Page 41 of Carnal Risk

“Fine, suit yourself. But you’re not staying while I talk to her.”

“I’ll wait outside, then.” Lars fingered two tumblers, twisted the cap off with his teeth and poured the golden liquid into them. Handing one off to Garrett, he took a long swig and coughed. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stared out the window. “If you hurt her again, I’m going to fucking kick the shit out of you.”

“I get that.” Garrett sipped the liquor, pleased that Lars was finally starting to calm down.

“I mean it. You know I can, too.”

“Yeah, sure you can. Fantasyland must be nice. Maybe I’ll visit someday.” He gave him a small smile.

“You’d better apologize.”

“What the hell do you think I’ve got planned?”

“I’m serious. Like down on your damn knees. You are an idiot, by the way, for thinking Blaire wanted to talk about business,” he told him. The corner of his mouth lifted into a lopsided grin.

“Yeah.”

“The woman is badass but all she ever thinks about is sex. And you are so busy with your dick hanging out you can’t think straight.”

“Perhaps.”

“And ya know they’re not going to be too happy about you bringing Selby to the party without warning. So it’s not like you’re going to get any sympathy points from the rest of us.”

“Yep.”

Garrett rubbed his forehead with his fingers. He could hardly argue with Lars. He’d fucked things up with Selby and knew his friends weren’t going to be happy either. It had been his rule that they could bring no one to Altura without the person having gone on at least one jump with them. The only exceptions to the rule were people like Seth, who first had proved his commitment by training some of the group on big wave riding. They each had their specialties, sports they preferred, but they all had a common goal of pushing the thresholds of athleticism.

Selby had no interest in the things Altura offered, yet he’d brought her anyway. No matter the logic that told him it’d never work, there was something about her he just couldn’t let go.

He glanced to Lars, who stared at him as if he could read his mind. Garrett gave him a small smile and took another swig. He imagined it would be a tough sell. Selby might not forgive him, but if there was one thing about Garrett, he never gave up. His determination had caused him to excel in many situations, ones where the odds hadn’t been in his favor. In business, Garrett always succeeded. When it came to Selby Reynolds, failure was not an option.

Chapter Sixteen

Garrett had gone ballistic when they entered Selby’s apartment and he’d found her. She’d been sitting in glass, her back propped against the refrigerator. Despondent, she stared into the opened cabinets, and when his gaze met hers, she’d begun crying. Although she’d been awake when they’d arrived, she had no recollection of what had happened. With a knot on the back of her head, she’d woken against the tiled floor. Selby hadn’t resisted when he’d scooped her up into his arms, cradling her to his chest.

Although paramedics had been called to the scene, Garrett contacted his personal physician, who soon arrived at her condo as well. She’d complied with their tests, wincing in pain as they cleaned the tiny cut on the back of her skull. When the doctor examined her, he determined it was unlikely that she’d incurred a mild brain injury. Watch for signs, they’d told him. It wasn’t as if he didn’t already know the symptoms of a concussion. Although they took precautions during their sporting events, head injury was always a possible outcome. Selby claimed her vision wasn’t blurred nor was she nauseous, but Garrett was aware that issues could occur well after the initial incident.

The police officers had briefly questioned her. All she’d been able to remember was reaching for her phone. Before leaving the apartment, Garrett had texted Dean, requesting that he oversee the investigation. He’d told him of his suspicions that the break in at her apartment was related to Evan’s murder. Save for her closet, the entire condo had been torn apart. A slew of questions whirled in his brain as he tried to figure out what had happened. How would they have known she was at the party? How had they entered her apartment when there’d been no sign of breaking and entering? What had they been looking for? Although her laptop had been smashed, the flat screen TV was undamaged. He suspected the person had been searching for something specific. When she’d come home early, she’d interrupted them.

Garrett had grown concerned that she hadn’t resisted when he’d suggested that she go home with him. After what had happened, she would have never agreed without an argument, but he suspected she was in shock, unable to process the attack. On the car ride home, she’d fallen asleep in his arms. He’d brought her into his room, determined not to leave her side. When Lars had insisted he stay, Garrett hadn’t argued. In truth, it terrified him that something could happen to her, and he wanted him around in case of emergency. He’d laid her in the bed without removing her clothes. She’d already been violated and if she woke up, he didn’t want her thinking he’d taken advantage.

Garret had dozed off as well, exhausted from the day’s events. She slept on his chest, curled into his embrace. He stirred as a stream of light speared into the room. Reaching for the remote, he activated the automatic shutters. They sealed over the wall of windows, plunging them into darkness. With a flick of a switch, a splatter of starlight appeared across the ceiling.

In the soft glow, Garrett stroked Selby’s hair. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept with a woman in his arms. She moaned, and he steeled himself for the conversation he’d expected when he’d gone to her earlier. She’d been too traumatized to fight, but he knew she’d come around. As her eyes fluttered open, he froze, waiting for her to react.

“Where am I?” She tilted her chin upward and glanced at Garrett, then once again closed her eyes. “Garrett.”

“Hey, sweetheart, how are you feeling?”

“How long have I been sleeping?”

“About seven hours. Lars and I brought you back here after…”

“Where’s Lars?” Selby lifted her head, scanning the room.

“He’s in the other room. How’s your head? You feel sick? Headache?”

“No, I just feel tired. My head is hurt?” she asked, reaching for the small lump.