Private Listing Tease Me, page 16
“I’m sorry she played you, Seth.” I want to tear her apart for taking advantage of him.
“She used me to get to Coop. One night, Leighton was gone and Elizabeth snuck out of my room and into Coop’s. I woke to find her out of bed and went to look for her. I heard her begging him to fuck her.”
His fingers on my hip clench down. I kiss his chest, wishing I could take away that pain.
“We kicked her out that night. After that, Leighton insisted Coop choose between us and her. It was a fucking mess. The next year, Noah’s girlfriend told Noah he had to choose either us or her. Every time a girl tried to come between us, we dropped her.”
“That’s when you decided to share?” I draw a circle on his chest. The guys really are tight-knit. Some woman before me should have recognized that my guys are family. They could have had wives who understood their relationship and flourished in it. But I’m glad they didn’t. Because they’re mine.
“A woman couldn’t come between us if we were all fucking her. I wasn’t about to let my heart get drawn in again, so I was good with the arrangements.” Seth’s chest rises and falls. “We didn’t continue with it after college. College seemed like a good place to experiment. After, we had enough to do to keep our business afloat at first.
“We found it difficult to maintain anything but business. We created this floor to make it easier on us and figured we could have our assistant live with us for exactly the reasons we first told you. We were working crazy hours. When Andrea came on, she reminded us of our college days and how easy it had been to share a woman. Andrea fucked us all over, but Blake was the one who had brought it up to us as an option. He feels responsible for her and her blackmail because he invited her in.”
My heart squeezes. Blake has always been more closed off with me. Especially at the beginning.
“That’s his story to tell.” His thumb brushes my lower lip and my attention returns to him. “After Andrea, we didn’t think we’d try it again.”
“But then Rachel kissed you.”
He nods. “I didn’t want a woman to come between us again, so I sold the guys on the idea of sharing her.”
“She didn’t like that idea.” The venom in her voice in the bathroom still rings in my ears. “Thankfully.”
He chuckles and smiles. “I didn’t think I’d be grateful to those women who came before, but they all led to you. I thought for sure you’d tell me to fuck off when I gave you our offer.”
My heart beats a little faster. “I didn’t know how I was going to get through the days without trying to fuck any or all of you. Pretty sure that would have been unprofessional.”
“If there’s one thing you aren’t, princess, it’s unprofessional. You would have worked with us just like you do now, but we would have all taken a lot of cold showers.”
I rest my cheek against his beating heart, letting it lull me. “I don’t want any secrets between us.”
“No more secrets. Open and honest, but we also need to get to know each other better. Outside of sex.”
I glance up at him and he winks.
“And work,” I add. “We’ve done this all backward. Sex and love, but I don’t know much about any of you outside of the women you guys have shared. I know that you all grew up together.”
“I’m more than willing to divulge some of their secrets.”
I move up so our heads are on the same pillow, face-to-face. “Spill.”
Chapter 145
Deliverable
Coop
I pace my office, waiting for Theo to come in. He sent a text in the middle of the night saying he thought he had a lead on the corporate spy.
My mind is spinning with all the things. Today is our honey trap lunch. Our chance to catch the spy in a legitimate trap. What Theo found might just point us in the correct direction, even if it won’t hold up in court.
I’m also waiting for the stalker to step up his game. He doesn’t like me. He’s made that obvious. It won’t be long before he attacks me, but how is the problem. He hasn’t gotten physical with Madison except to scare her.
But he wants her for some sick game, not to hurt her.
I’m in his way. He might have killed Valerie for getting in his way. If he wants a fight, he should consider me a worthy adversary.
A knock echoes through my office.
“Come in.” I straighten my suit.
“Theo called to ask for an escort up.” Madison stands in my doorframe. Her blond hair falls in soft waves around her shoulders. The dress she has on is a wrap dress, making my fingers itch to grab hold of the tie and unwrap her.
“You can bring him up.” I focus on her red lipstick. Next time we play, I want her to wear that lipstick and smear it all over my cock.
“Be right back.” She turns on her heels and leaves.
Fuck, she distracts me. She distracts all of us in the best possible way. She won’t work as our assistant forever. At some point we’ll have taken her as far as she can go in our business and she’ll go off to a new adventure, but we’ll still be with her. Madison is ours, and I’ll do what it takes to keep her bound to us.
My phone buzzes.
Mother:
Saw the announcement. You need to call home. Your father and I need to talk to you.
Announcement? I turn to my computer and do a quick search on my name. My eyes widen as I read the article. My hand clenches tighter with each word. What the actual fuck?
“Theo to see you.” Madison’s voice penetrates my brain fog.
“Tell him to wait and come here.” I don’t take my attention off the announcement that I didn’t send in. My phone rings. It’s my publicist. Fuck.
Madison returns.
“Close the door.” I hit Speaker on my phone. “I’m looking at it now, Grant. Tell me you didn’t post this.”
Madison comes around the desk to see what I’m looking at.
“No. We didn’t even get notice before it was posted.” Grant sounds harried. I’m sure my mom’s already been on his case.
