by Morgan Fox
Her brows narrowed toward the bridge of her nose. “For the night?” she asked, needing clarity.
No. “For as long as you want me.”
She looked as though she struggled to breathe as she placed the palms of her hands on her head. “Victor, I don’t know what to do,” she repeated.
“Open the door, Janie. Invite me in.”
That was what he wanted her to do, but she shook her head, denying him access. “I can’t. Josh is home. It wouldn’t be right.”
He gritted his teeth and repeated, “Open the door, Janie. Invite me in. Please.”
Her eyes widened angrily. “And then what?” she barked. “You get me to do what you want again and I get to be the girl who can’t seem to resist you. The girl too stupid to stop you from using her.”
He chuckled as annoyance flooded through him. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m sort of begging you to be with me. Janie, I never beg.” He sucked in a breath and brushed the tips of his fingers over his cheek. “But for you I’ll gladly do it.”
“Why?” She shoved his touch away. “Why me?”
“I don’t know why.” He teased the pad of his thumb over her lower lip, wanting to kiss her. “I can’t seem to get you out of my head.”
“That’s no reason to destroy my life.”
His blood boiled. “I’m trying to get you to invite me in so I can make love to you. Destroying you is the least of my thoughts. Desiring you, spending time with you…Damn, Janie, how many ways do I have to tell you that I want you?”
“You want to fuck me,” she corrected. “That’s not the same thing as wanting me.”
Hearing her throw his needs back in his face and dismiss him as if he were some asshole who wanted to hurt her, forced him to take a step back. “Then what do you want?”
“I don’t know, but I deserve better than that.” She wiped her hand over her cheek, swiping away the fallen tears. “I’ve given everything I have to everyone else in my life and I get nothing in return. I took care of my ailing parents before they died. I assumed responsibility for my brothers when my parents were gone. I’m still taking care of them.” She whimpered.
“Who the fuck’s taking care of me?”
It nearly killed him to see the tears well up in her eyes, hear the pain in her words. He wanted to rush to her, hold her, and tell her everything would be all right. But he couldn’t. Her willful strength and independence would fight him every step of the way.
“I work two jobs because I have to. Not because I want to. If I don’t help my brothers, no one will.”
He cleared his throat, remembering a time in his life where he was alone, fighting a similar battle. He knew what it was like to pay dues. It wasn’t long ago that he barely had enough money to feed himself. He’d had to layer up on clothing because he couldn’t afford to run the heat during the coldest spells in winter. “That’s a good question, Janie. If you’re taking care of everyone else, then who can take care of you?”
She meet his gaze and the second her lower lip began to quiver and the floodgate of emotions crippled her, he collected her into his arms. He held her tight, rocking her against him in the most soothing way he could. In that crucial moment, he was thankful he was there for her, thankful she’d finally trusted him with the most vulnerable emotions a person could share—the raw truth.
“Honey, I’m sorry. I don’t want to see you cry. Let me take care of you. Let me be with you tonight.”
“You don’t even know me,” she muttered, her face pressed against his jacket.
“I know you better than you think.” She sniffled with her arms tightly wrapped around him. When she looked up at him, he shattered. “I want you more than just for the night, Janie. I don’t know what it is, but I think I may need you. And I think you need me, too.”
He wasn’t offering marriage. Neither one of them wanted that. But whether she realized it or not, they were good for each other. In only a few days, that had become clear to him. She offered him a maddening sense of fulfillment, as if to be without her would unravel him, and he was the additional strength and security she didn’t know she needed, but wanted. He hadn’t realized how much until that moment.
He kissed her forehead, brushing away her tears. With a heart heavy sigh, she reached into her purse, grabbed her keys, and opened the door. He thought she might close it behind her, slam it in his face even, but instead she left it ajar. He took that as an unspoken invitation.
The rooms were dark and no one appeared to be home. He entered her bedroom and found her cradled on the bed, whimpering. He kicked out of his shoes, shimmied out of his jacket and tie, and joined her, pulling her up against him. He let her cry, let her use him as a comforting blanket. Whatever she needed from him, he would provide.
Chapter Nine
Soon Janie’s breathing shallowed and Victor knew she was asleep. He closed his eyes, feeling a rush of emotions that he’d never felt. For the first time in a long time, he’d put someone else’s needs above his own—no alternative motive, nothing for himself. For some unknown reason, Janie’s happiness mattered to him.
He heard the front door open and close and he slowly positioned Janie on the pillow beside him, moving quickly to see who was entering her apartment. He assumed it was one of her brothers—Josh.
Josh backed up, his eyes wide with surprise as Victor greeted him. “Don’t be alarmed. I’m a friend of your sisters.”
“Try again. Janie doesn’t have male friends.” Josh barked, swinging his backpack off his shoulder to use as a weapon.
“My name’s Victor Cadwell, I work with you sister at the legal firm.”
Josh eyed him like Victor smelled funny. “Where’s my sister?”
“Sleeping.”
Josh’s demeanor shifted, almost aggressively. “If she’s sleeping, then way the hell were you coming out of her bedroom?”
