Uncontrollable Bachelor (Bachelor Tower Series), стр. 14

“She’s safe with me.”

“Are you willing to bet her life on it?” Carlton asked. “Because that’s what’s at stake.”

I had once been willing to give Shannon all I had to give. Back then, it wasn’t much. All I had was my love for her. Ralph made sure I knew that wasn’t enough. Now I had the resources to give her anything she desired. But what she needed most of all Ralph was already providing for her. I don’t fit in her life any more now than I did before. It wrenched my gut to admit it, but I’d still do everything I could to ensure her safety.

“I’ll text you when we’re going out. I’ll let you know where we will be. What we are doing, well that’s none of your fucking business. Either you can trust me or you can tell Ralph. I really don’t give a fuck which you choose,” I growled.

Carlton raised a brow and put his empty beer bottle on the bar. “I’m not sure what’s motivating you, but I hope you’re not out to prove something. It will be Shannon who gets hurt. I know that’s not something you want to happen.”

“No, it’s not.” I also don’t want her being controlled. She used to be such a free spirit. I want her to live the life she wants and deserves, not something that Ralph or some prince in another country is forcing on her. To help her see that, I needed to know what she really wanted out of life. That was going to take time. I was already working toward my own future. I knew seeing Shannon was somehow going to get in the way of that. But this wasn’t something permanent. I just need to make sure she will be okay. It’s something I should’ve done before I left the first time.

“It looks like we are in agreement. You’re backing off,” Carlton stated.

I grinned. “Not exactly. I’m asking Shannon to join me for dinner tomorrow.”

“Jace, you’re not hearing what I’m saying,” Carlton stated firmly.

I got up off the stool, tossed a twenty on the bar. “There’s nothing wrong with my hearing.” Listening is another story. I walked out of the bar into the cool night air.

Carlton had known me long enough to know I don’t take orders. But he also knew that the only commitment I have is to myself. Why am I getting involved with this? Carlton obviously had it under control if nothing had happened to Shannon in the past three years. I don’t own a security company, but I sure know about security software. Unless I planned on putting some sort of tracking device on Shannon, how was I going to be any help?

Walking out on Carlton might not have been wise. He was an ally and I wanted to keep it that way. But I’d never needed help regarding a woman before, and I wasn’t about to start now. Let Carlton handle things his way. I’m going to do it mine.

I pulled my cell phone out of my suit jacket and dialed Shannon’s number.

“Hello. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you. Is everything okay?” she asked.

I could hear concern in her tone. Normally that would piss me off, but not with her. Nothing about Shannon ever got on my nerves. I couldn’t say the same about me.

“Ice cream didn’t do the trick. I’m still hungry. How about you?” It’s not what I planned on saying, but now that I had, seeing Shannon again tonight worked for me. Maybe not for Carlton, though.

“You know what goes great with ice cream?” she asked.

Fucking all night? Because that sure would address what I’m hungry for. “More ice cream?” I guessed.

I loved hearing her burst out laughing. “I was thinking fries,” she said. I could hear the smile in her voice.

“Just fries?”

“Burgers and fries. I know this place with incredible burgers. That is, if you’re up for a drive.”

“How far is this place?” I asked, but I didn’t care if she told me it was a thousand miles away. If I got to be with her, I’d be game.

“Depending on traffic, it should be less than an hour. And by the way, it’s an old-fashioned drive-in restaurant. You put on your headlights for service and a carhop brings the food to your car. Isn’t that cool?”

That didn’t scream ‘delicious burger’ to me, but then again, I really wasn’t in the mood to eat. “Sounds fun. What time should I pick you up?”

“You really want to go tonight? It’s getting late and you have work in the morning,” she said.

I’ve pulled more all-nighters than I can count. “My hours are flexible.”

“Well, give me fifteen minutes to put clothes back on and I’ll meet you outside.”

Don’t go to any trouble. Come naked and save us both time.

“You don’t want me to come in?” I asked. I knew why, but wanted to hear her say it.

“Jace, I stay with my father when I’m in the States. I think it would be…quicker if I met you outside.”

“I’ll see you there.” That wouldn’t give me much time to change, but if I had to take my 1963 Aston Martin to a drive-in burger joint, there was no way I would also be wearing a full suit. If I was right, I had a pair of jeans in the trunk. That and my button-down shirt would have to do.

I pulled off the road and behind a building into a dim lit parking lot. I hopped out, dug my jeans out of the trunk, and changed. I don’t think I’ve done such a thing since I was a kid. Tossing my jacket and slacks in the back, I got back in the car and took off to pick Shannon up. I needed to be early, because no way in hell would I make her wait outside alone. Carlton’s team would be watching, but it still made me uncomfortable.

Even