Vicious Circles (20 page)

A slow grin crept across his lips as if he was thinking the same thing as I. Maybe he was thinking of the night on the beach – he did have a touch of fire in his eyes.

Then sweet little Tori, sitting next to him and looking so lost like she didn’t belong, asked him a question and tore his attention away from me. I knew in that moment that I wouldn’t try to seduce Col in. Maybe if Tori was a spiteful bitch like Veronica I could do it but I’d honestly never done anything like that in my life. I’d never slept with anyone else’s boyfriend and I wouldn’t start now.

Just as everyone was finishing their drinks and preparing to leave, Owen breezed into the bar with a cute little brunette on his arm. I froze – like everyone else at the table – until my burning anger thawed me enough to get to my feet.

“What the hel are you doing with her?” I demanded as Owen ushered Morgan to our table.

Morgan shifted nervously from foot to foot and wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes.

“Jealous are we?” Owen taunted.

I narrowed my eyes and leaned across the table, my hands bal ed into fists. But before I could utter a word or throw a punch, Lucas and Spencer grabbed my shoulders and forced me back in my chair.

“That’s better,” Owen sneered as he dragged two chairs to our table. He motioned for Morgan to sit and she did. “I’m taking the little lady out for a drink. Is there a problem?”

“She’s too good for you,” I spit. Morgan lifted her head and glared. I fel back in my chair, amazed.

“Just mind your own business, Bailey,” she said.

I turned my head, my anger stil pulsating throughout my body. My eyes fel on Tori -

she was white as a ghost and as stiff as a flagpole, her hand clutching Col in’s arm.

Something was definitely going on and it wasn’t between Tori and Col in.

“Sorry we missed your set,” Owen continued. “We were hanging out at my club when Morgan reminded me you guys were playing here.” So that’s what this was al about. Morgan was playing a game. She was using Owen as some sort of pawn to either make Spencer jealous or make me and Irelyn worry that she was seeing such a pervert creep. Or both. Wel , I couldn’t speak for Spencer or Irelyn but she sure had me riled up.

“Pity,” I said as I smirked openly at Morgan. “We were just leaving.”

“Bailey,” Irelyn hissed at me.

I raised a cool brow at her, wishing I could send her a telepathic message. If Morgan wanted to play games then I’d play along – only she wouldn’t like it. “Wel , we were. Weren’t we?” I glanced at Spencer but he wasn’t paying any attention whatsoever to me. He was watching Owen and Morgan closely, his brows knitted together in concentration.

“Okay, so maybe it was just me,” I said with a shrug as I stood. “See you around.”

“We’re with you, Bailey,” Col in said, anger seeping into his voice. He took Tori by the arm and nearly dragged her out of the bar, confirming my suspicions. Time for me to play good cop/bad cop and question the two of them.

“Irelyn?” I asked in a soft voice, trying to convey that it was al right with me if she stayed.

“We’l be there in a little bit,” she said, clutching Lucas’s thigh. Spencer moved to my vacant chair indicating that he was hanging out, too.

“I’l fol ow you two,” I told Col in. He nodded and escorted Tori out of the bar.

The whole way to his house I wondered what could be going on. Did Owen do something terrible to Tori? Was Morgan in danger? I needed answers and I needed them fast. That bastard would not lay a hand on my friend and if he ever did, he wouldn’t live to tel about it.

By the time I parked and stormed into Col in’s house, I was a bal of rage. I found the two of them in the kitchen, Tori clutching a cup of instant tea so hard her knuckles were turning white.

“One of you tel me what is going on,” I demanded. “Is Morgan in trouble? Is he going to do something to her?”

“Bailey, calm down,” Col in said as he touched my arm.

I jerked my arm out of his way. “No, I wil not. You need to tel me what the deal is so I know whether I need to go back down there or not.”

“She’l be okay tonight,” Tori mumbled. “I promise.” I took a long breath, holding it in so it could soak up some of my tension and release it slowly. I sat down across from Tori and look directly into her eyes. “What is the deal?”

“Owen is a jerk,” she said.

“Tel me something I don’t know,” I said.

That brought a fragile smile to her lips. “I dated him for a bit,” she continued. Col in dropped into the chair next to her and took her hand. That burned my heart but I ignored it. I needed to think about Morgan. “He was real nice and charming and swept me off my feet. I thought I was in love with him.” She brushed a finger under each eye to clear the tears. “He real y messed with my head, though. He would say nice things to me to get me in bed but afterwards he would tel me how horrible I was and that he’d had better.