“What is this?” Madison’s fingers cover her lips as she squints at the screen.
“Have it taken down, Grant. I’ll call you in a few minutes.” I disconnect the call and draw Madison down on my lap, needing her close.
“‘Known Man Whore Cooper Graham Takes a Naive Farm Girl for His Bride’?” Madison shakes her head. “What is this?”
“We don’t know.” I rub my forehead and sigh. This is the last thing we need. “It must have just shown up because my mother and my publicist just contacted me.”
Madison turns to look in my eyes. “Any idea who could have done this?”
I stroke my hand down her back. Her being close helps calm me down. “A spurned ex? Leighton comes to mind. Elizabitch? Your stalker? Some other jealous woman? Who knows?”
Madison’s lips press into a fine line as she turns to read the rest of the article. “Do you really think it could be the stalker?”
The tremor in her voice makes me pause. The stalker is getting to her. She can’t live her life in fear of his next move. I take a deep breath. “I don’t know, sweetheart, but we’ll find out. It’s only on one site so far. My publicist should be able to get it taken down before it spreads.”
She draws in a breath and lets it out slowly. I can almost feel her putting her shield back up.
“Should I go get Theo?”
I wrap my arms around her and hold her to me, breathing in her floral scent for a moment. I almost wish the stalker would come at me. Then I could fight back. That’s the most frustrating part of this. He decides when to strike. He decides how to terrorize her. We have no way to protect her besides putting her in a tower. Which isn’t fair to her.
When I release her, I help her to her feet. “Yes. Get Theo.”
She turns and her blue eyes lock on mine. “I’m sorry—”
“This isn’t on you, sweetheart. I’m just surprised it took someone this long to post something.” I give her my best cocky smile to hide the anger simmering below the surface. “What can I say? Women love me. It’s probably someone bitter that I didn’t choose them. Don’t think any more about it, sweetheart.”
She gives me that soft smile that punches me right in the heart before going to get Theo.
My smile slips as soon as she leaves the room. I capture the article with a screenshot because Grant will get it taken down. That’s why our family uses his firm. I attach it in an email to Seth, Blake, and Noah.
Just had this brought to my attention. An “engagement announcement” posted early this morning. Publicist is working to take it down. Madison is aware. Either some ex or stalker. Given the timing, I’m leaning toward the stalker.
The door opens, and I smile at Madison as Theo walks in with his computer bag over his shoulder. His usually crisp shirt is a little wrinkled and there are bags under his brown eyes. Madison closes the door.
“You okay?” I can’t help but ask.
“Just a late night.” Theo cracks a crooked smile. “I get a little obsessed when I catch a trail.”
“Coffee?”
“That would be great.” He pulls out his laptop while I message Madison to bring him coffee.
“You found something then?” Right now, I feel like we’re on the losing team and I need a win. Something that will get us ahead in this war.
“The caller sounded male. He used a burner cell phone, bought with cash. But I traced the call to this apartment building. It has too many apartments for me to narrow it down.” Theo hands over a paper with 641 Oakland Dr, Brooklyn written on it. “Figured you might find out if an employee lives there.”
The tightness in my chest eases. It’s definitely a step in the right direction. “We’ll cross reference. You did an amazing job, Theo.”
“Thanks. That means a lot coming from you.” He grins.
Madison comes in with two coffee cups and hands one to me and the other to Theo. “Do you need anything else?”
I shake my head. As she turns and walks away, I enjoy the view. When I shift my attention to Theo, I notice he’s enjoying the view too. When he turns back, his cheeks darken at my raised eyebrow.
“She’s a gorgeous woman. You’re a lucky man.” Theo’s words calm the jealous beat of my heart. He’s right. She’s gorgeous and she’s mine.
“Thanks. I am lucky.” I take a sip of my coffee. “Are you ready for today?”
“The dummy number is set up to come to my office. I’ll be ready when they call again.” Theo is key to the honey trap. With Cliodhna, we were off-the-books, but this time we have everything lined up to take the spy down legally.
“Patrick will be here all next week. As soon as you have something, notify us immediately.”
“Will do.” Theo takes a drink.
Patrick is also key as our lawyer, but I’m not sure how much I trust him right now.
Madison
“You’re riding in our car, tiger.”
Little sparks float through me at the roughness of Blake’s voice. It’s time for lunch with Coop’s honey trap. It has to look like a legit lunch with a client. I gather my purse from my desk. Wait. I open the drawer again. I could have sworn I had a sweater in this drawer. Now it’s empty.
Setting my purse on my desk, I open all my drawers. Maybe I just forgot which drawer I put it in, or maybe I wore it back to the apartment. I didn’t think I was in that much of a daze. But after yesterday with the stalker and today with that weird announcement, I’m just off.
“You lose something?” Blake asks.
I blow out my breath and close the last drawer. “Maybe. I don’t know anymore.”
I’m so fucking tired of this cat and mouse game. I’m not sure if it’s even possible to win. But losing means coming face-to-face with the stalker. I don’t want that to happen either.
“We’ll get through this.”
