by Alison Mello
“No, I’m fine.” Noah takes a seat on the couch and I take the seat across from him.
“Explain.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“I’ve been working a second job. I wanted to be able to give you nice things and do special stuff with you, but I didn’t realize how many hours I was going to be required to work.”
“You couldn’t tell me you were working two jobs?” I shout at him.
“It’s where I’m working that I thought would bother you. Not that I was working.”
“Do I even want to know what you’ve been doing? So help me God, Noah, if you’re pulling something illegal. I’m going to throw you out right now.”
“No, I’m bouncing at a strip club.” I hear my father’s chair scrape across the floor in the kitchen. I look over and he’s pissed, because I know his gut is as good as mine. He’s lying. He’s picking at his nail and he can’t look me in the eye.
“Really, which club?”
Fear flashes across his face. He quickly recovers, but I know him well enough to pick up on it. “Vixen.” His voice barely a whisper.
“Are you shitting me? You’re working for the guy who nearly killed one of my best friends. Scratch that—she’s pretty much my sister.”
“I’m only a bouncer. I had no idea he was pulling that stuff in the beginning.” He puts his hands up in a defensive manner.
“And yet once you did, you continued to work for him. Are you fucking serious?” I never drop an F bomb in front of my dad, but I’m so angry right now I’m about to lose it.
“You need to get out.” I stand and point toward the door.
“Wait, you said I had thirty minutes.”
There’s the knock I’ve been waiting for. I open the door and in walks Slade. “Hey, babe.” He slips his arm around me and Noah’s chin drops.
“You need to go. There’s nothing you can say to me in the next fifteen minutes that’s going to make me change my mind. I can’t trust you and I never will.” I point out the open door.
“I’m not giving up. I will get you back.” He gives Slade a dirty look as he walks by, but he laughs it off. Slade is so much bigger than him. I’m sure Slade is not in the least bit afraid. I slam the door shut behind him, and as soon as it’s closed, Slade leans in to give me a soft kiss.
My father clears his throat behind us. “Oh, I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t see you there.”
“How are you, Slade?” My father sticks out his hand to Slade and they shake hands.
“I’m well. How are you?” My father nods with a small smile.
“Slade, you’ve been protecting the people around us for a while now and I think I can trust you. Do I have to tell you what this girl means to me?”
“No, sir. I get it and I know she’s been through a lot. I promise I’ll take good care of her.” Slade handles my father like a champ, unlike Noah, who practically shit himself when my father sat him down.
“Good, because I know how old you are, and I know there’s quite a few years between you two. That said, there are several years between my wife and I. I understand, and I won’t interfere, but if you hurt her…” His brows raise as he steps closer to Slade, trying to show off his size. “I will hurt you. Trust me when I tell you I know Noah is up to no good and he will get his.”
Slade smiles at my father. “I hope he does. Now, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to take your daughter to get something to eat before we’re expected at Stone and Miranda’s house.”
My father looks down at me, kisses me on top of the head, and hugs me. “Have a good time tonight, baby girl.”
“I will.” I shake my head and take Slade’s hand as we walk out the door.
We walk down the driveway to his car. He opens the door for me and I climb in. When he closes it, I see my father standing in the window watching us. “It’s a good thing you’re a gentleman.”
“Why?” Slade looks over to me once he’s in the car.
“My father was watching you.”
“Babe, your father doesn’t scare me. Do you know why?”
“Why?”
“Because I’ll never disrespect you or him. He’ll never have a reason to be mad at me.” He kisses me and then starts the car.
We pull up to a small cafe up the street from my parents’ house. I love this place, they have some great sandwiches and the servings aren’t huge. I love that because I won’t overdo it. Slade gets out, running to my side to open the door for me. He takes my hand and we head inside. “I thought you might want something to eat, since we don’t typically eat until late when we’re with our friends.”
