Fighting Control (Bay State Series Book 3) (3 page)

Advancing on me, he puts his arms up in attempt to halt my forward progress. “Please hear me out Tanya?” He asks and I have no other choice but to back up against the wall behind me as he closes in.

My body seems paralyzed as he pins it against the wall and my mind is screaming, trying to find an escape but it's too late; I'm caged in. “I don't give a shit about what you have to say. You didn't care to give me an explanation then and I sure as hell don't want one now.”

He leans in and runs his nose the length of my neck and I can't help the shiver of desire that runs through me before my mind can realize what's happening. “Get the fuck off of me,” I yell and push at him, but he won't relinquish his hold on me.

“You really don't want me to do that do you?” He sneers and I can smell the whiskey heavy on his breath.

“Yes I do,” I yell again, but it doesn't do me any good. He spreads my legs with his knee and rubs it against me. Sudden panic rushes my senses. I have no idea on how far he plans on taking this in the dimly lit hallway. “Get the fuck off of me now,” I close my eyes and scream at the top of my lungs. Before the final word has left my lips, his weight is gone.

Slowly blinking, I can vaguely see Eric lying flat on his back. Looking up, my gaze meets the mesmerizing eyes that I could so easily get lost in. The same eyes belonging to the one person that I never thought I would see again. Or at least my shame hoped that I never did.

“You!”

Break

Julian

“Is Greg Bellivue available?”

After thinking long and hard about my decision, I find myself standing in the reception area at the radio station. I plan on offering an interview for information. He'll either take it or leave it.

The receptionist picks up the phone and dials an extension. After several seconds she explains my inquiry and turns back to look at me covering the phone before asking, “And may I ask who you are?” I tell her my name and she pulls the phone back to her mouth. “He said his name is Julian Martin, sir.” She pulls the phone away as I hear his very excited voice come through. “He says to head up to the fourth floor. He'll meet you by the elevator.”

I smile as I thank her and turn towards the elevators directly to my left.

I'd been in this building a few times during my rookie year but haven't since and never to this floor. The radio station does a sports calendar, focusing on a different sport every year. Ours should be coming up again in the next couple.

The man that greets me screams frustration. His hair is a mess from the hundreds of times that he must have run his hands through it.

“You wanted to see me?” Greg asks expectantly.

“Yes. I was hoping you could help me with something?”

“Hey, you were at the party the other night, weren't you? Why didn't I realize it before? You took Tanya home.”

He's observant. I'll give him that. Just wondering why he didn't recognize me until now. “Yeah, that’s what I came here to ask you about.” Tanya. That's her name. Damn. How hard is that to remember? I must have been concentrating entirely on the effect she was having on me.

“You came here to talk to me about Tanya? Why?” He asks as he escorts me into his office and we both take a seat across the desk from each other.

I come right out with it. “I have a proposition for you. She ran off without a word and I've been trying to find her. You want an interview. I think we could help each other out. Don't you?”

He raises an eyebrow at my request but a huge grin splits across his face moments later. “She'll probably want to kill me, but what the hell? She knows I have a deadline.”

“She doesn't have to know.”

“I think she will. She's way too smart. I get my interview that I desperately need, from you of all people and you just happen to run into her. I highly doubt she's that naive.” Damn. I hadn't really thought about that. Oh well, she'll get over it, hopefully.

“Okay, you tell me how to find her and you got yourself an interview.”

Two hours after sitting down in his office, I have all the information I need to find her. She has plans with her friends at Rain tomorrow night and I plan on making an appearance. Whatever it is I felt when I was with her is definitely worth trying to figure out. I've never felt as instantly connected to anyone as I did with her.

                              *****

Sitting at the bar, my body becomes aware of her as soon as she steps through the door, and I hesitate before turning to see that I'm right.

She looks sexy as hell in a tight fitted purple dress that leaves her shoulders bare and cuts off mid thigh. I can't see her shoes, but I don't have to. Her hair is in luscious full curls, falling right below her chest and it's begging for my fingers to run through it.

I instantly feel my jeans tighten at the sight of her. The flashing lights cast a dance all around her, reminding me of stars stretched across a clear night sky and I've never seen anyone look so gorgeous.

