Page 75 of Watching Her

There was no chance I could walk away.

“I’m watching you.”

CHAPTER 17

Penelope

“This is nuts. Who the fuck are you to try and tell me how to run my business?” The troll was in rare form today, this son of a bitch in a class all by himself.

From the way the man acted and the things he knew, it was as if he was Carrington’s double. Although I knew better. My ex had likely not read a book since college. Even then, I had a feeling he paid people to take tests for him. Oh, I hated that man.

Now, I wasn’t a misandrist in thinking men couldn’t write romance, held no comprehension for why romance books were so important, or that they couldn’t be a decent influence on the field, but Jesus, this guy was just…

A pain in my ass.

Plus, he’d latched onto a couple of pictures including my face. One had been at the readers’ convention. Another had been at the wedding. Someone had caught me with Christian, the picture certainly nothing that could be misconstrued as being intimate, yet the troll thought I was suddenly some slut. What the hell was wrong with the man? His last couple of comments had been like I owed him something.

Or that he owned me.

My thoughts drifted briefly to Christian. He acted the same way, although without calling me nasty names. Plus, there was a major difference in the two situations. I loathed the troll and I adored, even craved Christian’s possessiveness.

I was about to fire off a hate-filled comment on his latest diatribe on one of my posts when I heard the doorbell. If there was one thing I hated, it was unannounced visitors. While grumbling, I debated ignoring whoever had made the bad decision to knock on my door.

Whoever it was decided persistence would pay off, my hesitation resulting in a tirade of knocks turning into heavy pounding.

Now that pissed me off, but it worked and I stormed toward the front door, throwing it open.

Marlee’s eyes opened wide, obviously from whatever hateful expression I’d carried with me. “Well, hello to you too, bestie. Did you forget about our lunch?”

“Oh, shit.” I smacked my forehead. “I did. I’ve been buried in working out a few kinks.”

She shook her head. “You’re turning into a workaholic. Oh, wait. You already were. Aren’t you going to at least invite me in so I can catch a glimpse of that fabulous painting you raved about?”

Had I raved about the painting? That I didn’t remember doing. “Come on in. You’re welcome to see its magnificence.”

She followed me into my office, her mouth immediately dropping open. “Oh, wow. Now that is hot as hell.” As she walked closer, I stood behind her, indulging in gawking as I’d done so many times before.

“He did a great job. You should see some of the others.”

“The colors are so vivid, but the subject matter is… ooh-la-la, baby. This guy must be a hopeless man holding domination dear to his heart.”

Marlee had a way of cutting through any conversation to the very core. “Or sadism.”

“That too, but who doesn’t love a little kink with their sex. Right?” The girl was practically mesmerized, allowing feathery touches to the girl’s face. “She’s beautiful in her pain, but the agony is worth the pleasure she’ll receive later.”

“Said like a woman who’d enjoy time under the whip.”

Twisting her body, she threw me a look. “Come on. You mean you haven’t?”

I threw up my hands while my thoughts drifted to the belt Christian had used. When her eyes brightened, I forced myself to turn away.

“Oh, come on. You’ve done something kinky in your life.”

“Maybe.”

Unable to resist, she moved closer. “With Mr. Mystery Man?”

I’d never been able to keep anything from my best friend, barely holding a straight face.