by Raina Wilde
He had been certain that there had been more than that between them, but after she had practically vanished into thin air, he was not so sure.
Finally, she called him and asked if he could meet her at her office. He did not like the sound of the offer. It was too formal. He did not want to meet in her office. He much preferred to have her here, in his home. Still, he agreed because the need to see her was too great. He needed answers for her disappearance, for her use of the information, but mostly he found that he just wanted to know if she had any intention of continuing their relationship now that she had achieved her goal.
Chapter 12:
Natalie paced across the floor of her office. She had never been more nervous in her life. Chris was due to arrive any moment and she knew that this meeting would solidify their relationship one way or another.
A soft knock on the door had him entering with a guarded expression. It was all Natalie could do not to rush to him and throw her arms around his shoulders. She had been avoiding him. They both knew it. Yet, now that they were once again in the same room, she could barely contain the passions that flared inside of her.
This was why she had kept her distance. If she had seen him again she might not have been able to go through with her plans. He might have tried to talk her out of it, but she knew that she had done the right thing. The problem would be trying to get Chris to see that.
She gathered the notes from her desk and gestured for him to join her on the couch. Instead, he came to stand right in front of her. He placed his hand on her shoulders and leaned down to kiss her. Her stomach whirled and her mind lost all consciousness as she clung to his embrace. For several moments they allowed themselves a brief taste of desire, before Natalie pulled away.
She sat on the couch and attempted to calm her breathing. Chris sat beside her, their knees almost touching. Almost, but not. The small space that separated them was enough to drive Natalie wild, but she needed to focus.
She clenched the file and reminded herself why he was here.
“We need to talk,” she could hear the quiver in her voice.
“I gathered that when you called to set the appointment.”
She could hear the disappointment in his voice. Neither of them wanted to meet here, but it had been necessary. If this meeting went wrong, Natalie could not stand having the memory of him walking out on her bound to her own home, or likewise, could not imagine having to walk away from the man that she had come to love. Here, in this informal venue, they would be forced to function with a decorum that might be enough to preserve her fragile heart. Or, so she hoped.
She had no explanation to give him, so she decided to press on.
“I’ve been doing some research,” She smoothed her hands over the file of notes. The information inside was most precious to her, and she had worked hard to achieve it.
“About the case.” It was not a question and Natalie could see the trepidation in his eyes.
She nodded.
It was as if a steel wall had slammed between them. Chris had not moved, had not altered his position in any way, and yet she felt him withdraw from her.
“Well, did you get what you want?” His voice was cold, detached, and it broke her heart.
“That’s not what I meant,” she cried. “I meant what I said when I told you that I would not reveal your story without permission.”
She could tell that he did not believe her.
“Chris…” she placed her hand on his arm. He did not pull away, but he did not acknowledge it either. She was not sure which was worse. “I completed my research in a very discreet way. That’s what took me so long.”
She took a deep breath and began.
“I am here to give you a choice. Everything else will be up to you.” She waited for him to respond, but he just sat there watching her with narrowed eyes. “I am guessing that the reason that you have kept Tony’s actions a secret is to protect his memory, and his family?”
He blinked, but did not respond.
“Come on, Chris, work with me here,” she begged.
He shifted into a more comfortable position. The action broke all contact between them and Natalie was forced to place her hand back in her lap.
“Obviously,” he conceded after several moments of silence.
She nodded. That was the only motivation that made sense.
“You have two choices.” She pulled the first page from her file and set it in his lap.
She did not even want to look at the words, they were too gruesome. The paper detailed the possible legal ramifications of his refusal to testify in regard to the investigation, as well as the results if he should be falsely accused of the crime. The range spanned from dishonorable discharge all the way to a life sentence in prison. Even the best case scenario would mean the end of Chris’s career and honor.
She watched him peruse the list with silent acknowledgement. It appeared that he was already aware of the potential judgements. He looked displeased, but not surprised.
“I know.” He slipped the paper back into her file. “What else am I supposed to do? Tell his wife and children that he lost it and went on a killing spree? His son and daughters, who look up to him as their hero… his wife who sacrificed her time with him so that he could serve his country, only to find out that it ruined the man she loved? Tony needed help. I should have seen that, but this is not what his family should remember him for. I won’t allow it.”
“I know that.” Natalie nodded and placed her hand on his once more. “I spoke with Commander Barkley…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Chris was on his feet.
“You did what?” His shout echoed through the room. “You had no right to do that.”
“I know,” she repeated. “If you’ll just let me explain…”
“I think you’ve done enough.” He moved toward the door but Natalie rushed past him and stood in front of it.
“You need to let me finish.” Her voice pleaded but it fell on deaf ears.
“I don’t need to do anything. Get out of my way, Natalie.”
