Control You (21 page)

Adrenaline spiked through my system. I didn’t appreciate being told what to do or being labeled like a piece of property, but his tone was scaring me. “Don’t get anything delivered. I’m not hungry. I just want to finish this up, and then leave.” The words came out soft, and without a single hint of the annoyance and panic I felt flitting though my system.

Craig opened his mouth to speak, but shut it the second a silver car with loud rock music blaring from its stereo pulled up in front of the shop. The engine cut off and Cameron stepped out. He closed his door and went to the backseat to fumble with something.

“What’s he doing here?” Craig seethed. His eyes shifted from Cameron to me. They were hard-set and dark.

All the air left my lungs in the time it took for my heart to beat one erratic sequence. “I have no clue.”

Craig’s lips pressed into a fine line, and I got the distinct impression he didn’t believe me. My insides twisted and my mind flew into panic mode. Why Craig brought these insane feelings to the surface of my mind, I had no clue. All I knew was that the tension, which had been building between us, was about to get thicker now that Cameron was here. And that it would hit a whole new high if Cameron happened to mention anything about Thursday night.

CAMERON

I wrestled with the surprise for Paige in my backseat for what felt like forever before I was finally able to free it and carry it inside. This was the reason I needed to get a truck, for moments when I wanted to haul something large. Casting a quick glance back at my silver beauty as I started over the curb, I dismissed the idea. I could never give up that car.

Hoisting the large object, wrapped in paper, higher over my shoulder, I continued toward the entrance to Paige’s shop. Craig stepped into view, and I realized I hadn’t even searched for his vehicle in the parking lot when I’d pulled in. I’d only looked to see if Paige’s black car had been there. Fuck.

“What’s this?” Craig stepped aside and nodded to what I held. I noticed the bruises I’d given him last time we’d seen each other had already faded.

“Just a little something I thought Paige could use.” Glancing around, I spotted her near the back wall.

“What is it?” She set the roller she’d been holding down, and walked toward me. She was dressed in a simple purple tank top and a pair of cutoff shorts. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail and even the smudges of turquoise paint across her arms were sexy.

“You’ll find out when you open it.” I grinned.

“Why did you get me something?” Her eyes shifted to Craig as she stepped closer and the light in them dimmed, as though she were trying to prove a point—that she had no idea I would be coming by or what my gift to her could possibly be.

Asshole. I hated that he was so easily able to suck the excitement right out of her eyes like that.

“I know I didn’t, but I wanted to. It’s something for the shop.” I shifted it around in my grasp. “This wall dry enough for me to prop this thing up against it?”

Paige nodded, and I moved to set the heavy thing against the wall. She stepped closer and ripped at the paper covering it. Once she’d gotten a large chunk off, and what was inside became visible, her eyes bugged out of her head and an infectious smile spread across her face. One not even dickwad could dim.

“Oh my God! You had a sign made for the shop?” She shredded the rest of the paper off and tossed it to the side.

“Do you like it?” I took a step closer, so I could point out things to her in the sign. “I had him paint a set of bifold doors so it looked like a closet for you. It’s made out of driftwood too, so it should go with your vintage theme well.”

I’d said
him
, but in reality, I’d been the one to paint it. I had my cabinet guy find the perfect piece of driftwood for me. I’d painted it and then given it back to him so he could burn the shop name onto it and whittle at the edges a little more.

“Like it? I love it!” she squealed. Seeing her this happy because of something I’d done was amazing—addicting even—and I found myself wondering what I could do next that would get a similar reaction from her. “Look, you can see all the clothes hanging on hangers! And the way the name is burned in…I’m in love!”

I chuckled. “I’m glad you’re happy with it.”

Paige jumped up and wrapped her arms around my neck. Her scent wafted to my nose and tingles exploded across my skin from her sudden touch. Damn this girl was getting to me, like skin freaking deep.

“Thank you so much!” she squealed. “I can’t wait to hang it out front!”

I placed a hand against the small of her back, enjoying more than I probably should how well it seemed to fit in the dip there. “You’re welcome. I thought it was something that would make the place seem that much more real to you.”

