by Lee Wardlow
It didn’t really matter to him. He could care less what Tyler Danner thought. What Jamie was thinking about right this very minute was Nova Daughtry.
How did she feel? Did she experience the intensity that he did when he touched her? The overwhelming emotion that she was right where she belonged?
He was floored by her beauty when he first saw her. Then he was amazed by her sincerity. Her honest open approach to everything. Even her embarrassment over her relationship with Tyler.
Soon he drifted off to sleep. Feeling like everything was right in his world because Nova was sleeping peacefully in his arms.
Chapter 5
When they woke in the morning, she was still in his arms where she had fallen asleep. Jamie promised her breakfast as soon as he checked out.
Food. Her stomach grumbled at the thought of something delectable to eat. Pancakes with blueberry syrup. French toast smothered in maple syrup with bacon on the side. She sighed happily.
He packed up his suitcase while she washed her face and slipped back into her dress. She left the scarf out of her hair this time. Letting her crazy curls fly untamed around her face. She had on no make-up except for a gloss on her lips. Nova walked out of the bathroom running her fingers through her hair.
“What?” She asked when she realized he was staring at her.
“You are even more beautiful without make-up.”
She rolled her eyes at him.
“You are,” he insisted.
He went to her. Slowly. Jamie wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her close. His lips captured hers in a kiss that left her breathless. He lifted his head and gazed down at her. Then he touched his lips to hers again.
“You could become addictive to this old man.”
She laughed at his joke. He was hardly old at thirty-one. He was virile and heady. Just looking at him made her melt into a puddle at his feet. Jamie made her feel good. Confident. There was no pressure. Their relationship easy as if they had known each other a long time.
He guided her out the door to their room then down the steps. He was pulling his suitcase behind him with one hand and holding her hand with his other. They were chatting about her students when Nova looked up as they headed towards his jeep and groaned. “What?” He asked.
“Tyler and his father are walking towards us,” she replied.
“You didn’t do anything wrong Nova.”
“I know that. You know that but they don’t know that.”
Tyler was openly glaring at Jamie. His gaze when directed at Nova wasn’t much friendlier. The Senator, of course stopped to talk to her and Jamie.
“Nova, I didn’t really get to talk to you at Halona’s funeral. How are you?” He asked kindly.
“I’m good sir. How are you?” He kissed her cheek. Dallas Danner was a college friend of Beau Daughtry. They had been through a lot together. Right now, they were sharing a lot of grandchildren without Anna, Dallas’s wife.
She was struggling with the decisions her daughters had made. She was struggling with many things, these days that Dallas preferred to not talk about or think about except when talking to Beau. He told her cousin Beau everything.
“Good. I’m good.” He was looking between them. “Do you two know each other?”
“Of course they don’t Dad. She just spent the night with a total stranger in a hotel room,” Tyler snapped.
Jamie tensed next to Nova. He put his hand on her lower back protectively. “My room had two beds,” he informed Tyler. “I offered to take Nova home because Kale had agreed to take her when Zachariah insisted he needed to get home for classes this morning.
“Kale didn’t exactly have enough room with the twins’ car seats in the back. Nova was concerned about me driving back here last night after a trip to Goose Creek. So, she agreed to sleep in my spare bed giving me the opportunity to drive her home today and then I’m heading back to Atlanta.”
Nova could tell Tyler didn’t believe his explanation. Why would he? She had thrown herself at him. She had never gone on a date with him. Accepted the morsels of companionship he had offered like an eager little puppy. Always hoping for more; giving him exactly what he wanted…her body.
“Senator, it was my pleasure seeing you again. Jamie and I are off to breakfast before he takes me home.”
“The pleasure was all mine Nova.”
“Tyler,” she said his name as she walked past the two men. Jamie followed her lead.
“Jamie, don’t forget my offer,” the Senator told him.
She glanced up at Jamie. “What offer?” Not that it was any of her business.
“I’ll explain on the way back to Goose Creek.”
He guided her to his jeep and let her inside while he put the motorcycle on the trailer. She was looking at her phone when out of the corner of her eye she saw Tyler and his…whatever she was walk out of their room. He was glaring at her when he was sleeping with this woman?
Nova shook her head. Then she focused on her phone anything to distract herself from Tyler Danner.
In her mind, Nova was trying to put into perspective how she really felt about Tyler. Now that the sweet lovemaking was out of the way to cloud her judgement.
Nova glanced over when she heard a car door shut. He was walking around the car. He looked right at Nova. Their eyes never broke contact until Jamie opened his door. She turned her focus towards her own companion.
“So that is what he wants?” Jamie asked hand on the wheel. He hadn’t started the car yet.
“I suppose.”
“She is part of an image Nova that he is trying to portray. He has no real feelings for her. You know that right?”
She locked eyes with Jamie. “It isn’t any of my business.”
“Well I may be shooting myself in the foot because I like you but I think it’s about to become your business.”
“Why?”
