All Good Things (9 page)

"Miss LeRoux?" A male voice called out and I turned, locating the man who'd delivered my flower earlier this morning. Why was he waiting outside my condo?

I frowned, as moved across the sidewalk. "Can I help you?"

"I work for Mr. Rush." He quickly explained. "And, he has instructed I drive you wherever you would like to go."

My brows rose so high on my forehead I was certain they touched my hairline. What was wrong with Jace? Seriously, just last night he had left me so hot and bothered I couldn't get a good nights sleep, and now, he was sending me flowers and cars. This was simply unacceptable.

"I'm sorry for your trouble sir, but I'm not getting into that car." I gestured to the white Audi SUV that sat parked at the curb.

The mans face tensed as he slid his hand into his pocket. Oh. My. God. Was he seriously going to force me into the car at gun-point? I debated on bolting down the sidewalk but was halted when a phone appeared. I sighed, in relief, and the man frowned at my obvious distress, as he tapped the screen and placed the phone against his ear.

"She will not accept the ride, Sir." He paused and my mouth popped open in shock. He was tattling on me? To Jace? This couldn't be happening! It was absurd. "Yes, Sir." He nodded and I folded my arms over my chest, as I waited for the phone conversation to come to a close. I should just walk away, but I was curious. "Of course, Sir." He hung up the phone and looked at me determinedly.

"What?" I asked.

"Lead the way, Miss. LeRoux." He waved his hand in the direction I had been traveling before he had, so rudely, interrupted my day with Jace's unnerving demands.

"Excuse me?" I asked as politely as possible.

"I am to follow you, Miss-,"

I shook my head sharply. "Stop calling me Miss. LeRoux! I'm twenty-two for goodness sakes, not fifty."

"I'm sorry." He apologized gruffly and I huffed, tapping my toe in irritation as I tried, relentlessly, to think up a way to mess with Jace's plans for me.

I settled my hands on my hips, trying to make myself appear intimidating. "You're not walking me to work."

"I'm sorry, Olivia." He said. "But I am."

"This is harassment. I could have you charged." I threatened.

His lips twitched, but he didn't smile. "Mr. Rush donates exceptional amounts to the New York City Police department. I do not think they would offend him, so much as, to slap a harassment charge against him."

My mouth dropped. Was this for real? "You can't be serious?"

"I don't lie."

I was grasping at straws. "But you joke...you're joking, right?"

He looked at me as though I had fallen and hit my head. "No Olivia, I'm not joking."

"Well, I'll be damned."

"Pardon?"

I held up a finger. "Will you excuse me a moment? I forgot something inside."

I didn't wait for his response as I darted back inside the lobby of my condo. When I was certain I was out of sight, I fished through my bag for my phone. The instant I located it, I dialed a number and listened to it ring.

"Hello?" A deep male voice sounded through the phone and I smiled.

"Hi, Trey." I said. "It's Olivia. Would you mind picking me up from my condo today, if it's not too much of an inconvenience?" I asked before adding in a sweet voice. "I'll buy you a coffee."

He laughed. "I'm on my way. I should be there in a few minutes."

"Thank you."

"Anytime." He hung up and I grinned at my quick thinking.

Zero for Jace. One for Olivia, I thought, as I leaned against the wall for another minute before walking back out into the sun. The man was still waiting by the Audi and I realized I hadn't asked for his name. Since I figured he would, more than likely, be harassing me, I should at least get his name.

I closed the distance between us and he smiled politely at me. "You know my name, my address and, more than likely, my place of work...I think it's only fair I know your name."

He nodded. "My name is Gabe Blake."

I handed him my hand and he shook it, but not without first inspecting it to be sure I didn't hold something within my palm in which I could electrocute him. What did this man encounter on a daily basis that would make him weary of a handshake?

I smiled brightly, trying to ignore the prickling sensation on the back of my neck as I remembered Trisha accusing Jace of being dangerous. "If this were under a different circumstance, I would tell you it was a pleasure."

Gabe nodded, as though he understood, but he was not affected.

I pulled my hand from his grasp and fought the pout that threatened to claim my lips, as I stood awkwardly, waiting for Trey to arrive. I shifted from one foot to the other, inwardly reminding myself I needed to buy more comfortable shoes.

