The Wrong Right Man(37)

Chapter 10


Dakota

I SIT AT a small table in the back of the coffee shop with an iced coffee on the table in front of me, the condensation on the cup melting down onto the wooden surface, the drink forgotten since I sat down. All of my attention has been focused on the familiar-looking man across the room, the same man I saw the day I had brunch with Jamie, the same guy I thought I saw at the movies.

I don’t want to assume he’s somehow connected to Braxton, but my gut is screaming at me that he is. I narrow my eyes on him when he looks in my direction, and he frowns, making me question my own sanity.

“Dakota.”

I look up at Troy, and he hesitates, like he’s waiting for me to stand and greet him with a hug. There is no chance in hell I’m hugging him. I can barely even stand the sight of his still-handsome face. With a sigh, he takes a seat across from me, and I glance at the guy across the room to see his reaction to Troy’s arrival, only he doesn’t react at all. Okay, maybe I’m being paranoid.

“Do you know that guy?” Troy asks, gaining my attention.

“No.” I pick up my coffee and take a huge gulp. Maybe I’m just on edge, because since I hung up on Braxton last night, I’ve been waiting for him to just show up or do something to let me know he’s still around.

“Okay…” His brows pull together. “Well, you’ve been glaring at him since I came in,” he says, placing his own cup of coffee on the table while leaning back in his chair, getting comfortable like we’re here to meet for a coffee date.

“Where’s my stuff?” I check the floor at his feet for the box or a bag, but there is nothing in sight.

“I left it in my trunk.”

“You left it in your trunk,” I repeat, sounding as annoyed as I feel. “Why didn’t you bring it in here to me?”

“The box is falling apart. I didn’t think you’d appreciate me leaving a trail of your photos on the sidewalk,” he replies, taking a sip of coffee. “I’ll get it for you when we leave here.”

I open my mouth to tell him that the box wouldn’t be falling apart if he had put it in a new box when he said he would mail it to me, but a shadow falls over the table and I glance up, blinking to make sure I’m not seeing things.

“Jamie?” I stand automatically to give my brother a hug, asking quietly, “What are you doing here?”

“I’ll explain later.” He kisses my forehead then glowers at Troy while moving a chair from another table, placing it with the back to the table between Troy and me before straddling it.

“How have you been, Jamie?” Troy asks with a hint of nervousness in his tone as he eyes my brother, who I have to admit looks intimidating. Not just because he’s much larger than Troy. His leather jacket, shredded jeans, and heavy-looking black boots would make any normal person cower if faced with him.

“Been good, Troy. How have you been?”

“All right.” He looks between Jamie and me. “I didn’t think you’d be here.”

“Funny, I didn’t think you’d be here either.” Jamie glances at me with a look that says I’m in trouble. “Last I heard, you were going to mail my sister her shit.”

“I was going to,” he agrees then clears his throat. “I just know how important the box is to her and wanted to make sure she got it.”

“It’s really nice of you to look after her like that, especially since you didn’t seem to give a fuck how she would feel when you slept with someone else after your ring was on her finger.”

“Jamie,” I hiss.

He turns to glare at me. “Where’s your box?”

“Jamie,” I repeat, softer this time, knowing his temper and how quickly this could escalate.

He turns to look at my ex once more. “Where is her box, Troy?”

“It’s in my car.”

“Why don’t you do me a favor and go get it,” he suggests, and Troy stands without another word and heads across the room to the door.

After I see him exit, I look at my brother, finding him watching me. “Was that necessary?”

“You said you would tell me if he asked to meet up with you, Dakota. What the fuck?”

“Who told you I would be here?” I ask, and his eyes narrow.

“That’s a whole other conversation we need to have. Why the fuck haven’t you told me about the guy you’re seeing?”

“Oh my God, I’m seriously going to kill him.” I squeeze my eyes closed and rub my forehead. “I can’t believe he called my brother, especially after our conversation last night. What the hell is wrong with him?”

“He’s obviously worried about you,” Jamie says, and my eyes open just enough to glare at him.

“Do not even think about taking his side on this, Jamie. You don’t know him. You don’t know the things he’s done.”

“Unlike you, Dakota, he talked to me, so yeah I do know.”

“He told you he stole my digital information?”

“If that’s your e-mail and shit, then yeah, he told me,” he replies, not seeming concerned at all by the fact that Braxton has basically come into my life and stomped all over it. Then again, he doesn’t know anything but what Braxton has told him. “I like him,” he mutters, and I blink in disbelief.