“Thanks, I had a small breakfast sandwich before we left, but I could use something small to hold me over.” I smile up at him. Slade is quite a bit taller than me. He’s about six foot one. He has broad, muscular shoulders, and I bet he has a ripped chest to match. He’s wearing a fitted t-shirt that shows me that he takes care of his body.
His green eyes look down at me, catching me checking out his ripped body. “Like what you see?”
“I do.”
He laughs. “Do you see anything you like from the menu?”
“It depends. Are you on the menu?” He growls low in the back of his throat and it’s sexy as hell.
“Woman, you’re killing me. I’m trying to maintain some sense of control with you, but you’re making it difficult.”
“Who says I want you to have control?”
“Can I help you?” the girl behind the counter calls out, interrupting our conversation.
“I’ll take the Thanksgiving turkey with mayo and an iced tea, please.” I smile at the girl.
“Make it two.” Slade pulls his wallet from his back pocket.
“I’ll get this.” I try to pull my wallet from my purse, but he’s already paying.
“You will never pay when you’re out with me.” He kisses my head and the girl behind the counter swoons. I roll my eyes at her reaction and make my way to the other end of the counter to wait for our food. When it finally comes, he takes our tray and we look for a table, finding one in the back corner, which is perfect because we have a little privacy. I take a seat and he slips in next to me. “Stay with me tonight.” He looks into my eyes and slips his hand behind me.
“I have no clothes.”
“I think we can figure something out.”
I bite my lip as I blush from him staring into my eyes. He’s not letting up. “Okay.”
“Thank you.” He turns back to the table and we eat our sandwiches in a comfortable silence.
When we’re finished we clean up our mess. He tells me we’re going for a quick ride since we have time before we have to be at Miranda’s house. He pulls up to the beach and my face lights up. It’s a beautiful day, the weather has been really warm for this time of year. There’s a huge rock wall that we take a seat on and watch the water. “I’d walk the beach with you but we’re not really dressed for it. I thought we could just sit and talk.”
“Sounds perfect.” He puts his arm around me and I lean on his muscular shoulder.
“I hope this doesn’t sound creepy, but I’ve liked you for a while now.”
“You have?”
He sighs. “Yeah, but I would have never come between you and Noah. It killed me when he started to hurt you. I wanted to kick his ass, but you weren’t mine to protect.”
I look up at him. “And now?”
He kisses my nose. “Now you’re mine.”
Damn I’m blushing again. “What if you get sick of me? I mean, how well do you really know me?” I look into his eyes. I want him to see how serious I am, but I hate my fear at the same time.
He shows me his sexy smile and looks deep into my eyes. “I know you’re almost twenty-two. You don’t like beef because it makes you feel sick.” His brows shoot up, putting emphasis on his words. “Your favorite color is pink. You love reading, music, and dancing…” his words trail for a minute. He chuckles. “And you’re good at shaking that sexy ass of yours
.”
I bite the inside of my left cheek and close my eyes as I take in his words. I can feel his forehead press to mine. He gives me a moment to process everything he just said, he knows more about me than Noah did. I can’t even look at him, it’s thrown me off that he knows all of this. I release a breath and open my eyes. My cheeks flush. I try to lighten the mood. “Okay, are you stalking me, Mr. Observant?” My voice is light with laughter as I flip my hair back out of my face.
“No, I’m paid to be observant. I’ve been around you and your family for a long time now. I pick up on things. I was finally getting the courage to ask you out when Noah came in and swept you up.” He shrugs. “I stayed in the background, hoping he would screw up, and he did.
“Not fair. I don’t know that much about you.” I pout and he laughs.
“Well, you know I’m thirty-one. Can you guess my favorite color?”
“Black.” He nods his head. “I’m also willing to bet you do not like to dance.”
“Actually, I don’t mind dancing, especially if I get to have you pressed up against me.” He swings his leg over the wall to face me. I swing my leg over the wall as well, placing my legs on top of his. He pulls me close and his lips crash down on mine. I squeeze his muscular arms, not wanting him to stop. He hands are on my back, pressing me firmly against his hard chest. God, I can’t wait to touch every inch of this man’s body.
