Uncontrollable Bachelor (Bachelor Tower Series), стр. 22
“All that growling sounds as though you’re not making any headway. Want to bounce your ideas off me?”
I looked over my shoulder and glared at him. “I know her better than either of you do, so just shut the fuck up and let me think!”
Where was all the silence when I needed it? The last time I was in a place that was actually quiet and stress-free had been…. In the mountains with Shannon. That was the answer. All I needed to do was get her to go with me.
I turned back to Carlton and said, “Get your hiking gear ready.”
“What for? We’re in Boston.”
“Not for long. We’re about to take a trip.”
“Me and you? Because you’re really not my type,” Carlton joked.
Any other time I might have had a few smart-ass remarks for him as well, but not when it came to Shannon.
“I’m taking Shannon out of town. There’s a cabin off the grid that I had built.”
Carlton cocked a brow and looked shocked. “You built a cabin? Not had it built?”
“It was years ago, before I even went to college. I lived there a short time.” It was when I needed to pull myself back together after running out on Shannon. I never thought I’d be able to be around people again. I resented Ralph and everything he stood for. Power, money, and intimidation. Fuck, look at me now. I’m all three. There was one difference between Ralph and me: I wasn’t manipulating Shannon for myself. I was doing this for her.
“You’re taking her camping?” Carlton asked. I nodded. “I am not sure Mr. Hamel will go for that suggestion.”
“I’m not suggesting it. I’m doing it. Your job is to make sure no one finds us,” I said firmly.
Carlton asked, “And you really think Shannon is going to pack up and go away with you after just a few dates?”
“I do,” I replied confidently. “I’ll text you when I have our departure set.”
He laughed. “I’ll believe it when I see it. My bet’s on Shannon staying just where she is.”
“Then you’ll lose.”
Carlton got up, laughing his way towards the door. “You’re still the crazy bastard you used to be.”
He was wrong. I did things in college out of fun, for the challenge and the glory. Now I strive for one thing: success. I achieve it at all costs. And keeping Shannon alive and well was the goal at hand.
When the door had closed behind him, I buzzed Betsy.
“Good morning, Mr. Goldstein. However can I help you?”
We had already spoken today, and when she used that overly sweet tone, I knew she was up to no good. There was no time for her games, so I got right to the point. “I need you to clear my schedule.”
“For the morning or for the day?” she asked.
“The next two weeks. I’ll let you know if it needs to be more after that.”
I could hear the shock in her voice. “Two weeks? Has something…happened?”
“No. I’m going out of town. That’s all you need to know.” She was a weak link, and if Prince Babboo did try to find Shannon, I didn’t want Betsy to accidentally give him any information. I wasn’t sure if Betsy knew about the guy, and I wasn’t about to ask. Her answer wouldn’t change a damn thing.
“And will I be able to contact you if there are any emergencies?” she inquired.
“No. I’ll contact you if I need anything. You just do what you always do. Blow people off that I don’t want to speak to.”
“My pleasure. But…but what about Shannon? Are you going to tell her you’re leaving?”
“She will be informed.” That’s all I shared.
I heard the heavy sigh and she said, “Don’t be gone too long. I just found out Carlton is single. He might steal her away while you’re gone.”
I clicked the intercom off. No chance of that happening. The chemistry between Shannon and me was stronger than before. Hell, even after spending the entire night fucking our brains out, I still wanted her. There was no getting her out of my system. From the look in her eyes when I dropped her off at home, I’d say she had a similar feeling.
It’s not nice, but I’d have to use sex and a bit of charm to lure her away with me. I saw no reason she’d ever need to know the truth behind this sudden adventure. It would be a secret between me and Carlton. And it’d better stay that way or that fire in her eyes might go out.
Chapter 9
Shannon
I wasn’t sure I’d heard correctly. No way after Betsy informed me that Jace was the CEO of his own company could he be asking me to rough it in the woods. If this was the old Jace, I would’ve expected that – back then we didn’t have money for anything else. But his tastes had changed. Even though he drove an old car, I’m pretty sure most people couldn’t afford that particular model.
“When you say, ‘roughing it’, what does that mean to you?” For all I knew it might mean he doesn’t get dry cleaning delivered each day. Either way, I still didn’t know why he was inviting me to go away with him.