Chapter Three
In what seemed like nothing more than the blink of an eye, I was awake again. I burrowed deeper into the nest of blankets and pillows, too comfortable to rouse myself just yet. For a moment, my mind registered nothing but peace. But then the events of the previous evening came tumbling back into my head; the terrifying attack, my valiant rescuer, my inexplicable desire for the man who had saved my life. I forced my eyes open, groaning as my pain began to wake as well. Still, I felt a hell of a lot better than I did the night before, thanks to Anderson.
With leaden limbs, I rolled out of the enormous bed. My legs seemed strong enough to support me again, and though I was sore, there didn’t seem to be any lasting damage to worry about. A smile spread across my face as I remembered my makeshift pajamas. I buried my face in the sleeves of Anderson’s big sweatshirt and took a deep breath, memorizing his smell. It was a scent that was more enticing than any cologne, and I marveled at its effect on me. Was I really getting turned on by the way this guy smelled, too? Was that even possible?
I padded to the bedroom door and cracked it open, peering out into the cavernous penthouse apartment. Thick rays of sunlight were dashed against the hardwood floors, splayed out across the whole space. Wait a minute, I thought with sudden panic, I was supposed to open Joe’s this morning. I heard a clattering sound and hurried toward its source. As I rounded the next corner, an enormous kitchen opened up before me. Anderson was standing at the counter with a cup of coffee and the morning paper. He spotted me in the doorway and smiled.
“Good afternoon,” he grinned.
“Afternoon?” I said in a hollow voice. “Oh, shit...”
“What is it?” he asked, “Did you have plans for breakfast?”
“I was supposed to be at work hours ago,” I cried, “Joe’s going to fire me, for sure.”
“I highly doubt that,” Anderson said calmly, taking a sip of his coffee.
“You don’t know what my boss is like,” I said, “Think of the most vile, vindictive man on the face of the earth, and then intensify his awfulness by ten. That’s Joe.”
“I figured as much,” Anderson said, “That’s why I was going to escort you to work and explain the situation to him.”
I stared at Anderson, uncomprehending. “You want to...walk me to work?” I said, “Why would you...? You must have more important things to do.”
“Nope,” he said, “Not even one thing.”
“I don’t understand,” I said, “You already saved me from certain disaster. Are you going to be my personal guardian angel from now on or something?”
“I don’t think you want me as a guardian angel,” he said, “But I can give it a shot, if you’d like.”
I grinned back at him, baffled but exhilarated. If this incredibly handsome and intriguing man wanted to spend a little extra time with me, I wasn’t going to fight him on it. That was one gift horse whose molars I had no interest in examining.
“I washed your clothes for you,” he said, nodding to a pile of neatly folded laundry on the counter. “Or, well, Gloria did.”
“Gloria?” I said, my heart in a vice, “Is that your...wife?”
“Not exactly,” Anderson smiled.
“Your girlfriend?” I asked with dread.
“I haven’t got one of those,” Anderson said, “Gloria is my laundress.”
“Your...laundress,” I said flatly.
“Yes,” said Anderson.
“You have a laundress,” I said bemusedly.
“I hope that’s not a deal breaker,” Anderson joked.
“Not at all,” I said, grabbing my things, “I’ll be right back.”
I hurried back toward the bedroom, struggling to take in the elegance and style of Anderson’s apartment. Any given item in the place probably cost more than what I made in a month. How could someone be as well off as this but still seem so down to earth? Anderson was growing more and more impossibly perfect in my eyes with every moment we spent together. Most of the guys I’d dated had seemed perfect at one point, but that perfection never held up to scrutiny. But with Anderson...something told me that in his case, “too good to be true” might just not be applicable. Maybe, just maybe, he was good and true.
