Inescapable Obsession

Inescapable ObsessionShelby Creek CountyBook 2 By: Jean Marie Copyright © 2023 Jean Marie All rights reserved The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher. Chapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21EpilogueMore Books From Shelby Creek County SeriesOther Series From Jean MarieAbout Jean Marie Chapter 1 Ashley “I swear, Steven, if you don’t leave me alone!” I power walked away from the towering oaf, his eyes sharp and intent on me as he followed despite the clear order I’d given him. What was it with men like him that heard ‘no’ as ‘yes please’? I couldn’t get any clearer! Unfortunately, the market was mostly deserted today, which meant it didn’t take him long to catch up to me. His legs easily covered two of my strides for one of his, and not for the first time, I cursed him. Why did he have to be a giant? Just as I turned the corner, hoping to bolt away before he could keep pestering me, he snapped an arm out and pressed into the shelf behind me. Now caged in, I had nowhere to look but up at him. Steven would have been handsome, with his jet-black hair hanging in curls and sky-blue eyes. Almost every inch of him was covered in muscle from his time religiously working out in the gym, and yes, I could appreciate that physically at least, he was attractive. But his personality and sheer rudeness destroyed any appreciation I might have had for him. He’d been my personal bully and resident pain in the ass for longer than I can remember, and I was sick of it. What would it take to make him leave me alone? A restraining order? I was about ready to file one if he didn’t start listening soon. Glaring up at him, I sneered. “You need to clear out your ears and listen for a change. I told you to leave me alone.” I didn’t even know why he was bothering me. It’s just something he’s always done, and now it is a habit. Ever since we were kids and he chased me around, making fun of me with his friends, he’d had it out for me, and I had no idea why. Of course, if I went with Melissa’s hypothesis, it’s because he had a crush on me. I almost snorted audibly. Yeah, right. There’s no way the man spent the past decade being as mean as possible because he liked me; only an idiot would think that’d help him get into my pants. Shaking all the conflicting thoughts to the side, I met his steady gaze and bristled at the smirk he leveled on me. Amusement, he was amused by this. Was that why he kept bothering me? He was bored!? Red-hot anger swept through my veins, and when he spoke, it increased ten fold. “I’m not going anywhere, BraceFace. The best part of my day is messing with you, and I’m not gonna stop until you give in.” I sneered, crossing my arms. “First of all, it’s been years since I had braces, and even when I had them, they looked fine, asshole. Second, what exactly am I supposed to be giving into? The urge to kill you? You’re closer than you might think.” Being backed into a corner like this made me itch as it was, but his looking like this made it so much worse. If Joseph were here, he’d break every bone in Steven’s body for me, but that would land him in jail. If it weren’t for how overboard Joseph usually went when he was in a protective haze, I already would have asked him to handle Steven. But the man knew no moderation, and I’d prefer him not being behind bars, so I’d have to deal with this myself. Unfortunately, Steven only smiled, leaning a tad closer as he chuckled. “I assure you, those braces were atrocious, and as for the other thing, you can’t kill me. You like me too much.” I’m sorry, what? My anger doubled down and I whirled on him, eyes flashing hellfire. “Bold of you to assume I like you at all, because I don’t. You’re nothing but a bully, and I hate those.” He hesitated, something flashing behind his eyes, but before he could say anything else that’d have my blood pressure flying, a familiar and blessedly friendly voice came from over Steven’s shoulder. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, really, Steven?” Wiggling just enough to see behind my current captor, I caught a glimpse of blond hair before Steven was forcibly lifted away from me. He gave a choked squawking noise, struggling as his brother firmly placed him a few feet away from me. “We’ve been over this; that isn’t how you treat a lady,” David said, matching blue eyes flashing with irritation as he, yet again, handled his brother. It hadn’t been the first time over the years, and it wouldn’t be the last, either. David was the calming influence out of the siblings, and whenever his brother started getting into trouble, he was there to drag him out again. Now was no different, though it worked in my favor. Straightening my dress from where it’d ruffled, I nodded. “Thank you.” David rolled his shoulders in a shrug. “Sure thing. Sorry you have to deal with him and his idiocy. I’m used to it, but I’m also his brother, so there’s no real escaping it.” Steven huffed, recovering enough to face off with David instead of me as he all but expanded in anger. “You shouldn’t step in the middle