Before the Rain Breaks

by Calle J. Brookes

  Virat was going to be the first one in.

  Chapter 12

  Thomason had been asleep in his suite. Thank goodness, he hadn’t been hurt.

  Fin hadn’t stopped shaking since they found Thomason unhurt. Adrenaline was hitting her hard, and she knew it.

  Virat handled everything. He called Detective Acardi, who arrived with a small redhead in tow.

  Fin recognized her friend Cherise’s daughter Madi easily enough. Madi worked forensics at the TSP.

  Madi tried printing the door, but she was realistic with Fin. “The rain makes it unlikely there will be any prints. And to be honest, we’re backed up. But I’ll see what I can do to get it moved up the line. You ok? I’d be happy to take you to Mom and Vincent’s if you’d like.”

  “I’m ok. This is my home. No one is pushing me out of my home.” She’d just make certain to set the security alarms, and probably wouldn’t sleep for the next week, but she was not giving in to this.

  “I understand.”

  After they’d taken the report, and Madi had done what she could to collect any evidence, including the photos she’d taken first, it was just her and Virat.

  Thomason had returned to his room, and she knew why. He was giving his approval of the tall, strong doctor who had accompanied her this evening.

  The last man she’d had in her home, Thomason had made his opinion very clear. Apparently, he liked Virat.

  She settled on her couch and just shook. Virat walked his friend to the door.

  And then he turned to her. “I’ll stay. So you don’t have to be alone.”

  She blew out a shuddering breath. “I...I don’t know what I am supposed to do here right now.”

  Chapter 13

  How could anybody? Stalking wasn’t a normal thing for people to experience. Virat knelt down in front of her, resting on the balls of his feet. “I’m not going anywhere. You don’t have to face this alone, Fin. Consider me your big, snarly guard dog.”

  Wet blue eyes looked up at him, so soft, so vulnerable. Virat was lost in that instant, and he knew it. His hands went around her waist, and he just stayed there. Holding her.

  Small, pale feminine hands slipped over his shoulders. He’d removed the tuxedo jacket before Dom had arrived. Her fingers flexed, and she gripped him tight. “I don’t know what to do. To fix this. I never wanted to be a victim again and that’s exactly how I feel. And I have no idea who this guy even is. I don’t know who to watch for or where he’s at or from or...all I know is that he’s not you, Rafe or Travis. Because I was with you when this happened. That’s it. I don’t know who I can trust anymore.”

  He scooped her up. Dress and all. She still wore the red dress that had tied him in knots earlier. He was crushing the material, but he didn’t care in that moment.

  He sat down on her couch and turned her—where she was on his lap.

  Virat slipped one hand behind her back. “You can trust me. And I am not going anywhere until you tell me to. I’m not going to sit back and let you deal with this alone.”

  “But why? You don’t have to do this.”

  “My sister lived with the fear for almost two years, Fin. I’m not going to watch you go through that, too. I trust Dom. He’ll find the man responsible for this. Then we’ll be able to take the next steps. I’m here as long as you need me.”

  And he would be.

  Even if there was never a moment of romantic connection between them, there was no way he could let a woman as vulnerable as this one face this alone.

  Chapter 14

  Ray watched her house, like he’d done so many nights over the past month. He remembered that first night, once he’d realized that what she had eclipsed even his aunt and uncle’s wealth. That house was so huge; she had to be lonely in there.

  He’d always been alone at his aunt and uncle’s, too. Reggie hadn’t counted.

  Everything bad in his life he’d had to face alone. His aunt and uncle wouldn’t even look at him until he’d figured things out as a kid. Every time.

  A silver sedan, one he recognized, pulled into the drive. Ray tensed. He’d always liked Dr. Patel. The guy had talked to him quite a bit. But he had no business being anywhere near Fin.

  It had been Patel who had reported his letters as stalking. To Vince’s son. Dom always stared at Ray whenever Dom visited his father at the hospital. Like he knew Ray was an ex-con. His aunt had promised that wasn’t on his record anywhere. She’d promised.

  And she had the connections to make it happen. His aunt had promised he’d have a chance at a new start.

  And she’d threatened that it was the last such chance she was going to give him.

  Ray had to fix his life himself, now.

  He wanted to do that. With Fin.

  They could live in that big house together. She wouldn’t have to be lonely any longer. He could probably convince Vince to switch his schedule to better match hers. Instead of them being alone all the time.

  Or he’d get off work earlier than her. He’d fix dinner—or have the chef do it, no doubt there was a chef in that house somewhere—and then would wait for her.

  He’d love her.

  Like she was meant to be loved.

  But not if Virat Patel was standing in the way.

  Ray battled back the rage.

  Rage was what had gotten him arrested in the first place.

  Chapter 15

  In some part of her, Fin knew she was sitting on Virat’s lap. She could feel him where she pressed against his warmth. But it didn’t matter.

  It had been years since she’d been held just to comfort. Years.

  She rested her head against his shoulder. He had a broad, strong shoulder for holding a woman. His arms tightened.

