by Melody Anne
One night, at about six in the evening, he walked in wearing a fitted suit that showed off his muscles to perfection.
Chloe’s mouth watered as he stepped closer to her. The man was beautiful in a rugged way. He was wearing black with a splash of green in his tie that showed off the sparkles in his eyes. She wondered what was happening.
“You should probably go put on the dress I bought you,” he said with a smile.
She looked at him with suspicion. “Why?”
“Because there’s a party tonight. I had forgotten all about it until my captain called,” he told her.
“I still don’t know why I would be putting on a dress,” she said with a raised brow.
“Because you’re going as my date,” he told her.
“I don’t think that’s the best idea,” she said.
“Why not?” He seemed genuinely perplexed.
She couldn’t tell him. She knew someone might put the pieces together, figure out who she was, and then everything would be ruined. So she offered a different excuse.
“We aren’t dating,” she told him.
He smiled. “If this isn’t dating, I don’t know what is,” he said as his eyes traveled down her body.
She couldn’t help but blush as his gaze fastened on her cleavage before moving down the rest of her frame. She felt as if she were wearing nothing at all. When his heated gaze met back up with hers, desire rushed through her.
This stunning man, who seemed to really have nothing at all wrong with him, wanted her―desired her. She couldn’t seem to wrap her mind around it. But she also was a little euphoric from the feeling.
She was unable to take her eyes away from him as he moved closer to her. His strong hands wrapped around her back in a hug. She sighed with pleasure before his lips drank up the sound. By the time he released her, she was almost dizzy.
“What’s the event?” she asked, already forgetting what he’d said.
“Just a get-together,” he told her.
“Why are you so formally dressed then?” she asked with suspicion. He laughed.
“You don’t like me in a suit?” he questioned.
“It’s not that, it’s just you don’t really seem the suit-and-tie sort of guy,” she admitted.
“Hey, I can clean up,” he told her, taking her bottom lip in his mouth and tugging on it before kissing her again.
“You aren’t playing fair,” she told him as she ran her hands up and down his arms, loving the flex of his muscles.
“I play to win. I never said I followed the rules,” he assured her.
“Fine, I’ll come with you.” Her words earned her a brilliant smile. She turned to walk into her room, and he swatted her behind, telling her to hurry.
Chloe was enthralled with the dress the moment she saw it. She had no idea when he’d managed to get it, but it must have been a while ago, because the two of them hadn’t left the house all day.
She ran her fingers across the green material that matched his tie and sighed at how soft it was. Hurrying through a shower, she was anxious to put it on and see how it fit. When she looked in the mirror, she was delighted. It had been made just for her, hugging her curves in all the right places, having a slit up the side that showed off her thigh and ending just below her knees. It flowed against her legs, making her want to twirl in circles to see how high the material would ride.
She took her time with her hair and makeup, wanting to see satisfaction in Nick’s eyes when she came into the room. Lastly, she slipped on the silver heels she’d found with the dress. After a last glance in the mirror, she returned to Nick.
She wasn’t disappointed in his reaction. A low growl escaped his throat before he pulled her to him and devoured her mouth, his hands sliding down her back as he tugged her close, showing her the evidence of his excitement.
When he pulled back, she was breathless, and thinking twice about going anywhere.
“Maybe we should just stay in,” she suggested.
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t tempt me, woman. You look good enough to eat, and I’m already having a tough time figuring out how to show you off. I don’t want anyone other than me looking at you.”
His words made her feel warm all over. She leaned in and kissed him softly, thanking him. Then she willingly followed him to his old truck and took a seat.
They were late to arrive at the party, and immediately several men came up and grabbed his attention. While he was laughing at something one of the men said to him, Chloe smiled. Her heart was thundering. She was almost in shock as she gazed at Nick, the man who had changed her thinking, changed many views she’d had her entire life. She felt the color drain from her cheeks as she realized she was hopelessly in love with him.
She’d often wondered if she would ever know what it felt like to truly love another. She hadn’t been taught the meaning of the word love, so how could she feel that emotion toward another person? But as she gazed at Nick, she knew beyond a doubt that she did indeed love him.
It was odd. In the movies, love was portrayed as this epic adventure that was so obvious it smacked you in the face. In reality, it snuck up on you. One moment you were living your life as best as you could, the next you were gazing at a face you’d looked at many times, but the feeling was different. It was as if he was the reason you were standing there, he was the reason your heart even beat.
It hadn’t happened in an instant, she realized. It had taken time. It was little things that had slowly begun to add up―the way he smiled, the way he kissed her, teased her, made love to her. The way he wouldn’t let her retreat or walk away from him. He was strong and self-assured, but he was also kind and compassionate. And she’d fallen for him. The thought was as terrifying as it was joyful.