Maybe you’re just delusional and desperate, I thought to myself as I pulled on my clothes once more. I blushed as I realized that Anderson had probably handled my intimates when he’d had them washed. I wondered if he had noticed the state of my panties after we’d been alone together? I hadn’t been able to fight the warm wetness from growing between my legs as he tended to my cuts and scrapes the night before. Even his first aid ministrations had turned me on immediately. Something about the power contained within his gentle touch was irresistible. I couldn’t keep from wondering what it would feel like to have those hands all over my body, administering a very different kind of TLC.
I shook my dirty thoughts from my head and went back out to the kitchen. Anderson was dressed and waiting for me, looking heartbreakingly gorgeous in a pair of faded jeans and a black tee shirt. I spotted sleeves of tattoos on his arms that had been hidden the night before. Intricate patterns and designs vied for attention all across his cut muscles, only adding to the rough, edgy allure of him. Anderson looked like he had stepped out of a comic book—even magazine models couldn’t compare to him, the complete perfection of his form. He looked like someone had carved him out of marble, from his cropped chestnut curls all the way down to his perfect calves.
“Shall we?” he said, leading the way to the elevator.
I nodded soundlessly, too engrossed by his beautiful physique to formulate words. His sex appeal was absolutely hypnotic. I followed him as though in a trance, down through the floors of the building and across the front lobby. A new doorman nodded to us happily as we took our leave, and I wondered if Anderson made a routine of having young women up to his apartment for sleepovers. Someone as gorgeous as him probably didn’t have any shortage of girlfriends. If we had met under different circumstances, maybe I would have joined the ranks of his bedpost notches. But the evening we’d shared, all the confessions and fears that had passed between us, made me almost glad that I had been out of commission. Almost.
We made our way out into the city, walking side by side. As we walked, every eye that crossed our path lingered on my handsome companion. Women and men alike couldn’t tear their eyes from Anderson, and I didn’t blame them. I tried to ignore the fiery protective reaction I felt building within me. I had no right to be territorial about a man I’d just met, yet for some reason the wandering eyes that fell upon him were making me furious. Simmer down, I chided myself, You’re just friends, after all, you barely know this guy.
In no time, we were closing in on Joe’s. My stomach began to churn as I thought about the unpleasant task of confronting my boss. Joe was awful on the best of days, but given an excuse to act like an asshole, he would go hog wild.
“Wait,” I said, grabbing onto Anderson’s arm. We were a few steps away from the coffee house; the exact place where I’d been attacked was just a few yards away.
“Are you OK?” Anderson asked.
“Yeah, yeah,” I said, “I just think that, maybe, you shouldn’t come in with me.”
“Why not?” Anderson asked.
“I just feel like my boss is going to be a bigger asshole if I bring backup,” I explained.
“Why do you care what your boss thinks?” Anderson pressed.
“Well,” I said, “Cause I need this job, I guess.”
Anderson looked genuinely surprised. “You’re not still thinking of working here, after what happened last night?”
I shrugged. “Don’t have much of a choice,” I said plainly, “Have to pay the bills somehow.”
Anderson looked at me long and hard, and I felt myself turning to jelly under his gaze. He looked hot and bothered, his jaw set tight. “Kaela,” he said, “I have a few words for your boss myself. I’m going in there.”
I didn’t dar
e argue with him. A steely, authoritative tone had crept into his voice that was at once intimidating and sexy as hell. He pulled open the door of the coffee shop and let me step in before him. The door slammed shut behind us, and the bleary-eyed regulars blinked up. The joint looked even sorrier next to the staggering perfection that was my escort. I looked toward the counter and saw two surly sets of eyes staring back at me. Joe and Ace had taken over my barista duties, and looked pissed as hell about it.
“Look who decided to grace us with her presence,” Joe snarled, coming around the counter toward me.
“Morning, boss,” I chirped.
“Where the hell do you think you get off?” he said, tossing a wary glance Anderson’s way. “You were supposed to be here six hours ago.”
“Well gee, Joe,” I said, planting my hands on my hips, “I would have been in sooner, had I not been sleeping off a near-fatal attack that was all thanks to you.”
“What are you talking about?” my boss demanded.
