Page 60 of He Falls First

“Alright, man. No problem.” And with one last glance at me, he disappears into the crowd.

Hendrix’s grip on my arm tightens as he pulls me toward him. I stumble against his muscular chest, my heart racing, and look up to see his eyes blazing.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“We need to talk. Outside. Let’s go.”

I glance at Allison and Cora as Hendrix steers me toward the exit. They give me puzzled looks.

I quickly text them: I’m fine, don’t worry! Will explain later!

Cora replies: This better be good. Hendrix looked ready to tear Aaron’s head off!

We step out into the cool night. A sleek black car idles at the curb, Hendrix’s driver waiting to whisk us away. Hendrix opens the door and ushers me inside.

I look over at him, tempted to… I don’t even know what. Kiss him or yell at him or, I don’t know, lick his elbow or something, just to throw him off. I’m so damn frustrated with this man that it’s driving me crazy.

“Well?” I prompt him. Because he’d better get to talking before I do.

Chapter 24

Hendrix

We’re cocooned in shadows in the back seat of the car, the only light coming from the occasional streetlamp that pierces the darkness as we drive. Elizabeth sits rigidly on the far side of the seat, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

She’s wearing a skintight black dress that clings to her, the plunging neckline and high slit showing off far more skin than I’ve ever seen her wear out before. Her hair falls in tousled waves over her bare shoulders, and her smoky eye makeup makes her blue eyes piercing in the dim light. She looks nothing like the sweet assistant I know from the office. No, this Elizabeth is a temptress, a siren.

And I want her. Badly.

Her body language, however, tells me she isn’t exactly receptive to my presence. Arms crossed, she stares me down, jaw tight.

Jealousy burns through me as I recall what I just saw. I stepped into the club just in time to see that smarmy bastard getting handsy with her on the dance floor. If I hadn’t shown up when I did… No. I can’t even let myself think about it. The very idea of another man touching what’s mine makes my blood boil.

But there’s also vulnerability gnawing at me—that sinking feeling that she’s not really mine at all. It hasn’t stopped gnawing at me since she caught me lying about Gabrielle and Harper earlier today. The look in her eyes, the hurt etched on her face. It was terrible. And I’m terrified of losing her, even though I know I have no claim over her heart.

“How did you know where I was?” she asks.

“Allison’s Instagram,” I tell her. Then I blurt, “Who was that guy at the club?”

Elizabeth whips her head around, eyes flashing. “Excuse me?”

“The guy you were dancing with. An old friend?” I know I should back off, but the jealous beast inside me won’t be silent. “Did you want him touching you like that?”

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

I lean forward. “Considering you’re supposed to be my fiancée, I’d say it’s very much my business.”

“Oh, that’s rich!” Elizabeth scoffs. “Are you kidding me, Hendrix? You lied to my face today, you’ve been hiding some secret family from me this whole time, and you think you can interrogate me about some guy at a club?”

Shit. I hold up my hands in a gesture of apology.

“You’re right. You’re absolutely right. I’m sorry.” I take a deep breath. “I know I’ve made a mess of things. But please, just hear me out. Gabrielle and Harper, they are my family. But not in the way you’re thinking.”

She glances up at me, eyes shadowed. I pause, struggling to find the right words. My mind races back to our argument at the office earlier today. I’d already felt massively guilty about lying to her. But then I had to go and insist that my “real family” was none of her business. Which is bullshit. I was panicked, wanting her to stop prying.

But I never wanted to see her teary eyes as she fled the room. The thought of hurting her like that makes my chest tighten.

“I didn’t mean to upset you earlier,” I begin explaining again. “The truth is, I’ve been ashamed of my family situation, and I shouldn’t have to be.” I pause, thinking about this carefully. “It’s the company’s expectation of a traditional ‘family man.’ That’s what had me feeling this way. I’ve been compartmentalizing different areas of my life, hiding away the aspects that don’t fit the mold.”

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