Chapter 16

I muted the TV and answered the phone.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Anna? It’s Barnett.”

“Hi, Barnett.” I paused. “You’re calling a bit late.”

“Yeah, I know. I was just looking through my social media, and I wanted to apologize for everything.”

My heart fluttered. “You don’t need to apologize.”

“Don’t I?”

He almost sounded angry. At me? At himself?

“No. You didn’t do anything.”

I waited for him to respond, but Barnett remained quiet. The silence between us stretched to an almost uncomfortable length when he finally spoke again.

“Well, it’s getting late. I should probably let you get to sleep.”

“Yeah. Thanks for calling.”

“No problem. Good night, Anna.”

“Good night, Barnett.”

• * *

When I fell asleep, Barnett filled my dreams.

He stood in front of my bed. His eyes narrowed as they roved over my body. Chills ran up my spine at the hunger in his stare.

I looked down to see that I wore nothing but a pink, lacy, see-through nightgown. My instinct was to cover myself from Barnett’s gaze. Instead, I found myself lowering the straps.

In the blink of an eye, that thin covering was also removed. I looked up again, and Barnett began to undress as well.

He slowly removed his three-piece suit, first exposing those toned arms and abs. They were more magnificent than what his tank top had teased at in the gym. They even glistened in sweat, as though he had just finished with another vigorous workout.

When Barnett got to his pants, my mouth went dry. The sight of his firm, round ass moistened my private area. My heart almost thudded out of my chest as he removed his underwear.

His clothes now thrown askew all around my bedroom, Barnett crawled across the bed and straddled me. He stretched over me, leaning in to press a chaste kiss on my lips. He tasted just as I remembered him from ten years ago, mostly minty and a little salty.

I never would have thought that two such opposing flavors could taste so delicious together.

I returned his kiss with fervor as my own hunger overwhelmed me. My hands twined in his blonde locks, and I pulled him closer to me. My tongue snaked its way into his mouth and sought out his.

I moved my hands from his head to his torso. My fingernails raked down his abs, causing him to hiss inside my mouth. I wrapped my legs around his waist.

Barnett broke away from me. I whimpered at the loss until he started to kiss and suck on my neck. His right hand trailed down to my breast, fondling it gently.

“Barnett…” I whispered. My breath caught in my throat as he sucked the part of my neck connecting to my shoulder.

“Shh.” He put his finger to my lips. “Let me make you feel good.”

He lowered his lips back onto mine, and I let him devour me.

Barnett’s hand found its way to my ass and squeezed hard enough for me to gasp. His tongue began to play with mine. I found myself longing for that tongue to be elsewhere on me, teasing me, playing with me, bringing me to the edge.

I dug my nails deep into his back just at the thought.

Barnett pulled away from me and released a guttural growl. With an uncontrollable predator’s glint to his stare, he started kissing way down my body until he reached my ribs. He gently nibbled and licked at the sensitive skin.

I groaned in surprising ecstasy and arched my body toward him, longing for more. He kissed his way across my stomach and gave my other ribs the same treatment. His hands reached up and began to massage my breasts, causing me to moan.

I could feel his member begging for entrance, and I eagerly granted it access.

• * *

I woke up out of breath, as though I had run ten miles—or had unbelievable sex with Barnett. It was the most exhausted and most content I had woken up in years. I had never had a dream like that about Bob or even had any sex like that with him.

Was I falling in love with Barnett?

No, that couldn’t be it. I hardly knew him. The Barnett I knew was my coach ten years ago.

Other than the fact that he was my best friend’s uncle and was in as messed up a relationship as I was, I knew nothing about THIS Barnett. I could only surmise the latter from everything that had happened to me around Barnett in the past day.

But it was a very strong dream.

The dream was almost enough for me to forget the horrors that awaited me in the outside world thanks to Julia.

Almost.

Then I finished getting ready for work and left the safety of my apartment building to head for my car. Immediately, I was surrounded by gossip reporters from every media outlet imaginable.

“Anna Hayes! Anna Hayes!” they started to call.

Internally, I rolled my eyes.

“Actually, it’s Anna Leonard—”

“Anna, why did you start dating Barnett Cogsworth knowing that he was married?” one asked.

“Well, that’s not really what—”

“Anna, did you know about Julia’s pregnancy when you started your affair with Barnett?” asked another.

“Do you think that their marriage is breaking up because of you?” a third one interjected.

“I really have no idea—"

“Are the rumors true, that you’re just using Barnett to get more views on your workout vlogs?”

“Or that you’re after his money?”

I could feel myself getting more flustered. “Now, look here. I am not—”

“Is it true that your soon-to-be-ex-husband, Bob Hayes, cheated on you with a prostitute? One who’s pregnant with his child? Are you doing this as some sort of revenge against him?”

Oh God, not that question again.

“Are you hoping that this will get you back into the inner circle of the rich and famous?”

Inner circle of the rich and famous? I was never there in the first place!

“Anna, do you think that a fat pig such as yourself has any real chance against a supermodel like Julia?”

My jaw dropped at that question.

Before I could even think to respond, a reporter standing next to that one spewed, “Yeah, did you really think you’re hotter than a model? Maybe you should take a good look in the mirror and see the fat on your waist before chasing after people out of your league.”

I could feel the heat rush to my face. I was at a loss for words. It was one thing to respond to these kinds of insults online, but what was I to say when they were being hurled right at me?

I took a step back, contemplating running back into the building. Maybe I could just call in sick. Arthur would understand…maybe…

A roaring car pulled me out of my thoughts. Before I could identify where the sound was coming from, the paparazzi were scattering as quickly as they could. In their place stood a silver 2024 Aston Martin DB12.

The passenger side door glided open toward me. I peeked inside to see Barnett waiting for me expectantly. Even through his sunglasses, I could feel his eyes tear right into my soul.

“Get in.”