Here With Me (Adair Family 1)

That you were a priority to him.

“Argh!” My reverse spin kick sent the bag swinging so hard, I had to step back.

“Very nice.”

The voice made me jump.

My pulse slowed when I whipped around to find Pete.

The security guard took a step toward me, gesturing to the bag. “Though we may have to reattach the thing to the ceiling.”

I smirked at that. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m glad you can take care of yourself.” Shadows edged the blue irises of Pete’s eyes. The security guard refused to go on leave after Greg McHugh’s death, even though Mac advised it. But Pete stubbornly remained. Like me, I think he was determined to be around when we caught the fucker.

McHugh’s funeral was in two days. Mac told me Pete and Greg had been good friends. “How are you?”

Pete shrugged. “Glad to be working. Keeping busy. I saw you come in here, and I know we have a guard outside … but you shouldn’t be out here at night on your own. Does Mr. Adair know?”

“Yeah, he knows.” I looked away. “Like you said, I can take care of myself.”

“I’m obviously not as enlightened as Mr. Adair, then.” Pete crossed the distance between us.

“What do you mean?”

“I wouldn’t want my woman out here no matter how well she can take care of herself.”

There was a sudden hollow feeling in my chest. “I’m not his woman.”

“Pete’s right.”

I jerked at the voice. Jesus Christ, everyone was getting the jump on me tonight. Then it occurred to me the damn guard outside kept opening the door, so there was no beep from the security system anytime someone used their key card to get in.

I glanced over my shoulder at Lachlan. He glowered ferociously at us.

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

“You shouldn’t be in here at night.”

Pete retreated, the neutral mask of a trained security guard falling over his face. “Mr. Adair.”

“You can return to your duties, Pete. Thank you for seeing to Ms. Penhaligon’s safety, but I assure you, it’s already in hand.” There was a bite, almost a warning, in his tone that neither of us missed.

I bristled as Pete marched out of the gym.

How dare he come in here and try to pee around his territory.

I turned back to the bag and resumed punching it. Rapidly. Hard.

“Robyn.” His voice was near now.

I refused to look up.

“Robyn.”

Thump, thump, thump. Thump-thump-thump-THUMP!

My arms ached and sweat coated my skin, but I didn’t care. It was the bag or his face.

Suddenly, Lachlan grabbed the boxing bag, pulling it out of my reach.

Breathing hard, I stepped back, scowling at him. “What are you doing?”

“You shouldn’t be in here.”

“I told you where I was going.”

“Then left without looking at me. I deduced from your cold shoulder that the information wasn’t intended for me.”

“Then why are you here?”

Lachlan scoffed incredulously. “I don’t know. Because I’m concerned.” Then his expression darkened. “But I guess since you’re not my woman, it’s not my place to worry.”

“I’m not your woman. That’s not what we are.”

He pushed into my personal space, his chest brushing mine. I had to arch my neck to maintain eye contact. “I thought it was clear that while we’re having sex, we’re not to have sex with other people.”

I guffawed. “I was talking to Pete, not offering myself to him.”

“He watches you too much.”

If he did, I’d never noticed. “He can watch all he likes.” Free. Woman.

Lachlan’s eyes flashed. “I’m not playing this game with you.”

“What game?” I pushed him out of my space, and he stumbled a little, nostrils flaring. “You do not get to come in here and accuse me of something when I just walked into your bedroom to find Lucy in her lingerie on your goddamn bed!”

Blinking rapidly, his shock slackening his features, Lachlan took a few more steps back only to be halted by the boxing bag. “You cannot be serious.”

He wouldn’t make me feel stupid about this. It wasn’t stupid. “She’s your ex. You have history. And I repeat, you were alone in your room for the seventh night in a row, and unbeknownst to me, she’s in there in silk nightwear on your bed.”

“You’re making it sound as if it’s something it’s not.”

“Yeah?” I took a step toward him. “I guess I’m making a big deal out of nothing, then. You won’t mind if I invite Pete into my bed to watch movies while I’m wearing a silk nightie?”

His hot gaze ran down my body before returning to my face. “It wouldn’t be the same thing. Lucy was almost killed. She’s my friend.”

“I’m sorry about what happened to Lucy. And I’m glad she has good friends who want to take care of her, but the man I’m sleeping with does not invite another woman into his bed under any circumstances, so … this needs to end.” I gestured between us. “Maybe you don’t see it, but there’s something between you two, and I don’t want to get caught in the middle.”