Page 24 of Saving Stella
“Of course I’m here,” his sister said with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t ditch ya. You look great by the way. Love the outfit.”
“Thanks, I—” She stopped when her gaze landed on Cliff, and he did not miss the crestfallen expression on her face.
He ignored the knot that formed in his stomach.
Her lips pursing, she said, “Devon told me that he was going to stop with the security.”
“Cliff was about to head home,” Charley said in a diplomatic tone.
He shoved his hands in his pocket. “Yeah, I should get going. You guys need a ride or something?”
“Nah.” Charley waved a hand at him. “Subway’s faster and I want to take Stella on a tour of the real New York. But, thanks. For everything, I mean.” She gave him a quick hug.
Stella opened her mouth but snapped it shut.
He waited for her to say something—like, say, thank you for saving her life, which he just realized she hadn’t done at all. But as the awkward silence stretched on, he just shrugged and walked back to the SUV.
As he drove off, he took one last glance at the rearview mirror, watching as the two women walked toward the nearby subway station. He shifted his attention forward, focusing on the road ahead. After all, if there was anything Cliff had learned in the last six years, there was no use looking back on things that happened in the past.
At least he didn’t have to babysit Stella anymore, and didn’t have to be near her, at least not for a while. They would inevitably cross paths at some point in the future, as they would be forever linked through Charley and Devon, and the niece or nephew that would arrive sometime in the next months. But perhaps by then, he would have forgotten about her sky-blue eyes, her pliant curves, and her captivating scent.
Chapter 5
Since Cliff had been assigned to Stella that week, the office hadn’t lined up any other assignments for him. So, he decided he would catch up on some paperwork.
Or at least, he tried.
He just couldn’t concentrate as all he could think about was Stella. He fought the urge to call Charley to find out where Stella was and if she was okay. The questions in his mind and all the possible scenarios in his head drove him crazy and unable to think of anything else.
Was she safe?
Did she get back to her hotel before dark?
What if something happens to her while she was on the subway?
Or what if a car ran her over?
Not knowing was driving him mad, but he couldn’t just stalk her.
His wolf, however, begged to differ. Following her around New York sounded like a better idea than staying at the office and filling up reports. He kept his phone glued to his hand, willing it to ring or receive a text message from Charley or Devon, asking him to watch over Stella again.
And so, seeing as he couldn’t be productive at his desk, he spent most of the week working out at the office gym, sometimes from morning until night. It was a great way to relieve his frustrations, and the fatigue kept his wolf at bay.
His father, however, wasn’t too thrilled as Cliff had busted three punching bags by Thursday.
“I know you’re bored since you’re free this week, but I’d appreciate it if you stop destroying my gym.” His father, Connor Forrest, glowered at him, making the scar that crossed his right eye and cheek deepen.
“Sorry, Dad.” He glanced at the poor punching bag, which was now leaking sand from the hole his fist had driven through it.
Conner jerked his thumb toward the boxing ring set up in the middle of the room. “You and me. Now.”
Cliff followed his father toward the ring, swinging himself between the ropes. He dropped his towel and phone on the side and then met his father in the center.
“Ready?” Connor put his fists up in a fighting pose.
He nodded. “Yeah.”
The first blow came so fast, he didn’t even get a chance to defend himself. Connor’s meaty fist slammed into his jaw so hard, Cliff’s head snapped back with a sickening crack.