“No, Reid,” she says, planting her feet back on the ground. “I mean we can’t dothis. I told you. I don’t fuck around.”
What does that even mean? Quinn stares at the ground, her hand back on my chest. She wants me at arm’s length, but I keep my grip on the back of her neck.
“Because you have a job to do?” I ask. “Or are you involved with someone else?”
She won’t look at me. “I just need you to stop complicating things. Please. Just go away.”
For her to be this evasive, there must be another man. If it’s Strider, that guy needs a serious talking to. He shouldn’t be leaving her to face Ilya alone. Or at all.
Unless she’s involved with someone else. But who? Shit.
“Are you fucking Barrett?”
Her head snaps up and her grey eyes turn to ash. “After one kiss, you think you can act like some possessive jerk? I don’t have to tell you who I’m sleeping with – or not.”
I don’t like how that last bit was added as an afterthought.
Completely disregarding her point about it being noneof my business, I tighten my grip on her nape. “Rumor has it that Barrett’s building that house for a family. Is he planning on making one with you?”
I’m too absorbed in my pathetic fit of jealousy to notice her take the gun from her purse. It’s only when I hear the safety click and feel the press of something hard against my crotch that I know I’m fucked – again. Jake won’t be aware that anything’s wrong because my body completely shields Quinn from his view.
“It was nice while it lasted,” Quinn says coldly. “But whatever this was, it’s done. I answer to no man, Reid. Not you. Not Barrett. Not Ilya. Come near me again and I swear I’ll pull the trigger next time.”
Even with the gun pointed at my cock, it takes all my effort to release my grip on her. “In that case, I’m going to have to find a full-length Kevlar suit because I’m not walking away, Quinn. If you insist the kiss was a mistake then, reluctantly, I’ll respect your wishes. But in all other respects, fuck you. I’m going nowhere.”
“Suit yourself,” she says with a shrug as she steps away. Glancing over at the SUV, she slips her gun back into her purse before Jake can see it. “If you insist on staying, thenstay.” She says it like she’s giving a command to a damn dog. She points to the ground at my feet. “Stay, Reid,” she says. She’s fighting a smirk when she adds, “There’s a good boy.”
The worst part is, I do stay. I can’t take my eyes off her as she heads towards Main Street, and when she turns the corner, I will her to look back. I feel crushed when she doesn’t. I’m well and truly fucked.
Chapter 6
Quinn
When I arrive for work the next morning, the sun’s shining and the air crisp. I park in front of the mansion and take a moment to survey the property. All the scaffolding is down and the driveway is finally complete. It’ll take time for Jason to establish the gardens, and the work on the interior might push us slightly over the deadline, but on the whole, it’s looking good. In another life, Jade would be proud of the project she’s on course to deliver.
I just hope Barrett doesn’t find fault with my work. He’d promised to keep me on for at least six months in an adapted role as estate manager if I proved my worth, and I’m about to find out if I have. He messaged this morning from New York to say he’s dropping by to assess progress. When you have a private jet at your disposal, and an estate big enough for a landing strip, you can do that.
Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and will my head to clear. It’s not last night’s wine at Clara’s that’s responsible for my headache. My hangover is all Reid. He hurts my brain, and makes other parts of my body throb. I can’tbelieve I told him about Blake. Alcohol loosened my lips, and after my chat with Strider, I fooled myself into believing the Griffins could be the good guys.
But there are no good guys in the world he moves in. Reid went from persistent puppy to prowling wolf in the blink of an eye. The problem with possessive men is they’re not satisfied until they take full control. Choose the wrong man, and that control turns into abuse. It’s what happened to Blake. It took just six months for Ilya to turn her into someone I didn’t recognize. I haven’t seen or heard from her in a year.
My heels click against marble as I enter the foyer to find it littered with crates and dust sheets from the decorators. With so many rooms, I’m hoping Barrett will appreciate how there’s still plenty to do before the end of the month, but first impressions count. I’m going to grab a coffee then get help tidying the place up to give the illusion that we’re almost done. It shouldn’t be hard since my entire life is one big illusion.
A couple of hours later, the main rooms are ready for inspection thanks to Clara and Tandy’s help. I straighten my pencil skirt and tuck in my blouse, and as I admire the gleaming marble floor, a shadow stretches across the foyer. I spin around to find someone standing just outside the entrance.
“Jason, if you put a foot over the threshold, I swear I’ll…” I glance around for a weapon and settle on the mop. “I’ll use that mop as a javelin and hit you right between the eyes.”
He leans against the door frame, muddy boots crossed at the ankles as he offers me a wide grin. “Rumor has it you’re a good a shot.”
“I heard that too,” sniggers Tandy. She pushes the mopand bucket towards me with her foot. “Come on, Quinn. Let’s test your aim.”
News about my paint fight with Reid has traveled fast. I glance at Clara as she places a vase of flowers in one of the built-in alcoves. She’s the only one who doesn’t get the joke. I need to tell her, but not now.
“No one’s making any mess,” she says. “Barrett’s plane is in the air. He could be here any minute.”
“I wasn’t going to come in,” Jason says. “I only wanted to show you what I’ve been doing out front.”
I can almost forgive the clumps of drying mud he leaves on the entrance steps when I see the flowerbeds that run along the front of the house. I’d assumed it was too early for blooms, but there are crowds of snowdrops, crocus and grape hyacinths to add splashes of color amongst the evergreen shrubs.
