Page 44 of Stella
Not that it has to be tonight. But I won’t be home till late
Detective Callaghan
I’m working tonight. I’ll let you know if I’m in the area
Me
Well, give Calli a pat for me
Detective Callaghan
Drink the juice
He’s so bossy. Deep inside, I get this thrill when he tells me what to do. Mainly because I like pushing the boundaries and not complying with any of it. But in the bedroom? I wouldn’t mind that. Not that I’d know much, clearly, since I’ve never had sex. I got pretty close once, but now I’m glad we didn’t because my ex-boyfriend ended up being a real jerk. Since then, my dating life has been a disaster. Needless to say, I’ve been putting all my effort into work and trying to make something of myself.
I’m not boy crazy like most of my friends. I prefer men anyway, but I’ve never met one that I really could fall for. Not like Cale. He’s dangerous in ways I can’t even explain. He’s the enemy.
It’s not just that it gives me heat in all the wrong places, it’shimand how he behaves when he’s around me. Protective.Sure of himself. He makes sure my needs are met and I’m safe. I’ve been at parties around people I didn’t know, and my ex was nowhere to be seen. Me being uncomfortable didn’t matter to him, as long as he was drinking and everyone knew he had arrived. I guess I’m just sick of selfish assholes.
I can’t imagine Cale having one selfish bone in his body, and as much as I know we can’t, I really fucking want to. I mean, if we did, who would have to know? It’s not like it would go anywhere. He hates the MC and they hate him, so that should put a damper on any plans I may be cooking for me and Cale and a hot night together.
Man, oh man. What would I do with a man like him, though? He knows what to do with a woman. Of course he does. He’s probably had more women than I’ve had hot dinners, but I’ve seen that softer side to him too. A nurturing side. His sweet personality doesn’t get much chance to shine when Tag and my dad are yelling at him.
I down my juice, and yes, maybe it is because Cale told me to, but I like it when he praises me, compliments me. It’s not something I’m used to. Sure, guys tell me I’m hot all the time while staring at my boobs, but that’s all they see. They don’t seemeunderneath. The hopeless romantic who believes in love. The girl who would like to find love, the real kind like my dad and Indi have. Then again, my dad is fifty-two years old, and he only just found the love of his life a few short years ago.
I sigh.
A girl can dream. Dreams are free. And I know for a fact that Cale Callaghan is going to be the leading star in every single one of them from now on.
10
CALE
I smilewhen I submit the order. Okay, ordering food for Stella is over the top, but she needs the juice. I know from experience how bad hangovers can be, especially when you don’t drink very often. Deep down, Stella may act wild and even a little mischievous, but I have no doubt she’s a good girl. I can tell by how cute she is when she’s tipsy, and also how naïve she can be when it comes to strangers.
I don’t need to check out her record to know that Harlem, despite our differences, did a good job raising his kids alone. Stella is an upstanding citizen and she knows how to light up a room; not that I expect that was her father’s intention.
I can’t say that for the rest of the MC. But that asshole from last night? There was something off about him. I wasn’t kidding about the sixth sense, and I use it daily in my job.
When I went to the gym this morning, low and behold, who did I see? That fucking asshole. I knew it was a sign. I got his plates, then ran them when I got back to the office, because using my resources in the force for good instead of evil makes poking into people’s lives seem a lot less shady and more heroic.At least in my book it is. I’m protecting her, and other women, from creeps.
Creeps like Blake Donovan.
He might look like a ‘nice guy’ but it’s always the squeaky ones you’ve gotta worry about. He had a prior record as long as my dick, and one charge for assault on an ex-girlfriend. Unfortunately for him, he has a warrant out for his arrest for not showing up for a hearing. From the report, it detailed he slapped her and she had bruising to her arms and shoulders. I think some guys think because it’s not a close-fisted punch that it doesn’t count. But you should never put your hands on a woman like that. No matter what. Subsequently, he had scratches to his face and arms, undoubtedly from where she tried to get away. I have no fucking doubt in my mind that this guy is bad news. Now I have a reason to do something about it. If this piece of shit thinks he can go around hurting women and getting away with it, not to mention touchingmyStella, then he can think again.
I want to fuck him up, mainly for his hands-on approach, but now that I know everything about him, it only gives me pause to think it through. Inflicting punishment isn’t something I take lightly, but who the fuck does he think he is?
I wait until the next morning, hoping Blake is a creature of habit. Luckily for me, he is. Could I just arrest him right now? Sure. But I wouldn’t mind talking to him first, hang around before I make a decision on whether to take him in, or fuck him up.
I mean, he deserves jail time. That woman has to walk around for the rest of her life feeling afraid because of him. But maybe it’ll make him think twice about hurting a woman, or anyone vulnerable for that matter.
One of my pet peeves is men who behave this way; like they’re some big tough hero who uses charm and charisma to getwhat they want. Frankly, I’m not overly patient when it comes to any of that shit.
I watch him while I’m cycling on the stationary bike. There are cameras in here, but I have friends in low places, and I also know where those cameras are. I thought I could bide my time, but seeing him flexing and checking out women in the gym, literally ogling them like a weirdo, makes me want to slam his head into the stack of weights nearby repeatedly until he gets the idea. Some dudes just don’t know when chicks are not into them. And while I get that Stella agreed to dance, she didn’t agree to being groped. Knowing he’s had his hands on her doesn’t boil my blood, oh no, it turns my blood into icicles, and that’s about a thousand times worse. Apparently my mom didn’t have a temper, so I must’ve inherited it from my dad. I wince at the idea, but now isn’t the time to reflect on that. Whoever that fuckface was, he did a good job of not sticking around.
When I’m done on the bike, I move over to the weights. The perfect opportunity arises to spot him, and it’s just my luck that I happen to be standing right there.
“You good?” I give him a chin lift.