She pulled the last page from the file and held it out for him.
“Just read this.”
His grabbed the paper from the air, crumpling it in the process. He held the page at his side. She could see that he had no intention of reading it.
“Please, Chris. Read it.” She implored him to understand, she needed him to see that she had not meant to betray his trust. “I kept my promise. I didn’t tell anyone the truth. That is still your choice, but please, please don’t shut me out.”
He waited in silence as he stared at the door, jaw clenched, waiting for her to move. She did, and he slipped through the door without a backward glance.
Natalie sunk into the plush cushions of the couch as her heart exploded with agony. He would never forgive her for speaking with his commanding officer. He would probably never read the report that she had compiled. Either way, she doubted that she would ever see Chris Ryker again.
Natalie refused to cry. The tears would come later, when she was in the safety of her own home, but for now she simply closed her eyes and gasped as she tried to settle the pounding of her heart. She had only been trying to help. She truly thought that she could help him, but all she had seen in his eyes was betrayal. Anything that they had shared before, that they might have shared in the future, was gone. He would never trust her again.
An hour passed, maybe less. It seemed like days to Natalie as she sat at her desk staring at her case files but not really reading them.
Her secretary entered and announced her afternoon appointment. Natalie swore under her breath. She searched for her calendar to check her schedule. She had forgotten about the appointment. She was unprepared and would have to improvise through the session.
She had just smoothed her skirt and attempted to arrange the tousled hairstyle that had been wrecked by the constant running of her fingers through it since Chris had left.
Whe
n she looked up she could not have been more surprised at what she saw.
Chris stood in the doorway with a tentative grin, clutching the crumpled file.
“I’m an ass,” he said before she could speak. Not that she could find the words in the first place.
“No,” She shook her head. “I should have consulted you before going to your commanders.”
He released a short laugh. “I would have stopped you.”
“I know.”
He took a few steps into the room and held the paper between them, where it hung like a lifeline.
“Is this really possible?” She could hear the hope in his voice. Yet, at the same time, an unwillingness to believe that it was true.
She nodded. “It’s rare, and legally complicated, but yes… Your Commander Barkley thinks that it will be approved unanimously. That is, if you choose to go forward.”
The document outlined a complex legal process in which Chris could provide a closed testimony to his superiors. Not only would they be restricted from revealing his story, but they would then stand as witness to clear him of all charges outside of a trial. Only three of his commanders would have access to the full story, and Tony Pomerretti’s family would never know the full details of his downfall. The case would be locked and Chris could move on with his career.
“How did you manage this?” He seemed dumbfounded. “How can the case be closed without them skewering Tony, and digging through his life for signs that he was a loose cannon?”
“They’ll still need to investigate that, in order to study and prevent similar occurrences, but they will do so in a way that will keep his family from suspecting. Most of that interrogation will come through you. You’ll need to submit to a full debriefing.”
“I didn’t see it coming,” Chris admitted.
“That isn’t your fault.” Natalie needed him to understand that no one could have foreseen what Tony would have done. “In hindsight, could you recognize changes in his behavior?”
He shrugged. “A few, maybe.”
“Good.” She took a step toward him. It seemed as if the tension in the room had deflated. For the first time, Chris seemed willing to collaborate with the investigators.
“There is one other thing…” she was not sure how he would take the last piece of information. “Part of this process requires that you go through an extensive counseling program, to ensure that you have no repercussions from the event. Especially, if you intend on returning to active duty.”
He nodded. “I don’t like it, but that makes sense. If that’s what it takes, I will.”
She tried to swallow past the lump in her throat. “I understand if you don’t wish to continue your session with me…”
“I don’t.” His assertion cut her off before she could finish. His tone was final. He had no intention of working with her. She felt as if a vice had closed around her heart. Even after he had realized that she had found a solution, he still wanted nothing to do with her.
“I understand.” She could hear the tremor in her voice and she wished that she could control it.
“Do you?”
She nodded. She needed him to leave. The tears that she had held back earlier threatened to flow and she wanted him gone immediately.
She started to walk toward the door, to let him out, but he snaked a hand around her elbow.
“Natalie…” His voice was smooth and soothing. It made the ache even worse. “I think it would be a conflict of interest if I’m dating my therapist.”
A strangled sob crept from somewhere inside of her but it still took a moment longer for his words to sink in.
“What?” She turned to him with a look of complete confusion.
“That is, if you aren’t done with me yet.” His hand cupped the back of her neck and he pulled her gently against him. “I know that I’ve been quite a handful so far.”
Natalie pressed her forehead against his chest and allowed the tears to fall. Though, suddenly she felt overwhelmingly happy.
