“We are not done with each other. You will come home and we will continue to date. You’ll dress better. Classy again. You’ll accompany me when I need it. You’ll act like a lady. And you’ll put in a good word with Mark. More than that. You’ll get him to make me a junior partner. That queer would do anything for you, wouldn’t he?”
Toni clenched her teeth so hard they squeaked. She’d never experienced anger like she was feeling in that moment. White-hot fury. If there was one thing she wouldn’t stand for, it was a homophobic attitude toward her uncle and his husband. Two of the most loving, supportive, and all around incredible people she’d ever met. Anyone would be lucky to have half as wonderful a relationship as they did.
With as much calm as she could muster, she stretched her hand toward the door. “It’s time for you to leave now, Chris.”
“No, Toni. You aren’t the one calling the shots here. I hold all the cards.” This wasn’t the man she knew. Wasn’t the man she’d shared meals with, spent her weekends with, shared her goals and dreams with. This was a frantic man who’d do anything to get what he wanted. He’d lost the ability to be reasonable.
“What freaking cards, Chris? Ooo, what are you going to do? Tell everyone your monogamous girlfriend is a whore because she likes to be fucked? News flash, you’d have to admit that you couldn’t give a woman an orgasm with a roadmap and a set of instructions!” She was screaming and she didn’t even care.
A rap on the door made her spin and dropped her jaw. Zach’s bulky form filled the space on the other side of the screen. The jerk wasn’t even pretending he hadn’t been eavesdropping on the conversation. A giant smirk was plastered across his face.
Great. Just great.
What had she just screamed? Something about liking sex and Chris failing to satisfy her. All true, but mortifying.
Something like a combination of a growl and a whimper came from Chris. Like he was both warning off and intimidated by Zach at the same time. The intimidation she got, Zach would probably annihilate Chris with one half-powered punch.
But the warning? Did all men have to engage in pissing contests?
“What do you want, Zach?” she asked in a bright voice, as though false cheer could somehow erase the humiliation of what he’d overheard.
The smug grin only grew. Zach braced his arms on either side of the door frame and stared at her through the screen. Damn man. He had to know what he was doing, showing of the long, firm bulge of his biceps and stretching his shirt across his fitness model shoulders.
“You weren’t in our spot. I came to see if you needed my help.” His gaze flicked to Chris before dismissing him and returning to Toni. “I’m glad I did because, from the sound of it, you really need my help.”
Our spot? Might as well wave a red flag in front of an angry bull. Ugh. Why did a grin so smug she’d want to slap it off anyone else look like a promise of sex and sin on Zach?
It didn’t make a difference what Zach looked like, or how hot a night or two he was offering. Toni was looking for substance. Meaning. Connection beyond physical. She’d missed the boat with Chris, but at least that was an honest try. Getting tangled with Zach would be a backslide.
A delicious and mind-blowing backslide, but a regression, nonetheless.
“Thanks for the concern, but I’m good. Got all I need waiting for me in my nightstand.”
A shocked gasp burst from Chris, but Zach’s lips twitched in amusement. It would take a lot more than the threat of passing him over for a vibrator to get under his skin.
“I’m all for adding some battery-operated devices to the mix,” Zach said.
“If you’re done making vulgar propositions to my girlfriend, you can just scurry on home to your bike and your little leather orgy. I can take care of her myself.” Leave it to Chris to be all mouthy with a closed door and a woman standing between him and Zach.
She clenched her teeth. How dare Chris talk about her like she wasn’t standing right there. She didn’t need Zach to help her in any way. Time to shut this shit down herself.
Giving Zach her back, she faced Chris. “Take care of me? Please. You take care of no one but yourself. I went through a pack of batteries a week with you. Get. Out. Now.” She stepped to the side.
“Let me get the door for you, buddy,” Zach said as he opened the screen and stepped to the side.
Chris stalked forward and stopped in front of her. Leaning forward he spoke next to her ear with a promise only for her. “This isn’t over. Think about what I said.”