Page 15 of Dark Torment

JONATHAN

Being soclose to her when she’s in pain is the equivalent of being kicked in the gut. It fucking hurts and knocks the wind right out of me.

All I want to do is pull her in close and wrap my arms around her. I can feel her sudden anguish coursing through me as I watch her entire demeanour change when she looks at her phone.

I hate how defeated and haunted she looks. And I would give anything to bring back the joy and happiness I saw just a moment ago.

I’d foster all the dogs she wanted if it would just bring her smile back.

I’m about to try and cheer her up when her friend comes out from the back and notices her obvious upset.

“I just need to be anywhere but here when I read it,” she whispers, never taking her eyes off her friend.

She’s already requested that Shelby help me with the adoption process, but I would really rather it be her who helps me.

I watch as she leaves before her friend turns back to me, looking me over as though she’s assessing me. I can see the interest in her eyes, but I only have eyes for Olivia. No one can match her level of beauty and innocence in my eyes.

“So, you want to adopt a dog?” she questions, crossing her arms over her chest like she doesn’t believe someone like me would ever want a pet of any kind.

She’d be right, except my girl deserves to have a fur baby of her own when the time comes, and I want to surprise her.

Drawing in a calming breath, I give her my lawyer smile. It’s nothing close to the genuine one I gave Olivia, but it seems to placate the woman just the same.

“Yes, I would. Thank you,” I stay polite, giving her my attention, even though the sound of the back door slamming shut is where my mind focuses.

“No offence, but you don’t really seem like the pet type. Is this for a daughter or girlfriend, or something?” Her question is the same as my Olivia’s, but it grates on me that she’s insinuating I can’t be the type of man to take good care of a pet.

She’s wrong. I take very good care of everything that is mine, and I would never harm an animal.

“No,” I push out through my teeth, my fake smile still in check, and she raises an eyebrow at me. “I’m taking a long leave from the office for health reasons, and my doctor believes a pet would be good for me.” I give her a half truth.

It’s along the same lines as what I told my boss yesterday. I’ve found that when living a lie, it’s best to keep them all along the same storyline, so you’re less liable to get caught in one.

“Interesting. And what is it you normally do, Mr.—” She waves her hand, clearly searching for my name. I could give her an alias, but I won’t.

“Carmichael. Jonathan Carmichael. I work with the District Attorney’s office in Chicago,” I tell her, and she looks mildly shocked and impressed before laughing.

“I can see why you’d be stressed out, then. A dog should really help you out, though… so would other avenues of stress relief,” she purrs, and I want to strangle her.

The fact that she’s hitting on me is something I find truly repulsive and completely unprofessional, given why we’re here in the first place.

“I assure you, I have everything I need aside from a dog. I think I’m going to come back another day. Your advances and none-too-subtle insinuations are making me uncomfortable.”

I turn on my feet and walk out of the shop without a second glance as I hear her spluttering behind me.

I don’t care if she’s Olivia’s best friend. I will not tolerate anyone flirting with me. I’ve never been one of those men who enjoys being hit on so crassly.

I prefer my women to be more discreet. Over the years, I’ve found that women who are as straightforward as Shelby are just too impulsive for me.

I don’t like being impulsive. I like everything planned, so I have a chance to view every outcome before it happens.

It’s why I’ve never been caught, and I don’t plan on changing that now.

By the time I make it home and get dinner started, I sit on one of my barstools at the island and check her dating profile.

“Fuck!” I curse into the empty kitchen when I see that she’s been flirting with a guy. She’s even agreed to go on a date with him.

Taking a deep breath, I look over his profile before reading through their messages.

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