Page 43 of Falling for Fury

Obviously, she wasn’t nearly as affected by our time in Maplewood as I was, but I’m also surprised that I had her wrong. I picked her as a relationship woman, but she was definitely looking for a one-night stand. If the shitty pick in date wasn’t a dead giveaway, her outfit sure as shit was. She tucked those perky tits into a tight black dress that left nothing to the imagination. Fuck-me heels and legs for days. One look, and the memory of being between those legs, was about to get me arrested for public indecency for the tent about to grow in my pants. One look at her sorry excuse of a date, I knew he wouldn’t deliver, and the thought of him trying made me want to drive him down to Maplewood. Have him, Henry, and Jake meet each other at the bottom of the lake.

The buzzing from my phone pulls me from my violent thoughts about the other night as I had stood there on the street watching until Addy’s car had disappeared. Eager to get this call over with, I click the green answer button. “Yeah?”

“Well, hello sunshine, lovely to speak to you, too.”

“What do you want Ethan? I’m not in the mood.” Unless the mood is murder, and the subject’s name is Eric. Eric Matherson, the jerk from Greyson Property I’d seen his ridiculous billboards, and his website is absolute trash. Fuck, Addison gave that guy a chance. Between him and Jake, her douche-radar needed some work.

“You didn’t show up at Pucks, and you’ve been uncharacteristically quiet. I’m just checking in.” No, he is fishing. I know this because I’m in the office, and Caleb has also already tried this on twice today alone. Making small talk and hanging around more than usual. All the urgent work and stress about big deals meaning nothing in the wake of catching Addison on a date. How many other fuckers is she taking to bed who don’t even deserve to breathe the same air as her?

“Fine, tired and busy. Do you need something?” He chuckles at my grumpy tone, and I roll my eyes at his ability to remain unbothered.

“Well, we’re going to Lucas’s tomorrow night, as in the bar. I was wondering if you would actually like to join us this time?” He didn’t need to clarify that it was the bar. I’m sure the plan wasn’t to head to Lucas’s house, that he shares with two twenty-five-year-old children. I suppose Ethan hasn’t quite gotten used to using the name of the bar, considering it is his last name, too.

I release a sigh and throw my head back against my office chair, thinking over my options. Staying in would mean lying around and pretending I’m not thinking about Addison. Having a quiet shower that would be inevitably interrupted by thoughts of Addison and lead to more frustration that all the ‘self help’ hasn’t been able to solve as of yet.

This is getting ridiculous; I barely know the woman.

Fed up with the fucking chokehold Addison has on me, I decide a night out at the club will be perfect. Pick up some stray and get Addison out of my system for good. “Yeah, count me in.”

“Perfect, we’ll see you there.”

“Oh my god, you’re so funny!” I really wasn’t, but Hannah here is eating out of my hands, and if it means ending this sex-hiatus and getting a certain Strawberry Devil out of my mind, I’m in. I sip my beer and nod at her as she wraps her hands around my bicep, pulling herself closer to me.

I’m trying, I really am. Hannah is gorgeous. She has a short brunette bob shaped nicely around her sharp jawline, a stunning smile of white teeth, and curves that would look nice on top of me. But still my brain is just, meh.

“Lucas, can you come to the bar? We’re having some issues with one of the patrons being a creep.” Felix, one of Lucas’s newest hires, comes over to our table and pulls Lucas away. He rolls his eyes and gestures that he’ll be right back, and I catch the end of their conversation as they walk past me.

“We cut him off, but Addy can’t get him to piss off.” Fuck’s sake.

Well, I’m not just going to sit here like a chump, am I? A woman is being harassed. Any normal man in their right mind would help out. It has nothing to do with who the woman is.

Nothing.

I follow behind Lucas, who surprisingly asks no questions, and I see Addison on this side of the bar clearing glasses and the harasser in question attempting to feel her up.

Burning, murderous rage floods my veins, and I do the best I can at containing it as we approach them. Before Lucas or I can do a thing, Addison spins on him after he finally lands a solid grope of her ass and places a firm slap across the guy’s face. The blow sends him stumbling back, decreasing the level of rage and increasing how fucking hot she looks in those black jeans and crop top. “Fuck off, you creep!” she shouts at him.

Damn.

“We good here?” Lucas asks as he towers over Mr. cop-a-feel. Height is a common theme among the Bozzelli’s, with Ethan being an inch or two above me. Lucas probably around the same, but our touchy friend here has a hell of an alcohol ego because he stands under Lucas’s furious gaze like he could throw down and win. My money is on Lucas and those balled up fists.

Leaving the animals to their dick off, I turn to Addison. “Hey, are you okay?” My rage dissipates almost immediately when I look at her; the only person able to make me feel this at ease, forget every bit of stress from work, and every other person on the planet by simply existing in my presence. Also manages to make me lose any bit of focus, and any brain cell that remains evacuates completely when those eyes look at mine.

“Oh, God, you are literally everywhere.” She picks up her tray and turns for the bar. “Noah, I’m working, go away.” Not likely. Hannah, who?

“Just wanted to make sure you’re okay. No need to get your panties in a twist, shortcake.” I give her one of my lazy grins as she faces me, now standing behind the bar. That rage of hers working its usual damage to my self-control and making my desire for her grow rapidly.

So. Fucking. Hot.

Lucas has wrangled some security and managed to manhandle the perpetrator out of the bar, leaving me with Addison. I take a seat in her section and watch her as she busies herself.

“Why are you still here?” She levels me with a bored look as she polishes a glass, and I sip my beer with a shrug.

“Looks like you could do with a bodyguard. Maybe I’ll perch here all night and make sure no one else tries something similar.”

“You are such a caveman.” Again, I shrug, but I don’t miss the smirk she tries to hide.

She heads for the other end of the bar, not giving me a second glance, and like the spell she puts me under has followed in her direction, I somewhat come to my senses and scold myself for still hanging around.

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