A part of her was scared, but another part was hopeful. He wanted her. She knew that for sure. But did he want her for now, or forever? That was the question she didn’t know the answer to. That was what she was afraid to know.
They did work well together, and they certainly were compatible in the bedroom, but up until maybe two weeks before, she’d thought he was her enemy. Her father had told her Nick was evil. Would Nick be willing to forgive all of that? To not see it as a betrayal?
Chloe left Nick to chat with his friends while she made her way to the bar and ordered a glass of wine. She didn’t know any of the people at the party, but she was okay with being alone. She didn’t need to have constant attention to feel good. Sometimes she preferred to stand back and watch how people moved, how they interacted.
She looked over at Nick again, and he laughed before looking up. His gaze found hers and he smiled. She was filled with joy. He stared at her for several moments before his friend regained his attention, and he went back to chatting.
Chloe beamed, feeling warm and secure.
“That’s not exactly the expression I expect you to be wearing while looking at that man.”
The curt words sent a chill through Chloe’s body, and definitely wiped the smile from her face. Her infatuation with Nick had caused her to relax, to not be on guard. She hadn’t even realized it until this very moment, but she was always looking around her, always aware of who was nearby.
It had been a lesson taught to her at a young age. She never wanted to be surprised. Being unprepared usually brought terror and pain. There wasn’t a shiny gift at the end of an adventure, there was disaster. With stiff muscles, Chloe turned to find her father looking down at her disapprovingly.
It took everything inside her not to tremble in fear, but she placed a polite mask on her face before speaking to him.
“I didn’t know you would be here,” she said, her voice tight no matter how she tried to change it.
“You are the one not supposed to be here. I was personally invited,” he informed her. “I’ve also noticed you haven’t been checking in with me. I would have thought by now you’d have found information to help your brother,” he spat cruelly. “But it seems you’d much rather be flirt
ing with the enemy than taking him down. I know I raised you better than that, but I should have learned by now to expect to be disappointed in you.”
Chloe was trembling as he finished speaking. She was afraid of falling apart in a room filled with people. She didn’t want that to happen, didn’t want to be afraid of this man who had terrorized her all her life.
“I’m not doing this,” she said as she turned and walked away. She was scared but also filled with a sense of relief at being able to defy the man and have him unable to do a single thing about it. He couldn’t take a swing at her in a crowded room because then the world would truly know what a monster he was.
Chloe didn’t get far before she felt biting fingers on her arm. She was dragged through a door before she knew what was happening―before she was able to cry out. Not that she would have done that, she realized as her father shut them in a small, dark room where no one would see what was happening.
“What are you doing?” she hissed as she backed away from him. Without the eyes of the crowd on them, his face contorted, his true personality showing through loud and clear.
“I can do whatever I want to you,” he snapped, still not yelling at her. He wouldn’t want anyone passing the door to hear a commotion and come busting in. That might ruin his prestigious reputation.
“No you can’t,” she said, trying to be brave. “I’m not here alone. Someone will notice.” Chloe could see how her words infuriated the man. He stepped toward her and she shook, but she kept her shoulders back as she faced the giant who loved to torment her.
“Have you lost your damn mind?” he hissed as he cornered her, his hand shooting out and slapping her across the cheek. Her anger and fright didn’t allow her to feel the sting of his mark.
“What are you going to do? Beat me so when I walk out of here, I’m black and blue? How would you explain that?” she snapped, hating the tears welling in her eyes.
“I can drag you out of this building and make sure you regret your insubordination,” he threatened.
“You can’t take me anywhere ever again. I’m not some helpless child you can continue to abuse. Your son risked his life just to get away from you. I’ve tried my entire life to gain your approval. I’ve been afraid and cowered because of you. I’ve been unwilling to take risks in my life. That will never ever happen again,” she assured him.
“You little bitch,” he thundered, apparently uncaring anymore if anyone heard them. “Do you really think I’ll allow you to speak to me this way?”
Before she was able to respond, his fist connected with her cheek. Her vision blurred as spots danced before her eyes. She didn’t fall like he’d assumed she would, though―like she had done so many times in the past. She stood there, waiting for her vision to clear. When it did, he was looking at her with satisfaction.
She spat at him, turning that satisfaction to shock and then fury.
“You can beat me all you want, you bastard. I still won’t ever kneel at your feet again.”
The rage in his eyes told her she’d made a mistake. She’d pushed him too far. Even though a room full of people was just on the other side of the door, it would be too late before any of them could get to her. The only satisfaction she had was in knowing he wouldn’t get away with it. They would see him exit the room, and then they would find her and know he’d done it.
She smiled, pushing him over the edge.
He lunged at her, and she stared him down, wanting him to see her eyes as he tried to end her life. He was the one to help bring her into the world, and he was more than willing to be the one to take her out of it, too.
