Read Online The Closer You Get by Kristi Gold - Free Book Online Page A

prompted her fight-or-flight
response when he began to work the buttons of her shirt. She managed
to shove his hands away, at least for the time being. “I said no, and I mean
no.”
    He pushed her back on the couch and hovered over her, looking
larger and more menacing than she remembered. “Come on, darlin’. You know you
want it as bad as I do.”
    Anger kicked in along with a spurt of adrenaline. She would not
allow this to happen. He’d have to knock her senseless before she’d let him
touch her again.
    Cammie bit down hard on Mark’s shoulder the minute he moved on
top of her, and when she lifted her knee and hit the intended target, he slapped
her face with the back of his hand, sending a pain shooting all the way to the
top of her head.
    “Get off her!”
    Cammie felt the pressure of Mark’s body lift away right before
she saw Brett backing Mark up against the refrigerator, one arm pressed against
Mark’s throat.
    “What in the hell do you think you’re doing, you son of a
bitch?” Brett hissed.
    “I know her, Taylor.” He looked back at Cammie with a
provocative grin. “Real well.”
    When Brett glanced over his shoulder, looking for confirmation,
Cammie had no choice but to tell him the truth. “We knew each other, but that was a long time ago, and he’s not welcome
in my life anymore.”
    Brett turned back to Mark. “Do you want me to call the police,
Cammie?”
    Did she? No. She couldn’t afford to invite a scandal into
Brett’s life and end the job before it had barely started. “Not this time, as
long as he promises to never come near me again.”
    “You heard the lady,” Brett said. “The next time you pull a
stunt like this, I’ll turn what’s left of you over to the law. Understood?”
    When Mark grumbled a halfhearted acknowledgment, Brett released
him and shoved him toward the door. “Now get the hell out of here and don’t ever
come back again.”
    Mark picked up his cap from the floor, slapped it across his
thigh and gave Cammie a suggestive wink. “Later, darlin’.”
    Once he was gone, Cammie collapsed against the cushions and
released a ragged breath. The tears she’d been determined to keep at bay rolled
down her cheeks, regardless of her determination to stop them.
    Brett sat beside her and surveyed her face. “Did he hurt
you?”
    With great effort, she swallowed a sob. “It’s nothing.”
    “He slapped you. I don’t consider that nothing.”
    After swiping at the latent tears, she made an effort to smooth
her tousled hair. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
    He softly touched the tender area on her cheek left by Mark’s
hand. “I don’t know a hell of a lot about Jensen, but I don’t like what I saw
just now. Do you really know him?”
    “Yeah, I know him.”
    “How well?”
    Cammie shot off the couch and walked to the kitchen sink. “Well
enough to steer clear of him.”
    “And you let him in here?”
    “He didn’t give me much choice.” She drew some water into a
plastic cup, took a quick drink and dumped the rest into the sink. Then she
turned and leaned back against the counter. “I knew him back in Nashville when
he was playing the club circuit.”
    Brett stood but remained planted in the same spot. He looked as
if he wanted to say something but stayed silent.
    “Anyway,” Cammie continued, “I haven’t seen him in about four
years. I was afraid I might run into him while we were on the road, but I didn’t
expect it quite this soon. He’s always been a drinker, and aggressive when he
drinks, when it comes to fighting. But I’ve never seen him act that way
before.”
    Brett pulled a bandanna from his back pocket and handed it to
her. “He might have more than booze on board.”
    She wiped the moisture from beneath her eyes. “What do you
mean?”
    He shrugged. “He could be on speed or sleeping pills or
painkillers. Whatever he thinks he needs to get by in this atmosphere. It
happens.”
    “But not with you?”
    He sighed. “I used