Page 57 of Fractured Fear

No. Notmyguys. Not my anything. They’re just two men who came with me to the gym, who I almost kissed, and who I can’t stop thinking about…that’s all.

On our run back to my apartment, Rio and Zane won’t let me go faster than a jog. Every time I try to speed up, Zane snagsmy elbow and Rio grabs the other. Even though their simple touch is a precautionary one, I can't help but be annoyed at the overprotective gesture.

When we get to the sidewalk in front of the studio, I halt ready to give them my “you need to back off speech,” but Rio beats me to the punch.

“Asher will be by later. We both have to go to work, but he has the next few days off, so he’ll be with you in the studio and gallery while you work.”

“Umm. I think the fuck not,” my well-thought-out speech has completely gone out the window and landed right in the middle of a pile of rat shit that has caught fire because how dare they. “I appreciate the safety instincts guys, but I can protect myself. I more than proved that the other night.”

“He won’t be in the way, Spence. I promise.” Zane attempts to reassure me.

“It’s not that. I don’t even know him and he’s just going to hang around all day? Fuck that. And again, I don’t need a bodyguard.”

“You got a mouth on you, Mama. I like that,” Rio says, swiping his thumb across my lower lip.

“No you don’t, sir. You’re not going to distract me right now. I don’t want a bodyguard nor do I need one.”

“Sir? I could get used to that. Want to try that kind of name calling upstairs in your bed?” Rio waggles his eyebrows.

“Ugh. You two are impossible. Let me say this plain and simple,” I place my hands on my hips and emphasize my next words. “No. No bodyguard.”

“It’s happening. Might as well get on board now so it’s not awkward when Ash gets here.” Yet again, Zane’s reasoning leaves me baffled.

“It’s going to be awkward no matter what! Have you met me?”

“If I had the time, I’d spank you for being a brat,” Zane invades my space. He lowers his head so it's even with my ear. “So we’ll have to save that for later. Go upstairs, baby, and get ready for work.” He nips my lobe and my traitorous pussy floods.

“Go on,” Zane urges as he spins me around and smacks my ass. I jolt and scurry upstairs.

I’m not ready to meet the final member of this bizarre, yet hot as fuck, trio.

Please let Asher be a wrinkly seventy-year-old man.

CHAPTER 21

SPENCER

Be cool. Be cool. Don’t act like an idiot. Yes, a complete stranger is coming to hang around in the shadows like you work, but it’s no big deal. If Rio and Zane trust him then you can trust him too.

My inner pep talk is shit. I fully intend on hiding in the storage room pretending to take inventory or camping out in the breakroom.

After the guys left, I ran upstairs and got ready for the day. My morning is going to be spent at the gallery so I wrestled my ass into a pencil skirt, realizing there was a glimmer of excitement that Rio and Zane might notice how it accentuates my curves. I did my best to cover my bruises with makeup, but my attempts were futile. The black and blue marring my skin isn’t easy to conceal.

I’m adjusting an oil landscape painting on the wall when I hear the front door open. My clomp echoes behind me as I make my way to the breakroom. Safe to say I can take “expert in stealth” off my resume. The people in The Mudhouse next door could hear me.

My workspace for the day consists of a simple kitchenette with a table, a few chairs, and a cushy couch I found online. Thepatrons from Clay Creations use the breakroom to eat lunch if they don’t want to ingest a pound of clay dust with their food. It’s a simple setup, but cozy.

The door bangs open and I just about jump out of my skin. A squeak may or may not escape my lips at the noise.

“What are you doing back here?” Iris questions.

“Working?” Note to self: work on my confidence when lying.

“Without your laptop or paperwork of any kind?” Iris lets out a laugh.

“Shut up. What do you need?”

Iris grins at me. “There’s a Viking here to see you.”

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