Captivated by Him Page 5

  I got up and padded my way into the bathroom to wash my face. As I stared at myself, I tried to see any difference. It was my birthday.

  Nope. I felt like the same girl no guy wanted to commit to. Saving myself hadn’t worked and going in with a carefree attitude hadn’t worked either. Maybe I was destined to be like my mom, forever single. She seemed happy enough with her career. Could I be happy with just that, too?

  As the sun rose higher in the sky, I walked into the common area where things were quiet. Then I heard Reagan’s pleading voice and knew who she was talking to. Her mother would be the only one to call her so early in the morning.

  Back in my room, I noticed it was nearly ten, not rooster time. I wasn’t normally up at this hour when I didn’t have class. A peek outside revealed a heavily clouded sky with a few breaks where sunlight shined through, which added to my mistake.

  Despite my grandparents’ mantra of “Early to bed, early to rise makes a man (or woman) healthy, wealthy, and wise,” I was a night person. I came alive when the sun went down. Mom often teased that I was given to her by vampires.

  I dialed her number, missing her so much.

  “Meggie.”

  The way she said my name like she was so very happy to hear from me made me feel her love hard even through the phone. I was grateful we weren’t in public, though—that nickname was for family only.

  “Happy birthday, honey.”

  I smiled and wished I could hug her.

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “I planned to call you a little later. I didn’t think you’d be up.”

  We laughed at the truth in that statement.

  “Yeah, I um—” No way I was going to tell her about my sex dream. “—I surprised myself.” I felt a flush creep up into my cheeks as I remembered.

  “Do you have big plans for tonight? I wanted to see you, but I figured you’d rather hang out with your friends. Did you get the box I sent?”

  “I did. I haven’t opened it yet.”

  “Can I be on the phone with you when you do?”

  “Absolutely. Give me a minute.”

  I set the phone down and searched my desk drawer for scissors. After retrieving them, I grabbed the box and sat back on my bed.

  “I have it,” I said.

  “I hope you like it.”

  When I opened it, I gasped. “You didn’t.”

  “You like it? I wasn’t sure if I picked the right one between the two.”

  After Christmas, we’d gone to the outlets, which had been crazy packed, and wandered into the Tory Burch outlet because I wanted to—a girl could dream a little. I’d found two sweaters I wanted like my last breath, but they were way too expensive.

  “I love it.”

  I held up the baby blue sweater to my chest and practically hugged it.

  “I went with the cashmere one.”

  “I love it, I love it, I love it,” I sang. “Thank you so much, but you shouldn’t have.”

  “Since the promotion, I have a little extra and you deserve it. I also put some money in your account.”

  My eyes widened. “Really?”

  “Yes, really.” I could hear the smile in her voice.

  “I love the sweater, but I love you more.”

  “I love you, too.”

  I propped the phone between my head and my ear as I stood staring in the mirror at myself.

  “Megan, there is something else.”

  “Yes?” I said, distracted by the V-neck top that would look great with jeans. I was already planning when I would wear it as she dropped the bomb.

  “I’m seeing someone.”

  My lashes fluttered rapidly as I replayed the words in my head. “You’re what?”

  “I’m dating someone.”

  It wasn’t that I was mad or anything—just surprised. Mom hadn’t dated anyone ever as far as I’d known. Clearly, she kept that on the down low.

  “Wow. Who is he? Someone from your office?”

  I folded the sweater and laid it on the box.

  She laughed. “No, that wouldn’t be good. He’s in law enforcement.”

  “A cop?”

  It shouldn’t be shocking, as she’d been working in the state’s prosecutor’s office for years. She would’ve met a lot of them.

  She giggled in that way you do when you talk about your first crush. “Not exactly. He works for the FBI.”

  I was mature. I could handle this. “How’d you meet?” I asked.

  It was probably a dumb question, but I honestly didn’t know what else to say. Though I did wonder if they were bumping uglies.