I watch her as she sits with her friends at a table on the other side of the dance floor. She turns in my direction and I see her flinch and quickly turn back around. Shit! Did she see me? Does she recognize me? Want nothing to do with me? I chance looking in her direction again after several minutes and notice her group walking in my direction. Holding my breath, I wait for a fight that never comes.

I hear her talking with her friend briefly about Holy Cross church and breathe a sigh of relief when she wedges herself in next to me waiting for the bartender to notice her. Damn, how can't he? I'm hyper aware of her thigh brushing against my leg as she waits. She orders shot after shot for her and her friends and I wonder if she's ever going to leave the bar. I want to approach her but not with her friends around.

I feel the loss of her presence, the emptiness weighing heavy in my chest. I turn and watch as the two girls reach the dance floor and lose all inhabitations to their dancing, letting loose to the sounds beating out of the speakers.

I watch as her body moves to the music and then comes to a halt when a set of hands settle on her shoulders. Who the fuck is this asshole? I would have never thought about approaching her had I known she was seeing someone. Greg didn't mention anything to me and she was more than a little flirtatious at the party. Maybe I should just cut out and forget all about her. If she would cheat on her boyfriend then I don't need that aggravation. I'm nothing if not loyal and I would expect the same in return.

As soon as I lay cash down to cover my tab, I get up to leave and see her run towards the restrooms, tears streaming down her cheeks as her friend chases after her. So maybe he's not her boyfriend. I watch for her to come out of the hallway and see her friend walk out and the guy from a few minutes ago head in the direction she just came from. I debate interfering. Still not sure who this guy is, I decide to at least go and assess the situation to make sure he's not giving her unwanted attention.

As I round the corner, I spot him pinning her against the wall. “Get the fuck off of me now!” I hear her scream and that's all the invitation I need to pull this fucker off of her and launch his ass to the ground. She looks up in utter confusion from the loss of his weight. Seeing him lying on the ground she looks to me. “You,” is all she says, breathing heavy like a fish deserted on a dry beach, gasping for much needed air.

Keeping my distance I ask, “Are you okay?”

She rushes the distance between us, enveloping me in her arms while chanting, “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I was so scared. I could smell the alcohol on his breath. I didn't know how far he would go.”

Tilting my chin towards the scum, pitifully still taking up space on the floor in front of us I ask, “Do you know him?”

“I used to,” is her only reply as she takes my hand and drags me from the hall. At least he has enough sense to not get up and follow. He stays on the floor, right where his low life ass deserves to be. She doesn't offer any more explanation as we near her friends.

She comes to a halt a few feet from their table and turns, whispering in my ear. “Can you bring me home?” she asks and I give her a quick nod in answer to her question before she turns and walks the distance to them.

“Hey, I'm pretty tired. I'm gonna get going home.” Two of the three guys at the table stand, a look of concern etched on their faces before turning to me.

Recognition dawns on their faces and I know that they know, exactly who I am. I'm still surprised Tanya hasn't figured it out yet. Although, again she's pretty drunk like the last time we were together and I wonder if it would be different if she was sober. “Holy shit Tanya. You didn't tell us you knew Julian Martin. What the fuck?” The taller of the two says as the third guy gets to his feet, all of them come around the table to shake my hand. The two who were first to their feet introduce themselves as George and Frank, Tanya's brothers. The third's name is Braydon and the woman with them is his fiancé, Ilyanna. “What's it like to play for the Patriots?” George directs his question at me this time.

“It's awesome. I couldn't play with a better organization.” I don't miss the look of panic on Tanya's face once she realizes who in fact I really am and I wonder briefly if she still wants me to take her home. After about twenty minutes of questioning from the star struck guys, I turn to her. “Are you about ready to head out? I have an early gym slot in the morning.” She looks at me and nods her approval.

Frank asks, “Hey Tanya are you okay? Really? Ilyanna told me about Eric approaching you on the dance floor.”

“I'm fine thanks to Julian. I'll fill you in tomorrow. I'm really tired. I just want to get home and get some sleep.”

“You better. Nobody bothers our sister and gets away with it,” he says as he fist bumps George in a show of solidarity. I know if I had a sister I'd protect her with my life.

They hug Tanya goodbye and give me a pat on the shoulder in way of thanks for watching out for her.