Victor felt the protective nature her brother had for her and he appreciated it. He never had siblings, but he’d always thought if he had they would’ve been close. He would’ve given anything to have brother or sister to care for him when things got rough. As it was, he was an only child. Something he was sure his drunken, drugged out, absent, neglectful parents were unhappy about.
No other kids to sell for drugs.
“She was upset. I didn’t want to leave her.”
Josh moved as if to see for himself and Victor stepped to the side to allow him to see that his sister was just as he described, safe and asleep. When he appeared again, he asked, “Why was she upset? What happened? Did you do something to hurt her?”
No. Maybe. Victor cringed not wanting to explain the real reason. He didn’t exactly know what else to say. “You might need to ask her. She wasn’t making much sense when she was crying earlier.”
Josh frowned. “Are you her boss?”
“Yes.”
“Didn’t she go with you to some dinner tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Then you must know what the hell happened.”
Her brother was resilient. It must run in the family. “She was upset…with me, I’m afraid.”
“Why do I feel like all I do is ask questions? Are you avoiding telling me the full story?” Josh dropped his backpack on the table, dug his knuckles into his hips, and glared at Victor. “If you hurt my sister, you should just leave now before she wakes up.”
“If I leave, she’ll never believe how much I care about her.” The truth of Victor’s words hit him hard and he slouched his shoulders. “I told her I wanted to get to know her. She sort of freaked and tried to get me to leave. I wouldn’t. She started crying, which made me not want to leave even more. Then she tells me that she’s been taking care of you and your other brother since you lost your parents.”
Josh’s gaze wandered to the floor, as he pulled out a dining room chair and sat down. “She told you about that?”
He leaned his shoulder against the wall, folding his arms over his chest, and crossing his legs together
at the ankles. “A blind person could see how much she loves her family. She feels responsible for you and…I’m sorry, I don’t know your brother’s name.”
“Joey,” he replied softly. “He doesn’t come around much. Since our parent’s death, he’s sort of been running away from anything that might remind him that they’re gone.”
He understood that feeling. As soon as Victor was able, he’d packed up whatever he had, which wasn’t much, and got a job earning money and paid his way through college. He worked his ass off, avoiding every possible chance of experiencing the hell he’d run away from.
My father—the good-for-nothing piece of shit and my mother—the vessel that gave me life and then tried to sell me to the highest bidder. He tensed at the memory.
“It must’ve been hard,” Victor said.
Josh shrugged. “I had it easy compared to Janie. Even Joey didn’t have near the worry that Janie did. She was the oldest. She helped Mom take care of our father when he got sick with cancer. A year after he died, our mom had a heart attack. She died, too.” He wiped a hand over his eyes, hiding his tears. Victor glanced away, studying the beige carpeting. “With our parents gone, Janie was stuck with everything. She’d just turned eighteen and was determined to keep us all together. We didn’t have any other family to count on and our father’s illness drained most of the finances. She got a job and learned to bartend. She worked nights and even a few days a week so that we could finish school and be somewhat normal. Joey got a job on an oilrig not long after graduating from high school.”
“But you stuck around.”
“Janie was always more like a second mom to me. She encouraged me to stay in school and get a degree. She doesn’t want me to struggle like she had to.” Josh stiffened his spine. “I want to get a great job so I can pay her back for all she’s done for me.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t expect that. She only wants you to succeed in life.”
“And that’s exactly why I want to do it. Janie’s never once thought about herself. She’s always putting me and my brother first. She doesn’t think I know just how much she sacrifices for me, but I do.” Josh sighed. “My tuition’s due Monday. She doesn’t think I know that she took the job with your office so that she could make the payment. She breaks her back to help me. I can’t disappoint her.”
Victor had an idea. “I think I know a way I can help,” he said, finally feeling like he had a way to show her just the kind of man he really was.
* * * *
Janie opened her eyes. She was in her room and still dressed in the same clothing as the night before. She shifted her feet off the bed and stood, glancing around the room. Her mind was a little fuzzy, but she clearly remembered Victor coming into her room and holding her. His musk scent and warmth helped lull her to sleep.
I won’t share that with him though.
She heard something coming from her kitchen. Glancing over at the clock, she panicked. “Oh, shit. I’m late.”
She darted out into the living room to see Josh, instead she saw Victor. He was sitting at the dining room table, drinking coffee, and reading the paper. But what had her brain doing somersaults was the way he was dressed. Blue jeans, combat boats, and a pewter T-shirt.
“Um, what are you doing?” she asked, surprised that she managed to find words to speak.
Victor lowered the paper. “Waiting for you to get up.”
She arched a brow. “Why?”
He folded the newspaper back up and placed it on the table, standing. “You said something to me last night that got me thinking. When’s the last time you took a day off to enjoy yourself.”
She laughed and rolled her eyes. “I can’t. I have—”
“Yes. I know all about Josh and Joey. I’m not talking about responsibility. I’m talking about a day just for you, Janie.”
She laughed harshly. “Did you hit your head last night after I fell asleep?”