“All day yesterday and just now he was looking at you. That was a man who was looking at what belongs to him. He seems to think you’re his even if you don’t.”
She glanced out the window. Tyler was backing out of the spot. Nova turned back Jamie. “I’m not his. I never was. I was convenient for him. I’ll never do that again Jamie. I have more self-respect than that now.”
He patted her thigh. Then he winked at Nova. “Let’s get breakfast.” Jamie didn’t want to force it anymore and make Nova feel like he was pushing her away.
Chapter 6
On the way to Goose Creek, Jamie told Nova more about what he did. He owned his own security firm with a specialization in Technology. In special forces, when needed he hacked into whatever security systems they needed; brought down their systems then the Seals got in and got out. There wasn’t a system that could stop him, Jamie insisted.
“I could have ended up in jail with my abilities. I chose the Navy instead.”
She laughed. “I’m glad you didn’t stray to the dark side,” she teased him.
“So when I got injured, I started my own business. I help people find holes in their systems or I build them the best security for the business. Whatever their needs are.”
“Between jobs.”
He laughed uncomfortably. “Yeah, something like that.”
“Why didn’t you want to tell me?”
“Because I have made a name for myself. I wanted to get to know you first before you knew about the other stuff.”
“A name how?”
“You’ve never heard of me,” he stated.
“I can’t say that I have.”
“Google me on your phone.”
She took out her phone and typed his name in the search field. It didn’t take long before several, more than several articles popped up on her screen.
Technology Security Expert, Jamie Stone contracted with the largest bank in the country to help with their security breach after two Dutch men were arrested for hacking their network.
Jamie Stone contracted by the government to work on new security
systems for the Pentagon.
Millionaire, Technology Security Expert, Jamie Stone contracted by major retailer in security breach wherein customers account information was exposed online.
She looked cross the seats at him. He was out of her league too. “Millionaire, Technology Security Expert.”
“You read that part huh?”
“I sure did,” she replied with more than an uncomfortable tone to her voice.
“Okay I know where that pretty little head of yours is going and you’re wrong.”
“How am I wrong?” She declared. “I assume you attend high society functions being a millionaire and all?”
“Sometimes I do have to attend things that are black tie. State functions, at times too.”
“Well I can just see Jamie Stone, taking the third grade schoolteacher from Savannah with the crazy hair to a State Function. This is Tyler all over again,” she groaned.
“His father has been talking to Beau about a political future for Tyler. I didn’t fit the mold of the political wife. I’m too black, too exotic, too wrong side of Savannah for him. As my sister politely told me Tyler would marry someone like the woman he had with him. A woman with a pedigree and a background that could be traced back to pre-civil war.”
He reached across the seats and took her hand. “You’re right. If he does decide to do politics, he will need that wife that isn’t you. I’m not trying to hurt your feelings,” he told her when he saw the expression of hurt that crossed her face. “He needs a Stepford wife which you are anything but and that is his loss baby.
“You are one of a kind. Sweet and beautiful. As far as too black? I don’t really know what that means. That’s like saying I’m too Native American which by the way I’m three quarters. My mother was half Creek, half white. My father was one hundred percent Creek.” He smiled at her.
“I fortunately do not have a public image that needs to be polished and perfect to make my living by. I would be proud to take you with your crazy hair,” he ruffled her massive curls, “to any function that I had to go to. You are charming, sweet and kind.”
“You said that already.” She rolled her eyes at him.
“Those eyes of yours can bring a man to his knees I bet.” His voice was soft and seductive. His words rolled over her like a warm breeze making her shiver.
“Are you cold?”
“No.” She didn’t know how to handle him. She didn’t have the experience. Before Tyler she had only dated one boy seriously. The one she had given her virginity to. She thought he would be the one she would marry. College sweethearts didn’t always last. She found that out the hard way. Then she fell ass over end for Tyler Danner and that worked out so well too.
“I don’t sleep around,” she blurted out.
He raised his eyebrows over his big, dark eyes. “I didn’t say that you did sweetheart.”
“Tyler assumed I slept with you because I jumped so quickly into bed with him so I just wanted you to know that I don’t sleep around.”
“Ah Angel, he did a real number on you.” He released the steering wheel with one hand and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.
She glanced over at him. Tyler had; he did do a number on her self-esteem. Her pride had taken a hit as had her confidence. Nova glanced out the window.
“Tell me what the Senator wants you to do.”
“He’s on a new anti-terrorist committee. There is a twist. This committee specializes in internet threats. They have been looking into a new radical underground group that has penetrated the Pentagon. Several large banks’ networks. They leave no footprint behind. They are protected by something that is impenetrable. All their experts are baffled. He asked me for my help. It would be a contract that would be time-consuming until we break through their defenses.”
“What is their purpose?”
“So far they haven’t done anything. The threat is there though,” he replied. “Just the threat of what they can do. If they can break in at will, what will they do eventually knowing they can.”
