Rebel Heir (Rush Series Duet #1)(14)

Here we go again.

“Rush…you’re still here,” she said. “I was hoping to catch you.”

His jaw tensed. “Rachel…”

She glanced over at me and then back at him. “I was just driving by, figured I’d stop in and see if you were still here, see if you’d want to hang out tonight.”

He scratched his chin and hesitated. “I have some things to do tonight.”

Rachel looked over at me. “Who’s this?”

“One of my employees.”

I offered my name. “Gia.”

Without responding to me, she nudged her head toward the door. “Can we talk for a minute?”

Rush looked pissed but followed her over to a corner where I could still hear what they were saying.

“I miss fucking you, Rush. How come you haven’t returned my calls?”

My heart dropped as I continued to eavesdrop.

“Lower your voice,” he scolded.

Rush then led her toward the entrance where they lingered for a few minutes. I could no longer hear them, but could see she was running her fingers through his hair. Even though he looked annoyed, it irked me to see her touching him. I had no right to feel that way.

Shake it off, Gia.

After she finally left, he returned to where I was sitting at the bar. He didn’t acknowledge what had just happened as he continued to wipe the bar top when there was nothing left to wipe.

“So, who’s Rachel?”

“No one,” he was quick to say.

“I have ears, you know.”

“And what exactly did you hear with those ears, Minnie Mouse?”

“That she misses fucking you. Is she one of your whores?”

He stopped wiping and whipped the towel at me. “Now, now…have some respect. I think the correct term is concubine.”

I snapped my fingers. “Ah, sorry. Didn’t mean to cheapen it.”

He shrugged. “Honestly…she’s no one important…just someone I used to mess around with.”

“Used to?”

“When I meet someone, I’m very clear on the fact that I don’t want a relationship. I don’t make any promises. Sometimes women expect things to keep going when they were never meant to go on. Sometimes, no matter how clear you make your intentions, they still don’t listen.”

“I assume that means you’re done with her?”

“There’s no reason to continue.”

“But she misses fucking you,” I mocked.

“That’s her problem.”

“Well, if you really are that upfront with women, then I respect that. I would have preferred it if Harlan—the guy I met here, if that’s even his name—told me that all he was interested in was having sex and running.”

Rush lifted his brow. “Would you have fucked him if he’d admitted that?”

“Probably not, but I would’ve appreciated the brutal honesty over what he did to me.”

“He could sense that you aren’t the type of girl to go for a one-night stand. He knew the only way to get you to sleep with him was to deceive you into thinking it was the start of something more.”

“How do you know that about me…that I’m not the one-night stand type?”

“Well, for one, you told me you were hurt by what happened. If you were different, you wouldn’t have given a shit—wouldn’t have even thought to tell me about it when you’d only just met me. And even if you hadn’t said anything, I would still be able to read you. I can look a woman in the eyes and know if there’s a lot going on in her head or if things come up empty. Don’t ask me how I know…I just do.”

“And you go for the empty ones…”

“Empty is safe.”

I pondered why Rush was so intent on distancing himself from relationships. “Do you worry about women only being interested in your money…trying to go after you if things go wrong? Is that why you’re the way you are?”

“No. That’s not really something I worry about.”

“You don’t worry about it because you never let things get to a certain point with anyone.”

“Pretty much.” He grabbed my empty glass and lifted it in the air. “You want another?”

“Do I have to say cock again?”

“You just did.”

I laughed. “No more French Kisses for me. Not fake ones anyway.” I winked. “Honestly, I have to write tonight while the ideas from today are fresh in my head. I’ll pass out if I have any more alcohol. My characters have a lot to say and do.”

He chuckled. “Well, at least someone’s getting laid tonight.”





Oak snuck up beside me during the evening rush. He was so big that his body cast a shadow whenever he was near.

“You alright, boss?”

Looking up at his massive frame, I said, “Yeah. Why?”

“Well, you seem preoccupied lately. Anything you want to tell me?”

“Not particularly. Why are you asking me that?”

“You don’t know why?”

“No, I don’t.”

He laughed to himself then said, “Pretty sure you have a thing for Gia.”