Free The Distraction by Sierra Kincade

mom screwed up.
    â€œThere’s not enough eye for an eye in the justice system,” he said. “Someone hurts a child, they deserve to be hurt. Someone beats a woman, they get beaten. Or castrated.” His gaze flicked to the side. “That woman on the news that was driven off the bridge? Someone should make the guy who’s responsible jump.”
    I had frozen in my seat. Did Trevor know of my involvement with the Maxim Stein case? Did he know Bobby had intended the same death for me as for Charlotte? Or was he just making conversation? We’d never talked about it before, and the times the story had played on the news at the gym I’d always been careful to avoid discussion.
    Trevor waved his hand. “Sorry. Stuff like that just gets under my skin.”
    â€œMe, too,” I said.
    â€œAnna.”
    I jolted in my seat at Alec’s voice. He was standing beside me, but with the café’s music and all the voices I hadn’t heard him approach.
    For a moment, I could only stare at him, my heart in my throat. In jeans and a plain white T-shirt, he was dressed like half the men in here. But he didn’t look like any of them. He was on a different level, the type of man other men envied, and every woman wanted. The kind you looked at from beneath your eyelashes and dreamt about later because there was no possible way he’d noticed you. But Alec Flynn
had
noticed me, and here he was, danger, intrigue, and red-hot heat all rolled into one mouthwatering package.
    And he was glaring at Trevor.
    â€œAlec,” I said quickly. “This is Trevor. A friend of mine. From the gym.”
In case you needed that clarification.
I had nothing to hide, but it suddenly felt very wrong for these two to be in the same room together.
    Trevor rose quickly; his thighs banged against the table and rattled the silverware. Alec had lifted his arm to shake hands, but Trevor stared awkwardly at it for a moment before taking it.
    â€œAlec Flynn.” He rolled his shoulders back, appearing more relaxed in response to Trevor’s discomfort, which was becoming more obvious by the second.
    I hadn’t known Trevor long, but he seemed like the kind of guy who wasn’t easily rattled. He worked in advertising, and had told me several times about high-pressure presentations he’d had to make. He ran to manage the stress.
    Right now it looked like he could use a marathon.
    â€œHave we met?” asked Alec. “You look familiar.”
    â€œI don’t think so,” said Trevor, regaining his composure. I didn’t blame him for being intimidated. Half the time
I
was intimidated by the man, though perhaps in a different way.
    â€œOne Cuban sandwich!” said the waitress cheerily. “Can I get you anything, babe?” She put one hand on Alec’s biceps, and I fought the urge to slap it away.
    â€œMaybe in a minute,” said Alec.
    Trevor’s body was visibly tense, and I stood to try to ease some of the pressure between them.
    â€œAnna mentioned you’d come back from Seattle early,” said Trevor. “Sounds like you were busy. Bet it’s good to be home.”
    Oh no.
    I didn’t have to look at Alec’s face to see the damage. I could feel it. The white lie on Alec’s behalf had been the wrong choice.
    â€œIt is,” said Alec cryptically. I reached for his hand, gave it a tight squeeze.
    He didn’t squeeze back.
    Instantly, I could feel the pressure mounting in my chest.
Breathe, Anna.
    â€œI’m sure she’s been dying to show you those dance moves.”
    I turned to stare at Trevor. What the holy fuck was he doing? I wasn’t violent by nature, but I was about three seconds away from punching him in the teeth just to get him to shut up.
    â€œWhat dance moves would those be?” Alec continued to stare at Trevor, who seemed to have found his balls and was now staring straight back. Neither acknowledged me in the