She nodded. She understood the concepts although she wasn’t that great with any technological device. She could type her papers on a laptop. She was pretty good with a spreadsheet. Social media. Surfing. What woman didn’t know how to surf the internet for bargains? That was the extent of her knowledge.
When they arrived at her apartment, Zachariah was there or at least his car was in the parking lot. She opened the door to go inside expecting to see him sprawled on the sofa. He was sleeping apparently in his own room for a change.
“I’d like to see you again,” he told her standing inside the apartment door. Her quaint apartment must seem small and cheap to him. Multimillionaire, technology expert Jamie Stone. The words kept playing through her mind. Taunting her. She wasn’t really good enough for him either no matter what he thought.
“How do you think that will work Jamie with you two hours away?”
He maneuvered Nova until her back was against the apartment door. His forearm rested against the steel material her door was made of; leaning casually by her head. “Two hours is nothing. I’ll come here. You can come to Atlanta. There are tons of fun things to do in Atlanta.”
He was close. So close she could smell his fresh scent. Just soap from the shower he had taken that morning before they left the hotel. He brushed his hand along the side of her face and she almost forgot to breathe.
His lips touched hers tentatively at first. Only when she moaned into his mouth did he slip his arm around her and pull her closer to him. His full, warm lips on hers created sensations she hadn’t felt in a while. Sensations, Tyler had only had the ability to invoke in her so far.
She pushed him back a little and smiled. “I think you are dangerous to my wellbeing.”
He snorted. “Me?” He pointed at his chest. “I’m a pussy cat.”
She quirked an eyebrow over one eye; directed at him. She didn’t believe him for one second.
“So can I have your phone number?” He asked. She was still pinned to the front door of the apartment.
“If you want to see me again I think you will need my number,” she teased.
She watched him enter her digits into his phone. Then he took her phone from her hand and entered his number in her phone. “Call me whenever you want Angel. I better be going,” he told her.
He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. Then he pulled her away from the door. Jamie opened it and stepped into the hallway. He had not released her hand yet. He looked back at her one last time. Then Nova tugged on her hand to get him to release it. He winked at her and finally Jamie let her go.
“I’ll be seeing you.”
“I look forward to it.”
She shut the door behind him and went in search of Zachariah. He was sprawled bare chested across his bed. The blankets covering his lower half. She jumped on the bed beside him. He didn’t wake. Nova knew he was up to something that was going to get him into trouble and she was worried about him.
She tickled his ear and he swatted at her hand. She almost giggled but Zach still didn’t wake up.
“What are you up to Zachariah?” She whispered in his ear. He whacked at her again but she moved back in time. “Get up right now?” She yelled in his ear. He jumped. Arms and legs flailing. She had to rear back to keep from getting bashed in the head by a flying arm.
He turned and looked at her lying across his bed. Then he scowled. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“I want to talk to you,” she replied calmly.
“Get out of my bed.”
“No. I know that you are doing something…illegal perhaps? I’m worried about you Zachariah.”
Zach ran his hands through his hair. “Get,” he shoved her and Nova rolled backwards hitting her head on the nightstand before she went down to the ground. He leaned over the bed to see if she was all right. “Christ. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
She was bleeding on his floor. A line of blood ran down the nightstand. No
va was stunned.
“Talk to me Nova,” he was pleading with her.
Words were forming in her brain but they weren’t coming out of her mouth. He jumped up from the bed and crossed the room to his dresser. He yanked a pair of shorts out of the drawer pulling them up his body. He kept looking over his shoulder at Nova. Then he slipped a cotton shirt over his head while he ran out into the hall to the linen closet.
Nova had sat up. Zachariah squatted in front of her. He held a towel to her head. “I’m so sorry.”
Her eyes were glazed with tears when she looked up into his face. “Maybe you should look at it,” she told him.
He leaned her forward and slipped behind her. He lifted her mass of hair away from where the blood seemed to be coming from. She had a flap of skin that needed stitches he was sure. Zach rose to his feet.
“Do you want me to take you or do you want me to call someone?”
“Zach,” she said his name in warning.
“I wasn’t saying I didn’t want to take you.” He lifted her from the ground holding onto the towel. Nova swayed in his arms. He looked into her face. “I just wanted to be sure you weren’t so angry at me that you didn’t want me to take you to the ER.”
“It was an accident,” she replied.
“You’re gonna need stitches though.”
“Wonderful.” She started to walk and swayed again. Zach caught her.
“Hold onto the towel. I’ll carry you.”
Zach slipped on his shoes and then he lifted Nova in his arms. “I need my purse,” she told him.
He stopped where her purse was lying on the counter so Nova could grab it. She laid it against her chest then she let her head fall against Zach’s shoulder. Her head was spinning.
Nova could see it on his face as he held her tight in his arms. Regret. Zach wasn’t good at masking his feelings.
“I’m really sorry,” Zach told her.
She locked the door behind them. Her hands shaking the entire time. Then he turned and carried her down three flights of stairs before moving out into the sunlight. She groaned. The intensity of the light hurting her head.
