Page 21 of An Alpha's Romance

CHAPTER 12

CONNER

Conner had been on cloud nine since he and Keisha had taken their relationship to another level. Although the sex was out of this world, he knew that she meant much more to him than that. If he thought that she had occupied his mind before, he was mistaken. Because now, it seemed like every time he closed his eyes, he could see her, smell her, feel her very presence. After a month and a half, he could feel himself falling. And there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.

A knock on his office door brought Conner out of his musings.

“Come in,” he hollered, then all he could see was a mass of wild curls as Gloria stuck her head through his office door.

“Hey, Conner we need to talk.”

“Uh oh. Is this about the break-in?” Conner asked, hopeful. The police were at a dead-end. Even though there was surveillance in the gym, the person was concealed. However, they slipped up and left a fingerprint. Only thing was, there weren’t any matches in the system.

“No, they are at a standstill. Sorry,” Gloria replied sympathetically.

“Alright, what’s going on?” Conner was a little disappointed that the cops hadn’t gotten further in the case, but his gym only had minimal damage. Although his office suffered the most, his desk had been ransacked. They assumed the offenders were looking for the combination to the onsite safe.

“Brooke.”

Conner frowned as he usually did when Brooke was involved. “What about her?” Conner gruffly asked.

“She’s been calling nonstop wanting a meeting with you. I told her your schedule was full, but she keeps calling. I have a feeling she’s going to show up here sooner rather than later.”

Even though they were still at the new gym, and their accommodations were temporary, Conner knew Gloria was right. Brooke had already popped up once, and he wouldn’t put it past her to do it again.

“Alright, just set up a meeting with her. I might as well get it over with, otherwise I will have to continue to deal with her, and that’s the last thing I want or need right now.”

“Okay, how about today at lunchtime? Your meeting was rescheduled, so you’re available then.”

“Fine. But not here, just in case things get a little… complicated. Make reservations at a restaurant, nothing fancy. I don’t want her getting the wrong idea. This is a send-off, not a date.”

“I suggest Mickie D’s… no reservation needed.” Gloria smiled sweetly.

Conner just chuckled in response.

“Or Wendy’s. They have a four for four deal, although she’s not worth that much in my opinion.” Gloria mumbled the last part, but Conner still heard her.

“Tell me how you really feel.” Conner laughed. It was no secret that Gloria wasn’t all hearts and flowers when it came to Brooke, unless the hearts were broken and the flowers were dead. She let her disdain be known from the very beginning.

And now that Conner knew what he did about Brooke, he wished he would’ve listened to Gloria.It would’ve saved me a lot of trouble.

****

The restaurant was nicer than Conner expected from Gloria. The way she was talking, he was sure he’d be meeting Brooke at Burger King. Conner was dressed in his standard gym attire of black bottoms, and red polo with the Get Fit logo, and a winter coat. However, Brooke was dressed in a short tan dress with thigh high denim stiletto boots.

I guess the denim is her idea of casual.Conner shook his head at the inappropriateness of her outfit. Not only was she dressed for the club, but it was January. And even in North Texas it was still too cold for such skimpy attire.

Brooke smiled brightly when he sat down at the table. She batted her eyelashes, and licked her fuchsia painted lips. Once upon a time, that move would’ve turned him on, but ever since the night he learned what kind of woman Brooke really was, nothing she did could wake up the desire he once had for her.

Conner walked into his house exhausted. Although he was finally able to get off early, he knew that the only thing he wanted to do was shower and catch some z’s. Brooke would be pissed because he promised her a night out to Fearing’s, a five-star restaurant that according to Brooke, all of her group of friends but her had been to, but he would make it up to her another night.

Brooke didn’t hear him come in, her phone was on speaker, and he could hear her chatting away. Conner was about to tell her he was home, but he heard his name, so he paused eavesdropping on her conversation.

“I told you, Annalise, Conner is a hard worker, he will do what needs to be done to give me everything I want.” Brooke gushed and Conner smiled. Yeah his girl was spoiled, but she was worth it.

Conner could hear Annalise scoff. “Brooke, of course he works hard. He’s blue collar at best, and I still can’t believe you brought someone like him into our circle of friends.”

The smile was wiped from Conner’s face as he frowned, he never really got a good vibe from Annalise even though she had been polite, cold... but polite nonetheless. Now, he knew why.