Page 95 of Almost Beautiful (Beautiful 3)

“Hi,” the man in front of me said, his mouth pulling into a devilish half-grin. His muscles were trying to bulge out of his shirt like Travis’s did, and he looked at me the way Travis used to look at everything with a vagina before he fell for me. “Is Travis around?”

“Brandon,” Travis said, immediately tense. “What are you doing here?”

“Thought I’d stop by,” he said, walking past me. He looked around, judging every corner of our apartment, then he scanned me from hair to toes. “To say hi again to the famous co-ed who tamed Travis Maddox.”

I crossed my arms over my middle, feeling his eyes pour over my every curve. It didn’t help that I was in a bikini top and cut-off shorts.

“Again?” Travis’s jaw ticked, his hands balled into fists.

If Brandon looked at me one more time, I was afraid Travis would attack him.

“Baby,” I said, walking around Travis until I was behind him. “We’re about to eat dinner. I didn’t realize your boss was coming over. It was nice to see you again, Brandon, but maybe another night?”

Brandon blinked, surprised by the rejection. “Uh … sure. Yeah, I apologize for the intrusion. I was just coming by to see a friend a few buildings over, and spur-of-the-moment decided to stop by.”

“Have a good afternoon,” I said with a forced smile.

“See you tomorrow, Trav.” His gaze fell on me. “Hope to see you again soon, Abby.”

Travis dipped his head once, watching Brandon leave like he was waiting for an assailant to make a move. The second the door closed, Travis turned to me asking, “Again?”

I shrugged, knowing if I told him in that moment, Travis would chase Brandon down in the parking lot. “We crossed paths after my meeting with Cami. Briefly. That’s it.”

His shoulders relaxed, and he exhaled. “Fuck me,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “That was almost bad.”

“What the hell was it?” I asked, walking over to twist the bolt lock.

“That was Brandon Kyle fucking with me.”

“You make him a lot of money. Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know,” Travis said, returning to the sink. He stared out the window, watching Brandon walk across the parking lot to the next building. “I have a feeling we’re going to find out.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Deep

Travis

“GREAT JOB. ONE MORE SET, Betty,” I said. “I mean, uh, Bett …” Two Bettys at the same time was confusing as fuck, so I started calling the white-haired one with the tight, short curls Bett. She nearly squealed every time I said her name, while the other—without fail—sighed with jealousy.

I crossed my arms and leaned back a bit to glance at Brandon.

He was a douchebag, doing douchebag things as he walked across his douchebag gym. He ogled a few women he knew were married, smacked a regular on the ass, because to anyone else it would be an acceptablegood game. He finally ended up at reception, stepping behind Tiffany and wrapping both arms around her.

I could feel my heart rate pick up, and I began to sweat even though it had been two hours since I’d gotten my work out in. I’d never liked Brandon, but after his unexpected visit, I knew he was up to something and whatever he had planned wasn’t good. I tried not to assume it was to go after my wife.

Surely, he wasn’t that stupid, but Brandon never thought about anything beyond what he wanted. That made him dangerous, and the thought of him even attempting to bag my wife made me feel murderous.

“You okay, Travis?” Bett asked, putting down her five-pound dumb bells.

“Yeah?” I said, snapping out of it.

“You’re shaking, dearest. Do we need to take you for another meal? Are you not getting enough to eat?” the other Betty said with a smirk.

“That’s so nice of you to offer, ladies, but my wife feeds me very well.”

Bett frowned. “But you seem upset. Everything okay at home?”