Hotshot (The Bennett Brothers 1)

“What’s going on here?” she asks coldly.

“Sasha Crane has a knack for showing up to places of employment without notice and without being invited. To sum it up, she’s here to tell me to stay away from Shaw, and I explained I’ve been advised not to speak with her without a witness.”

“I’ll be the fucking witness. Or I can call security. Your decision.”

“I’d like for you to be here for what I have to say. Somehow, things seem to get misconstrued when Sasha repeats them.” I raise an eyebrow to Sasha, enjoying her face heating up. This is starting to get fun.

“First of all, I think it’s funny you think you have a choice of me being friendly with Nicky. You don’t dictate anything in my life, especially my relationships. Any of them. As for being around your child, that’s for you and Shaw to work out. He’s always had the best interest of your child in mind.”

“You think I don’t see what you’re doing? Using his kindness and pity? That’s what it is—pity. Everyone’s always pitied you. Since we were teenagers, you wanted to be like me. Your clothes, your hair… I saw it when everyone else looked the other way because you were sick. But that’s over. It’s one thing to try and steal my boyfriend in high school, but it’s another to try and steal the father of my baby. Ren will be the laughing stock of his friends, his business associates, and his entire community if he shows his face with you. Is that what you want? To ruin him? To tie him to you purely because you’re jealous of me?”

Claire hisses beside me, and I fight to stay still. Her words hurt, but that’s what she wants. To see me slink into a wallflower and skirt away with my tail between my legs.

She’s going to fail, because I’m no longer that girl. I’m now a woman with a career and a man who’s even better than I always dreamed. I stare deeply into her eyes and see her own jealousy swirling. She’s scared. For once in my life, I have the upper hand. And she knows it.

As much as I want to lay into her, tease her about my relationship with him, let her know I am moving in and we are continuing our life together, I refrain. Instead, I finish my email. Claire is stone still except for her hand that’s trembling on the phone receiver, ready to call security. I give her a look that lets her know I’m okay and turn back to Sasha.

“I’m not going to do this. You’ve wasted your time coming here.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to say more, but I stop myself. She’s strung so tight, I fear for the baby. The last thing Shaw needs is me to get into a verbal smack-down with his baby mama and her blame me for the stress.

I kiss Claire on the cheek and whisper I’ll call her later then head to for the stairs.

Her words ring in my ears, but I stay strong until I get into my car. Then I scream every nasty thing I want to say to her until I’m hoarse. It feels good to let it out, but I wish I could yell these things to her face.

The whole drive to the marina, the same thought keeps replaying in my mind.

What has happened to me? How did my life get this out of control?

Chapter 24

Shaw

Bizzy- First session went amazing! Everyone was nice, and when it was over, I got so many compliments. This is a top rate crew! A few of us are going out for a drink. Love you, talk to you soon.

I read the text twice, smiling at her excitement. I’m not surprised; I knew she’d nail it. She’s perfect for this. Two weeks of preparation, hours of phone calls going over her presentation, and one last minute freak out, but she’s done it. Undoubtedly winning over the admiration and trust of everyone on the floor.

My computer alerts me that I need to be at the doctor’s office in an hour. I sigh and pick up a contract for a new athletic brand that wants four of my clients to advertise. It’s a huge deal, and I can demand more money in negotiations than ever before. But I can’t find the thrill.

I want her here.

In the two weeks since Bizzy left, I’ve gone back to my workaholic ways and am only sleeping at home for a few hours at night. The condo is too empty without her. Gail is about to crawl out of her skin in irritation. I’ve been a cranky bastard.

Our weekend alone on the boat seems like months ago, not weeks. I needed more time. More time to show her how much she means to me. Once she told me about her run-in with Sasha, I couldn’t hold her close enough. I watched her attentively for any signs of regret or uncertainty, but there were none. She was more relaxed and at ease than in the last several months. Playful, loving, kind, gentle, her entire attitude was back to the old Bizzy. The one I knew before I fucked up our lives.

My chest aches as I eye the bottle of scotch and wish I could drink the entire thing. I’ll need it to deal with Sasha, but it’s not my style to show up to a business engagement drunk.

That’s what this has become in my mind, a business engagement. It sounds cold, heartless, and bastardly, but it is what it is. The only consolation is the baby.

I pick up the baby book Bizzy bought and make a few notes with questions for the doctor. This is my attempt at having civilized conversations with Sasha to learn exactly what’s happening with both of them.

Today, we may actually get to find out the sex… which scares me to death. I think back to Bizzy’s question and remember the conversation on the boat.

“Shaw, have you really thought about if you want a boy or a girl?” She nuzzles close, her arms lying on my chest.

“Yes, I’ve thought about it a lot. I want a boy.”

She stills and tension fills her body.