“I got jumped last night, after I closed up,” I said, “Four thugs from the bar across the street cornered me on the sidewalk and tried to...It was a miracle that I got away.”
“How is that my fault?” Joe asked defensively.
I gaped at him, stunned by his insensitivity. “You left me here on my own, past midnight,” I clarified.
“I didn’t set those guys on you,” he said, “It’s your own damn fault for dressing like such a filthy slut all the time. Maybe—”
But Joe’s words were cut off abruptly as Anderson’s fingers tightened around his windpipe. I gasped as Anderson wheeled my boss around and slammed him against the wall, holding him aloft by the throat.
“Call me crazy,” Anderson said coolly, “But none of those words sounded like an apology to me.
“Anderson!” I cried, watching as Joe’s face turned from red to purple. “I don’t think—”
“You should be ashamed of yourself,” Anderson went on, “As an employer, it’s your responsibility to keep your employees safe. Kaela was viciously attacked last night because of your incompetence.”
“Look out!” I cried, as Ace launched himself at Anderson from behind.
Without bothering to look, Anderson swung a round house kick in Ace’s direction and caught the man squarely in the neck, just under his ear. Ace let out a muffled howl and sunk onto the floor, he was out cold before his head hit the tiles. Anderson turned his full attention back to Joe, who was now slunk down against the wall, cowering with his hands above his face.
“Now obviously, Kaela wishes to resign from her post at your dumpy little establishment,” Anderson said, “But I’m afraid we can’t go anywhere until she gets the apology she deserves. So, let’s hear it.”
My boss sprawled out on the dirty ground, heaving and panting. He glared up at Anderson first, and then at me. A vengeful glee was burning in my belly, something I’d never experienced before. I was so unfamiliar with violence and force…I’d never known the satisfaction of physically besting someone who deserved to be put in his place.
“We’re waiting,” Anderson said, his eyes unmoving from Joe.
Joe drew a deep breath and set his jaw. Looking at me with venomous hatred and utter embarrassment, he said, “Sorry, Kaela.”
“Sorry for what?” I asked lightly.
“Sorry...” Joe spat, “That you got yourself attacked.”
“Wrong,” Anderson said, cocking back a heavy boot, “Try again.”
“Sorry...I was an asshole,” Joe said, cowering away from Anderson’s kick.
“Much better,” Anderson said. “Come on Kaela, let’s get out of here. I can practically smell the hepatitis.”
As we stepped over the fallen men, a half dozen astonished eyes followed our progress. I let the door slam shut behind me and felt as though an iron weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Joe’s had given me nothing but heartache for years, and thanks to Anderson, I was finally free. There was only one problem...
“Guess I’ll be finding a new job, then,” I said, trying to remain cheerful. I started walking the few short blocks to my apartment with Anderson on my heels.
“About that,” Anderson said, “I have an idea.
“Do tell,” I said.
“Well,” Anderson said, “Maybe, instead of looking for a new job right away, you could be my assistant?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I need someone to help with the day to day stuff, to organize my schedule, traveling, and to make sure I have what I need for fights.” Anderson said.
I stared at him dumbly. “Are you asking me to move in with you?” I said.
“No of course not. We aren’t there yet,” Anderson smiled. “But after our conversation last night...I don’t know. It was nice to have someone to talk to. And I want to make sure that you’re OK after what happened.”
“You really don’t have to do all this,” I said, though I wanted to take him up on his offer more than anything.
“I want to, it’s time I did something good,” he said.
“Anderson,” I said, drawing up in front of my apartment building, “If we’re going to see any more of each other, and I want that to happen, I do...I need to know more about your world.”
“Ah,” Anderson said, “I thought you might.”
“I want to see what it’s like,” I said, “I mean, look at me. My own life isn’t exactly going anywhere fast. Your world sounds exciting, and—”
“Dangerous,” he said, “Very dangerous.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Kaela,” Anderson said, “I don’t want anything to happen to you. I couldn’t take that. Not after everything else you’ve been through.”
