Page 18 of The Tempo of Truth (The Monsters Duet #3)

I didn’t know she was following me since she was wearing sneakers, and her footsteps were practically silent. When I caught sight of her in the cracked mirror over the sink, I was startled.

“You can’t be in here. This is the men’s locker room.”

She cocked her head to the side and stared at me with the same expression she had on her face the night of our drunken hookup.

It was a look full of something sweet and alarmingly innocent.

However, after all the ways I’d disappointed her and let myself down, it was tinged with a wary hint of resignation.

There was no more room for Winnie to fool herself into thinking I was the honorable and heroic guy she imagined.

“When you’re a Halliday, you can go wherever you want.

Very few people are going to get in your way.

Even if they’re on the payroll.” She grinned at me and stepped closer as I backed up against the counter.

The wet edge dug into my backside, and my taped-up hand was slightly clenched.

I hated that my body gave away the fact that she intimidated me, even though I beat up men three times her size for a living.

Back in the day, I treated her like a lost puppy following me around looking for affection.

Now, it felt like a predator was stalking me, and I’d turned into the hapless prey.

“For what it’s worth, I think you would win in a fight against Helio.

” Her voice held a seductive lilt I’d never heard before.

I grunted and tried in vain to put a bit more distance between us as she leaned even closer. I could smell something floral in her hair and see the faint freckles that dotted the bridge of her nose. The glasses magnified her playful gaze to the point that it was all I could see.

“Why do you think I’d win against him?” It wasn’t like I had any formal fight training. I’d grown up rough, stayed in shape to play sports, and knew how to watch my back when I started moving in questionable circles. I was scrappy and intuitive more than deeply skilled.

“You would win because you have more to lose than he does. All that’s at stake for him is pride and job security.”

“Those seem like pretty legit reasons for him not to lose.” I bit back a sarcastic laugh.

“Hmm…maybe. But I’ve watched you fight for your family since the very first day we met.

” Winnie’s voice trailed off. She leaned closer to me, one of her hands lifted and rested on my bare shoulder.

I couldn’t stop a shiver from shaking my entire body.

“You’re unbeatable when you’re fighting for the things that matter the most.”

She was so close; her words brushed against my cheek, and I could feel the plush curve of her breasts where they pressed against me.

I doubted she was wearing much underneath the stolen hoodie.

The way her body developed and filled out after having Lowe was a total turn-on.

I’d always liked the way she looked, but there was something about her having curves for days that appealed to a primal part of myself I didn’t even know I had until she entered my life again and refused to leave.

“If that were true, I’d still be playing football, not taking uppercuts for Lev.

Watch out for him. He’ll take you for everything you’re worth and have you smiling while you hand over your life savings.

It’s best if you just stay away from this place.

I’ll come to you when it’s time to see my son.

” I knew the warnings were falling on deaf ears.

Winnie’s lips ghosted over the corner of my mouth, and her fingers ticked across the underside of my jaw.

My muscles stiffened, and I had to grit my teeth so hard to stop myself from reaching for her or reacting to the provocation, so much so that I was shocked they didn’t crack.

When she didn’t get the response she wanted, Winnie placed a loud, smacking kiss on my cheek.

I’d seen her do the exact same thing to Lowe while I was at her brownstone.

She patted my shoulder and told me, “You love your mother more than you love football. When you had to choose which one to fight for, you picked the right one. She is living her best life now, thanks to you. It might not feel like it, but you did win that battle, Ky.” Her gaze shifted to the busted screen of my phone when it started to buzz.

She lifted an eyebrow and pushed away from me.

I watched with unblinking eyes as she licked her bottom lip.

I could’ve sworn she was searching for a taste of me from that brief kiss.

“Still as popular as ever. Keep a closer eye on your phone. I can’t predict the future, but while you’re making an effort to be part of Lowe’s life, I’ll do my part to involve you in any major decisions regarding his well-being and needs.

Kids grow so fast. You won’t want to miss any more of his childhood because I can’t get a hold of you. ”

After the warning, she turned to leave the locker room. I called her name to stop her. She looked at me over her shoulder with curious eyes. I warned, “I’m not always going to let you have the upper hand.”

She smirked and taunted me with a sassy, “Good.”

I stared at the door after she left until it was pushed open ten minutes later by Lev. He gave me a once-over, then asked, “Why do you look like you just went ten rounds with a heavyweight champion?”

I turned around and turned on the sink. I splashed cold water on my face and looked at my frustrated expression in the mirror. “Dealing with Winnie isn’t as easy as I remember.”

Lev chuckled. “She’s not what I expected. Tougher and smarter than I imagined any woman foolish enough to be in love with you to be.”

I sighed and stared at my reflection as water dripped from the tip of my nose and the edge of my chin. “She’s not in love with me. She wants to own me. I’m like a toy she’s always wanted but could never get her hands on.”

Lev kicked the back of my knee, causing me to nearly buckle.

“If she wants to own you, give yourself to her at the highest price possible. You could do a lot worse than being Winnie Halliday’s boy toy.

You’re already stuck with her because of the kid.

Might as well make the most of it.” He shook his head.

“Don’t even try to tell me that you aren’t for sale.

We both know you’ve always had a price, Ky. ”

I did have a price.

One Winnie couldn’t pay.

If only she had never asked me if I helped her grandfather kidnap her.

If she didn’t doubt me and question if I had it in me to harm her, I would’ve melted in her hands years ago.

Her suspicion, no matter how valid, was an insurmountable hurdle in my heart.

Even if she showed absolute faith in me by allowing me into our son’s life, I still couldn’t overcome the lingering resentment that followed from her initial distrust.

I slicked my wet hair back with my palms and asked Lev, “Do you think her security guard wants to fuck her?”

I noticed the way he watched her wasn’t entirely professional. And his barely concealed disgust toward me served no point unless the basis was jealousy. I’d never given the guy a reason to have an issue with me, but every time our eyes locked, I could sense him silently cursing me out.

Lev hummed in agreement. “He’s got his eyes on the prize, unlike you. If he weren’t on the clock, he would’ve taken the opportunity to pound you into the ring in a heartbeat. He doesn’t want you anywhere near his boss.”

“Were you really willing to bet that I’d beat him in a fight? He’s got professional training. The Hallidays don’t mess around when it comes to personal security, especially after Winnie got snatched right out from under them.”

Lev grunted and gave me a narrow-eyed look. “In my experience, training only gets someone so far. Desperation, on the other hand,” he pointed at me with no shame, “there is no limit to how far a truly desperate man can go.”

I rolled my shoulder and gave the older man a dirty look.

“Out of the two of us, I think you might be the one who is desperate, old man. Don’t think I’m going to ignore your messaging Winnie so you could get her to come down to the gym behind my back.

Leave her alone, Lev. If you think she’s tough, you don’t want to know what her uncles are like.

Especially Win. I was scared shitless of him when I was a kid. ”

“He’s paid you once to get out of his niece’s life.

You’re a lot worse as a person now. Maybe there’s another massive payday on the horizon.

” He slapped my shoulder before I could tell him to fuck off.

He was going to play with fire despite my numerous warnings.

All I could do was try and keep myself from getting burned by standing next to him.

“Pack it in for the night, Ky. That kid sucks. He doesn’t have what it takes if he can’t even hold his own with you. ”

I grunted in agreement while picking up my still buzzing phone. Typically, I’d answer one of the messages and find some soft and sweet company to take my mind off how far off track my life had gone.

Tonight, I didn’t want anyone else to touch the place where Winnie’s lips had touched mine.