“I can promise you, that won’t be a problem,” Tait chimes in.
“Good. Come back next week and we can work out all the details.” He stands and smooths his button-down shirt as Tait and I stand with him. “I look forward to big things from you, Sam. Anyone that can stand up for Tait against America’s sweetheart must be a good person.” I look at him, confused, and he chuckles. “My cousin works with Jennifer Stoneham, and needless to say, you’re on her shit list.”
I swallow hard and try to smile past the butterflies in my stomach. Tait laughs and kisses me on the cheek.
“Serves her right. Jennifer is a con anyway. She plays the victim, and I’m not going down that road again. Thanks for understanding, Kevin. I won’t be this stupid in the future,” Tait says, extending his hand to shake.
“I’ll have Rose give you my number, and we will schedule a time for you to come in. I have another meeting to get to. I’ll talk to you two later.” He waves at us as he walks down the hall.
Chapter 35
Things couldn’t be going betterfor us. The meeting was a success, Sam is going to get her chance to show the world what she can do, and she’s coming home with me.
“So, I was thinking we could talk about you spending nights at my house. I know you’re not going to want to move in together, but if Emily won’t allow us time together at your place, then it only seems fitting that you spend nights over.”
“That’s moving things pretty fast, don’t you think?” She bites her thumbnail and drops her eyes when she notices me staring.
“I have a few weeks to make up for, and I don’t want to let you out of my sight. Consider it a good alternative to kidnapping you and paying someone to move all your stuff into my house as I’m buried deep within you.”
Her eyes snap up to mine and I laugh. She does a complete one-eighty as sexual desire takes the place of the nerves racing through her.
“That’s right, lass. The contract may not be in effect anymore, but if you’re going to be mine, I still want you when and how I want. That’s not up for discussion. Is that understood?” She nods, keeping her eyes glued to mine. I lean in and pull her ear against my lips. “I’m sorry, I can’t hear you. What was that?”
“Yes, Sir,” she whispers.
I growl and lick the shell of her ear. “Good girl. We’re going to stop at your place and get some of your stuff and then head back to my place.”
She giggles and then shifts in her seat, pulling her phone out of her pocket. She looks at the message and her face drops. “Shit.”
I panic. “What? What happened?”
“I have a few missed calls from Emily and a text that says “S.O.S”. Something has happened. She wouldn’t text me that if it wasn’t actually an emergency.”
“Well, call her and find out what’s going on.”
She is on the phone in seconds. “Emily, what’s wrong?”
“Put it on speaker,” I whisper to her.
“—he won’t leave, and he keeps pounding on the door,” Emily finishes.
“I have Tait with me, and we’re on our way back right now. Don’t let him in, and don’t do anything. We’ll take care of it. Call the cops yourself if you have to.”
“I don’t wait Tait wrapped up in this. Just hurry it up. He’s been pounding and yelling through the door for the past five minutes. I tried telling him you aren’t here, but he doesn’t believe me.”
“We’ll be there in a few minutes. Hang tight.” She hangs up the phone and looks at me. “Ben showed up a few minutes ago demanding to see me. Either the release was put out, or Kevin followed through with taking care of Ben like he said. I’m not sure what that means, but it can’t be good if he’s trying to break down my door. He’s not normally violent.”
I take her hand in mine and kiss her fingers. “I won’t let him hurt you anymore. It’s going to be fine.”
The driver pulls up outside her apartment building, and she’s pushing open the door before he has even come to a complete stop. I race after her and pull her to me.
“Stay behind me. I don’t want you to deal with him, if possible. I want to keep you safe.”
“Ben won’t hurt me,” she protests.
“I’m sure you never thought he would call you a whore either, but he’s done that. If he’s truly as upset as Emily says he is, I’d rather you be safe. Please, do this for me?”
She sighs heavily but allows me to walk in front of her. We step into the hallway and see Ben pounding on the door.