Our private moment is interrupted by screeching tires. We both look over to see what’s going on. “Noah.” I look back at Slade.
“This prick is going to be a pain in my ass, isn’t he?”
“I think he’s pissed off I got you involved, and I certainly don’t think he’s just going to give me up.”
“Doesn’t he realize your new boyfriend is a security guard? He’s not getting anywhere near you. I’ve taken what’s mine and I’m not giving you back.” He wraps me in his arms and hugs me tight.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here before he comes back and tries something.”
We climb off the wall and hurry back into his car. When I do, my phone is flashing. I check it to see I have text messages from him.
Noah: I’m not giving up on us.
Noah: You’re mine. Tell him to take his fucking hands off you.
Noah: I’m coming for you.
“Holy shit. Look.” I show Slade my phone.
“Babe, you do not leave that club alone at night.” Slade’s tone is serious.
“I won’t. Shane doesn’t allow it anyway.”
“When do you work again?” He’s pulling his phone out of his back pocket.
“Friday and Saturday night, why?”
“Saturday the guys are all going to Vixen to see if we can figure out what Higgins is up to. Shane won’t be at the club. Neither will Jonah. I need to talk to Logan tonight and be sure that someone reliable is walking you out.”
He speeds away from the beach and drives straight to Miranda and Stone’s house.
***
Slade
When we arrive, Logan and Sky are already there with Shane and Katie. I instantly jump in, filling them in on what happened today and how Noah followed us to the beach.
“He told me the reason he’s been blowing me off is because he’s bouncing at Vixen.” Kara puts her hands on her curvy hips. “Holy shit.” Kara’s eyes go wide and are full of fear.
“What is it?” Logan asks, now concerned.
“He had to have been the one filling Higgins in on what was going on with Stone and Miranda. I’d only seen him a few times over the last few months but we had been talking over the phone.” She covers her mouth, her eyes welling with tears.
“Don’t worry about it, babe. You can’t change it now. Let’s just move forward.” I put my arm around her, trying to comfort her. “He says he’s bouncing, but I didn’t see him there last night when I was scoping the place out.”
“You went there last night?” Logan sounds concerned.
“Yeah, I was there with Zane and Brady. We mostly just sat and looked like we were watching the show, but what I really wanted was info on a private room, which I’ve rented for Saturday, and we watched the staff. His bouncers are not that big, and he doesn’t have that many on. The place wasn’t near full, and the crowd that was there were not high class clients.”
“How did you get a private room? I hear you have to have connections.”
“If you offer Higgins the right amount of money, he’ll give you anything. I think he’s either pimping his girls in the rooms or he’s dealing. I figured if I offered him money, he would jump on it, figuring if I can pay for the room, I can pay for his services.” I shrug my shoulders. “He took the bait.”
“Guys, we’re supposed to be here to check out the wedding pictures, not to discuss my shitty ex-boyfriend.” Kara tries to steer the conversation in a different direction, but it doesn’t work, everyone is concerned.
“Kara, my pictures can wait. This is a big deal. Noah’s angry, and if he’s working for Higgins, God only knows what he’s capable of.”
“I know he’s angry. I have the texts to prove it. My father is going to kill him.” Kara plops down onto one of the stools in the kitchen.
I step behind her and put my hands on her shoulders. “Shane, if you’re with me, who can we trust to walk her out on Saturday night?”
“Every bouncer is on Saturday since both Jonah and I are not at the club. Kelly is in charge and will get in touch with Logan should anything happen. Logan will swing by Thrive at closing, while Sky is at Heat, and then he’ll go back to Heat to bring Sky home.” Shane lays out the plan for the night.
“Okay, but I want to know she’s safe and protected. I wouldn’t put it past Noah to try and snatch her.” I can feel Kara starting to shake in my arms as I say it. She’s almost been snatched up once before by a lunatic her father put in jail, she doesn’t need to experience that again.