My gaze lifts to his green eyes. It hurts to stand here and not step into his arms. To feel him holding me, protecting me. Every instinct tells me to just let it go and be with him, but this could blow up if we don’t deal with his trust issues. A Band-Aid won’t fix this.
“Have you heard anything from the police about the phone Valerie had?” I grab my purse and head to the elevator with Blake. Noah and Coop step out of their offices. Their voices are low as they speak to each other.
“No.” Blake rakes a hand through his dark hair. “It’s in the queue but it’s not high priority. I’m sure they’ll get to it soon.”
He presses the button for the elevator and the others join us. I glance back at Seth’s closed door.
“Is Seth coming?” I ask.
“He said he’d meet us at the restaurant. Call came in last minute.” Blake rubs the back of his neck.
“Oh.” Well, fuck. That means Blake and I will be alone in the car. A little nervous trill hums through me.
The elevator doors open and Blake waits for me to step on. Noah and Coop follow him.
“Did the announcement get taken down?” I need to focus on something, not Blake.
Coop nods. “Grant is looking into who posted it.”
“It’s not like you have a long list of women who might want to get back at you.” Noah strokes his finger over his lips to hide his smile.
“It seems a little lowbrow for Leighton.” Blake leans back against the wall of the elevator car. “I bet your mother loved that article though.”
“I had to hear about it for an hour. Both her and my father.” Coop rubs his temple. Does he have a headache? I take a step toward him. “Pretty sure we’re just going to have to pop out grandkids as quickly as possible, sweetheart, to appease them.”
Excuse me? My mouth drops open. He gives me a wicked look. Oh, hell no. My mouth snaps shut and I cross my arms.
“I’m only twenty-two. There will be no popping out anything for a long time.” I arch an eyebrow at him. I’m not a breeding factory.
Coop closes in on me, towering over me as I retreat until my back presses against the elevator wall. His hands go to either side of my head as he lowers his face to mine.
“Admit it, my little whore. You like the idea of me fucking you and filling you with my cum to make a baby.”
My body softens under his heat as desire curls inside me.
The elevator comes to a stop. My passion-addled brain catches on to his words. I narrow my eyes and put my hands on his chest to push him back. He chuckles as he lets me move him away.
“No babies.” I turn and walk into the garage.
“You know, one would probably soften the old bat,” Coop calls after me. “Just think about it.”
I shake my head as Tim holds the door open for me.
“Thank you.” I slide into the seat, and Blake walks around to the other side to sit in the back with me.
I don’t know what to say as the car rolls out of the garage. This isn’t even a legit business meeting, but we’re taking the “client” to lunch at our normal spot, hoping the corporate spy will contact them.
“I don’t know what I can do to fix this, Madison.”
My heart stops as I lift my gaze to meet Blake’s green eyes. This is causing him emotional pain too. I wish it were as easy as a trip to my apartment, but his ghosts have a stranglehold on him. I don’t know if we can get them to release him.
“I don’t trust anyone but the guys. Because they’ve been there with me through it all. Whenever I’ve let someone in, they ended up hurting me—or worse, hurting Seth, Coop, or Noah.”
“I don’t know either,” I admit, clasping my hands in my lap. This is the crux of our situation. How do I make him trust me without time? How does he get over hang-ups I didn’t cause? “I would never intentionally hurt any of you, Blake. I would never betray you. Not without a damn good reason. You have to know that.”
“I’ve always had to be the strong one. The one that protected the others. The one who stepped in and fought when the others didn’t have the strength.” He shuts his eyes, shutting me out. Coldness flows through me.
Is he too broken to get past this? Will he never trust me?
His eyes open and the warmth returns. “I love you, Madison. I’m trying to trust you. I’m trying to leave the past in the past. On some level, I do trust you, but then the doubts creep in. I don’t know how to fight off those doubts.”
Pain lingers in his eyes. I hold my hand out to him and he takes it in his. I can give him this connection. Because it still pulses like a live wire between us. I have to fix this.
“We’re broken but not shattered, Blake. I love you so fucking much, and I miss you, but I can’t settle for someone who doesn’t trust me fully.” I blow out a breath and squeeze his hand. “We’ll find a way through this. We have to. Because without you, I’m not whole.”
Chapter 146
The Honey Trap
Seth
The others are already heading out to lunch while my phone tries to connect to the number in the file. Coop filled us in about the apartment building and the announcement. If Coop had put the announcement in, Blake’s jealousy would have gone through the roof, especially since he can’t claim Madison right now. As it stands, it’s one more thing to worry about.
We’re healing, me and her. But it’s still going to take time to rebuild the trust we lost. If I could help her and Blake get through this, I would.
“Glenco Apartment Management, how may I direct your call?”
“May I speak to your manager please?” I tap my pen on my desk. One more rabbit hole to go down. Hopefully this one won’t be a dead end.
“Yes, sir. May I say who’s calling?”
“Seth Hart from Morrigan Technology Group.”
“Thank you. Please hold.” The hold music comes on.
This day is odd. It’s Friday, but we won’t have our normal Friday meeting in the conference room because it’s bugged. We can’t discuss anything proprietary.
