Sweet Jealousy by Morgan Garrity Read Free Book Online Page A

she was sleeping? No, she told herself. She was overreacting. Mr. Gold might be a little sleazy, but he wasn’t dangerous.
    “Come on, Addison,” Mr. Gold said, grinning at her. “You look sexy in that little skirt.”
    The elevator doors dinged, but before they could open he pushed up against her, slamming her cheek against the cold tile of the wall. “It’s okay,” he said into her ear.
    “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”
    She took in a deep breath and got ready to scream.
    But before she could, someone yanked Mr. Gold away.
    “Get the fuck off of her,” Nathan growled. He tossed Mr. Gold onto the ground like he was a feather. He turned to her, concern on his face. “Are you okay, Addison?”
    Nathan asked.
    “Yeah,” she said. “I mean, I think so.” Her heart was still pounding, and her legs were shaking from the adrenaline that was coursing through her body. She felt like she couldn’t catch her breath.
    “Hey!” Mr. Gold yelled. He was standing up now, and he reached out and put his hand on Nathan’s shoulder and whirled him around. “Who the fuck are you and what are you doing in my building?”
    Nathan didn’t answer him. “Did he hurt you?” he asked Addison.
    “Hey, man, I’m talking to you!” Mr. Gold said.
    Nathan punched him. Blood spurted from Mr. Gold’s nose and fell onto the floor in crimson spots.
    “Come on,” Nathan said to Addison. But she was too stunned to move.
    So Nathan picked her up and slung her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and brought her back out to the limo.

    ***
    As soon as the cold air hit her face, it was like being yanked out of a dream.
    Addison was livid.
    “Put me down,” she demanded, pounding on Nathan’s back. But he acted like he couldn’t hear her.
    When he finally did put her down, it was to set her into the back of his limo. As soon as the door shut behind them, the limo roared to life.
    “What the hell?” Addison raged. She was furious. “What the hell was that?”
    “What the hell was what?” Nathan frowned, seemingly confused.
    “That!” she said, exasperated. “You just punched my landlord!”
    “Addison, he was trying to assault you.”
    “He could call the police,” she said.
    “And say what? That I punched him because he was putting his hands all over you?” He shook his head, like the idea was ridiculous. He reached into the tiny refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water.
    “Drink,” he said.
    She shook her head. She was thirsty, but she wanted to defy him. Who the hell did he think he was, barging in there like that, punching Mr. Gold in the nose and carrying her out of there like she was some kind of child? It was ridiculous. Not to mention what he’d done earlier with poor Tyler. He was fucked up.
    “Where are you taking me?” she asked.
    “Back to my apartment. It’s not ideal, but you can spend the night there until we find you a more suitable living arrangement.”
    “Until we find…” She shook her head. “No.” She yelled to the driver. “Let me out, please.”
    But he kept driving.
    “Addison,” Nathan said. “Please. You’re upset. You can stay the night at my place. And then tomorrow, we’ll figure this whole thing out.”
    “I don’t want to figure it out,” she said, shaking her head vehemently. “I want to go home.”
    “Really, Addison? You really want to go home? You want to go home, to that man who probably has a key to your apartment, and is probably looking for a way to get back at me for hitting him? That’s what you really want, Addison?”
    “No,” she admitted. She raised her chin, challenging him. “But maybe I could stay with Tia or something.”
    “Tia who lives in the same building?” He shook his head. “Come back to my apartment. You can stay in the guestroom. Just for one night. And then tomorrow, if you want to go back to your place, you can.”
    Suddenly, she was too exhausted to fight. She leaned her head back against the seat.