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I slip into a pair of navy pants and a cashmere sweater, then glance down at my Mexican suitcase. I crouch and unzip it, flipping it open and gasp.
Lying on top of my clothes is the Taylor Swift CD.
Decker.
A watery chuckle escapes me as I pick it up and gaze at it like it’s a three-thousand-year-old relic instead of a simple music album that shouldn’t mean anything.
Except it does.
Goddamn him.
I run my finger over the Mexican price sticker and close my eyes, feeling Decker’s hand on my back as we walked out of the gas station that day. The irritated glances he sent me as I replayed my favorite song over and over.
He was irritated, but it didn’t change how insanely hot he looked or stop those eyes of his from roaming over my bare thighs. With one glance, he could make me feel like the most desirable woman in the world, and safe.
Except I wasn’t.
I walk to my bed and tuck it under my pillow, chewing my bottom lip as I fight the ache inside.
With a sigh, I walk down the long hallway of my parents' luxury Manhattan penthouse, and as I get closer, I hear Todd’s laughter. It sends a shiver through me.
It’s not the same type of shiver the man I gave my virginity to drew from me. Not the same at all. I shove back the thick emotion that threatens to crumple me and step inside the room.
Three faces turn.
“Belle,” Todd says, crossing the room and pulling me into his arms. I stiffen. He pulls back and glances down at me with irritation.
“Thank goodness she is safe, Todd,” my father says, pouring glasses of whisky for them both. My mother has never drunk alcohol.
“I’ll have one of those, please,” I say.
“No, she won’t.” Todd runs his hand down my back and pulls me further into the room. My father simply nods and hands Todd his drink. I shake my head and sit beside him on the sofa.
“We should get you looked at. I’ll schedule my physician.” Todd sips his whisky and drops it on the table next to him.
“I’m fine,” I say. “Like I told my parents, no one touched me. It's just—”
They all stare at me.
I don’t know what to say. Connor, Mack, Nate, or Decker could have given me a bloody heads-up.
“It’s just good to be home,” I say, feeling smothered by Todd’s scent and body so close to me.
Mom smiles and stands. “Dinner is served. We were waiting for you, Isabelle, so let’s go.”
As Dad follows her into the dining room and I stand, Todd grips my arm. “Where were you?” he asks, anger lining his face. “Do you know how embarrassing it was for you to just disappear like that?”
My mouth falls open.
“I wastaken,” I hiss.
“You could have called. Your parents had to go national with this. Hardly appropriate, Isabelle.”
“What part of taken don’t you understand? Jesus, Todd.” I shrug off his arm and push him.
“Isabelle,” Mom calls out happily from the other room. “The food will get cold you two. Have your little catch-up later.”
She lets out a giggle while the two of us glare at each other.
