Dangerous To Love

by Toni Anderson, Barbara Freethy, Dee Davis, Leslie A. Kelly, Cynthia Eden, J. Kenner, Meli Raine, Gwen Hernandez, Pamela Clare, Rachel Grant

  She didn’t budge. “Are you?”

  “Sorrier than I can fucking say.”

  Her eyes glinted. “Maybe you should try.”

  He’d try anything. “I didn’t take the job because of your father. I didn’t care about his money. I care about you.”

  “I don’t want lies—”

  He touched her. He had to. Chance wrapped his hands around her shoulders. “I’m not lying to you. When Will told me that you might be in danger, all I wanted to do was get close to you. I had been thinking about you, dreaming about you, every single night. And even if Will hadn’t come to my office, you can bet…I would have come to you. Because I couldn’t stay away any longer.” His right hand rose and curled under the delicate line of her jaw. “I missed you.”

  She wasn’t speaking.

  Hell, he knew how important this moment was. He couldn’t afford a screw up with Gwen. She mattered too much. If she wanted him to beg, he would. Pride didn’t matter. She did.

  So tell her your secrets. Show her what she means to you.

  Gwen stepped back. “Come inside.”

  Yes!

  “I’m not forgiving you. I’m just saying that I don’t want to have this conversation in the middle of an open doorway.” She turned, giving him her back. “Especially if I’ve got some psycho on my tail—and it sure looks that way. So come in, lock the door, and say whatever it is that you need to say.” She paced toward the window. The curtains had been pulled back so the glittering lights of the city shone inside.

  He shut the door. Locked it. And tried to find the right words to give her…words that would convince Gwen that she truly was the woman he wanted. That her father’s money hadn’t swayed him.

  Never had. Never would.

  * * *

  “You’ve got a rather dangerous client, don’t you, Ms. Sarantos?” Lex drawled as he watched the medical team take a cuffed Ethan Barclay down the hallway.

  Sophie Sarantos whirled toward him, her hands on her hips. “An accident. My client slipped while in interrogation. Obviously because he was kept too long without food and water and I will make sure the judge hears—”

  “Save it, Sophie,” Faith said as she followed the med team. “I was staring right through the mirror when your guy stood up and smashed the shit out of it.”

  Sophie’s slightly pointed chin notched into the air and her dark hair—hair nearly a perfect black—slid over her shoulders. “I expect my client to receive the best medical care!” Sophie said as she began to hurry after Faith. “I expect—”

  Lex stepped into her path. Her eyes—a shade of blue that shouldn’t be legal—narrowed on him. Wow…those blue eyes sure could ice fast. “A moment of your time…” he said. “That’s all I need.”

  “I don’t have time to give. My client needs—”

  “My name is Lex Jensen, and I work with Chance Valentine.”

  “Good for you.” She started to slide around him.

  He just stepped to the left, blocking her path. Lex smiled at her. Unfortunately, he’d been told that he didn’t have a particularly nice smile. “Gwen Hawthorne is our client.” He figured that was true enough.

  “Again, good for you…” She stepped to the right.

  So did he.

  Her scent—strawberries—rose to tease his nose. He’d always enjoyed the taste of strawberries.

  “Get out of my way,” Sophie ordered sharply.

  “Your client said he was trying to protect Gwen. I’m curious…do you believe that line?”

  “It’s not my job to believe my clients. My job is to provide them with the best defense possible.”

  Wrong answer. Well, technically, it was the answer a lawyer was probably supposed to give, but Lex had hoped for more.

  From her.

  “Guilty or innocent, I guess that doesn’t matter,” he muttered.

  She put her hands on his shoulders. The move totally caught him off-guard—as did the heat that seemed to streak through him at her touch. Then she leaned forward.

  Was she going to kiss him? What the hell? Not that he was complaining.

  She pushed up, well, as up as she could manage in those sexy shoes of hers and tried to peer over his shoulder.

  She wasn’t tall enough to make that work. Not even close.

  He put his hands on her shoulders and—lightly—pushed her right back down. “My sources tell me that you’ve known Ethan Barclay since the two of you were kids.”

