Stone’s chest heaved, but the rest of his body tensed.
Adair didn’t miss a beat. “That’s what I thought … you dirty piece of scum. Pack your bags and get the fuck off my estate. Consider your membership terminated.”
My would-be attacker’s face slackened with disbelief. He looked like a teenager whose parents had finally backed up threats with some consequences. “You can’t do that.”
“You signed a contract, and in that contract it clearly states that any untoward behavior in or outside the estate will lead to the immediate termination of your membership.”
“For that nobody cunt?” Stone gestured to me.
An almost animalistic growl rumbled in the back of Adair’s throat, and he lunged toward Stone before drawing himself up short. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. “Ms. Penhaligon, would you like me to call the police so you can press charges against Mr. Stone?”
Stone’s lips quirked into an “I dare you” sneer. Because he knew.
I was trapped.
We had security footage to prove he’d accosted me, but there was no sound on that footage, and I knew enough from my experience as a cop to know how defense attorneys could twist anything to blame the victim. Especially those like the attorney Stone could afford. Furthermore, we were in the middle of our own investigation, and charges against Stone would bring tabloid press from all over the world to Ardnoch, which was the last thing we needed. And finally, did I want to see my face splashed across tabloids and feel the full weight of hatred from Stone’s fanbase? Because that’s what would happen. I would be victim-blamed because he was so loved.
He would get away with this and whatever else he wanted to do in the future because women like me didn’t really have the power. I could beat the shit out of him, true, but I’d never win in a court of law. Or maybe I could. But that fight would drain the life out of me.
And I’d never hated anyone more for making me feel powerless. “No,” I bit out.
Lachlan’s voice was rough as he said, “If I hear even a whisper of you doing something like this again, Stone, I’ll ruin you where it hurts. You might think you’re a big man in this industry, but you’re a bug, and I will take you out like that.” He snapped his fingers.
Sensing the truth behind Adair’s warning, Stone cut us both one last look of disgusted rage before he stormed out of the gym.
Adair pulled his cell from his ass pocket, tapped the screen, and held it up to his ear. “Jock, there’s been an incident with Stone …” Adair looked at me, his expression tightening. “Oh, you did. You were … okay. Then you’ll understand that Mr. Stone and his fiancée require an escort off the estate. Good.” He hung up. “Security saw Stone accosting you on the cameras and were on their way. I just happened to get here first.” His eyes drifted over my body, but it didn’t feel like Stone’s perusal. It was a concerned once-over. And unbelievably, I found I quite liked him looking at me.
Oh boy.
“Are you okay?”
Irritation with my awareness of him put me over the top. “I don’t even know what happened!” I angrily removed my gloves. “One minute I was working out, and the next he’s up in my space like he’s God’s gift to women, touching me, and threatening to take what he wanted.” I threw my gloves at my bag, unable to look at Lachlan, hating that he’d seen me vulnerable again. “I’m not a stranger to a guy acting like he’s entitled to me, but that happened on a date in an escalating situation. This … was out of nowhere. I saw a lot of that shit in my line of work, cases where men attacked women they didn’t know … but actually experiencing it is surreal. That there are men like that who—”
Lachlan touched me, and I whipped around, almost clocking him as I tried to move away.
He raised his hands as if approaching a wild animal. “I’m sorry. I was just … I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
Grabbing my bag off the floor, I hooked it over my shoulder and nodded. “I’m fine.”
Adair studied my face as if trying to discern the truth. “Men like Stone are so used to women throwing themselves at them that they start to think sex is something they no longer have to ask for. That they can take it whenever they feel like it. I knew he was a bit of an ass, but I didn’t realize he was one of those men until now …”
It wasn’t Adair’s fault. I said so. Then I huffed, “He’s engaged to one of the most beautiful, talented women on the planet. What a dick.”
“He sees Gabriella as a reflection of himself. A trophy. That’s all she is to him. Fucker.”
I studied him, detecting his genuine anger on Gabriella’s behalf and remembered he’d had a thing with her. Evidence suggested Adair was a protector through and through. “I can’t ever imagine you treating a woman like that, not even at the height of your career.”
His lips twitched, something like surprise in his expression. “Why, Ms. Penhaligon, did you just say something nice to me?”
“Don’t get used to it.” I threw him a smirk and moved to walk around him.
Adair fell into step beside me. “Are you okay?” he repeated.
“It’s not the first time a man has attacked me. I can take care of myself, Adair.”
“Oh, I saw that.”
Something in his tone drew my gaze. He was looking at me with what I’d consider heat in his eyes, if he’d been any other man.
I shivered and looked away. “I’m late for Eredine and Lucy.”
“I’ll walk you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“No, but I will.”
As we stepped outside, the sight of my SUV drew me up short. I’d forgotten I’d driven it to the gym. Something insane like disappointment filled me. “I guess I can drive.”
“Not to the studio, you can’t.” Adair reminded me that there was only a footpath to it. “Keys?” He held out his hand.
Perhaps it was because of what he’d just revealed of himself, but I handed them over.
“One of the men will drive it to the mews.” He started walking again, and I moved to keep pace with his long-legged strides.
“I’m sorry,” he blurted out.
“For what?”
Adair shot me a dark look. “For what just occurred in the gym. It should never have happened.”
“You made certain it won’t again. Not many people would have thrown him out, Adair, or offered to call the police.” There was an honorable, principled side to him.
It was annoyingly attractive.
I felt his eyes on my face, but I couldn’t look at him. Instead I kept my view on the castle as we walked up the road between it and the gym.
After a stretch of silence, he said, “Will you pop in to see Mac?”
“If I have time.” I had to force my shoulders not to hunch around my ears.
“That’s why I came to the gym. Jock told me you were here, but you’d gone straight there. Mac is asking for you. He’s worried … after yesterday.”
Hearing the question in his voice, I shook my head. “Well, I’m fine. Just wasn’t feeling great. Needed some air.”