  “We’ve been dating for a while. We met when he’d come to town for a case.”

  “So he doesn’t live here.”

  “Not exactly. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I wanted to do it in person, but I thought it was best you knew sooner.”

  That sounded ominous. Her pause only gave me more time to think. Was she pregnant? It wasn’t out of the realm of possibilities. Mom was still in her early forties and some women still had babies at that age.

  “He’s here again on a long-term assignment, and I’ve asked him to stay with me.”

  “Whoa, so this is serious?”

  She laughed again, but this time a little nervously. “I think so. I’m not getting my hopes up.”

  “Margarete.” I heard the man’s voice in the background.

  Her voice faded some, like she’d covered the speaker to talk to him. “Give me a minute. I’m talking to Megan.”

  So he knew about me, but I was only hearing about him now. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

  “Sorry about that,” she said when she came back on.

  “I’m happy for you.”

  And I was. I loved my mother and never wanted her lonely. But this only brought up another subject I’d avoided for a while.

  “Mom.”

  “Yes, Megan?” She sounded a bit relieved, like she’d expected me to be pissed off. I wasn’t, exactly. Happy for her, but a little hurt she’d hid it from me.

  “Do Grams and Grandpa know?”

  “Not exactly. You know how they are.”

  Yeah, they wouldn’t be on board with the whole living in sin. Though they had supported her when she had me out of wedlock, if they’d been in the community and Mom got preggers, she would have been excommunicated.

  But that hadn’t been what I’d wanted to say. I took a deep breath and spit it out. “I’m ready to know who my father is.”

  Silence.

  She’d never told me. When I was young, her excuse had been she’d tell me when I was old enough. My eighteenth birthday had come and gone. By then, I’d been mad he hadn’t come looking for me. That had been irrational because she said he didn’t know. Still, at eighteen, I’d gone off to college and found Derrick. He’d filled that missing hole inside me—or maybe I’d put him there. Was that why he’d broken up with me? I’d needed him more than he needed me?

  “Mom.”

  “Yes.” She paused. “I think that’s something we shouldn’t do over the phone. How about next weekend?”

  My stomach pitched and roiled. Angry birds took off in sudden flight in my chest. “Yes, that would be good.”

  “Okay,” she said.

  She sounded as though she were trying to convince herself that things would be fine. “I have to go. But I hope you have a wonderful birthday.”

  “Thanks, Mom. I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Be safe tonight.”

  Then she was gone. The news that Mom had a boyfriend replayed in my head. Added to that, I would soon find out who my dad was. I never understood the secrecy, but Mom had said it was best for everyone.

  A knock sounded on my door.

  “Come in.”

  Reagan popped her head in with a pan in her hand. I smiled at the flickering light from the candles.

  “Happy Birthday,” she started to sing.

  My eyes pricked with tears. I’d had a
lot of so-called friends growing up, but I’d never truly had a best friend until her. She was the kind of person who would take my secrets to the grave and bake me a birthday cake.

  “Make a wish,” she said once she finished.

  I closed my eyes as the many things I wanted flew through my mind. I thought I’d settled on something until I blew out my candle and a certain boy with too much charm and an ego to match was my last thought when the flame disappeared.

  The bar was packed tonight. Reagan and I had hung around like lionesses ready to pounce to get the seats we had.

  “Cheers,” I said, holding up a shot glass.

  “This one’s for you,” Reagan said.

  “Of course.” I gave her a grand smile and tossed it back.

  I shook my head and stuck out my tongue. Tequila was an acquired taste I hadn’t gotten yet.

  Her gaze drifted over my shoulder before she gave me a wide-eyed stare. “He’s coming.”

  I tapped the counter and got the cute bartender’s attention. “Another.”

  I couldn’t quite hold back the grin that formed on my face. Thanks to Reagan’s warning, the tap on my shoulder wasn’t a surprise.

