Page 8 of Obsessive Cravings

“Maybe.”

“Maybe? I don’t think so. Is this the one to break you?” He gave me a coy grin, his brown eyes full of mischief.

“Wipe that damned smirk off your face before I punch it off. And get the fuck out of my way.”

He moved and let me leave, his laugh trailing me. If anyone knew me well enough to know Riley was breaking me, it would be him. I cursed myself for letting him see my weakness, although he was the only one I trusted enough to let in.

My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out to read the text as I walked back through the shop.

I think she will break you, and I’m going to be here to enjoy the show.

Fucking prick, I texted him in return, biting back my chuckle and covering it with my sternest look.

As I got in my car, I scolded myself for not staying home and hiding my lack of control. Unable to resist, I turned the camera on, hating the disappointment that filled my chest upon discovering that Riley wasn’t there. And questioning why that ache in my chest was growing more constant.

Chapter Six

RILEY

After my long day of shopping with Ava, I was thankful my new apartment décor came with a wardrobe because my small closet wouldn’t have held the new clothes I bought while we were out. I spent Saturday night cleaning out my old clothes, ready to embrace the new. At one point, I found the scarves that my mother had brought back with her when she’d accompanied my father on one of his business trips. I’d only been about five at the time and the rich colors of the waist-length silk scarves had fascinated me. Mason would scold me for sneaking into her closet and playing dress up with them.

I was ten when my parents died, and the courts gave Mason custody of me. He’d been old enough and my parents had left enough money to care for me. I hadn’t realized he’d built his own network by then and likely influenced the courts to let him take care of me. I’d never questioned why anyone would give a nineteen-year-old custody of his ten-year-old sister. As we’d been cleaning their things out, Mason had found the scarves and given them to me. They were a piece of my mother, a memory that I cherished, even if Mason’s touch now tarnished them.

I hung the scarves around the corner of my headboard, liking how the colors caught in the fairy lights.

The rest of the weekend, I scouted the city, checking out the local restaurants and familiarizing myself with streets I hadn’t ventured down. It amazed me that even with all the people in this city, I was still as lonely as I had been in Treemont. Ava was only one person out of thousands, and although I kept looking, I hadn’t bumped into the kind stranger again. I was still angry at myself for not getting his name and number.

What did it matter? My track record with men was sketchy, and he probably had a wife and kids. Besides, my mind kept wandering to the elusive Greyson Tides, already giving him a personality and a rock-hard body to go along with the sexy voice that filled my fantasies. There wasn’t a man who could compete with that, no matter that I kept telling myself he was likely the exact opposite.

I walked into the office on Monday morning with my mind on nothing as my cup of coffee warmed my hands. Snow was falling, the bitter cold of winter in this part of the province reminding me how much I missed Treemont. I stopped to say good morning to Matt at the front of the office when the doors to the building opened and a burly man walked in, taking a protective stance next to the door. Within seconds, in rushed my good Samaritan, followed by another massive man whose eyes scanned the lobby before he took a position on the other side of the door. I stared, wide-eyed, at the man who had left a lasting impression on me, even though I hadn’t seen him since he’d handed me back my purse and flashed me that gorgeous smile. My body grew warm as he glanced my way, those dark blue eyes stealing my breath. He didn’t stop, didn’t say hello. He simply gave me a sly grin and continued walking. My eyes followed him as he got into the private elevator at the far end of the office. He kept his eyes on me, that penetrating gaze leaving me drenched by the time the door closed.

“Who was that?” I asked Matt once my brain started working again.

“Greyson Tides? You don’t know who Greyson Tides is after a week here?”

I drew my eyes from the elevator and looked questioningly at Matt, my heart thudding.

“Greyson Tides? That was him?”

“You need to get out, Riley.”

Greyson Tides, the owner of the firm, the most powerful man in the city, had been my savior that first day here. My knees nearly gave out when I realized he’d been the same one who had filled my apartment so wonderfully. I pondered if he’d known it was me.

“Does he ever come down here?” I asked, trying not to seem obvious about the obsession that was mounting in my mind. The one that had already grown dangerous as I’d made him into something that was very close to the real-life version.

“No, he stays in his office when he’s here. And we’re barred from it. There’s a keycard for the penthouse office, so don’t get any ideas. Every woman in this office drools when Greyson Tides walks through, but he doesn’t give them any notice. Keeps to himself.” He shook his head. “One girl tried sneaking up there before they installed the keycard. They fired her on the spot. His security goons escorted her out and shipped her stuff to her.”

“He doesn’t play, does he?”

“No, and it doesn’t pay to get involved with Greyson Tides.” He moved in closer to me, whispering, “He’s a dangerous man and he owns everything and everyone in Bridgeville.”

Matt walked away, leaving me to reconcile the version of the man who had rescued the purse of a random stranger and walked her to the coffee shop her first day with the image of the reclusive businessman. I bit my lip, staring at the elevator and wishing I could get another glimpse of those heart-stopping blue eyes or hear the way his deep baritone drifted down my spine like a sensual touch.

To my dismay, the rest of my day was dull, dragging painfully slow. I was working with clients now, which lent some speed to the time, but when I wasn’t busy discussing finances, I was thinking of Greyson Tides. I couldn’t get him off my mind. The way those blue eyes had seen deep into my soul and how that smirk he’d given me had made my legs twist with want. If I was obsessed with him before, it had only grown two-fold.

“Riley.” Beth interrupted my thoughts. She was a sweet woman, a few years older than me, with strawberry hair and big green eyes. “We’re grabbing drinks at happy hour. Come with us. Matt says you need to get out more.”

I laughed, knowing it was the truth. Maybe a drink would help take my mind off Greyson Tides. At least, that was my hope. But by the time I’d had two drinks and binged on enough nachos to feed a football team, he was still in my thoughts. Yawning, I called it a night, pulling my coat on as I said my goodbyes.

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