Only Pleasure (Bound Hearts 10)

A stroke was the least of Chase's worries now.

He lifted his gaze to Ian. "Inform Courtney, please, that was uncalled for. " She was conniving against him. He'd kn

own she'd end up doing it, just not this quickly.

Ian grinned. "Yes, I assumed this was your fault. What did you do? Forget the Rutherford girl's birthday? Some kind of personal anniversary?"

Chase almost paled. No, Kia would have never told those women he refused to spend the night with her. But she might have denied a relationship. Because there was no relationship.

"I am not involved in a relationship with her. " The words torn from his lips, forced past them.

Ian's brow lifted. He swore Cameron was choking with laughter behind him.

"You don't say," Ian drawled, black brows lifting in his darkly tanned face.

"That's exactly what I said," he growled.

Ian glanced to Cameron. "He's a bit touchy on the subject, isn't he?"

"A bit. " Cameron still sounded choked.

Chase was ready to turn and smack the air back in his brother's lungs when his cell phone rang. Picking it up from the desk, he tensed and cursed.

The number for the junior investigator they had watching Kia for any signs that Drew was harassing her showed up on the display.

"Falladay," he answered.

"Mr. Falladay, Mr. Stanton caught Ms. Rutherford in the lobby of a restaurant I followed her to. They had a confrontation. I was able to pick up bits and pieces of it but she left rather upset. I've followed her back to her apartment and Mr. Stanton is now lingering in the lobby there. "

"What did you hear?"

The investigator paused.

"Out with it," he snapped.

"Sir, Mr. Stanton informed Ms. Rutherford he requested you as a third one night, and you refused the offer. "

Chase froze. He could feel the fury rising inside him now, a bleak, dark wave of sheer rage and knowledge.

"Fuck him. " He came out of his chair, ignoring Cameron's and Ian's gazes, sharpening in concern. "Stay on him. I'm heading to the apartment building now. "

"Yes, sir. "

Chase disconnected the call, shoved the phone into the holster at his belt, then lifted his gaze to Ian.

"Stanton's out of control," he snapped. "I want something done with him. "

Ian glanced at Cameron, then back to Chase. "You haven't declared her—"

"We made her a fucking promise," he said. "You contact the committee, Ian. I made her a promise and they backed me on it. They backed me on having the investigator check out the problem, and the problem is there. I want it handled. "

Ian's eyes narrowed on him. "Within the bounds of your promise. " He nodded slowly. "We'll discuss it when you return. "

Chase wasn't listening. He slammed out of the office and moved quickly along the hallways to the front door. His car was waiting in the driveway where he had parked it earlier, the keys hanging in the ignition.

He tore out of the estate in a squeal of rubber and a snarl of fury.

Fucking Stanton, he was going to end up having to kill him at this rate. He was to stay away from Kia. Period. If his fist hadn't made that plain enough two years ago, then Chase figured a bit heavier of a blow might get the point across. Several of them perhaps.