  “Good sources. Now just get—”

  “Are the two of you lovers?”

  “What? No!”

  “Ever have been?”

  Her eyes became slits of absolute fury. “Get your hands off me.”

  He removed his hands.

  “You don’t know me, Mr. Jensen. You know nothing about me. So don’t dare to question me about my personal life. I am not a woman that you want for an enemy.”

  No, she wasn’t, but he also wasn’t backing down. “According to Ethan, someone has been stalking him for years. Hurting any woman that he really gets close to. But…then I take a step back and I look at things, and you know what I see?”

  “Am I supposed to care?”

  The woman had some serious fire. He liked it. “I see you…a constant in his life. A woman who has been there, time and again. Even if you aren’t lovers, I bet the guy cares about you.” Probably loves you. Even if that love wasn’t sexual. “So if someone out there really wanted to make sure that Ethan’s life was a living hell…wouldn’t that person go after you, too?”

  Her chin notched higher. “Are you trying to scare me? Because I don’t scare easily.”

  “No, I don’t imagine that you do…but it is curious, isn’t it?” He waited a beat. “Did you know his ex-fiancée? Jena? Did you—”

  “Jena Parker was my best friend. And, no I don’t believe that Ethan was responsible for her death. They’d fought, yes, but only because she believed he’d cheated on her. He hadn’t.” Her words were clipped. “And there is nothing else I have to say to you…unless…” Now one black eyebrow arched. “Unless you’re going to tell me that Gwen Hawthorne is dropping the charges against my client? In that case, I’ll talk to you all night long.”

  He shook his head.

  “Then get your ass out of my way.”

  He backed up a step.

  “Good.”

  “Sophie?” A man’s gruff voice called.

  Lex looked down the hallway. He saw the redheaded man who’d roughly greeted him and Chance when they went to Wicked. What had the guy’s name been? Something like—

  “I’m fine, Daniel,” Sophie said. “Just dealing with a jerk.”

  Daniel’s eyes narrowed as he stomped toward Lex. “He’s one of those pricks who set up Ethan. Knew he was trouble the minute I saw him at Wicked.”

  “And it’s a good thing you called me then,” she said, sending a hot glare Lex’s way. “Because we have to make sure that Ethan isn’t punished for something he didn’t do.”

  Lex laughed lightly, and he knew the sound was mocking. “Oh, I’m sure there’s plenty that guy needs to be punished for.”

  Her stare was definitely arctic. “You know nothing about him.” Then, softer, she added, “Or me.”

  I’d like to know plenty about you.

  But she was already striding past him. She leaned in close and started whispering to Daniel. Lex knew the guy was Ethan’s flunky. And the way the fellow was leaning in close to Sophie, well, it looked as if he took orders from her, too.

  She must be Ethan’s right hand.

  So why hasn’t she ever been targeted?

  She and Daniel slipped down the hallway. The tap of her high heels echoed. Lex watched her walk away, his mind spinning with possibilities. A woman who looked like her, a woman who had constant, intimate access to Ethan Barclay…the stalker should have gone after her.

  But he hadn’t.

  Why?

  Suspicion began to churn in his gut. Chance believed t
hey were looking for a man, because a guy in a ski mask had been the one seen at Gwen’s apartment the first night. But…that guy had run to a van. To a van that someone else had been driving. The guy in the ski mask had leapt into the back of the vehicle while the driver raced away from the scene.

  Maybe the bastard in the ski mask was just the hired help.

  Maybe the real stalker was the one who’d been sitting, all nice and safe, in that driver’s seat.

  And maybe we’re not looking for a man after all. The attacks are all on women. Women who Ethan gets involved with. Maybe the stalker isn’t a man trying to hurt him…maybe it’s a jealous woman.

  Taking his time, he followed Sophie down the hallway.

  I’m not the kind of woman that you want for an enemy.

  Lex found himself very curious about just what sort of woman she was.

  The kind who would kill her best friend, if that friend was with the man Sophie wanted?

