CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

PAYTON

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I stand at the edgeof the runway and glance over at the blue water of the pool. It’s starting to look amazing.

“Much as I’d love to see you fall into the pool, Payton, I need you to step aside so we can secure it.” Johnny, one of the installers, smirks at me.

“Oh!” I jump and wobble, grabbing his arm to steady myself. “I thought it was safe.”

“No, ma’am.” He takes my hips and lifts me—lifts me!—a few inches away. “Stand over there until we are done.”

I blush.

He’s been flirting with me for hours.

Cody glances over and chuckles.

It’s nice to have a man openly show he likes me. After hiding how I feel about Knox for so long, this feels kind of nice.

But also like I’m cheating.

Hardly.

I’m trying not to be angry with Knox for not choosing me when I feel like there is something between us—more than just sex - because I can’t even imagine what being part of a family who owns a billion-dollar empire feels like.

I know how important the job is to him and what’s on the line.

I can also imagine how uncomfortable he must feel having to interview along with others who want what he believes is his birthright.

I’ve laid awake many hours wondering just how much of a playboy Knox was before I met him, for his father to put these stipulations on him.

I partly agree with him. There have been no scandals so is it really that big of a deal? And more importantly, could he not date?

I don’t date.

I frown privately as I glance around the event space. Maybe if he did ask me on a date, then his father would look at his relationships with women a little differently.

I’ve gone through every emotion.

You don’t buy a woman a dress or bikini if you don’t like them.

Even if you are Knox Montgomery.

How can he ignore his feelings for me? How can he not even try to discuss this with Ward and give us a chance?

The facts are that he hasn’t. He’s chosen his career and is doing all he can to avoid me except for the bare minimum contact.

As I have.

But I’ve been miserable. I’ve cried myself to sleep, eaten my entire snack cupboard, and made Molly listen to me go over and over it for hours.

It doesn’t matter what I think.

Knox will never choose me.

“Maybe it’s because you aren’t one of them.” Molly shrugged as we ate Chinese food curled up on my sofa on Monday night.

“One of? Oh, you mean rich?”

She shrugged a second time. “Just saying. Atlas wasn’t exactly making the moves on me, and I was... well, okay, I had nachos in my cleavage and was snort laughing at The Simpsons, but still.”

“You were stoned off your brain,” I reminded her.

“Yeah, but...who cares? Not interested,” she mumbled and shoved a spring roll in her mouth.

I narrowed my eyes.

I asked her if she liked Atlas, and she just shrugged me off and changed the topic.

I need to find out more about what happened that night. The fact is, I’ve been so focused on Knox and me, and this launch, I haven’t pushed her.

I will though.

“I don’t think Knox cares about that.”

“His brother does.” Molly flicked the remote and the movie started. I watched her.

She does like Atlas.

And Knox wants me, but won’t let me be with anyone else.

If you sleep with someone else, I’ll fucking lose it.

It’s not his choice.

I have to move on.

Since we fucked in his car, I’ve been grieving. Torn between what could have been and what will never be.

Part of me is grateful we never got caught. If my father heard what I’d done, he would be so ashamed of me.

Sleeping with a client.

Not cool, Payton.

So Johnny’s flirting is fun, but my heart is aching. Worse, I don’t feel well. Eating my body weight in candy and carbs probably wasn’t the best idea. Mixing it with chocolate milk, even more terrible.

Thank god it’s not me walking down the catwalk over this amazing swimming pool tomorrow afternoon. Even in one of the stunning Verity Co. bikinis.

“Girl, Johnny is sweet on you.” Roxy leans into my ear with her tablet against her chest.

My cheeks are warm. “He’s cute, but no.”

I can’t see myself with anyone else right now. I need to get over Knox. However long that will take.

“Oh, here we go. Jesus,” Roxy says, and we watch Karen walk over to Johnny. “Is she flirting?”

“Oh, dear.” I lower my brows as she lengthens her leg when he doesn’t look up.

Johnny nods, obviously uninterested, and continues with his electric drill.

Finally he glances up, almost irritated with her and she flicks her hair, waits, gets nothing back from him, then walks away.

I almost feel bad for her.

Then she glances over at me and glares.

“Damn. She really hates you,” Roxy says behind her tablet, which covers her mouth.

“That ship has sailed.” I shake my head.

“Ladies, where are we at?” Alexandra walks over. She must have just arrived.

“Great. They’re just securing the runway, and then we can do a few test runs over it,” I say. “Roxy you can go first.”

“Huh.” She laughs loudly. “It’s you they want to see in a wet t-shirt competition.”

Johnny overhears and shoots us a grin.

“I’m sure no one will complain if both of you fall in together.” He winks at us.

Alexandra shakes her head and smiles.

“We’re nearly done,” Johnny says, standing. One of his team members from the other end of the pool yells out, “Correction, we are done.”

Roxy taps her tablet.

