Page 7 of Tell Me You Need Me

Chapter Five

WEST

What do we have here? I always thought manifestation was all bullshit, but here I was musing about this little teddy bear, and then she appeared. After popping a lock to do so. I’m guessing she doesn’t know Karl has video surveillance on the front of his office doors. I’d spotted the cameras right away, but I would. I was actually surprised when I saw it.

If Karl was in his grave, which he won’t be till tomorrow, then he would have rolled over inside of it if he knew the system he had installed was one that I created. It was one of many projects I’ve done over the years. Security has always been a topic I've been particularly interested in. A therapist would likely attribute this to childhood trauma. They wouldn’t be wrong.

My father had a pattern of getting drunk and raging through the house in the middle of the night. You never knew what you might wake up to. Years later, I’d still jerk awake in the middle of the night, nightmares pulling me back to that time. I suppose my therapy had been making sure I never had to wonder what would come through my bedroom door, because nothing ever would.

"Ah, hi." She gives the same awkward wave she did in the kitchen the first time I surprised her. Pretending I didn’t just catch her red-handed breaking and entering. Her response is oddly endearing, and I want to say adorable, but I don't think I have ever used or thought that word before now.

"Were you searching for something?" I ask her. I don’t know how I manage to keep my face so serious because there’s something about her that makes my lips want to head toward a smile. An expression not many people evoke from me. I’m so curious as to why she was breaking into Karl’s office.

Her mother works for him. This should get the woman fired, but then there would be no Teddy, which might be for the best, but I know I won't do it. I don't want her going anywhere. In fact, maybe I should see about drawing up a contract for her mother. One she couldn’t get out of, and then they’d both have to stay. Maybe that would settle some of the uneasiness that I’ve been feeling since I laid eyes on her.

I push the fucked-up thought from my mind. Perhaps there's something about this house that drives you insane. Makes you do and feel shit that you normally wouldn’t. That doesn’t justify why the hell Teddy is breaking into Karl’s office. It’s then that my thoughts turn to the idea that she might have had something going on with Karl. A relationship.

“Well—” She glances around as if she’s searching for the answer.

“Were you fucking Karl?”

“What!” Teddy gasps. Pink floods her cheeks, and I feel like an asshole.

“Too?” She starts to shake her head. “You know what?” Her shoulders go back, and I know she’s about to lay into me. The girl has a spine, and that revelation does nothing to help my situation. My cock hardens more, loving this side of her.

“I’m sorry.” Her brows rise at my apology as though that was the last thing she ever expected to get out of me. I pick up the glass of scotch next to me on the desk and take a hefty swallow. “You did break in,” I remind her. Those shoulders drop, and I see a splash of guilt hit her expression.

“I picked the lock. I didn’t actually break anything.” Teddy steps farther into the office, taking another look around. “Never been in here before.”

“He would have known,” I find myself telling her. “There are cameras on the door.”

“Then why the shitty lock?”

“Karl was never the brightest, or maybe he wanted to catch someone breaking in.” I set my glass down. “Are you going to tell me why you wanted to get in here so badly?” I ask again. Her lips part. “Don’t lie to me either. Maybe if you’re honest, I will keep this between the two of us. In truth, I ought to fire your mother.” Now I’m the one lying.

She eyes me curiously, walking over to one of the bookshelves. This used to be my father's office, but Karl took it over, along with his bedroom. He easily slipped right into my father's shoes.

“I don’t think you’ll fire her.” She challenges me, which I’m rather enjoying. She isn't fazed by my broodiness or the scar that marks my face. I watch as Teddy runs her fingers along the book, focusing her attention on them rather than on me. Right before I spotted her on the camera outside the office, I was sent the file on her and her mother. I haven’t had a chance to fully go over it yet. I was relieved to find out that she is the same age as Willa and Emmerich.

“And why wouldn’t I?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugs one of her delicate shoulders. Before she’d had a sweater on, but now it’s gone, leaving her only in a shirt that fits her snuggly and a pair of jeans with sneakers.I can see the swell of her breasts with each breath she takes, and yes, I notice every one of them. I find that I pay close attention to every detail when it comes to her. She drops her hand from the bookcase, turning back to me. “Am I wrong?”

“Are you stalling while you come up with a lie?” I toss back, not answering her question, but she’s not wrong.

“I wanted to see what I could find out about you.” Her admission surprises me. I hadn’t even thought of that as a reason as to why she would break into Karl’s office. Something stirs inside of me at her curiosity about me.

“Why?”

“Why?” Teddy lets out a laugh. “I don’t know, maybe because we don’t know you? Now you’re living here. Let's not forget your brother is Karl, and from a few stories I’ve heard about the grandfather… your father, he wasn’t too great.” She takes a few steps toward me. “The Haven men have tempers.”

The fuck.

“Do you know this because of Rich?” I tighten my grip on the edge of the desk, where my hands have fallen, while continuing to lean against it. Teddy rolls her eyes.

“Not in the way you’re thinking. Rich is good to Willa and me. Protective.” I should be grateful for that, but it irritates me. “He can just run hot, and everyone around here knows how Karl can be.”

“Couldbe,” I correct. The man is dead now. I wish I could bring him back to life and kill him again right now, knowing she’s seen or gotten a taste of that side of him.

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