  He was going to find out.

  * * *

  Gwen held her breath as she waited for Chance to speak. She probably should have slammed the door in his face, but when it came to Chance, she was weak.

  No…she was just in love.

  That had been her problem all along. She’d fallen for the guy. The lust, the physical desire had hit instantly. And the love had come later. Slowly, easily, and she hadn’t even realized that she was in trouble until it was too late.

  Then she’d looked up at him on Christmas Eve. Seen him standing there, all alone, and she’d just wanted to be with him.

  “I didn’t have much growing up,” Chance said.

  What? She shook her head. Why was he—

  “Actually, I didn’t have anything. My family grew up on a farm in Georgia, a farm that went broke when I was ten years old. My father drank himself to death after that and my mom…she didn’t live much longer after he passed.”

  Gwen took a step toward him. “Chance, I-I’m sorry.” Because she could feel his pain and she’d always hated for Chance to be in any sort of pain.

  “Cancer,” he murmured. And his gaze had turned distant, as if he were seeing the past. “She’d had some warning signs, but…hell, she and my dad were so focused on saving the farm, so she just kept putting off her doctor visits. No money, no time…and then when she finally went in…” His lips twisted into a sad smile. “There really was no time left by then. She lived for six months. I told her good-bye when I was sixteen.”

  She’d walked across the room. Gwen didn’t remember that. Hadn’t she just taken one step a moment before? She was almost touching him now and Gwen wanted—so badly—to wrap her arms around Chance and take away his pain.

  “I didn’t have any other family, so I wound up in foster care. That’s where I met Dev and Lex. Dev had big dreams, even back then. The guy could do anything with a computer. He got a scholarship, got the hell out of the system. Lex and I…we joined the military. Turned out I was pretty good at fighting.”

  She wet her lips. “You’re pretty good at a lot of things.”

  He glanced down at the floor, then back up at her. “I’m not good…with you.”

  What was that supposed to mean?

  Chance rubbed his hand over his jaw, and his palm rasped against the dark stubble there. “I never say the right words with you. I never feel like I do the right things. You and your father—you live in a mansion and I—”

  “That’s my father’s house. I live in a two bedroom apartment.” She kept her hands by her side. Tricky hands. They were still itching to reach out to him. “And do you seriously think I care about how much money you have?”

  “I’m good now.” His shoulders straightened with what she knew was pride. “I worked hard. I saved. And I’ll always have enough for whatever I need now. For whatever you need.”

  “Uh, yeah, okay, I can take care of my own things—”

  “I’m saying the wrong shit again.” He huffed out a hard breath. “I meant…I don’t need your father’s money. I didn’t agree to act as your bodyguard because of what he was paying me or what he offered to do for me. I have plenty of my own money now. Plenty of contacts. I don’t need him.”

  “Then why did you take the case? Why lie to me? Why not just tell me the truth?”

  “I took the case…because I wanted to be close to you. I wanted to make sure you were safe.” He closed the last bit of distance between them. His hand lifted and skimmed lightly across her jaw. That one touch—so simple—sent heat coursing through her. “I lied…because I was scared. I was afraid that if I told you the truth, hell, I don’t know, that you’d send me away. That you wouldn’t want me near you because you didn’t feel the same way that I do.”

  Her heart was about to jump right out of her chest. “How do you feel?”

  “I feel like I was a fucking fool.” He bent toward her. “I let you go when you were right in front of me. You were offering me every dream I’d had, but I didn’t think I was good enough for you. Didn’t think I should even be touching you.”

  “You’re touching me now,” she told him, her voice husky.

  “I want to give you the world, Gwen. I want to give you—”

  “I don’t want the world.” She rose onto her toes and decided that it was time to take another risk. Maybe she’d get hurt again. Maybe she’d crash and burn, but she’d be brave enough to try. Brave enough to fight for what she wanted. “All I want…I want you.”

  Her fingers curled behind his neck. Chance pressed his mouth to hers. The kiss wasn’t wild and frantic. It was soft. Careful. As if he were afraid of scaring her off.

