Page 50 of Mr. Edwards

I’m my mother’s daughter.

Chapter 12

Grayson

I look down at my watch as my forehead rests against the steering wheel of my car. It’s just after two, Carlee should be out any minute. Well, I hope so. I drove away from here hours ago, only to circle straight back. I overreacted tonight, but the thought of anyone touching her makes me borderline insane. I’m not usually so domineering, but the moment he placed his fingers on her hair I was on my feet and dragging him away.

I need to make this right. I’m just hoping I haven’t fucked us up before we’ve even begun. I’ve always been the easygoing and fun-loving guy, never the jealous asshole I was earlier. This woman has flipped my life upside down and I’m powerless to stop it.

My head rises when I hear voices approaching. It’s Carlee and the other girl that was working with her tonight. I reach for the door handle and exit the vehicle. I’m in my silver Range Rover, and she hasn’t seen this car before, so she wouldn’t realize it’s me.

Her head’s down as she fishes in her bag for what I presume are her car keys. Her friend nudges her with herelbow, and when Carlee looks up, she points in my direction.

Carlee stops walking the moment she notices me standing there. Her face is void of any emotion, so I’m not sure if she’s happy to see me. Shoving my hands in my pockets, I remain motionless as I wait.

Please let me be able to fix this.

“You want me to hang around?” her friend asks.

When Carlee shakes her head, they say their goodbyes and she starts walking toward her car. I wait until she’s driven away before I approach.

“Can we talk?”

Carlee’s gaze moves down to her shoes, and everything in me wants to reach out to her, but I don’t. I promised her the other day I wouldn’t let anyone hurt her again, yet tonight that’s exactly what I did.

“I’m sorry about earlier.” I run my fingers through my hair, I’m not sure what I can say to make this okay. “I had no right to do what I did.”

She blows out a puff of air as she lifts her face to meet mine. “You’re right you didn’t.”

Reaching for her small hand, I wrap my fingers around it. “I don’t know what came over me tonight, I don’t usually act that way, but when he touched you, something inside me snapped. My body went into autopilot and I was dragging him away before my mind even registered what I was doing.”

“You can’t come into my workplace and cause trouble, Grayson. I need this job, and I rely on the tips it brings in.”

“I know, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“It better not. Guys flirt with me all the time, but it’s harmless, it never goes any further than that. They tip well, and it’s the only reason I allow it.”

That irrational caveman side of me is already fighting his way back to the surface. It makes me crazy to think other guys are hitting on her, but thankfully I manage not to voice my concerns out loud. This woman is turning me inside out and I don’t know how the fuck to deal with it.

“I guess I blew that for you tonight then?”

“You owe me two hundred dollars, he’s a good tipper.” When I see her repressing a smile, I know she’s severely overinflated the amount.

Nevertheless, I pull out my wallet. It’s a small price to pay for her forgiveness. Hell, I’ll give her my bank account number if need be.

Carlee raises her hand. “I was joking.” I pull out a stash of cash anyway, holding it out to her, but she slaps my hand away. “I told you I don’t want your money, Grayson.”

“What about me? Do you still want me?”

I tug on her hand, pulling her closer so I can wrap her in my arms. She buries her face in my chest and sighs. That’s not a good sign.

“I’m just saving us both from the inevitable,” she says.

“What does that even mean?”

She doesn’t pull out of my embrace, but her arms remain limp at her sides. It makes my stomach churn. Is she breaking up with me?

Tilting her head back, she finally makes eye contact. “Look at you, you’re rich, successful, and drop-dead gorgeous. You could have any girl you want.” She lets out another sigh before continuing. “I’m a nobody. You could do so much better than me.”