“It was nice meeting you,” I call to the group as a whole and get the same from them in return, as we walk towards the exit.

I guess this Eric guy doesn't take a hint because he's standing in our way blocking the path to the door.

“So who's your knight in shining armor?” He asks with slurred words.

“Where's your wife? Finally ditch your sorry ass?” She spits back at him.

“I asked you first, bitch. You answer me, I'll answer you.”

This guy is really starting to piss me off and the realization that he's married sends ice through my veins and just strengthens my assumption of what a douche bag he really is.

“I don't owe you a god damned thing Eric. You left me remember. Now get the fuck out of our way.” She's got spunk. I'll give her that. I wonder if she'd be so brave without me standing next to her.

“What if I don't want to?” This guys a fucking idiot. I'm at my breaking point. Either he moves or I'll break his face.

“I suggest you move before I do it for you,” I threaten. He stands his ground for several minutes in a staring match with me while I try to control my temper. I really can't risk my career over some worthless piece of shit. Hopefully he's not stupid enough to call my bluff. I notice as the fight leaves him, he loses an entire inch from his height as he releases the tension in his shoulders and reluctantly moves out of our way.

When we reach my car she lets out a long whistle. “Damn. This is a nice ride,” she says as I open the door for her and she climbs inside.

I wait until I'm fastened in my seat to start my questioning. “So, do I dare ask who that poor excuse for a man was?” I look over at her in the passenger seat and she looks totally drained, slunk back in her seat, eyes closed, slowly rubbing her temples. I pull out of the parking lot and wait for her to answer me.

Finally I hear her let out a long, heavy sigh. “He's my ex fiancé. We were going to get married after college. He left me and married his wife three weeks later.” Well damn I didn't expect that or for her to keep going. “We had all of our plans settled or so I thought. I'll never be that stupid again. I just don't know if I can trust anyone after what he did to me.”

“I'm sorry. I hope you don't judge every man because of him though. There are good guys out there.”

“Let me guess, you're one of them?” She asks and giggles as soon as the words leave her mouth.

“I think I am. I've never had a serious relationship though so I guess it's just an assumption that I couldn't see myself being that way. I believe my parents raised me better than that.”

It was quiet in the car for quite a while before I broke the silence. “How am I going to bring you home if I don't know your address? Am I even driving in the right direction?” I laugh at my carelessness. I think I was just so happy to finally have her alone again that my mind blanked out.

“Oh shit. Um....” She looks out her window for several seconds to determine our whereabouts. “Yeah, we're actually only a few blocks away. At the third set of lights take a left. There are a few turns after that. I'll tell you as they come up.”

I can't believe I was able to navigate us so close without even asking her. We must have been driving for a good forty five minutes. Unluckily for me it was actually in the right direction.

When we pull into her driveway, I shut off the car and climb out. Going around the car, I open her door and help her out. Damn. Now I have a clear shot at her shoes. Clear peep toe sandals, revealing her bright pink painted toe nails. I'm not usually a foot person but hers look positively scrumptious, along with every other inch of her glorious body.

The clearing of her throat breaks me out of my dirty thoughts. I think she knew exactly what my thoughts were. As soon as I look at her face I can see the blush covering her adorable cheeks. Looking at her lips, I ache to kiss them. “Thanks for the ride.”

“You're most welcome.” I have to see her again. Make her mine. Our jobs be damned. Some people would say it's conflict of interest. I say, I just don't give a flying fuck. “Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?” I ask as I walk her to her door.

“I would love to.” Zero hesitation. That's a good sign. I just wonder if she'll remember in the morning.

“Give me your phone,” I demand. She unlocks the screen before handing it me so I can program my number and call myself with it so hers is on my caller ID. “Thanks. Does five o’clock work for you?”

“Sure. Text it to me. Who knows how I'll feel in the morning. Just to warn you, I have some questions about our night together.” She stands on her tip toes and wraps her arms around my neck planting the sweetest fucking kiss on my lips. I pull her closer and deepen the kiss, slipping my tongue against the seam of her lips until she opens for me willingly.

I moan into her mouth, savoring our private moment until a light turning on inside the house breaks me from my trance and reluctantly I pull away. “Tomorrow,” I say as I turn and make my way off of the porch.