Paxton's Promise (Gloves Off #3)(16)

We started up the stands and I couldn’t help but look back at Paxton and the blonde, celebrating his win. I guess he was over wanting to be with me, and I quickly realized how much I hated it.

I turned my attention back to Cliff. “Oh yeah, that’s right. How’s the training going? Do you think you’ll make the squad?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know, but I think I have a fighting chance. Do you want to just meet me at the café?”

“Yes, let’s do that. There’s actually something I wanted to talk to you about.”

He walked me to the Hummer and then left to find his car. It felt wrong to get coffee with him, but if I wasn’t going to be home for the next week or so, I needed a pair of eyes to keep watch.





Cliff and I both grabbed a coffee and I snatched up a pumpkin muffin. Ever since I’d been at Paxton’s house I hadn’t had one. We decided to sit outside at their iron wrought tables since they were about to close up.

“So what did you want to talk about?” Cliff asked.

“Have you seen anyone near my apartment? Like maybe someone who came by and left some flowers on my doorstep?”

Shaking his head, he took a sip of his coffee. “No, but I did see them in front of your door. I was tempted to take them away. I thought it might be your ex wanting you back.”

“Why were you wanting to take them away?” I asked, laughing.

His brown eyes bore into mine, all serious. “Because I thought that if you didn’t get back with your ex, I might be able to ask you out.”

“Really? Oh, wow.” I shoved a bite of my muffin in my mouth, not knowing what to say. He was hot as hell, but he wasn’t Paxton. “So you didn’t see the person who left them?”

“No, but I can keep a look out for you. Are you worried about something?”

Looking down at my coffee, I didn’t really know how to explain it. It was just a feeling I had when I read the note. “I’m not sure yet. I know it wasn’t my ex who put them there and other than that, I don’t know of anyone who would’ve done it.”

“What about Paxton? Could it be him?”

“I know for a fact it’s not.”

“And how do you know that?”

“I just do.” Reaching into my purse, I pulled out a pen and grabbed a napkin on the table. “I’m going to give you my number. If you see anyone at my door, I want you to call me.” I wrote my number down and passed it to him.

“You know, I have some friends at the station who owe me a favor. I could get them to run the prints on the letters, if there’s any on them that is.”

“Really?” I asked, wide-eyed. “You’d do that? I didn’t really want to go to the police about this, but if you think it would help that’d be great.” The notes were in my back pocket so I pulled them out and handed them to him.

He stared down at them. “It’ll probably take a couple of days, but I’ll see what they can do.”

Sitting back in my chair, I sighed and took a sip of my coffee. “Thank you. I appreciate you doing this for me.”

About that time, something caught the corner of my eye. I squinted and focused my attention on the blue sports car headed our way.

Cliff sat back in his chair and put the notes in his pocket with an amused smirk on his face. “It looks like your boyfriend found you,” he quipped, taking another sip of his coffee.

Paxton obviously didn’t know I was with someone else because when he saw Cliff, his expression went from passive to livid. Slamming on the brakes, he got out of the car and glared at us.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I said as I got to my feet. He sure as hell was acting like it though. “What are you doing?” I asked incredulously.

His nostrils flared. “I could ask you the same thing. Whoever that is, say goodnight. The date’s over.” Cliff chuckled, drawing both mine and Paxton’s attention. Paxton clearly wasn’t in the mood to be provoked. “Is there a problem?”

Smirking, Cliff gestured toward us both and shook his head. “No, I’m just curious to see how she handles this. Gabriella doesn’t seem like the type of girl to put up with someone telling her what to do.”

“Oh, so you know her now?” Paxton growled. “Who the f*ck are you?”

His anger and possessiveness was turning me on. Hot damn, he was sexy when that little vein bulged on his forehead.

Cliff didn’t move an inch. He stayed perfectly comfortable in his chair. “I’m her neighbor. And yes, I’d say I’m getting to know her quite well.”

Paxton stepped forward, but I blocked him and put a hand on his chest. “Pax, stop. You’re acting like an idiot. Why do you even care? I thought you were over me. Cliff’s my friend and has been kind enough to help me out with something.” I glared up at him and hissed. “Why don’t you just go back to your blonde from the track?”

His scowl turned into a mask of confusion. “What are you talking about? Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I think you need to leave. I’ll be back when I feel like it.”

“Sorry, but that’s not going to happen,” he said grabbing my hand. “You made a deal and you’re going to keep it.” He pulled me toward his car and when I looked back, Cliff got up from the table, his smile gone.