“The rest of the setup will happen in the morning,” I tell her. “As long as that thing holds, we are ready to go.”

“Excellent work. So, go on girls. Strut your stuff.” She waves at the pool. “Go have some fun. You’ve all done a great job.”

“No way. I’m not walking over it.” I hold up my hands.

“Come on, chicken.” Roxy drops the tablet and tugs me over while Johnny laughs. She steps up and starts walking across it, pretending to be a model while Cody pretends to be the MC.

“Nope.” I shake my head again, but Johnny scoops me up and places me on the steps, then he’s behind me and tapping me on the behind.

“Go on. Be brave.”

“Fine.” I smile and turn to slap his hands off my ass, but something catches my eye.

Or rather, someone.

Knox Montgomery.

Glowering at me with his arms crossed and legs astride.

“Fuck,” I say and start walking.

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KNOX

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“Take a look around. I just need to take this call,” Alexandra says to me, but I barely hear her and I’m already striding alongside the pool toward Payton.

My vision is blurry. I’m so filled with anger.

It has nothing to do with the little red sundress she’s wearing and everything to do with the way that soon-to-be-unemployed guy had his hands on her ass.

How fucking dare he touch her?

Payton climbs down the steps after walking the catwalk over the pool and speaks to Roxy.

She knows I’m here.

She won’t look at me.

I don’t care. She will fucking look at me, and she is going to god damn listen.

Has she been here flirting with them for the past two days? Has she fucking slept with that guy?

I’m having him fired.

I’m having him exported to god damn Australia.

“Payton,” I growl from a few feet away.

She turns to me, and her face is grim.

“A word?”

“Sure. How can I help you?” Payton asks, almost leaning into Roxy as if nervous.

I clear my throat and glance around.

“Inside.”

“Perhaps Alexandra might be the best person to—”

“You are my fucking account manager. She is busy. Now!” I raise my voice and Roxy lifts her brows. “Please.”

She swallows and starts to follow me.

“Payton,” Roxy calls out.

“It’s fine. We will just be a minute.” She smiles at her coworker.

“Smart.”

“Fuck you,” she mutters back, and I grit my teeth.

We walk into the venue and down a corridor. I open one of the meeting rooms and find it empty.

We duck inside, and I close the door.

Something shifted in me after the interview yesterday and seeing Payton moving on. I began questioning everything.

I came here to see her—I don’t care about the fucking venue, I know Alexandra and her team will deliver—and tell her we should talk.

I had no idea where the conversation would lead, but it never included watching another man touch my girl.

Because she is mine.

And I will rip that fucking asshole”s arm off if I have to.

I’m furious.

How dare she?

“Knox this is totally inappr—”

I snap, my anger boiling over. “Did you fuck him? Is that why he thinks he can put his hands on your ass?”

Payton’s hand flies out and I grab it before she slaps my face.

“How dare you!” she yells.

“Me? I could’ve fucked ten women this week, but I haven’t. You want to know why?” I hiss.

“No.”

“Because of you! You, Payton. Because it’s your pussy I want around my cock. Your mouth I want.” I press her back against the wall. “Not some other woman’s. No ones.”

She’s breathless, surprised, panting. Just how I like her.

I grip her neck and let her wrist go.

“Did you let some other man taste your sweet cunt?” My voice is deeper, gentler.

Darker.

“Fuck you.” Payton glances away, but I saw the lust shimmering in those green irises.

I need to remind her who I am. Who we are together. I grip her skirt and shove it up, pressing my hard erection into her stomach.

“Stop,” she lies.

“You don’t want me to stop,” I grunt. “You want me to fuck you?”

“Knox,” she moans, her lids lowering.

My fingers slide under her panties, and I feel her juices pouring out of her.

“Wet and begging for it,” I hiss and lick across her lips with my tongue.

“We can’t.” She grips my arms. “You don’t want me.”

“Does this feel like I don’t fucking want you, Payton?” I say, unzipping and pressing the head of my cock at her folds while holding her panties as far to the side as I can. “Lift your leg.”

I assist, as she voluntarily obeys.

“Why are you doing this?” she cries, as I thrust inside her.

“Because you are mine. Only mine. Do you understand me? No one gets this pussy but me.” I slam inside her again, then again, grunting.

“Oh god. Harder, please. I hate you,” she cries.

“I know, baby. I know you do. Fuck,” I rasp. “Fuck, I’m going to come.”

My mouth slams down on hers as I rut up into her creamy hot channel and explode.

“Knox!” Payton cries, her hand threads through my hair and almost yanks every strand out.

But I don’t care.

I haven’t seen her for days and I can’t stand being without her. I’m clear as hell, as she clenches her pussy around my cock, how I feel about her.

Finally.

As we both pant, I grip her chin and stare into her eyes. “Payton, sweetheart. I am falling in l—”

“What in the hell?!” a voice says.