  Fin didn’t know how long she sat there, but the tears just kept coming. Finally, she pulled back. “I’m sorry. I’ve turned into a water fountain, apparently.”

  “You have a right to.” He had a handkerchief. Silk. Of course, he would have a silk handkerchief.

  There was something old-world gentlemanly about this man. She shivered. “I feel like a big wimp. Or an idiot.”

  “You shouldn’t. We all have moments when we need a little extra help.” His hand stroked up and down her spine.

  Her naked spine. The dress was extremely low cut in the back. She wasn’t wearing a bra. She was small enough not to need one, and the dress had built-in support.

  Fin suddenly felt practically naked. The fingers of her left hand spread over the strong chest she leaned against. She pushed up a little. Away. She needed to put some space between them before the fire of him scorched her.

  His hands didn’t stop her, but she couldn’t force herself to just move away.

  He might be a flame against her, but she still wanted the warmth.

  Her eyes met his. Virat had beautiful, rich dark-brown eyes. She’d always thought brown eyes were attractive. They always held so many secrets.

  She suspected this man had his secrets, too.

  His hand brushed through her hair. Fin tilted her head into his palm. “I—”

  “This is unexpected.”

  Fin nodded. “Yes.”

  She knew exactly what the man was talking about.

  Fin pulled in a deep breath. She might be way off the mark with this, but... Men didn’t pull women down onto their laps for completely platonic reasons.

  And there was a look in his eyes she recognized.

  Heat. Attraction. Wanting.

  Fin leaned closer, every nerve in her body on high alert. Whatever she was doing, was crazy.

  Her lips pressed to his. And for the first time in her life, Fin made the first move with a man she found attractive.

  Chapter 16

  Virat sensed her hesitation, but there was no way he was going to pull back first. But he kept his hands to himself and made certain not to take control of the kiss.

  She’d been hurt in the past. And he knew it.

  The last thing he’d want
to do was frighten Fin away.

  The woman in his lap turned until she was pressed against him at what had to be an awkward angle for her. Her arms slipped around his neck.

  Her mouth parted.

  He was a healthy, red-blooded male with a beautiful woman he wanted on his lap. Hell, yes, Virat deepened the kiss.

  His hands went around her waist, and he shifted her closer. It was hard for either of them to miss what having her pressed against him was doing to his body. Finally, he had to pull back before more happened than she was ready for.

  “Fin, I’m just a man. And...you...either we stop now, or I’m going to need to sit in the freezer for a while. Maybe a week.”

  A small grin hit her lips. A light in her eyes told him she knew the power she’d had over him. And was reveling in it. “I...I’m not certain I want to stop.” The humor left her eyes. “But I’ve never...it’s always been slower than this.”

  His hands tightened. “Nothing says we have to do anything more than we already have done. I’m more than willing. A hell of a lot more than willing—but the ball is in your court.”

  **

  It had been four years since she’d had a relationship with a man she trusted. And that had fizzled after only three months. He hadn’t wanted to compete with the hospital. But Virat wouldn’t be like that.

  The hospital was his first love, too. “I...want this. I don’t know how long this will last, but I’m tired of being alone, Virat. I need a friend tonight. The right kind of friend. Someone to hold tonight.”

  He pulled her closer, and then he was kissing her again. After a few minutes, he pulled back, a look of regret on his beautiful face. “We can’t. I don’t have any birth control. I wasn’t exactly planning on this. I don’t carry it with me.”

  That told her so much about him, right there. She sent him a quick grin. “Don’t worry. I do. Thanks to Nikkie Jean.”

  “What?”

  “Jillian’s bridal shower six weeks ago. Nikkie Jean gave out rainbow condoms as party favors. She shoved four in my bag and said she had a feeling I’d need them more than she would.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “I can see her doing that.”

  Then he stood, still holding her in his arms. Fin’s eyes widened and her arms tightened around his neck. “The bedroom is up the stairs and all the way at the end of the hall.”

  Chapter 17

  She was shivering in his arms. Vulnerable. He never would have expected little Finley Coulter, the cheerleader of Finley Creek General, to be so uncertain in the bedroom. She always exuded confidence in everything she did.

  It made him gentler than he would have otherwise been. He felt like a starving caveman, ready to dive into the woman he’d just carried away. He rather liked that analogy.

  Stalker aside, everything had changed for him in one night.

  Virat had never been one for casual affairs. He’d been raised to believe sex happened between people who cared about each other. And that lesson had sunken in early. That carried over to this day. He wasn’t a monk; he’d had affairs over the years.

  But he had always cared about the women involved.

  Just like he did this one. It surprised him how much he did care about her.

  She’d always just been there, on the fringes of his circle. He just hadn’t ever looked closer. Now he did. Would. As long as she would let him.

  “I’m afraid we’re ruining this dress.”

  “I’ll have the dry cleaners deal with it.” Her little fingers played with his collar, and she slipped the first button free.

  But he hadn’t missed the nerves. Or the inexperience. Tenderness for her flooded him, almost bowling him over where he sat. “We don’t have to do this. We can stop at any time. You just tell me. I’m not going to do anything you don’t want.”