"But I stayed with him. Oh, he never hurt me physical y but he real y screwed me up inside.” She took a deep breath and sipped at her tea.

“Then, I thought I was pregnant and I told him. I was scared and didn’t know what to do. He told me that I was nothing but a slut and it probably wasn’t even his.” I watched as Col in squeezed her hand and it didn’t hurt me as much as the pain in Tori’s voice. I didn’t much like her but I didn’t much like how she'd been treated, either. “What happened?” I asked.

She sniffed and rubbed her eyes. “Um, wel , I wasn’t pregnant. My period was al screwed up. My doctor thought it was probably because I was getting into stuff I shouldn’t have been. I was…drinking a lot with Owen and … um…he would do some stuff…drugs…and he talked me into doing it, too.”

“Oh, geez,” I said as I slumped back in my chair. “Does Spencer know what a bastard his friend is?”

“No,” Tori said. “Only Col in knows. I asked him not to say anything to anyone.” She turned her watery eyes on me and tried to smile. “I was very embarrassed and very ashamed.”

“Look, Tori,” I said as gently as I could. “I’m sorry for what happened to you, I real y am. But I won’t let that happen to Morgan.”

“How are you going to stop her?” Col in asked. “She won’t talk to any of us.”

“I don’t know,” I said as I bit my lip. “Good question.”

“He likes you,” Tori threw out casual y. “I've seen the way he looks at you.”

“Hm,” I said as a thought popped in my head.

“What?” Col in asked warily.

“Just thinking,” I said with a shrug.

“Uh uh,” he said, shaking his head.

I scowled. “You don’t even know what I’m thinking.”

“Yes I do and you’re not going to do it, Bailey,” he said, his jaw set firmly. “I won’t let you.” I snorted out a laugh. “Col in, who the hel are you to tel me what I can and can’t do? Besides, you have no clue what I’m thinking about.”

“You’re thinking that if you can get him to …sleep with you, that he’l leave Morgan alone.” Oh, that hurt. Did he real y think that lowly of me? “Yeah, nice thought there,” I said as I stood. “Sorry, Col in, but I don’t sleep with everyone.” I waved at Tori and fled through the living room to the front door. I nearly made it, too, but he was quick and grabbed my arm, swinging me around to face him.

“I didn’t mean it that way and you know it,” he growled. “Not in the least.”

“I know,” I sighed. “And if you’re worried that I would try something like that, then save your breath. I’d never sleep with filth like that.”

“What are you planning?” he asked as he loosened his hold.

“Not sure exactly but I do intend on getting him away from Morgan.”

“I wish you wouldn’t do this,” he pleaded. “I don’t want him touching you.”

“And I don’t want him touching Morgan,” I said. “Look, I can handle him – Morgan can’t.”

“Bailey, don’t go back there, please,” he said. He tugged me closer and captured my eyes with his. I swal owed.

“I’m not,” I said as my hands rested on his chest. “I’m tired. I’m going home to bed.” I pushed to my toes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. But he wouldn’t let it end there. He wound an arm around my waist and planted a hand on the smal of my back. His tongue traced my lips and I opened my mouth. He quickly took advantage as I tangled my hand in his hair, wanting nothing more but to drag him back to his bedroom. The only thing stopping me was that I remembered a ragged, pale Tori sitting at the kitchen table. As I slowly parted my lips from his, I realized that if he did indeed want Tori, he was going about things the wrong way.

“Good night, Col in,” I whispered as I tore my body away. “I’l talk to you later.”

“Think about it, Bailey,” he said as he watched me walk out the door. “Please.”

“Sure,” I said even though I knew I was not changing my mind. I wasn’t going to let that scum do to Morgan what he’d done to Tori.

***

I didn’t sleep much that night at al . I tossed and turned as I tried to figure out how I could lure Owen away from Morgan or vice versa. I didn’t want to total y destroy my friendship with Morgan but I didn’t want her ending up like Tori, either. It was a sacrifice I was going to have to make. I also pondered that kiss. There was no way in hel he’d kiss me like that if he was in love with Tori – not with her being in the next room. But could he real y be interested in me? I was hardly his type. Oh, the attraction was there – no doubt about that. But was there anything more?

I stopped those thoughts immediately. I didn’t want to hope.

