Page 5 of The Attraction
But tonight, there is no way I can avoid her. It’s dinner at Flynn and Felisha’s place, and everyone will be there.
I hope like hell she doesn’t bring it up because I can imagine the response from everyone. A mixture of words ranging from telling me to stay away from Harper to Tori and Elouise’s swoony sighs for being a gentleman and taking care of her. Well, at least that’s what I expect, but then again, you can never tell with this group.
Being Saturday night, I grab a cab to their place because I have a feeling I might need a few drinks to get through the evening. I don’t know how I’ve done it, but I have successfully given two different women a reason to want to throw daggers at me from across the room.
The first woman, Cherie, is a friend of Remington’s that has now gone into business with him, heading up a charity in conjunction with Elouise. I don’t know why, but when I met her, I was pulled toward her, but then after a few very heated arguments, I took a step back. I realized finally that the attraction was misguided, and I had a bit of a hero complex with her, though I don’t understand where that came from. Her ferocious fight in life in general turned me on, and I wanted to step into her world and save her all the time, so she had to become forceful in making me understand that she doesn’t need saving. Especially from someone like me, who hardly knows her, and looking back, that was a fair reaction. I thought I was stubborn and kept walls up between the person I am when I’m on my own compared to the Forrest I let the world see. But I quickly learned that she is even tougher than I am, and our personalities would always be at war.
I don’t want a submissive partner, more a woman who is my equal, but I understand now that even though she is certainly my equal, we were mismatched and would have been toxic together. Luckily, she made me see the truth of it. Although at first, she wasn’t entirely ready to be friendly to me, and I probably deserved that after the way I treated her when she offered to help Felisha with the problem of her father.
The stunt she pulled for my brother Flynn and his fiancée Felisha could have gotten her killed, so I still maintain my reaction was justified. I mean, who sends a woman into an illegal poker game, on her own, with the high-powered scum that don’t play by life’s rules? It was too dangerous, and I objected profusely to Flynn, as well as Rem because he’s our head of security. Both of whom told me to back off and not to get involved.
But of course, that just pissed me off more, and even though it all worked out okay and she pulled the ruse off like an expert, it didn’t make me feel any better. All she did was put a target on her back with some very dangerous people who I wouldn’t like to be on the wrong side of. I know she went in disguise, but still, it was a huge risk.
Turning up at her apartment the night before it all went down, to try to talk her out of it, probably wasn’t the smartest move either, but I had to try.
I remember vividly the way she responded when she opened the door to find me standing there looking like thunder.
“Forrest, what are you doing here?” She tilts her head slightly to the right, her light brown wavy hair sitting on her bare shoulders. Seeing her in a sports bra and tights is never a good thing for me. All it does is make my body react to her when my mind is telling me to ignore those thoughts. It’s just my sex drive talking, and I’ve made so many mistakes listening to that over the years.
“We need to talk.” I push past her before she has a chance to close the door in my face.
Judging by the creases on her forehead and her lips that are in a straight line, she’s not exactly pleased to see me. “Sure, come on in, asshole, because I don’t value my privacy at all.” Yep, she is definitely pissed I’m here.
“You can’t do it.” Unbuttoning my jacket, I turn to look at her. My fists are clenched, and I can feel my shoulders tensing as the thought of her in danger has me getting worked up.
I run my hand through my slightly graying dark hair in frustration as she bursts out laughing at me. “Forrest, you need to let this go. I’ve told you before. Felisha needs help, and I’m in a position to help her. End of story. Now go home,” she says, turning and putting her hand on the door handle, but I’m not done with her yet.
“No. I forbid you to get involved in this poker game.” Infuriated with her dismissing me so easily, I storm back across the room toward her. “You will call it off now. Do you hear me!”
But instead of her backing up against the wall with me starting to crowd her space, she stands her ground, and the look on her face is one of pure hate.
“No man will ever tell me what to do.” Placing her finger on the middle of my chest, the venom in her eyes is enough to know I have overstepped with her. “Now get the fuck out!” She isn’t yelling at me, but the deep growl is enough for me to understand that I need to leave.
“Sorry for fucking caring.” I look her straight in the eyes, place my hand around her wrist, and push it down to take her finger from my chest. “Don’t call me when it turns to shit. Oh, that’s right, you are tough enough you don’t need a man to help you. You fight your own battles with your own hands.”
Putting my hands on her waist, I gently pull her out of the way and open the door, and as I start to step through it, she yells at me, loud enough I’m sure the whole building can hear it.
“You condescending prick. Do you feel threatened by my skills and the fact I could have you on your back on the floor before you even blink?”
Her words infuriate me, and I spin around to face her. “Oh, don’t flatter yourself. If you want to get down and dirty just say so. I’ll be happy to oblige.” And if I hadn’t turned around to say my piece then I never would have seen the very slight reaction from her at the thought of sleeping with me.
Initially, I thought she was turned on by my words, but then I worked out it was a twitch of anger.
“Just go, Forrest. We’ll continue to be civil in everyone’s company but don’t think it will be any more than that. Good night.” The door swings toward me, making me step backward until I’m out in the corridor again and the door slams in my face.
Fuck!
Standing outside the door and staring at the black-stained wood, I know I’ve just made this worse. Because come hell or high water, she won’t back down now just on principle to make a point.
That night is still as clear as anything in my head, even more than six months since it happened. Thankfully she got over how angry she was at me that night, and we have managed to interact without killing each other. Probably due to not seeing her too often at first, but once the charity opened its doors, she had no choice but to spend time with me in board meetings, as I am the financial officer.
So, knowing she will be here tonight, along with Harper who is also probably still pissed at my highhandedness the other night, I could be in for a real fight if the two of them have a few drinks and decide to gang up on me. Although alcohol usually brings out Harper’s flirting, so the night could be interesting.
Why can’t I find a woman who likes me the way I am? Sure, I can be an arrogant prick, but with the right woman, I would give her the world, including the key to my heart which would show her I’m not like that all the time. I’ve just never found anyone who could manage to get past my harsh exterior and be bothered to know the real me.
The elevator doors open to Flynn standing there in bare feet, jeans, and an untucked burgundy button-up shirt. I can hear laughter in the background, and I know this is what I need tonight. My friends, a few beers, and some good laughs. When we are together in social situations, work discussions are banned unless vitally necessary, and that’s why I think our friendship is so strong.
“Hey, Brother.” Pulling me in for hug, he pushes the beer he is holding into my hand. “I only just opened this one, so it’s now got your name on it.”
