Page 9 of The Red-Hot Stakes

He stepped toward me, hand outstretched. “No, Gina. Let’s talk about this.”

I just shook my head. “We’re through. Finite. Kaput. I’ll be back at six, and you’d better be far away while I pack. And none of you better be here, either.” I glared at all of them, snatched the donuts off the counter and strode out the door.

Chapter Three

Hands shaking, I called Avery. She didn’t answer, so I tried Derek, who didn’t answer either. I was just about to call an Uber when I saw Liam’s name in my contacts, and I hesitated. Oh, what the hell.

“Gina?” he answered.

“You busy?” My words were tentative, since I wasn’t really sure where we stood.

“Never too busy for a friend. Whatcha need?”

The word ‘friend’ sent a jolt of warmth through me, a ray of sunshine in this shit-storm life had thrown me. I explained in short, angry words my situation, as well as my plan to return tonight to move out of Josh’s apartment. My fingers hurt from how hard I gripped the phone.

“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” His voice was nearly a growl.

“Liam?”

“Yeah?”

I hesitated. “Meet me at the Starbucks on Ravine, okay?” It nearly killed me to admit the next part out loud. “I don’t want to wait here.”

“Of course.”

After we hung up, I hurried to the Starbucks, where I grabbed us a couple of coffees. It was the least I could do, with Liam going out of his way to pick me up. I bought a Cinnamon Dolce Latte, my rare treat. I deserved one today.

I didn’t even let Liam park, just hopped in and handed him his espresso. He liked it the same way he liked his beer, dark and rich. Then I set the bag with the donuts on the armrest, glaring at it.

“I have an extra donut too, if you want. The glazed one’s mine, but there’s a chocolate long john.” Josh’s favorite. I gritted my teeth. So much for making up.

Liam frowned. “Shouldn’t I be the one buying you treats?”

“I’d already bought the donuts,” I said woodenly.

With a shrug, he held out his hand for the long john. “Where to?” It was extremely satisfying to watch him tear it apart.

“I don’t know.” I hung my head. “Avery didn’t answer.”

His brow furrowed, shooting me a sidelong look as if I were dumb. “So? It’s not like she’s going to say no to you staying with them. You can hang out with me until they get back.”

I tried to blink away my shock, but I had to clarify. “At your place?”

“Sure.” He shrugged. “Or wherever you want.”

I thought for a minute, wondering if I’d interrupted his busy day at work. “What exactly do you do, anyway?”

His gaze flicked to mine, surprise in it. “I’m an investor.” His broad shoulders bobbed up. “I buy businesses and help make them more profitable, whether through better employee management or actually turning it over to the employees. You’d be surprised how many businesses have a ton of talent at their fingertips.”

“Nice.” I didn’t know what else to say and silence fell between us.

Turning toward the window, I noticed a man with long hair like Josh’s, and an unbidden image of Josh in bed with those women popped into my head. I couldn’t even begin to process it. The scene ran through my head again.

How long has this been going on? Just how many people have been in my bed? Shit. I winced, knowing I needed to get tested. Right away.

“Gina?” Liam asked with alarm. “You okay? You just got really pale.”

My phone rang, saving me from having to spill my guts. Not that I wasn’t grateful for him picking me up, but we weren’t quite on that level. “Avery, hey.”

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