  Spinning my ass around made the world tilt. It took a second for the face of the guy trying to talk to me to come into view. My smile almost died on my face when I saw it wasn’t Gavin. Reagan had said he like I’d known the person who was coming. I managed not to frown.

  “Hi,” I said maybe a little too brightly.

  “Hey.”

  His voice was rough and he was really cute. So why was I disappointed?

  When I didn’t say anything more, he added, “Can I buy you a drink?”

  The glance I sent Reagan’s way was met with a shrug. The bartender set a duo of shots in front of us.

  “I have one already. But how about I find you later and take you up on your offer then?”

  He nodded and gave a little head jerk to Rae before leaving.

  “Seriously, he was cute,” she said.

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “You of all people are getting on me about not taking the drink? How many guys have you turned down so far tonight?”

  She laughed. “I’m here for you. Not me. Tonight’s your night.”

  “So another shot.”

  “Fine. Only for you.”

  I hugged her before raising my hands and giving a little hoot.

  “Together,” I said.

  We lifted our glasses, clinked them together, and downed them as one.

  “Now let’s dance.”

  10

  gavin

  Unknown number showed up on the screen, but I accepted the call anyway. “Hello?”

  “Hey, just checking in,” the voice on the other line said.

  Checking in was not Jeff’s m.o.

  “Yeah, I’m cool. You?”

  He didn’t give a rat’s ass how I felt. This had to be business. Long ago we might have been thick as thieves, but the fact that this wasn’t a collect call and he hadn’t mentioned he was out of prison was telling.

  “I’m good. I’m thinking about throwing a fight party.”

  Where? I wanted to ask. His last address had been the state pen.

  “Yeah. Should be a good rematch: MMA guy and a boxer. Well, you should come.”

  That wasn’t an idle request.

  “I will,” I said on autopilot.

  “Good. I’ll see you then.”

  He hung up.

  Fuck.

  The entire conversation was bullshit. The checking in meant the boss wanted to see me. The comment about the fight told me I should go to the gym spot in the industrial part of town where the underground fighting ring was held.

  He hadn’t asked if I liked to box or anything like it. That was good. I’d been used as a main event one too many times until the odds weren't working for them. I’d been unbeatable. I hadn’t fought in the past few years.

  I’d been busy playing prep school kid on the rowing team. At first I’d thought I’d hate it—it seemed like such a dumb sport. But damn if I didn’t love it now, and I didn’t once miss fighting for my life every night.

  Still, something about the call didn’t sit right with me. I trusted my gut and I needed backup. It was too late to find someone else. Tade, though he didn’t know I knew, had lived the life I had once upon a time until his rich aunt whisked him away.

  I didn’t bother to knock. I barged into his room across the hall from mine.

  “Let’s go,” I announced.

  “Where to?”

  I arched a brow. Though I needed him, he’d be acting like a shut-in all week since he’d met Megan’s friend. “Anywhere but here. You’ve fallen, my friend.”

  “Fallen for what?” he asked.

  “Obviously that chick has your dick on lockdown. You’re studying on a Friday. It’s pathetic. Let’s ride.”

  That got him moving; he went for a shirt. I left him knowing he’d be right behind me. When I first got the job offer to be the rich boy’s babysitter, I didn’t think I’d like him. He’d gone from rags to riches and I envied the fuck out of him. He’d gotten out, while every day it seemed I was being dragged in deeper.

  We took my truck. His fancy ass car would be noticed. I thought about my Mustang. I hadn’t been home the last two weekends to work on it. Tomorrow.

  It wasn’t long into our drive when two figures came into view. I slowed and spotted my angel. What the fuck was she doing? I should keep going. She was a distraction I didn’t need and couldn’t afford. I drove past then came to an abrupt stop. I closed my eyes and then backed up. I rolled the passenger side window down.

  “Ladies, it’s really not safe to be walking alone. Do you need a ride?” I asked.

  They laughed like they thought I was funny.