“We can talk to Jonah when he gets here and see if he has two specific bouncers he wants to put on the job.”
“I’m so tired of people messing with us. Why can’t they just let us live?” Kara crosses her arms over her chest, her lips pouty.
I lower my lips to hers. “I wouldn’t let you go either.” She looks up at me and gives me a small smile.
Jonah and Sadie finally arrive and we change the subject. The girls all hover around Miranda’s kitchen island looking at pictures from the wedding. From all the gushing they’re doing, the photographer did a nice job. We’re sitting in the living room drinking some beers. “Jonah, we need two bouncers in charge of getting Kara to her car safely on Saturday night.”
“Isn’t she working Friday too?”
“Yeah, but we’ll be on Friday. We can walk her out. Saturday we’re at Vixen,” Shane reminds him.
“Right, in that case I would use Brice and Landen, they’ve been working for us the longest. They’re big guys and would never let anything happen to any staff member, never mind the fact she’s your sister-in-law.” Jonah is lounging in this chair that looks way too small for a man his size. The dude is big and can kick some serious ass. Before I met this amazing crew of people, Sky had been attacked outside the bar she used to work at. When Logan and Jonah showed up, he jumped out of the car before it was even fully parked and seriously fucked the guy up.
“Good, and you’ll give them the instructions to walk her out?” I will seriously kick someone’s ass if they don’t watch her back.
“Come on, Slade, you know full well we take care of our own.” Jonah gives me a look that screams really.
“I know. I’m finally getting to spend time with her. I don’t want this prick getting to her.” I look over to see her beautiful smile back in place.
“Trust me, we all get it. I went through it with Katie and Stone is still going through it with Miranda, but you have to trust us like we trusted you.” I fist bump Shane, letting him know we’re good and we change the subject.
Pizza, breadsticks, and wings arrive, and we
all move to the kitchen, where we stand around and eat. The girls are still looking at pictures, only this time they’re looking at the maternity photos. Miranda has a folder on her laptop, she opens it, telling the girls it contains the pictures she’s decided to order. First is a huge photo they took at the wedding involving everyone. It came out great. Then there are a few others they’re getting in smaller prints, and then a great picture of her and Stone together at the park from their maternity session. The girls are so involved in the pictures they barely eat, but while they’re finishing, we clean up from dinner, and I’m glad, because I’m ready to get out of here.
Miranda yawns, tired from walking around carrying Charlotte, I’m sure. Kara looks up at me. “Miranda’s getting tired. Are you ready?”
“Whenever you are.” Kara hugs her friends goodbye and I follow behind, hugging the girls and shaking hands with my boys, thanking Jonah one more time for taking care of Saturday night for me.
We finally arrive at my place about forty minutes later. I’m happy that Noah doesn’t know where I live and I’m not listed anywhere, so he’ll need some connections to find me. When we get inside, I lock the doors behind us. “Want to get comfy and we can watch a movie?” It’ll be nice to spend the night chilling with her.
She gives me a small smile. “Sure. Let me text my parents and let them know I’m staying here or they’ll freak out.” I take her hand and lead her upstairs to my bedroom. She pulls her phone out to text her father while I open my drawer and pull out one of my t-shirts for her to wear. I toss it to her and she places it on the bed. She surprises me when she peels her shirt over her head, revealing a pale pink lace bra. She bites her lip and starts to unbutton her pants. I’m frozen in my spot, taking in her toned body. She is so damned sexy, my cock is already hard in my pants. She slips her jeans down her long, toned legs, and it’s my undoing. I take the two steps that separate us. My mouth crashes down on hers, our tongues collide, and she tugs at my shirt.
Her hands are all over my back, pressing our bodies together. I slip my hands up her back to her bra, unhooking it with one hand. Breaking our kiss, she looks up into my eyes, panting. “Are we going too fast?” She shakes her head no. “I don’t want you to have regrets.” She stares down to the floor. I can see a blush creeping up on her. “What is it?”