Craig cleared his throat from where he stood off to the side. His eyes were dark and his arms were folded across his chest. He was pissed. Obviously, what I’d done to him hadn’t put any sense of fear in him when it came to me. Regret that I hadn’t added a few more punches to get my point across better rippled through me.

Paige released her grip on me and stepped away, smoothing the fine hairs around her face. There was a look of sheer panic in her eyes. I pondered for a brief moment if the panic swirling in her eyes and tightening the muscles of her face was because she was scared of Craig. If so, then why the hell had she given him a second chance?

“What do you think?” Paige asked Craig. It was obvious she thought drawing him into the conversation would curb his attitude. Generally, I would think this move was funny, because it was almost as though she was pacifying a small child by including him in the conversation to avoid a hissy fit. This time, however, I couldn’t find any humor in the situation. I frowned at her, and then cut my eyes to Craig. What was the point in being with someone you had to walk on eggshells with? Screw that.

“Eh, it’s all right. I don’t really get why the closet theme needs to be on the sign too. To me it’s just overkill.” He shrugged and I wanted to throat punch him.

Of course, the little prick wouldn’t like anything that came from me.

“I think it ties in well, personally, but it’s not up to either of us—this is Paige’s place.” I turned my attention back to her. “If you don’t like it, I can always trash it and get you whatever you want.”

Her eyes widened. “No. I like it. Don’t do that. It’s great, really. I’m with you. I think it ties in with everything else. Thanks.”

Craig tensed beside her and I fought the urge to roll my damn eyes at him. “All right, well, that’s all I came by for. Glad you like it. I’ll see you around.”

“Thanks. I do.” She flashed me a small smile, and crammed her hands into the front pockets of her cutoffs. Her smile didn’t do the excitement glowing in her eyes any justice, and I hated it.

“See you later, caveman,” I shouted over my shoulder at Craig as I exited the shop, unable to help myself. I fucking hated him.

Craig and I had always butted heads, even when we were little. Just because our parents were as close as could be didn’t mean we had to be. The more I was around him lately, the more things about him I added to my list of reasons why I couldn’t stand the fucker.

Climbing into my car, I cranked the engine. Some Five Finger Death Punch blasted through my speakers, and I turned it up louder. Even though I was twenty-five, I still dedicated songs in my head to fuckers like him all the time and this song was one of them. Music was the expression of the soul, and this song expressed how much I loathed Craig Owens right now. He’d ruined my moment with Paige.

I glared at the two of them through the large windows along the front of the store; they were obviously already having an argument about my gift. A shit-eating grin twisted my lips. Maybe this would be the final straw, and Paige would come to her damn senses about him.

I could hope.

Afterward, I’d have no problem swooping in and taking his place, becoming the replacement guy Lauren had mentioned the other night. I could rock her world like no one else. She’d been right when she said there wouldn’t be a damn thing she could do with me that she’d ever regret; I’d make sure of it.

Backing out of the parking space I’d been occupying, I started toward the hardware store. I’d reached the point in my renovations of my parents’ house where I needed to decide on some paint colors. Rolling my windows down, I lit a cigarette and headed to the other side of town. I was nearly halfway there when some lady in a minivan cut in front of me and forced me to lock my brakes up. Something in my backseat fell to the floorboard with a clanking noise, startling me. I’d forgotten to give Paige the bolt package that came with her sign. Fuck.

Rolling my head on my neck and letting out a sigh, I cut into the closest parking lot and turned around. If I didn’t give them to her now, I might not have another chance, and I sure as shit wasn’t giving them to Craig to pass along.

When I pulled in front of Paige’s shop, I didn’t cut the engine of my car. I figured I’d stirred the bee’s nest enough for one day and I’d just drop and go with the bolts. The second I reached the shop door, that notion drifted from my mind in an instant. I couldn’t hear what was being said, but I could see the look on Paige’s face and the tears streaming from her eyes as Craig gripped her upper arm with too much force. I didn’t think; instead, I merely reacted. I was through that door and lunging for Craig in seconds. Red exploded around the edges of my vision, and all I could focus on was him. Gripping his shirt, I pulled him backward and away from her so quickly he had no choice but to release her.

