ChapterOne
Briar
I’d made a small fortune in pharmaceutical sales over the past ten years, but nothing could have prepared me for this sales job. I had to convince my brother’s best friend to move in with me, and become my fake fiancé… even though he hates my guts.
The bar was crowded and the music was loud, but I strutted up to Rhett with my man-eater armour in place, praying he couldn’t see through the façade. Inside I was terrified. Terrified to go home alone. Afraid to go to sleep. Turn the lights out. Even shower. The fear was taking over my life and I knew I couldn’t go on this way. I needed help. And unfortunately, Rhett was the only man strong enough to convince a raving lunatic to back down.
“Hey, Rhett.”
He gave me a quick once-over, taking in my short black dress and sky-high heels before rolling his eyes and walking away.
I grabbed his arm, biting back a snarky retort. We had history. Some of it not good, and he clearly wasn’t in the mood to let bygones be bygones. But I’d wear him down. I knew his weakness. My body.
“Where are you going?” I tried for sultry, but it came out squeaky. “Aren’t you gonna buy me a drink?”
He shook his head, looking disgusted. “I think I’ll pass.”
I understood why he was pissy. He had a right to be… sort of. We had a history of one night-stands. And I had a bad habit of ghosting him. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to stick around for a three-peat, but Rhett wasn’t the kind of guy who made it easy to walk away. And I wasn’t a girl who stayed.
“Rhett, please.” I knew I sounded desperate. I was. The police hadn’t been able to help me. And I couldn’t burden my family with my problems. So short of hiring a round the clock bodyguard, I was out of options.
He narrowed his eyes, studying me. “What the hell is it with you? Didn’t I make myself clear last time? This twisted thing we’ve had goin’, is over. You hear me? I’m done.”
He glared at me like he might really mean it this time, but we’d always been frenemies. Rhett might claim to hate me, but beneath the bluster he really cared what happened to me. Or at least he didn’t want to see me dead. And if my stalker had his way, that might be my fate.
I felt bad for luring Rhett into my mess, but he was a big boy. He’d been Special Forces, hostage rescue and counter-terrorism, before he returned to civilian life and started a private security company that now employed thousands of people, specializing in security for aviation and homeland security, according to my brother. I didn’t really understand what he did, only that it had made him obscenely wealthy.
“I know you’re mad at me,” I said, stepping into his path. The last time I’d ghosted him had been the night of my brother’s wedding, six months ago. I’d promised I’d stick around ‘til morning, but overnight dates made me queasy, so I’d snuck out of his hotel room before he woke up. “But you can’t stay mad forever.”
“Try me.” He shook me off, but I had a plan to get his attention.
“Fine! Be that way!”
I sank against the bar, looking distraught. It took exactly thirty seconds for the guy next to me to offer to buy me a drink. “Thank you. I don’t mind if I do.” I smiled sweetly as I extended my hand. “Briar. And your name is…?”
“Tate.”
“Tate, I like that.” He looked like a Tate. Dark jeans and a cashmere sweater over a button-down shirt. Trendy haircut. Nice watch. He had private school boy written all over him. Not my type, but Tate was the perfect bait to drive Rhett crazy.
We ordered our drinks— a dirty martini for me and a glass of Barolo for him, before he asked, “So, what do you do, Briar?”
“Um…” I spotted an empty booth out of the corner of my eye. “You want to grab a seat and I’ll tell you?”
He grinned. “I’d love to.”
We made our way to the empty booth with his hand on the small of my back as we worked our way through the crowd. I sat facing the dance floor and zeroed in on Rhett inside of a minute. He glared at me as he nodded at the pretty blond bending his ear.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here before,” Tate said, setting his phone face down on the table. “I’d definitely remember you.”
Ugh. I hated guys who tried too hard, with their tired pick-up lines and cheesy compliments. “I’ve only been here a couple of times.” Since this was one of Rhett’s many side investments, I stayed clear. But my brother mentioned he was going to be here tonight, so I’d seen an opportunity to finally get a good night’s sleep. In his strong arms. With his Glock on my dresser.
“How about you?” I asked, letting my gaze drift back to Rhett as I tugged the olive off the stick with my teeth. “You come here often?”
“A couple of times a week. It’s not far from my office.”
“Hmm.” I tipped my glass back, knowing it would take a few more drinks before Rhett made his move. There was no way he’d let me get drunk and risk going home with some stranger. Not on his watch. He’d claim it was out of deference to my brother. But we both knew the truth. We had a sick pseudo-obsession that we both wanted to kill and bury… but couldn’t.
Forcing my attention back to Tate, I said, “You said your office is nearby. What do you do?”