I got up Saturday morning and took Otis for a long walk, hoping to clear my head so perhaps inspiration would strike. We ended up at the dog park somehow and I reluctantly unleashed Otis and rested on a bench.

It wouldn’t be hard to show up at Owen’s club and flirt with him. And it wouldn’t take much to convince him that he’d be better off with me. But then what? How would I keep him away from Morgan? I would not sleep with him – not a chance it hel that would happen. But I’d have to convince him somehow that I might if he left Morgan alone.

Unless…

What if I let Morgan think I slept with him? Let her see me going to that infamous room above the club with him. Or let her see me coming out of the room. I’d have to arrange it somehow. I just needed to think and figure it al out.

“Hel o, Bailey,” a familiar voice cal ed.

I started and jerked my head in the direction of the voice. My stomach clenched.

“Hey, Craig. How are you?”

“Heartbroken,” he said with a fake pout. “You never cal ed.”

“Yeah, wel , I told you not to hold your breath.”

He laughed and sat next to me, crossing his leg over his knee. He tapped on his shoe and watched the dogs frolic in the enclosure. “I must not have made much of an impression on you.”

“What can I say – I’ve had a lot on my mind lately.”

“Sorry to hear that,” he said, his brows furrowed. “I take your bad week has extended to include this week?”

“Something like that,” I said, not at al wanting to get into any of it with this man. “But I’m not one to dwel ,” I said with a false smile.

“Great,” he smiled. “How about if I take you to dinner tonight?”

“Thanks but no thanks,” I said. “I think I have plans.”

“Oh?” he asked as a brow rose above the rim of his eyeglasses. “Hope they’re good plans.” I contemplated his words as the first phase of my plan began to form in the back of my mind. I needed to get out of there and get home. I had a lot to do.

“Yeah, they’re good ones,” I said as I stood and whistled for Otis. “I think I’m headed for a club tonight. The Tail Feather Club. And I real y need to get going. I’m sure I’l see you here again.” I was thinking out loud as more ideas popped inside my head.

“Have fun tonight. And I hope things get better,” he said.

***

I ignored my cel phone as I stood in front of the mirror. I’d decided on a tight, black skirt and silver halter that left my back bare. I dried my hair and brushed it until it flowed like a dark, velvet curtain over my shoulders. I applied enough makeup to make my eyes look dark and mysterious and my lips ful . I stepped into stiletto pumps, sprayed my favorite scent on my neck and grinned. Yeah, I’d catch his attention for sure.

I crammed some cash and my ID into my purse and just as I was reaching for my cel , it rang. I groaned as Col in’s name came up but answered it anyway.

“What?” I barked.

“What are you doing tonight?” he asked, desperately working to keep the curiosity out of his voice.

“Going out. Why? What are you doing?” I asked casual y.

“Nothing. Where are you going?”

Ah, the Spanish Inquisition. He was digging to see if I was going to work on Owen tonight. Wel , I'd been expecting it. “I’m going out with a friend I met at the dog park.”

“Oh,” was his disappointed reply. “I see. Wel , have fun and give me a cal .” He hung up before I could respond and it wrenched my heart. I didn’t want him getting the wrong idea but I definitely didn’t want him getting the right idea and then try to stop me.

My heart deflated and I wondered if I’d just shoved him away. I couldn’t dwel on it, though. I was on a mission and I would not fail.

Chapter Sixteen

I swished my hips as I walked into the club like I owned it and slipped onto a stool at the bar. I smiled seductively as Scooter appeared before me. He rested his elbows on the bar and waited for my order, no flicker of recognition in his eyes.

“Hi Scooter. Bailey, remember?” I said as a smirk made its way on my face.

“Bailey?” he asked, his brow crunched in concentration. “Bailey who?” I rol ed my eyes and asked for a beer. He shuffled away slowly to fil my order and when he returned, he cocked his head briefly until his eyes grew wide.

“Bailey! I remember you!” he grinned as he slid the beer in front of me. “How are you?”

“Great,” I said as I lifted the bottle to my lips. “Is Owen around anywhere?” His jaw clenched as his eyes tightened. “Yeah, why? Bailey tel me you don’t want to mess around with him.”

“Hey, a girl gets a little lonely sometimes,” I said coyly.

He grunted. “Then hook up with one of the guys on the dance floor. Or better yet –

what about the guy who picked you up last time? He looked like he was real y into you.”