  “Where are you heeaaddedd?” Megan slurred. “School’s that way.” She gestured wildly with her free hand, her tits jiggling and stirring my cock.

  “Someplace fun. Hop in.”

  Though it was a bad fucking idea, I couldn’t leave them to walk to school in the state they were in.

  Tade herded the girls into the cab. They were talking, but I was busy trying to figure out how I was going to pull this off. I didn’t want either of them on the boss’s radar, yet I didn’t have the time to drive them back. I’d been summoned and not on my time, but the boss’s.

  Megan’s friend said something I didn’t hear, but I heard Megan’s reply.

  “My ass is cute,” she said while crawling over to me.

  Damn, seeing her on all fours had all kinds of thoughts running through my mind. I pulled her close to my side, making room for Tade and Reagan to fit in.

  “Your ass is fine,” I said.

  That and her tits. They were fucking perfect, nearing spilling out her dress like an offering. I slung an arm around her as I drove to my destination. My mind was busy playing out the scenarios. I needed a reason why I hadn’t come alone, though it’d worked out perfectly. I could say I was out with Tade and we picked up a couple of chicks for the night. It was a good thing nothing happened between me and Megan. There’s nothing she could say that might make her a target.

  Once we drove into the industrial district, Megan asked, “What would be here? Is there a club nearby?” Her face was scrunched up as if in concentration.

  I didn’t answer her, not prepared to lie. I parallel parked against a wall in the crowded back alley. I exited and helped out Megan, who was unsteady on her feet.

  Next thing I knew, she clung to me like a girlfriend. I hoped like hell her drunkenness would answer the questions that were sure to be raised by her being here. Across the alley, I knocked on a nondescript door, but it wasn’t casual the way I’d done it. There was a rhythm to it that was designed to put the guy on the other side at ease, but you couldn’t tell it by the way his gaze swept over us, quickly assessing our threat level.

  When he spotted me, his first words in accented English were, “Your father know?”
<
br />   Though he’d asked in English, I almost replied in Russian. At least my brain was still working despite Megan’s hand drifting toward my ass.

  “I’ll vouch for them. It’s cool.”

  Dad would not be happy to find out I was here. I’d deal with that later.

  We stepped into a converted warehouse, which according to the storefront was a boxing gym. But that was a front for an illegal gambling ring. There were punching bags and other sparing rings, but the crowd was thick and mostly focused on the match in the center.

  Fights didn’t go for rounds. No one was counting connected punches. It would end when someone was down and stayed down.

  I stopped not too far inside. I didn’t plan for us to stay here long. I handed Megan off to Tade.

  “You guys stay here. I have to do something really quick.”

  As I started to walked away, Tade stopped me. “Gavin, wait up.”

  He put a handful of bills in my palm. The fact that he had gave me a shit-eating grin. You could take the boy out of the life, but the life was still in him. He knew exactly what was going on here.

  “Who are you betting on?” I asked.

  “Whoever you’re not.”

  Clearly he didn’t care about losing.

  “Are you sure about that? I’m betting on the winner.”

  He searched my eyes for answers, but I had none. It didn’t matter what he knew: the less of it, the better. The more he acted like a classic rich boy, the easier it was for them to dismiss him. I’d already gotten a whiff that someone was looking for Tate’s son or the boy that used to be around him. My job was to keep anyone from connecting those dots, which meant getting them off the scent. Bring him here tonight was risky. But the wad of cash in my hand might be a play that would keep them looking in another direction.

  “Wouldn’t be fun otherwise,” he said.

  I slipped into the crowd, acknowledging the few people I knew along the way. I pushed through a door, and as it closed behind me I relished the quiet that enveloped me.

  The closer I got to the end of the hall, muted voices became clearer.

  I knocked once and entered. The room held several people. The only one I was interested in was sitting behind the desk. His face was hidden because a woman was all but in his lap in front of him. The sound of the door closing had her swinging her head around. Her lips curled into a smile, then she stood, revealing the guy who called me here.