  He should know…she wasn’t going to be afraid. Not of him.

  So she slipped her tongue over the crease of his lips.

  “Gwen…”

  “Don’t be careful with me. You’re the one I want. Show me that you want me, too.” He’d said that he had trouble telling her how he felt. Fine. Gwen wanted Chance to show her instead.

  When he kissed her again, his lips were parted. Better…Gwen’s teeth closed lightly over his bottom lip and she bit, tugging.

  He growled and his hold tightened on her.

  Much better.

  “No more lies,” she ordered softly. “Not from you. Not from me. Give me everything you have…” Her tongue licked across his lower lip. “And I’ll give you all that I have, too.” No holding back.

  “Everything,” he promised her.

  Then he kissed her. Deep. Hard. Wild.

  Perfect.

  * * *

  The bitch wasn’t going to walk away. Ethan was in jail, just what the asshole deserved. He should rot in there.

  But Gwen Hawthorne…she didn’t get to just slip away now. Because if she was still out there, Ethan would think he had a chance. He’d think he could be happy.

  He never would be. His life would be just as fucked…

  As mine.

  Chapter Ten

  Gwen was in his arms. She was kissing him. Doing that sexy little bite thing on his bottom lip and generally driving him mad with lust.

  Chance backed her up against the window. Caged her there with his body. His hands were sliding over her, stripping her as fast as he could. She hadn’t told him to go to hell. Hadn’t kicked his ass out of her hotel room. She was giving him a second chance, one he probably didn’t deserve, but he’d take it.

  He’d take everything that Gwen had to give to him.

  That had been their deal, their promise…everything.

  “Don’t be gentle,” Gwen said. “I like it rough. I like you…hard.”

  His cock was so full it was about to burst right out of his jeans. He caught hold of her shirt and his rough hands sent buttons flying. “Gwen—”

  She laughed. The sound of her laughter nearly drove him to his knees.

  She was wearing a black bra, one that pushed up her breasts and had him nearly drooling as he stared at her. He touched her breasts, cradling them, and she gasped at the contact.

  “More
,” Gwen said.

  He’d give her plenty more.

  Chance lifted her into his arms. Gwen gave a little yelp and her arms locked around him. “Chance, wait, what are you doing?”

  He kissed her again. She gave that little moan in the back of her throat—the one that made his cock twitch. “Remember…before I told you…I’d have you in a big-ass bed.”

  And such a perfect bed was steps away. He wouldn’t screw her against the wall or a window. He’d make love with her, for the rest of the night. In that bed.

  He lowered Gwen to her feet. Stripped her. Stroked her as he slid those clothes away from her smooth skin. Then Chance pushed her back on the bed. His hands trailed up her legs. Up, up. She was bare and wet and warm. So perfect. His fingers dipped between her thighs.

  Gwen reached for him.

  “No.”

  She froze. Their gazes held.

  “I get to make you scream first.” He had plenty of dreams to live out. “Put your hands over your head, baby. Lock your fingers around the pillow. Tighten your muscles and try to hold still for me.” Because that stillness…that tightness of her muscles…it would lead to such pleasure.

  Gwen’s hands lifted.

  “Remember,” he whispered. “Stay still…” He slid between her legs. Pushed them farther apart. He was still dressed because the clothes helped to give him a little more control. If he were naked, he’d be in her.

  Not yet. Make her scream first. Make her come. Make her forget any other lover.

  Because he’d forgotten all of his past lovers. Only Gwen mattered.

  He put his mouth on her. Gwen immediately jerked and her hands flew down. Her fingers wrapped around his shoulders.

  He stilled. So hard to do, especially when he just wanted to taste her. “No, baby, not yet…put your hands back up…”

  Her nails sank into his skin.

  He blew lightly over her exposed sex.

  “Chance…”

  “Back up,” he ordered.

  Her hands rose.

  “Good. Now arch up to me…open to me…”

  He put his mouth back on her. He licked her, he stroked, and he pretty much went out of his mind and when he felt her body shaking, when she was quivering and when—