hence the cameras. So when skeevy guys don’t want to take no for an answer, I’m protected.”
“You don’t need protection from me,” he growled, sending a glare at the camera. “But you can be damn sure you’re going to get it from any douchebag who thinks you’re fair game. Because you’re not. Not anymore.”
Like he’d just said a moment before… what the fuck?
3
Rhys
Rage was burning inside me at the thought of all the sick motherfuckers that hit on my woman while she was at work. I clenched my fists, suddenly having the urge to pummel the next person I saw who had a Y chromosome. The wary confusion on Macy’s face cut through the red haze and I sucked in a deep breath, calming myself.
This overwhelming deluge of emotions was throwing me for a loop. I worked—okay, owned—an investment firm and spent my days with numbers and statistics. I was known for being cool and collected, level-headed. I took the same approach with dating as I did with work, analyzing the possible outcomes. My cynical views had long ago convinced me to give up on that particular activity.
And yet, the moment I saw this feisty redhead, a myriad of feelings bubbled to the surface. The strongest and most foreign was a fierce possessiveness. I didn’t have any interest in picking apart the details of a relationship and future with Macy. She would be mine. End of story.
However, I’d put myself in a precarious position by approaching her at work. It hadn’t occurred to me that I would need an excuse for being in Dirty Players to convince her I wasn’t one of the sleazy guys she probably saw on a regular basis. I briefly considered the truth, that I’d more or less been stalking her. Then promptly dismissed the idea. It was too high of a risk that it would send her running.
The bell above the door tinkled, announcing the arrival of another customer. Macy glanced in their direction and her face lit up with a bright smile. Jealousy ripped through me, another shock to my system since I’d rarely felt it before. I wanted to be the only man who put smiles on her beautiful face. My head whipped angrily in the direction of the entrance, but when I saw who it was, I relaxed.
Weston Davis lifted his chin at her as he strolled through the door, his arm wrapped tightly around a pretty blonde woman who waved. His wife, Aspen, I assumed. I’d never met her, but I’d heard all about her during my meetings with Weston. They approached the counter and Macy ducked under it to hug Aspen.
Leaning casually against the shiny black worktop, I greeted Weston. “Davis. Of all the gin joints…”
His shrewd green gaze darted in my direction and narrowed before he raised an eyebrow in silent question. “Fancy meeting you here, Campbell. I was beginning to think your balls had shriveled up and died.”
I laughed, even as both women gasped. Aspen smacked Weston’s arm and glared. “Weston!”
He looked down at his wife and gestured to me with a grin. “What? It’s no secret that Rhys doesn’t date. A few of us even have a bet going, either he’s really fucking bad in bed, or he’s still a virgin.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks, man,” I remarked drily. I couldn’t help peeking at Macy to see how she was reacting to this conversation. She was watching our exchange thoughtfully, and most of her hostility seemed to have ebbed away. At least she didn’t seem scared of me anymore. The idea that she thought I could somehow hurt her had eaten away at me.
“You know this guy?” she asked Weston.
He nodded to her. “We grew up together and his firm manages my investment portfolio.” Looking back at me, he smirked. “Found someone worth breaking that dry spell for?” he joked.
I was completely serious when I turned my head and met Macy’s green eyes before answering. “Yes.”
“Smart idea to come in and pick up some education material. But, you could have just come to me, you know. I’m the motherfucking king in the bedroom.”
“Oh, for the love of—”
Aspen’s face was bright red and she loudly interrupted us. “What time do you get off tonight? I don’t want you closing up here alone late at night. The creeps come out in full force on Halloween.”
I’d forgotten about the holiday and it only furthered my worry over her working at a place like Dirty Players, and even more, late into the night.
Macy broke eye contact with me and waved off her concern. “I don’t need your husband to babysit me, Aspen. Go home and take advantage of his big. . .ego.”
“I’ll make sure she gets home safe,” I snapped, irritated at the idea of her mind on anyone’s prowess or equipment in the bedroom besides mine. All three sets of eyebrows shot up to their hairlines.
“I didn’t realize you two knew each other,” Aspen said at the same time Macy sputtered, “What the hell?” Then she barked, “We don’t.”
“It hasn’t been very long,” I told Aspen. When Macy snorted, I threw her a hard look before facing Weston again.
He didn’t say anything, he simply watched me with a speculative gleam in his eye. I met his stare stonily, making it clear I wasn’t going to budge on the issue of caring for Macy. He slowly moved closer to his wife, which meant closer to my girl. I couldn’t help the scowl that morphed onto my face. He tucked Aspen under his left arm and held out his other to drop around Macy’s shoulders for a hug. An involuntary growl clawed up my throat, every muscle in my body tensing.
“Hands to yourself, Weston,” I snarled. “Or I break them off.”
Both girls stared at me with wide eyes, but a smile broke out on Weston’s face and he laughed. Though, he quickly let her go.
“Rhys can handle things from here,” he murmured as he steered his wife towards the door.
“What?” Aspen squeaked, clearly shocked at her husband’s reaction. Weston bent down to whisper something in her ear and her eyes narrowed suspiciously on me. She looked like she wanted to say something, but she didn’t get the opportunity before Weston spoke up.
“Just remember, nobody ever finds the bodies I fucking bury.”
I nodded in understanding. “I’ll take care of her.”
Macy sighed audibly. “I can take care of myself!” she argued stubbornly. “You can all leave and stop worrying over me.”
“Out of the questio
n.” My voice was banded with steel, making it clear that I expected her capitulation. To my surprise, and from the look on her face, hers too, she clamped her mouth shut and didn’t go on.
Weston threw Macy what could easily be interpreted as a look of sympathy before guiding Aspen out the door.
Alone again, I faced a very pissed off angel. Instead of putting me off, the fire in her eyes made my cock swell to painful proportions in my slacks. She was so fucking gorgeous, and I had no doubt all of that spark and feistiness would turn her wild with passion once I got her underneath me. Images of our sweaty bodies writhing against each other on satiny sheets invaded my mind. I could almost hear her screams of pleasure as I fucked her hard.