“I’m sorry that I spoke to your commander without permission.” Her voice was muffled against his shirt. She could feel the deep rumble of his laughter against her cheek.
“Even I can admit that I’m wrong sometimes.” His hand smoothed her hair as she wiped the tears from her face. “I’m grateful for what you did. I would have never found this solution otherwise.”
Natalie turned her face up toward his with a wide smile.
His mouth settled over hers with a gentleness that she would have never expected from him. Natalie threw her arms around his neck and allowed him to pull her closer.
“I love you Natalie Barnett,” he whispered against her lips.
“I love you too,” she confirmed.
“…now that you know that I’m not a murderer?” His teeth pulled at her lower lip and his hands splayed across the generous curves of her hips.
She laughed. “I always knew that you were innocent.”
He tilted his head and raised one eyebrow. “Did you?”
“Well…” she wrapped her arms around his waist, “I might have wondered a few times. Bikers can have a bad reputation, you know.”
His deep laughter was infectious. “I think it was the Harley that won you over.”
“That might have had something to do with it.” She winked. Natalie knew that their shared interest had opened the door to their relationship, but she knew that even without it, she and Chris were about to share in something special, something that would last a lifetime.
THE END
Flip the page for Bonus 1: Fighting For Love!
Fighting For Love
Jenna Pitsenburg, a no-nonsense sports agent, receives the opportunity of a lifetime in the form of a lucrative promotion that will catapult her directly into the career of her dreams. The only problem is that the terms of the promotion come with a major hitch: her future career hinges on the completion of a successful contract with a particular high-profile client—none other than bad-boy, professional MMA fighter, Alexander Rockwell.
Jenna wants nothing to do with her arrogant, super-star, ex-boyfriend, the man who disappeared without a trace from her bed over five years ago. She’s heard about the terrible reputation he has developed on his search for fame and glory and she has little confidence in his ability to change.
However, Jenna, armed for battle, is not prepared to discover that his journey has left Alex feeling unfulfilled and in need of a new direction in his life—a new direction that he has every intention of sharing with Jenna...
Fighting For Love
Jenna Pitsenburg sat suddenly upright in the center of her plush queen-sized bed. Her sleep mask was shoved haphazardly toward the messy bun that sprouted directly from the top of her head while she glanced with disdain at the bedside alarm clock. It read 4:59 A.M.
With only moments to spare she cancelled the alarm before it released an obnoxious, ear-splitting ring that would have been enough to cause a heart attack if rousing its victims from a deep slumber.
Disentangling her legs from the satin bed-covers, Jenna shifted the sheer nightgown to fit more comfortably over her voluminous breasts. Even though she had rarely made time to date these past five years, it always made her feel beautiful to start her day in luxurious clothing. She had developed the habit years ago after realizing how much her confidence soared when waking in the morning to her boyfriend gazing at her lush frame with pure adoration. Wanting to maximize his pleasure Jenna had invested in a glamorous collection of plus-sized nightwear that remained long after the relationship had ended.
Jenna’s eyebrows pinched together in confusion. It had been a long time since she had associated her pyjamas with Alex. Generally she was successful at pushing his memory to the back of her mind, a habit developed out of extreme necessity and self-preservation. Most of the original pieces had been replaced over time so, why then, had her mind strayed down that particular path?
Then, like a bucket of ice water rushing over her skin,
she remembered.
Jenna rocketed out of bed and rushed down the hallway to the office of her small Chicago condominium.
“Please be a dream. Please be a dream.” She muttered relentlessly as if sheer determination could make it true.
As she waited for her computer to load she paced anxiously around the tiny office still whispering the same four words like a desperate plea to the universe.
The screen flashed to life and Jenna settled into the yellow upholstered chair at her desk.
She took a deep, steadying breath.
“It IS a dream. It HAS to be.” She logged in to her email account and accessed a message from only the night before.
Ms. Pitsenburg,
We are pleased to inform you that the Board of Directors has noted your exceptional performance representing Mr. Caulfield during his recent sponsorship negotiations with Laramex, Inc.
It has come to our attention that you have submitted an application for the position of Senior Account Executive here at Bramble and Bowman.
As you are well aware, there are two other qualified applicants who surpass you in years of account experience at this time.
However, the board feels that in the seven years you have been with us you have shown extreme talent and tenacity that has yielded results comparable to those with more tenure.
For this reason we have decided to present you with an opportunity to prove that you are the most qualified candidate for the position of Senior Account Executive.
We have received notice of an athlete in need of a fresh new agent who has specifically requested your services. If you are made Senior Account Executive you will no longer be working individually with athletes but instead will be directing and consulting with the agents of your current position. This is your chance to prove that you are capable of handling a high-profile account with the precision and professionalism that you would potentially expect of all agents under your senior guidance.
