Page 24 of The Innovator

“I’ll walk you to your car.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to.”

“Don’t you have things to do?” I couldn’t help myself. “Don’t you have a packed schedule?”

The corners of his lips lifted, knowing I’d heard his conversation. I was too exhausted to care, and this jealousy was growing more intense by the minute.

Stop it.

“It’s my schedule, so I can make changes when I need to.” When we got to my car, Grayson said, “If that guy bothers you again, I want you to let me know.”

“He won’t.”

“It’s better to be careful.”

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

“Because I need to protect the only woman I enjoy arguing with.”

“Is that what this is? You enjoy pissing me off?”

He skimmed a hand down my cheek. “Something like that.”

As I drove off, I saw him watching me from the rearview mirror. Though he didn’t say it, I knew he’d escorted me to my car because he was concerned about my safety.

At the stoplight, my phone pinged with a message. I checked the text message from Grayson and grinned a bit too much.

Drive safely. Don’t you dare think about me.

CHAPTERNINE

GRAYSON

I was still burning with fury as I arrived home, kicked off my shoes, and walked into my office.

Natalie had been engaged. I didn’t like that thought at all.

Who the fuck was Rafael? He sent his bodyguard to retrieve her like she was his damn dog.

I’d debated on visiting Gisele’s café today, but decided to go so she’d stop asking.

She was a good time while we were together, but my interest in her died along with other things in my life. Any other man would jump at the opportunity to be with her, but I wasn’t that man. Not anymore.

I wanted something I didn’t understand.

I wanted Natalie. She could touch me in ways no other woman had. The surge to protect her had overwhelmed me when I walked into the shop and saw her frightened face and his hand on hers.

At that moment, darkness spiraled from the depths of me, pushing me to pummel him.

Though he was built like a tank on steroids, I knew exactly where to hit on the body to be effective. My years of martial arts training had taught me shortcuts to hurting my opponent.

I logged onto my computer, preparing to review the pending issues from the day, but I couldn’t concentrate. I needed a drink.

Walking out to my kitchen, silence welcomed me. More than a year ago, silence had bothered me. I liked noise because it drowned out things I didn’t want to think about. But now, silence was my preference.

Who are you?

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