“I know,” I said, “I’m not asking to be a part of it or anything. I just want to see it. Just for a minute.”
He stared at me with those deep, unreadable eyes. I could tell he was weighing whatever affection he felt for me against his protective instinct. Finally, he let out a sigh and lowered his voice. “Come to the Bowery tonight,” he said, “Look for a red door with a silver number eight.”
“Is there a password?” I joked.
“Yeah,” he said, “It’s ‘Cadillac’.”
“Cadillac?” I asked.
“Shh,” Anderson hissed, “Just keep it quiet, and come alone. Can you do that?”
“Sure,” I said, thrilling at the iron in Anderson’s voice. “I’ll see you.”
“See you,” he said. There was a thin sheen of regret in his eyes as he turned away from me. I watched his broad shoulders grow smaller in the distance until he finally turned a corner and disappeared from my sight. Could this underground world of his really be that dangerous? I walked up the steps to my apartment and tried not to think about it. I was jobless, unattached, and without any direction. What did I have to lose by following the one spot of brightness that had wandered into my life? I knew that I had no choice but to go wherever Anderson led, whether it was for good or for bad.
I trudged up to my apartment as best I could, wincing at the little pinches of pain that remained from the night before. Anderson’s care had done wonders, but I still felt a little shaky. Was it the attack that had me on edge, or was it the fact that a whole new world of experience was opening itself to me, should I choose to take the leap? There was still time to turn back, I reminded myself. I could force Anderson out of my mind, go apologize to Joe, and cling onto my normal life. I could try and be content with never having any exciting happen to me. I could say no to Anderson’s amazing offer, take back my plea to see the inner workings of his life.
“Yeah, right,” I muttered, pushing open the front door of my apartment. I coughed as the heavy smell of weed caught in my throat. The air in my apartment was smoky and oppressive, and I could see a figure moving around in the haze before me. My roommate Aimee was rummaging around in the fridge, her eyes glassy. She glanced up for half a second as I closed the door behind me.
“Where’s the pe
anut butter?” she asked, “I just got this great idea...peanut butter and cheese puffs...together.”
“Sounds incredible,” I said sarcastically. “Aren’t you going to ask me where I was last night?”
“You weren’t here?” Aimee drawled.
“I...No,” I said, frowning, “The most incredible thing hap—”
“Aha!” she cried, snatching a mostly-empty jar of peanut butter from the back of the fridge, “I found you, fucker! You’re mine now.”
And with that, she turned her back and stalked off into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. I looked blankly after her as some jam band’s latest tunes began to play beyond the door. Aimee and I had never really understood each other. Our sharing an apartment was sort of a marriage of convenience. But for some reason, her indifference that day really got to me. I realized, as I shuffled into my bedroom, that I didn’t have anyone to confide in. There was no one to talk to, no one to be worried about my attack, no one to gush about Anderson with. My parents had their hands full at home, and they had never been able to relate to my desire for something more exciting than a mortgage and a baby.
I cast my eyes around my dinky little bedroom—it didn’t take very long. There was nothing holding me back from following Anderson into his underground, secret world...but that didn’t make it any less daunting. Was I really the kind of girl who could fit in somewhere so raw, so violent? I gave myself a good long once-over in my bedroom mirror and came to a pretty quick conclusion: I had no idea what kind of girl I really was. Maybe meeting Anderson had been some crazy act of fate. Maybe my life until then had just been a sort of holding room, and now the show could really begin.
There was nothing to lose by following Anderson, and an entire new realm of experience to be gained. I made up my mind right then and there—I’d put everything on this gamble. I turned toward my threadbare closet and picked through, wondering what one wears to an underground fighting ring. My fingers closed around a short, tight, little red number. That will do nicely, I thought, laying the dress out on my tiny bed. Only about twelve hours to kill in the meantime...
Shattered (A Bad Boy Romance Novel) Page 4
