Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
I’d been a fool. Garrett wasn’t some knight in shining armor. He was the beautiful devil I’d thought he was the first time I met him. His charm had confused me. Tricked me.
He had made me feel something for him.
The women’s voices faded away, and I waited until I heard the door close before I stepped out of the stall. I stared at my reflection in the mirror in horror. Why was it that I always picked the wrong men? I should have stopped after Micah. Before I actually began to feel things. Even knowing the truth about Garrett and where I stood with him, my heart ached.
I wanted to be furious, and later, I would be. Right now, I just needed to hold it together until we could escape this place. There would be no going back to his penthouse. Either he would take me back to Ocala in his helicopter or I’d rent a car and drive myself. Money I really didn’t need to spend right now, but I would if he pushed me.
The restroom door swung open, and I turned to get out of there before anyone else could share what they knew about Garrett and his past. However, when steel-gray eyes met mine, I froze. The wrinkle between his brow as he studied me was one of concern.
“What are you doing in here, Garrett?” I asked, shocked.
“Coming to get you,” he replied. “You’ve been in here awhile. Are you feeling okay?”
I wanted to laugh. Was I feeling okay? NO! I was not anywhere close to feeling okay.
“I’m fine. Can I not take my time in the ladies’ room?” I snapped.
His eyes narrowed. “What is wrong, Fawn?” he asked, closing the distance between us.
I took a step back and shook my head. He was not going to touch me. Ever again.
“Fawn, you’re going to tell me what the fuck is wrong, or I’m going to throw you over my goddamn shoulder and walk out of this place with you,” he warned.
I took another step back. My own anger was beginning to boil as the hurt in my chest continued to remind me the power I’d given this man over me. “I want to leave. I’ll walk out of here with you, but we are leaving. Not going to your penthouse.”
In two long strides, Garrett was in front of me. He wrapped his hand around my upper arm. “What happened?” he demanded.
“Why do you assume something happened?” I shot back at him.
His pupils dilated as he stared down at me. “Because I’m not a fucking idiot. You didn’t leave me angry, but right now, my pretty baby, you are ready to blow smoke from your ears.”
The door started to open behind us, and Garrett barely tilted his head to the side as he shouted, “DON’T!”
The door fell closed.
His eyes snapped back to mine. “Talk now, Fawn. If you don’t, I will go out there and make a scene. Starting with Lydia.”
My eyes flared as her name on his lips soured my stomach. “So, you know what’s wrong.”
His jaw clenched. “I saw her come in here. When she stayed too long and you didn’t come out, I came to get you.”
I sneered at him. “So, you’re keeping tabs on her? Making sure no man touches what’s yours? Watching her while you’re here with me?”
His hand tightened on my arm and jerked me against his chest. “The only woman my eyes have been on is you. She just got too close to you, and I saw it. What the fuck did she say to you?”
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
“BULLSHIT!” he roared.
I tried to shove him away, but he held me tightly.
“She didn’t say one word to me. I was in the stall. She said the words to Audrey. They discussed all the trashy women you play with, then toss. How she was willing to accept that when you were married. How you and she had talked about marriage. There was more, but that was the gist of it.”
I couldn’t give him any more details. It was hurting too bad. More than I could have ever imagined. What had I let myself get into? Why this man?
“That’s what they said?” he asked, his tone sounding lethal. His jaw flexed, and his nostrils flared as he inhaled.
I shrugged as if I wasn’t slowly falling apart.
Garrett let go of my arm and grabbed my hand, then began pulling me after him as he made his way to the door. I had to follow him or fall on my face. I managed to keep up as he stormed out of the restroom and into the ballroom, where couples were dancing and mingling.
I couldn’t ask where we were going or even ask him to slow down. If I was going to keep from tripping in these heels as he stalked through guests then I had to focus on walking. I noticed people turning their heads to look at us—or more likely me. I was the one being dragged through the crowd.