“I’m standing right here staring.”
“I- this is going to sound terrible, but I had to come. I had to tell you I was sorry, but I also wanted to say that it’s completely inappropriate to say this at all, given who you are and that your sister was my ex-”
“Yeah, you seem to have a hard time getting over that one.” Bella was openly grinning now, but Rhett couldn’t tell if the grin was actually born of happiness or just pure sadistic sarcasm. Was she actually enjoying him making a complete shithead out of himself?
Of course, she is. If he was the one standing in her place, he had to admit he’d probably enjoy the show too. “Uh- I wanted to tell you, and I know you’ll think it’s stupid, but meeting you- er- hanging out- that was the first time I’ve been really honestly happy in a very long time.”
“Really?” Bella’s tongue swept out and moistened her lips and his cock gave her a high five for it. Literally. The fucker tried to reach up and tear right out of his pants.
She looked like she was going to cave and say something else, or just finally give him a break and tell him all the awkward shit was out of the way and let him relax, when a deep male voice sounded from inside the condo.
“You alright out there, babe?”
Bella stiffened. So did Rhett. Not his cock though. That other voice, that other male voice, did him in. The bastard deflated like it was a balloon that got too close to some incredibly sharp and volatile instrument of loathing.
“Rhett…” Bella started to say something, but he didn’t give her the chance.
It was painfully obvious that Bella did have something in common with her sisters after all. She was a cheater. Except she’d obviously cheated on whoever was in there with- with him. Did that make him the asshole or her? Fuuuuuuck. He didn’t actually know. He didn’t want to wait to see some six-foot shadow grace the doorframe, ready to find out what they’d done and kick his ass when he didn’t deserve it. It was bad enough he already had a permanent tattoo on his leg to remember Bella by.
Rhett stepped back just as a great hulking beast did indeed step up to the doorway. He crossed his arms and the muscle that rippled under that t-shirt, the bulging biceps that were thick as tree trunks and that square jaw that looked like it was useful for eating rocks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, ground double time like the giant was thinking about eating him.
“I’m sorry,” Rhett mumbled as he turned. He eyed the distance between the car and the doorstep and wondered if there was any chance in hell that he’d make it before the four hundred pounds of muscle turned him into a human pancake. Weren’t muscly guys supposed to be slow? Maybe he did have a chance…
“Rhett!” Bella called after him. He didn’t slow down until he felt her touch, warm and graceful, graze his arm. That touch sent a thousand pinpricks of awareness shooting through his blood, which probably earned him an asshole of the year nomination. “Where are you going?”
He gave his head a shake. “What the fuck, Bella?” he hissed under his breath. He glanced at the beast, who was now leaning against the condo railing- probably not a smart idea since it didn’t look nearly capable of holding up that much weight. The guy wore an amused smile like he enjoyed watching his prey make a run for it.
“Uh… that? Him?” Bella’s forehead crinkled up. “Oh. Oh him. Oh my god. No. I’m sorry.” She let her hand fall away, which was a damn shame and shame on him for thinking it, and took a step back. “No. Sorry. This is- John.” Bella whirled. “It’s okay, John, this isn’t one of those guys that I need to be rescued from.”
“Those guys?” Rhett hissed. He felt like he’d been close to losing his shit and the sigh of relief he expelled didn’t exactly feel good. Handing in his man-card twice in one day was a little much. “What guys?”
“Guys that don’t get the memo. Stalkers. Guys that won’t take no for an answer. Clients who find out where I live. Exes that I don’t want coming around. Door to door salesmen- John plays a part for me. Whenever the doorbell rings and it’s a guy, he comes out like he’s not my roommate, like he’s- uh- well not my roommate. If it’s an ex, he just comes out to kick some ass.” Bella actually giggled like that shit show was funny. “I’m sorry. He didn’t know. I promise. I didn’t ask him to do that. I just got home from work and got changed and didn’t have time to explain…”