PAIGE

Cameron moved into the shop like nothing more than a blur. Before I realized what was happening, he had Craig by the shirt and was growling in his face about something. My hand gripped where Craig’s insanely tight hold had been seconds before, and I stood paralyzed, staring at the two.

“What the hell? Get off me!” Craig shouted. He thrashed his body, trying to get free of Cameron’s grip, but couldn’t.

“Paige,” Cameron shouted over Craig’s curses. “Tell me why he was holding you like that.”

I blinked and sniffled a few times, trying to wrap my mind around how the entire situation had changed so drastically.

“Paige, tell me,” Cameron pleaded, his words a little more intense this time. My eyes shifted to meet his; they were concern-filled and tender. “Tell me so I know I’m justified in what I’m about to do.”

“Oh what, you wanna go at it again?” Craig shouted. “I’m not drunk off my ass this time, fucker. I’ll take you.” His elbow came back and slammed into Cameron’s ribs.

In the next instant, Cameron pressed Craig against the wall with his forearm crushing his windpipe. Craig’s hands, still balled into fists, came crashing into Cameron’s sides until his blows lost all power behind them and his face turned a shade of red I’d never seen before.

“Let him go!” The words sliced through the air, surprising even me. Why was I telling him to let Craig go? Maybe it was because I didn’t want to see anyone get hurt. “Please, that’s enough. Just let him go.”

Cameron un-wedged his forearm from under Craig’s chin, and we both watched as he slumped to the floor, gasping and choking for air. A frustrated grumble spurred from Cameron and he turned to face me.

“You okay?” he asked. He rubbed his hands over his face.

“Yeah.”

“What was that about?”

I dropped my hand from the area burning with the pain Craig had inflicted. “I don’t know.”

I did know, but I wasn’t about to tell Cameron that Craig had been pissed because he’d bought me a sign for my shop. Craig thought it meant something—that Cameron and I had been seeing each other behind his back.

“You do know. You just don’t want to say,” Cameron sneered.

“Get the fuck away from her!” Craig shouted, his voice still winded and crackly.

Cameron’s jaw tensed, but he didn’t retaliate as I thought he would. “Step outside with me.”

It wasn’t a question. He was telling me to step outside with him.

Craig stood and lunged at Cameron, but he pushed him back up against the wall. “Stay the fuck back or so help me God I’ll give you an ass kicking like no other.”

Craig’s hands came up in front of him in surrender, and the knots in my stomach loosened some. “Fine.”

I followed Cameron outside and wondered what he planned on saying to me this time. As soon as we stopped at the other side of the parking lot, I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath.

“Now, what was that all about?” Cameron asked me again.

I bit my bottom lip, wondering how to word it. “He just wasn’t happy you’d gotten me the sign. He thought it meant that something has been going on between us.”

I hated how the words made me feel—dirty, embarrassed, and completely guilty, because I had been thinking about him earlier. I’d even said some inappropriate things on Thursday night while drinking. There was no way for Craig to know that, but it didn’t lessen my conscience any.

“It was a gift for the shop.” Cameron shook his head, frustration sweeping across his face and tightening his features. “Jesus, this entire situation is freaking blowing my mind right now.”

I didn’t speak. What was there to say? All I wanted to do was go home and crawl into bed to cry. My hand went to press against the area Craig had gripped. The realization that I’d allowed myself to be placed in a situation like last time shredded at my insides.

“I told you before and I’ll say it again.” Cameron reached out and lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet with his. “You deserve better than this, than him, and I hope now you truly realize that.”

I closed my eyes in an effort to keep the tears threatening to spill free at bay a bit longer. Words formed in my mind—each of them an argument or excuse for why Craig had done what he’d done again—but they never made it to my lips. Cameron was right. I did deserve better than this.

“I know you don’t want to hear it right now—and I might even be hanging myself in your eyes by saying this—but…if you were mine, I’d never hurt you the way that asshole does. Ever.” The pad of Cameron’s warm thumb brushed along my bottom lip, causing my breath to hitch and my heart to hammer for a whole new reason.