"Are we waiting for something, Olivia?" Gabe asked.

I looked at him with wide eyes. "Not at all." I replied sweetly, hoping I sounded innocent.

Gabe narrowed his eyes. "I have a teenage daughter and an ex-wife. I know when a female is lying."

My lips parted in shock as I stared up at him. "I pity your daughter. I am sure she can't get away with sneaking a bowl of ice cream."

He grunted. "It's not ice cream I'm worried about."

"Well, I'm not your daughter." I snapped. I was offended. This man knew when I was lying, when my own father had never bothered to stare at me long enough to recognize the fidgeting I tended to succumb to when I lied.

"No. You're not." He said factually. "But you are an interest of Mr. Rush's and he has made your safety a top priority. That is not something I am able to ignore, Olivia."

I spotted Trey's truck and breathed a sigh of relief as I threw a glare at Gabe. "Jace can screw himself."

Gabe's mouth tightened, as I walked to meet Trey's truck as it pulled up to the curb. He already had his phone pressed to his ear, and when I settled into the seat and looked back at him, he looked less than pleased with me. Oh, well. I was less than pleased with him, so, I guessed we were even.

Trey raised his brows as he meshed his vehicle into the flow of traffic. "Who was that guy you were with?" He asked, when I didn't bother to divulge any information.

"He's a bodyguard." I snapped, deciding on the truth.

Trey's eyes widened and he whistled. "What do you need a bodyguard for?"

"I don't need one." I folded my arms over my chest. "Jace Rush commanded he follow me like a lost puppy."

"Jace Rush...as in, Rush Industries?" Trey sounded bewildered. Why was Jace such a big deal?

I nodded. "That's him."

"How do you know Jace Rush?" Trey asked gruffly as he stared out the window.

"I don't really know." I shrugged. It was the truth. One day, life had been normal and then...boom...I'd gotten into an accident and Jace appeared.

"What do you mean?" He chuckled tensely. "How do you not know how you know the richest bachelor in New York?"

"I guess he just appeared one day."

Trey frowned as he pulled next to the curb outside my shop. "I didn't think you were that kind of girl."

I paused in my descent from the truck. "What kind of girl?"

"The kind that dates guys like him."

I settled back into the seat, suddenly overcome with the need to defend myself. "First, I am not dating Jace. Second, if I was dating him, it damn well wouldn't be because of his money. And third, who I decide to date has nothing to do with you."

Trey nodded. "He's dangerous, Olivia. So, be careful."

I frowned. Why the hell did everyone keep telling me how dangerous Jace was? Did they see something I didn't? Was I just blind when it came to Jace Rush?

I quickly hopped out of the truck to catch up to Trey. He was walking toward the nearest Starbucks at a pace that made me curse my heels for the billionth time today. "What do you mean, Jace is dangerous?"

Trey stiffened. "He has a lot of power, Olivia. Anyone with that much power is dangerous. Plus, he constantly uses women and then throws them away." He paused and turned to look at me with stern green eyes. "I don't want to see you used by someone like him. You deserve more than that."

I felt as though I'd been slapped, but somehow I found it within me to nod. "Well, I guess it's a good thing I'm not dating him."

Trey studied me for a minute. "But you want to, don't you?"

I thought about lying, but since my success rate was already a massive fail, I figured I should stick with the truth. "I think he's interesting. But, I don't know if I would ever actually date someone as demanding as Jace."

"Okay. Let's go get that white hot chocolate you can't seem to get enough of."

I beamed. "Sounds like a plan."

Chapter 6

I sipped the creamy white hot chocolate as I watched Trey direct his men to work. I was trying to ignore the nagging exhaustion that kept creeping up on me, but the warmth of the hot chocolate only made me want to curl up in a comfortable little ball on a plush mattress. Trey shot me a few curious glances and I tried to flash him a smile each time I caught the worry in his eyes. Finally, he stood from his crouched position near an electrical outlet, wiping his hands off on his jeans as he advanced.

"You look pretty tired." He stated, but it sounded more like an accusation. "What time did you leave here last night?"

I took another sip before answering. "Not too long after you. I just didn't sleep very well last night and I was up really early this morning."