  “I know. I trust you, Virat. I trust you.”

  Chapter 18

  She woke with strong male arms wrapped around her and a comforting warmth surrounding her. Fin smiled as memories of the night before hit her.

  And then the nerves came.

  She had never just jumped into bed with a man before. She had no idea what to do now.

  Dark eyes opened and stared at her. “Good morning.”

  He stretched, inadvertently pressing hard male muscles against her.

  Telltale tingles started low in her stomach. Yes, she liked waking up with Virat Patel.

  Virat had been a wonderful lover. She’d never been with a man as considerate as the one now watching her. The nerves slipped away.

  It was Virat. And he would never do anything to hurt her. She brushed a hand against his cheek. “It’s pretty early.”

  And they had one more condom. Nikkie Jean had slipped four striped and polka-dotted ones into Fin’s bag with an evil grin that day. Fin had shoved them into her dresser drawer and forgotten about them.

  They’d used three the night before. She’d never made love three times in one night before.

  She shifted. Pressed against him, until she could feel him scorching her naked skin.

  His eyes flared. The hand he had on her waist tightened and then slipped down to her knee. He pulled her knee up to rest on his hip. Putting himself right where she wanted him.

  “We have one condom left,” he said.

  She shot him her wickedest grin. “For now.”

  And then he kissed her again.

  Chapter 19

  His cousin was an asshole. Ray had always thought so. Ray was ten months older than Reggie. He was three inches taller and a lot stronger. But Reggie was smarter. Everyone knew that. He had tried to not compare himself to his cousin from the moment he’d moved in with his aunt and uncle when he’d been nine.

  But everyone else had always compared them.

  Ray knew he had always come up lacking. Except in one major area.

  People liked Ray better than they liked Reggie. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

  Reggie shot him a look. “You going to work today?”

  The uniform he wore should have been a big indicator. For someone so smart, Reggie could be pretty stupid. “No. I have a date with a smoking-hot blonde.”

  “Yes? What’s her name, then?”

  Her name slipped out before he could check himself. “Fin.”

  “Seriously? Tell me more.”

  “She’s built. About this tall. Blue eyes. Real smart. A doctor, even.” Reggie’s tastes ran more toward the types of women who loved him for his wallet. His cousin wasn’t exactly good looking. But the money—that drew women to Reggie like flies.

  It certainly wasn’t Reggie’s personality.

  “You. With a doctor?” Reggie smirked again. Ray wanted to hit him, like he had when they were kids. But with his aunt and uncle nearby, he couldn’t.

  “Yeah. Me. With a doctor. Why not?” He and Fin...they’d been flirting with each other for months. It was just a matter of time before they took the next step. But he wasn’t going to tell his cousin that he’d captured the interest of the beautiful woman who was the assistant to the man in charge of the entire hospital.

  Fin was perfect. Happy, welcoming, open. Perfect.

  He couldn’t wait to bring her home and introduce her to his aunt. She already knew his uncle. They’d worked together for a while.

  He was going to enjoy rubbing Reggie’s face in the fact that he had the most beautiful woman. He’d always enjoyed it when he’d best Reggie.

  Ray smirked right back.

  “Because...the woman has to be interested in you, too, Ray. Or it’s stalking. You should know that by now.”

  “Shut up.” It wasn’t stalking. Not with him and Fin. It was...taking their time to get to know one another.

  “Or what? You’ll make me? Then my parents won’t wipe your ass anymore.”

  Reggie dumped the coffee in his cup down the sink. “See you around, cuz. I have a meeting with the mayor in twenty minutes. And you don’t want to be late for work.”

&nbs
p; Ray thought over the exchange as he clocked in. Vincent, his boss and a decent guy, pulled him aside. “Keep your eyes open. We’ve had reports of someone messing with the cars along parking lot C.”

  Ray nodded. He preferred parking lot C.

  It was where his Fin parked every day.

  Chapter 20

  Nothing had changed—yet everything had. The first week after they’d slept together had been just like the week before. And the weeks before that.

  With two notable differences. Virat stayed by her side almost every minute they weren’t on the clock, and she was aware at all times that the stalker was still out there.

  Watching.

  Virat had been fingerprinted the morning after they’d slept together. Two of the prints found on the note had been his. But there had been one other print.

  Dom had told them it had been the side of someone’s hand. And that kind of print wasn’t in the database unless the man had been printed for a felony.

  But Dom was still searching.

  She enjoyed having Virat with her; it was easier to have him around than she would have ever expected. It was the first time she had had a man that much in her space.

  Fin was terrified of getting used to it. Of depending on him being there. Of looking for him at night when she woke.

  What if it ended?

  No one at FCGH had figured it out yet, either. But they’d been doing their best to be circumspect. Fin deplored being the center of gossip, and to her surprise, so did he. He was far more reserved than she would have anticipated. At least about his private life.

  Gossip painted him as being a bit of a player. Fin hadn’t seen any evidence of that.

  She was sitting in the large recliner in the breakroom when the door opened. She opened her eyes—she’d been trying to take a quick nap, on the clock since an early call in at six a.m.—and stared into green ones.