Protect Me From Myself

Book 10 -Torn -Chapter-One

Welcome to book 10! This is Amiee and Kory's story. Here's another jerk of a man for you ;) Enjoy!

Aimee

Okay, date number two with short and stocky.

Why am I on a date with a man who is so obviously twenty years older than me and an out-of-towner?

Because I'm dumb, and I allowed my friends to set me up on a blind date.

Why did I allow them to set me up on a blind date?

Your guess is as good as mine.

According to the people of this small town, I need to start getting out there and dating before I get too much older.

I mean, seriously?

I'm twenty-seven; I'm not dead.

But I can't deny that my desire to have a baby is taking over everything else in my mind. I feel like time is running out for me. I want a baby before I get much older. All of my friends have kids, and there's me. No man, no kids, nothing but my business. But in order for me to have a baby, I need to find the right man to have said baby with. And not just anybody will do.

Call me what you will, but the man I choose to have a baby with has to be someone I can see myself getting along with for the rest of my life for the baby's sake. I want my child's father to be in its life, not out of it. I'm not looking for a relationship, just a father for my child. Although, finding the man that I could have a real relationship with would be nice. It just won't happen.

It's not that I'm against dating or even relationships, but I don't have a very good track record, and to be honest, there's not much talent left in this town for a girl like me.

A lot of my friends are younger than me, so that sucks all to hell. All I want is what they have. I want to be loved like I'm everything to the man sleeping next to me each night.

Love.

What's that?

Love has not exactly been kind to me. Don't get me wrong; I have loving parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. But the romantic kind of love? That ship sailed a long time ago, along with my heart. No, love won't be knocking on my door anytime soon.

And that's how I know I won't be having a baby. I just have no chemistry with anyone. But I'm trying. That's why I figured giving people a chance would soon land me with the right man to father my children.

Back to short and stocky.

Tim is nice enough; he's funny in a contemporary kind of way. A probate lawyer from New York here to visit the sleepy town where all the high flyers come to relax. The picturesque waterfront town of Oak Springs is hardly the place people think it is. Nevertheless, the place is fast becoming popular with outsiders.

Over the last three years alone, business has tripled. My little waterfront boutique thrives in a way I never believed would. I'm even traveling a lot these days, all over the place, to sell my designs and Roya's. God, that girl has some talent when it comes to lingerie.

I love traveling, meeting with potential buyers, and putting my boutique out there. My designs mean the world to me, and I love that a broader customer base is benefiting from them. Phone and internet orders certainly keep Roya and me busy. I hate putting a waiting time on orders, but sometimes, it's unavoidable.

Roya is my only staff member, so it's becoming a lot of work for just the two of us. But in a town this small, it's hard to find anyone who would even want to work with us, let alone be qualified enough. Thank God for mass production warehouses, or we'd never get anything done.

I'm sitting in the same bar I've been in almost every weekend since I was legally old enough to drink, and sometimes before that, when my parents brought me here as a child. This town has little in the way of nightlife. Four bars, three restaurants, and two nightclubs. One of those nightclubs is inside the hotel of local firefighter Enzo Ryker. But Hooliey's was Tim's bar of choice for us to meet tonight.

I don't even know why I agreed to this second date; the first one was dull enough. Tim hadn't done anything wrong; in fact, he'd done everything right. He'd been a real gentleman, but there's no spark there for me at all. Honestly, it feels like I'm having dinner with my father. So, definitely not the father of my future children.

Our first date was exactly the same as this one. Dinner, a bottle of wine, some chatter about what we do for a living, and then home... Alone. When he came into my boutique this morning and asked if I'd like to go to dinner tonight, my first thought was, Oh, hell no! But that's not the answer that came out of my mouth. I stupidly said yes.

What the fu.ck?

I'm wearing black slacks and a black glittery type shirt that ties around my neck. At least it's not backless because I don't think I could handle this man touching my naked back. His touching my bare arms and shoulders is enough to make me want to hurl. That, and I wish I hadn't worn such high heels. Not only do my feet hurt, but I feel like I'm standing next to a midget every time I stand up.

I shouldn't be so hard on him. He tries hard to look good, to make me feel comfortable and happy. But the truth is, this isn't me. I don't do this whole dating thing. I like being alone. I enjoy working and working out, and that's pretty much it.

Hell. My life is so dull!

But how will I get what I want if I don't try?

A sperm bank?

Like I said, I want a father for my child. But if I have to go down that route, then I will.

“Would you like some more wine?”