"You look like you're about to pass out and you're on your third hot chocolate." He sighed as he looked around at the shop. "Come on, I'll take you home."

"I've got it from here, Boyd." A deep voice resonated from my right and I spun to face the man responsible, almost dropping my hot chocolate in the process. I didn't function well without sleep. Obviously.

Trey stiffened, but I shook my head, laying my hand on his shoulder. "I'm good. I have a bone to chew with Jace anyway."

"You really shouldn't go with him." Trey said, while staring down Jace. I felt as though I were witnessing a stand down between two bucks for a mate, but neither man had a right to stake a claim on me.

I squeezed Trey's shoulder reassuringly and glanced at Jace. He was staring at my hand and his eyes were ablaze with anger so potent, I dropped my hand. "I'll be all right, Trey." I took a step toward Jace. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, I'll see you." Trey said tightly, his eyes still locked on Jace.

Jace didn't say anything as he reached out to wrap his fingers around my wrist. If I hadn't had my laptop packed, I would have been forced to leave it behind. Thankfully, I was able to snatch it from the table before Jace pulled me from the shop.

"Does Trey have keys?" Jace demanded once we were standing in the sun.

"Yes." I nodded as another question popped into my head. "How did you know Trey's last name? Do you know each other?"

Jace frowned at me as he shook his head. "I don't know him." He did not elaborate and I pressed.

"Well, if you don't know him, then how did you know his last name?"

Jace tightened his hold on my wrist before pulling me across the sidewalk to the Bugatti he'd driven last night. "Get in." He growled.

"Tell me what I want to know and I'll get in." I bargained.

Jace's jaw twitched as he stared at me. "Get in my car, Olivia."

"No, Jace."

He relented, surprising me. "I'm interested in you, Olivia. Because Trey is a part of your life, I have made his life my business."

My mouth dropped. "But,"

"You said you would get in the car if I told you." He growled threateningly. "Don't make me force you."

"Holy shit!" I gasped as realization crept into my stomach. "You are stalking me."

Jace didn't flinch. As a matter of fact, he didn't react at all. "I'm not going to ask you again."

I complied immediately. I told myself it was because I was afraid of him. He had proven to me countless times today he was mentally unstable. He had to be to send me a bodyguard for my safety...only to kidnap me later himself. Oh, God. What was he going to do to me?

My heart raced as he lowered himself into the car beside me. The engine revved and he sped into traffic recklessly. My hands clutched at the door as I tried not to scream in fear. Jace glanced once at my white knuckled grip and slowed to a reasonable speed.

"You didn't accept Gabe's offer to drive you." He stated and I wondered how I was supposed to respond. I didn't particularly want to test his anger.

"Is that supposed to be a question?" I squeaked.

"No."

I nodded. "Oh,"

"I was worried about you, and because of that, I was incapable of focusing my attention on a very important meeting I had to attend today." His words were clipped. "Did you refuse him because you haven't forgiven me for last night?"

I scoffed. The arrogant ass-wipe! My face burned. He was right on the money, but to hell if I would admit it. "I didn't accept his offer to follow me around like a lost puppy because I appreciate my privacy. Since you seem to know everything about my life, I would have thought you'd know that."

"I don't know everything about you, Olivia." He replied, but I was angry.

I focused steady eyes on him, determined to make him see I was not going to play his game...whatever it was. "I do not need a bodyguard, or a driver or anything else that you think to employ Gabe, or anyone else to be."

Jace tightened his hold on the steering wheel until the skin of his knuckles was nearly translucent, displaying the white of the bone. "Yes. You. Do."

I was so angry. I was vibrating. "Why would you think that?"

"Because, I was not thinking when I decided to spend four fucking days with you in the hospital." Jace roared. I flinched at his sudden explosion. I was sure anyone else would have backed down from him, but I couldn't.

"What does spending time with me in the hospital have to do with this?" I asked wearily. I hadn't decided if I really wanted to know, when he continued.

"A gossip magazine got wind of my staying in the hospital. They printed a story about us having a wild affair. Apparently, we are madly in love and soon to be engaged. I will be damned, Olivia, if I let a single hair on your head get hurt because of me." His tone was stern, leaving no room to argue. "Got it?"