Page 130 of Wild Love
And even though I don’t wear a fake smile, I realize I might be one of them after all.
CHAPTER FORTY
ROSIE
“Here?”Ford asks as I drag his infuriating ass out of the event.
“No. I don’t want some asshole snapping a photo of me reaming you out and running a headline about you being the World’s Most In Trouble Billionaire.”
Hesmirksat my response. “At least that title has a little character to it.”
Do I want to tear his head off? Yes.
Do I want to protect him at all costs? Also yes. I swear, if that blond reporter writes something mean about him, I’ll pull her extensions out.
I ignore him, hail our town car, and scoot to the opposite side.
Of course this charming idiot does what he did before and slides into the middle. I’ve always known Ford to be unapologetic and firm in his beliefs, and the way he’s reacting now is proof of that.
We ride in silence, hands on each other’s knees, the view out the window blurred by the dark night whipping past on the mostly empty roads. The minute the town car comes to a stop in front of the opulent boutique hotel, which sits on a cliff overlooking the lake, I fly out the door. The driver is flustered by not being able to open it for me, but I barge past him, the swish of silk accompanying the tapping of my heels against the brick walkway that leads to the front doors.
I hear the low mumble of Ford thanking the man, who I’m sure will go home and tell his partner about the strange couple he drove tonight. I head straight for our room without a glance back. Ford’s low chuckle as he takes long strides to catch up with me rumbles across the back of my neck. Just the sound of him makes my hair stand on end.
I’m mad at him right now, but my nipples pebble all the same.
Fucking Ford Grant.
I stop at our door, and he’s already caught up, thanks to his fitness and obnoxious height. He swaggered up while I stormed out, and he still caught me.
It’s annoying.
The veins on the top of his tanned hand catch my eye, highlighted by the midnight blue of his tuxedo jacket. He swipes the card, opens the door, and follows me in.
As soon as the door clicks shut, I spin on him. “Explain yourself.”
His tongue presses against his cheek, and he props a shoulder against the wall, unperturbed by my agitation. “What part? I told you I was going to ruin them. You toldme you wanted to forget about them. All I did was follow through and respect your wishes.”
I suck in a breath, transported back to that night on the dock when all those truths spilled from my lips while tears spilled from my eyes.
He absorbed every last one.
“I thought you were just…” My hands wave around as I search for the words I want to use. “I thought you were just talking a big game.”
His head tilts in that signature Ford way, making heat pool low in my body. “That’s the problem, Rosie. You’ve spent too much time around men who talk a big game but don’t possess the will to follow through.”
I swallow and everything inside me clenches.
“Stan has been learning a very valuable lesson of late.” He takes a brief peek down at his Rolex. “In fact, your friend was right—he learned another one just a few hours ago.”
“What’s the lesson?” I ask in a hushed voice, taken aback by Ford’s brazenness. By his brutality.
“That he has no power. No pull. That everything he has is easily taken away. He’s getting a little taste of the way he made you feel.”
I’m shocked. And I wonder why. I’ve always known Ford was like this—cutting and vicious andgooddown to the marrow of his bones.
This vengefulness is new to me. It should upset me, but… I find myself in awe of a man who would go to such lengths for me.
He looks like a predator. With his nonchalant voice andshy demeanor, he’s one you’d never see coming. And yet here he is, a cat playing with the mouse as he kills it slowly. And I’m strong enough not to blink away.
