Page 11 of Swallow Your Fear
Tiptoeing to the other side of the desk, I opened another drawer, finding dozens of files just like the other. My legs were falling asleep as I crouched, so I lowered my knees to the cowhide rug, flipping through folder after folder.
As I was just about to give up on the drawer, something pressed on my back, and against my better judgment, I let out a small shriek.
“What are you looking for?”
Just who I wanted to catch me. Why couldn’t it be Austin or Henley?
I pushed the drawer shut, the soft-close slowing its dramatic effect. I silently cursed the fancy mechanics and stood, whirling on him.
“Oh, don’t get off your knees for me, Darlin’. I quite liked you down there.”
I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms over my breasts and popping a hip. “I’m looking for your name.”
He took off his black cowboy hat, settingit upside down on the desk beside me. “Won’t find it in here. Or anywhere in this house, in fact.”
I tried to keep my eyes from taking in his entire face and the allure he held based on looks alone. The mask and the hat last night had been…shockingly enticing, but this man, with his close cropped hair and dark, full beard drew me in, and that in itself was dangerous. “Why’s that?”
He invaded my space, dark eyes pinned to mine. “Because I cover my tracks, Brynne, and I think you should start doing the same once we’re done with you.”
Done with me?As if they were using me like a tissue, only to be thrown away when the job was done. The fact that he hid himself so well, even within his own home, piqued my interest. What did he have to hide?
“What do you want with my ex?”
He grabbed his hat, walking over to the rack by the entry of the office to set it on a hook. “Get some sleep. We can chat through all your little questions in the morning.”
I glanced out the windows, the sun just barely setting. “It’s not even dark.”
He ignored me, making it clear he didn’t give a shit. What he really wanted to say wasget the fuck out of my office, and I had to be thankful he didn’t phrase it that way.He crossed back to the desk, stepping around the edge to pull out the chair. He took a seat, taking his laptop out of the small drawer under the wood top.
“I want to talk about itnow. I’m staying in your fucking house.”
His lips thinned as he looked at me. “I don’t give a shit what you want to do. This is my house, and I want to be alone, so get the fuck out ofmy office.”
Ah, there it was.
He opened his laptop as I asked, simply to get under his skin, “How can you ever be alone with two other guys under the same roof?”
He typed on the keyboard, not bothering to look my way anymore. “Their company is much more enjoyable than yours. They know a little something about personal space.”
My mouth popped open as anger pulsed through me. Was he fucking kidding? If anyone needed to be educated on space, it washim.
As his fingers moved, the screen lighting up his face, I wanted to keep digging. Or bait him to slip up. Either worked. But by his posture alone, I knew I wasn’t going to get anything out of him. Though I hated the satisfaction he must have felt in getting his way, I turned and left the office, walking back through the kitchen to head up the stairs, finding my room easily. Rather than going to sleep, though, I threw on a pair of leggings and a sports bra and headed outside for a run.
Nothing made me feel better than a long stretch of cardio and the pounding of my heart. It was simply a plus that the view was spectacular on this ranch. To my displeasure, I had the nightmare of a man inside to thank for that. Otherwise, I never would have been fortunate enough to have this view on one of my runs.
I guessed things weren’t as bad as they initially seemed. Or at least, I hoped.
My stay on this ranch was still young.
Chapter 7
Booker
From the window in my office, I had the perfect view of Brynne jogging up and down the driveway last night. I was sure she knew I could see her, her tan belly on display in only a sports bra and high-waisted leggings that crossed in the front. She knew exactly what she was doing, and yet, I couldn’t look away.
Her ponytail had brushed over her shoulders each time it swung back and forth, sweat dripping down her skin, mouth parted as she breathed deeply. I wanted to see her like that, but in an entirely different setting. All her workout managed to do was get my cock hard, which turned into a hot shower with my fist pumping to relieve myself.
With a hand on the glass to keep myself up, I’d watched my release wash down the drain, figuring it was better than all over her back, but not nearly as heavenly feeling. Throughout the night, I’d kept my ears open to listen for Austin or Henley in case they got any brightideas and snuck into her room. Last thing I needed was Henley causing more problems that I had to clean up.