“No, thank you, Tim. I think I should be getting home.” I smile at him. He's handsome for a man of his age. Pity “short” doesn't do it for me.

“Are you sure I can't persuade you?” He smirks, his fingertip sliding up and down my arm. And yes, of course, it turns my stomach. I shudder, but he doesn't seem to notice.

“Maybe we could take this somewhere else.” It's not a question but a statement, and there is no way on this earth I'm going anywhere with this man. I don't sleep with random people. I never have and never will. I know how contradictory that sounds, and that's why I want to get to know the man before sleeping with him. God, it's been so long since I slept with anyone. I don't sleep with anyone... Okay, someone, but that's irrelevant right now.

Tim and I may have been on two dates, but sleeping with him is not an option at this point. I may want a baby, and I will do anything to get one, but I won't sleep with just anyone to get it. I have some damn pride.

“I could show you...” His voice trails off in my ears as the scent of familiar cologne hits my senses. Oh my God, no. Not here. “...Okay?”

“Aimee,” My eyes flutter closed, and his deep voice makes my body hum, even after all this time. It shouldn't be this way; he's not supposed to be able to affect me like this anymore!

I notice Tim's eyes locked on the man now beside me. Because he couldn't just stand behind me, could he? Oh no, he had to come to the side of me so that his gorgeous body was almost pressed against me.

Bastar.d!

“Kory,” I reply without looking at him.

“Who's your friend?”

I give Tim an, I'm sorry, look before answering Kory.

“This is Tim. Tim, this is Kory.”

I watch them shake hands and exchange pleasantries, which, to me, is just insane. But then, Tim isn't to know the extent of my relationship with Kory. Hell, no one knows anything about us; he made sure of that.

I'm not really a big drinker; I never have been, apart from one or two nights when I was younger, but right now, as I down this wine like it's water, I'd say I'm pretty much on my way to being smashed.

“So, how do you two know each other?”

Who said he could sit down?

“I'm just a tourist who saw a pretty girl and asked her out. This is actually our second date.”

“Is that so.” It wasn't a question. Nothing much ever is with Kory. He's all about facts. I guess that's the lawyer in him.

Our eyes lock hard and firm the second I look up at him, and yes, I instantly regret it. Everything I try to suppress where this man is concerned always hits me hard each time I look into his emerald eyes. I wish I could stop it; I wish I could turn it off and pretend I'm fine, but I can't. I'm not like him; he walked away from me and never looked back. It's a slap in the face how he always acts like we're friends of old. Like nothing ever happened between us.

If only.

“Does your husband know you're on a date with another man?”

I should have expected Kory to say something like that. I should have, but I didn't, and I'm sitting here wide-eyed with a thumping heart.

No one knows about my husband. And when I say no one, I mean no one. Not my parents, my friends, no one. It was a stupid mistake that cost me my heart. A mistake that wrecks a tiny piece of what's left of my heart every time I see him and allow him back in.

“You're married?” Tim's tone is one of shock. Can't blame the guy. But then, he never asked if I was married, to begin with.

“Separated.” I smile at Tim. I do not want him to think I'm some cheating slu.t who dates other men behind her husband's back. I am not. “My ex-husband is a jerk, a jackass. A very selfish, self-centered asshole, and not worth even thinking about, much less talking about.”

Tim gives me a curious look as if he's unsure whether to believe me. But I seriously speak the truth. My ex-husband is all of that and much more.

“I need a word with you.”

There's no 'Can I have a word with you, please?' Just, I need. Well, Kory can fu.ck off if he thinks I'm going anywhere with him.

“Now, Aimee!”

Kory says while getting out of his seat and standing tall and proud. Like some colossal werewolf right before he turns. All burning eyes of emerald green with burning embers smack in the middle. Chest heaving like a starving beast, ready to pounce on his prey. And that goddamn hot, fit, tight, muscle-clad body of his. There's no way I can go anywhere with him and not want to jump his bones.

“Not tonight, Kory. I'm busy.”

“It wasn't a request, Aimee.”

“The lady said she doesn't want to go with you. Maybe you should respect her wishes.”

It's nice of Tim to stand up for me like that, but Kory isn't the kind of man to back down from anything. I know it will be easier to just go with him.

“It's okay, Tim,” I smile reassuringly. “I'll just be a few moments. If I don't go, he'll make a scene. It's easier this way.”

“Why? Who is he?” Tim's eyes move over me to Kory and back again.

“The jerk husband!” Kory snaps while grabbing my arm and dragging me to my feet.