Wild Forces: A Friends to Lovers Romance (O-Town Book 2) by Karen Renee (summer reads .TXT) 📕

I nodded, “Sounds like a plan.”

Cassie

AS MONDAYS WENT, THIS one took the cake. Every one of my classes ran long, and I was ten minutes late getting into work because of traffic.

Ryan didn’t say anything outright, but he had quite the passive-aggressive side. His reluctance to approve my modified schedule for the fall term didn’t help matters. I didn’t blame him, but I had warned him when I interviewed. Then again, he’d likely argue he had no choice in hiring me because of my father. Still, that was no reason to be passive-aggressive.

I had finished up my work for today, and I headed to his office before hitting the road. The door to his inner-sanctum was open, and I walked in not realizing he had someone with him.

Yet I heard what the visitor said. “I have two hundred grand at my disposal and I’m willing to invest it in Club Eclectic. However, I need to protect myself and I had my lawyer put this together.”

I watched Ryan pick up a legal document, but I could see there was a smaller document on top that looked like a cashier’s check. Ryan’s gaze lifted when he noticed my presence and the dark-haired visitor turned to me. Gabe stared at me, and keeping my mouth shut took all of my focus.

I had the worst habit of wearing my thoughts on my face. Which meant, I knew dismay was written all over my face, but I prayed I turned away quickly enough that only Gabe saw it. I couldn’t believe he never mentioned his investment plans. Then again, I hadn’t asked. We had been too busy boinking each other’s brains out.

I didn’t have enough proof about Ryan laundering money, but something sketchy was going on. Gabe couldn’t hand over two hundred grand to him. That was crazy. Not to mention stupid as all hell.

I slumped into my chair getting my wits about me.

Just when I thought Gabe wouldn’t follow me to my office, he knocked on the doorjamb. “Can I come in?”

I shrugged.

He closed the door before he settled in a chair across the desk from me. “What was with the look, Cassie?”

“Have you already given him your money?”

His head shifted so he was looking at me from the corner of his eye. “What’s it matter?”

I asked again, “Did you give him any money?”

“Tell me why it matters, Cassandra.”

I couldn’t tell him what I suspected because until I heard back from the radio stations, it was speculation. Plus, my father had insisted I keep it to myself. And I knew enough about Gabe and his hot-headed temper that if I mentioned it, he’d fly off the handle and either deny my suspicions or run to Ryan to find out if it was true.

“It’s not a good idea,” I hedged.

His face went stony and those playful eyes turned cold. “Because you say so, is that it?”

“I didn’t say that at all, Gabe. Please, I’m just trying to—”

“Control me is what you’re trying to do,” he said standing up.

I stood. “No! I can’t talk about it, but investing in this club isn’t a good idea.”

“How would you know? Your daddy’s the one who makes the money in your family. Hell, it’s your daddy who’s the silent partner. If it’s good enough for him, and good enough to have you working here, why the fuck isn’t it good enough for me to buy out your father’s part of the investment?”

Dammit!

“If that’s what Ryan told you, you’re wrong.”

Gabe leaned toward me. “Showed me the bank statements and everything, darlin’. So, I’m not so sure you know what you’re talking about since you’re the bookkeeper. And that isn’t part of your job.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I’m also the silent investor’s daughter, and I know he didn’t buy-in for a paltry two-hundred K. Ryan has more than that to pay back, so maybe, just maybe, Sullivan, you should double-check yourself by going to Mr. Daughtry. And before you interrupted me, I was going to say I’m trying to protect you.”

He aimed an ugly smile at me. “I don’t need protection, Cassandra. Especially not from you.”

He turned and left, slamming the door on his way out.

I collapsed in my chair and deep breathed. Unfortunately, no amount of deep breathing would keep the heartbreak at bay. How could he be so irrational? Hell, what happened to the man who claimed to love me? If he loved me, why bite my head off that way? And what the hell was with throwing my father at me? He knew who I was, and where I came from. He claimed to be cool with all that, but obviously he harbored serious ill-will and insecurities about it.

None of it made sense. But all of it left me with tears of frustration and heartache.

WHEN I GOT HOME, I thought the worst part of my day was done, but I was wrong. When I got home I caught sight of the calendar on the laundry room door. My cycle was over two days late. I wasn’t entirely regular, but I normally started within a day or two of my expected date.

“Oh my God, can this shit get any worse?” I asked myself.

My phone rang from inside my purse. I dug it out to see Cecilia’s name on the display.

“Hello?”

“Um, Cassie, honey. Are you okay?”

I pursed my lips for a moment as I took in her question. “Um, yeah,” I lied. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Gabe came home, and I thought he’d tear the cabinet doors right off the hinges, he’s been slamming the things so hard. Brock’s got a migraine, and the two of them got into a shoving match because of it. Gabe won’t tell us what the hell’s wrong, and my only guess is that you either know what it is, or something is wrong between you both.”

I sighed. “Yeah. Something’s wrong all right.”

She sighed. “Screw it. I’m not sitting around with a grouchy Gabe, and Brock’s