He moved in. “You think you’re the shit.”
Still, I didn’t move and kept the bored expression on my face.
“Take Ronnie here for a ride,” I said to no one in particular.
“I’m Ronald Winchester the III.”
I nodded at security. The next thing, he was bound, a black hood over his head. It was all in the contract. Nothing shady would happen to him, but I couldn’t have him knowing about the back entrance the staff used. Especially because Ronald Winchester III would be looking for retribution. That was the type of guy he was. He’d be dropped off at his residence.
Ronnie’s access card had been removed from his pocket. Within a matter of minutes, that card and its electronic signature would be wiped from my servers in case he’d cloned the card. His picture would be listed in security as persona non grata.
By the time I finished for the night—having fired Lana for drug use on the job—I was so wound up, I had no desire to go home. Griff had left, though I thought there had been something with him and my newest member. They hadn’t had sex, but I had a feeling it wasn’t the first time they’d met. Something else I needed to find out.
I would have headed to Soho, but my prize didn’t know I knew where she was staying. As unlikely as it seemed, I found myself eager for her call.EightLizzyThe car ride home with Griffin was awkward as hell. He sulked the entire way, barely speaking a word to me.
When he pulled up to the complex, I said, “So you’re not going to say anything to me?”
“What’s the point? You’ve made your choice.”
“You say that like you know the guy,” I chided.
“Would it matter if I did?”
I blew out a long breath, exasperated by the situation.
He took the opportunity to say more. “Didn’t think so. I’m leaving for Scotland, so I won’t be here to catch you when you fall.”
What I loved about Griffin was his sunny disposition, something he wasn’t displaying now. I’d never seen him with a scowl before, and it bothered me.
“So, you’re just going to be a dick to me?”
“You’re breaking my heart. What do you expect?”
I would have laughed if I couldn’t have cut the tension with a knife. “You aren’t in love with me.”
“Maybe not. But I could have been.”
“Griff,” I said and put my hand on his arm.
“Just go, Lizzy. It’s late.”
“Early, depending on your prospective,” I teased because it was barely after midnight.
“If you’re not inviting me to your bed, I suggest you take that skinny ass of yours upstairs.”
I faked shock, hoping to provoke a smile out of him. “Are you calling me skinny?”
“Chan eil. Tha thu bòidheach.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“Look it up.” His brogue had grown thick in a space of seconds.
“Look it up?” I repeated. “I can’t even spell it.”
He shrugged. “Time to go, darling,” he said, back to his normal accent. Still Scottish, but not as thick.
Reluctantly, I pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek before exiting the car. Once again, I was left wondering if I was doing the right thing. Being the man he was, he didn’t peel off after I closed the door and stood there, taking him in for another minute as if it would be the last time I ever saw him. He waited until I’d entered the building before leaving. I lifted a hand to wave, but I was too late. He was gone.
I’d made so many mistakes with men, and I wondered if Striker would be my strike three and I’d be out. As I rode the elevator up, I fingered the card he’d given me. But I pushed aside any thoughts of calling him. Who I wanted to call was Bailey. But it was around five in the morning where she was.
Instead, I grabbed a bottle of expensive wine from the stash. Served Kalen right as it was his fault I was in this position. It was his best friend he’d put in my path and look what a mess of things I’d made.
“This calls for a movie,” I said to no one.
With the bottle, a glass, and the remote, I flipped through the options. I wasn’t in the mood for comedy, though that probably would have been a better option. I also wasn’t in the mood for some quirky girl finding the perfect guy movie. I ended up with Brokeback Mountain.
“Perfect,” I said, until I was a sobbing mess on the sofa a couple of hours later.
Since it was sometime after seven in the morning in Scotland, I opened my laptop and rang Bailey through a video chat app we used. When her face appeared, I was overcome with emotion. Her smile was welcome. I hadn’t seen her do a lot of that lately.