He closed the distance between them, but she took a step back, raising her hand to stop his advancement. “We kicked ass last night, Janie. I can’t thank you enough for going with me.”
“You don’t have to thank me. You’re paying me.”
He chuckled. “Which again reminds me of something.” He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. “I spoke with Josh last night. His tuition’s due. I want to give you an advance on your pay week.” He handed her the check.
Her mouth hung open and her eyes darted from the check he offered her back to him. “Why?”
“I don’t have to give it to you,” he said, preparing to take it back, but she swiped it behind her instead.
“I didn’t say I didn’t want it. I just asked why you were giving it to me early.”
“Josh’s tuitions due. You helped me out and I’m doing that same for you.” He paused. “But I do want something from you.”
“I’ve already told you, I’m not a hooker. If this check comes with sexual strings attached you can fuc—”
“I think you’ve seen Pretty Woman one too many times,” he told her with a laugh. “I want you to spend the day with me.”
“I work for you. I’m at the office with you all day.”
“That’s not what I want. I want you to go riding with me today.”
She furrowed her brow. “Motorcycle riding?”
He nodded. “Unless you’ve got the urge to go to work while I take the day off. It might be boring without me harassing you, needing a coffee refill, or my lunch picked up.” He winked. “Come on, Janie. What could be so bad about spending a fun day with me?”
You could kiss me. I could give in to the urge to sleep with you again. She shook the thoughts away, blowing out a cleansing breath of air. “Just a bike ride, nothing else?”
“And lunch and maybe dinner.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Nothing kinky. Nothing strange.”
He eradicated the space between them, her hand pressing softly against his chest as she looked into his eyes—eyes that had suddenly robbed her of coherent thought. “Nothing you don’t want.”
She let her hand trail down his chest. “I need to change.” She backed away, closing her bedroom door.
She paused for a moment, wondering if what happened really did. Victor had given her the money to pay Josh’s tuition. She feared it would be late. She’d already taken out a short term loan with the college and the deadline for payment—
She covered her mouth, emotions choking her. She didn’t have to panic anymore. She had the money. Josh would be fine. Victor, of all people, had helped her. She would finish the work week out and would earn every scent of the advance. Smiling, she rushed into the bathroom, showered and dressed, feeling better than she had in a long time.
Victor was waiting for her as she opened the bedroom door. She wore her blue jeans, black riding boots, and an Iron Horse T-shirt. Brynn, a co-worker from the other bar had given it to her. She thought it was funny.
“I rode the Iron Horse?” Victor read aloud.
“I’m told the shirt has many meanings.”
Victor grinned. “I can think of a few off the top of my head.”
She smiled. “I bet you can. Shall we go?” she asked, grabbing her helmet off the table where she’d last left it.
She locked the door and followed after him. He moved toward a bike and her mouth hung open. “Is that yours?”
“Yep.”
“When did you go get your bike?” she asked, eyeing the jet black cruiser with its monstrous fairing and shiny chrome everything.
“Josh was kind enough to give me a ride. I told him what I wanted to do today and he thought it was a great idea.”
“He did, huh?” she asked, stepping up beside him.
“Yep.”
He slipped his helmet over his head and she did the same with her own. When she moved to get on her own bike, he reached for her arm.
“Ride with me.”
It had been a long time since she’d ridden with someone. She liked having h
er own motorcycle. It sucked in the rain, but it was hers and it was paid for. She wasn’t sure she liked the idea of relinquishing her independence and control so fully.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I figured I’d follow—”
“Afraid?”
She frowned. “No.” Yes.
“Prove it. Ride with me. Be my biker babe,” he told her with a crooked grin.
Sucking in a gulp of air, she moved back around the bike to his side.
“Coffee sound like a good plan?” he asked, as if knowing exactly what she was needing to get the day started.
She sighed. “Oh, please. I would love some.”
He smiled, and mounted his bike, balancing it for her to get on. Using the foot pegs, she fed her foot and leg over the backseat and settled into position. She felt like a queen, cocooned there with the armrests and cushion seat comforting her.
The coffee shop was only a few blocks up the street, and by the time they’d pulled in she knew he wasn’t the kind of guy to ride his motorcycle once in a while. He rode. A lot. It seemed she didn’t know as much about Victor as she assumed.
As they took off their helmets and placed them on the saddle of the bike, she said, “You really know how to ride. I was kind of worried you’d kill us before we left the parking lot of my apartments.”
“Been riding since I was legal enough to do it. It’s cheap transportation.”
She knew that personally. It was the reason she owned one, too.
Victor ordered their coffees, while she took a seat on the patio. She couldn’t shake the awkward feeling bubbling up inside her about the way she acted when he’d brought her home the night before. When he returned, he handed her a coffee, and sat down beside her.
“Thank you and I’m sorry about last night.”
He popped the top off his coffee. “For what?”
“You know what,” she replied, leaning back in her chair. “For my out-of-whack, emotional behavior. I never wanted anyone to see me like that.”
“Human?” he asked with a wink.