Just as his hands were coming up around her throat, the door was thrust open, light shining in on them. Chloe watched in amazement as her father went flying backward, through the open door, landing with a thump on the hard floor.
Then it was Nick standing in front of her, his eyes filled with rage at her father but deep concern for her. He slowly reached out to her, his finger gently running down her cheek, making her flinch at the pain she hadn’t even known was there.
“I’m going to kill him,” Nick told her as he turned.
Panicking, she grabbed his arm to stop him. Though he could easily have stopped her, he turned back around, his eyes wild as he looked down at her hand.
“Let me go, Chloe,” he warned. “I’m furious right now.”
Even though she should be terrified, Chloe wasn’t afraid, not at all. Instead of letting him go, she pulled him to her and threw her arms around him, holding on tight as she shivered in his arms. She almost expected him to push her away, but he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.
“I’m sorry, Chloe. I’m so sorry,” he told her as his hands gently rubbed her back. She was so close to losing it, but she refused to let herself fall apart.
“It’s okay. I’m fine. Just another typical meeting with my father,” she said. That was what she was supposed to say.
Nick pulled back and looked into her eyes, the fury in his fading away. He gently cupped her uninjured cheek and rubbed her chin with his thumb.
“No, you aren’t fine. That man has hurt you for the last time,” he assured her.
She wanted to fall apart, wanted to let it all go and rely fully on him, but she was so afraid if she did just that, she would never stop falling. She had to maintain control. There was a commotion behind them, and only then did Nick let her go, carefully placing her behind him as he took her hand and stepped out of the room.
Chloe’s father was getting up off the floor, his eyes furious. The entire room of people circled around, trying to figure out what was going on. Her father shot them both lethal stares.
“Did you see what happened? Nick Armstrong assaulted me,” her father thundered.
Nick smiled at him, a cruel smile that sent a shiver down Chloe’s back. She clung to his hand as she faced the fury of her father.
“Everyone in this room knows that’s not the case. You hit your daughter, left your damn mark on her cheek. This is one assault charge you won’t get away with, you piece of shit. I know you did a lot worse to her growing up, but this time you screwed up and did it in a room full of honorable people.”
As Nick spoke, two officers walked up. Her father lunged at her and Nick, but the officers stopped him. When he noticed them, he tried to get himself under control, but it was too late.
The party was over. Chloe had to explain what had happened. Nick stayed by her side, her father having been physically removed from the party. People stood back, giving them room, but Chloe was mortified.
When it was all over, she was told she’d have to make an official statement, that she could file charges of assault against the man. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to take it that far. At least she didn’t have to decide that night.
She and Nick left the party, and he didn’t make her discuss it any further. She was grateful for that. She didn’t think she had it within her.
That night, Nick took her to bed and pulled her into his arms. She waited for him to strip her bare and take her, but he didn’t. He simply held her. It was only then that she finally let herself go and cried until she fell asleep, all while he rubbed her back and told her it would be okay. It would all be okay.
Chloe wasn’t sure if it ever was going to be fine. But for this one moment, she really did believe him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Nick walked into his attorney’s office with a broad smile on his face. The man looked up at him as if he might be slightly insane. How wrong Paul was. Nick was normally a happy man. His depressed behavior after the accident wasn’t at all usual, but he’d suffered the loss of friends, and his career had been put on hold. He’d decided from the very beginning he wasn’t going to give into the injuries, but at the same time, he had been downcast about how long the recovery was going to take.
Nick wasn’t exactly a patient man. He didn’t like limitations―and a shattered kneecap certainly had limited him. But after the past few
days of incredible lovemaking with his impossibly beautiful physical therapist, Nick was back to feeling like his old self. Maybe his brothers had been right in saying he’d just needed to get laid.
The thought made Nick smile even brighter. He knew the sex was certainly helping his attitude, but at the same time it was more than the sex. He really liked Chloe. She was sexy as hell, but she was strong and capable and didn’t take any crap from him. Nick realized he thought of her as an equal. That wasn’t something he could say about too many people.
It wasn’t that he thought he was above others—he just held himself to a high standard and didn’t allow himself to fail. Not too many were willing to do the same. Nick had no doubt Chloe would go the distance with him. That thought made his smile even bigger.
“What in the hell do you have to be smiling about?” Paul asked when Nick sat down in the chair across from him.
“My leg is feeling great, my arm’s almost fully back to top strength, and I have a beautiful woman at my place I plan on enjoying the rest of the day with. There’s a lot to smile about,” Nick told him.
Paul’s lips pressed together as a concerned pucker appeared between his brows. Nick wasn’t going to let the man’s pessimism affect him. He was in too good a mood. Sure, someone was saying he’d been drinking before the flight. But he wasn’t worried about that either. He had friends in the medical industry, and they assured him there would have been something in his system when he’d been rushed to the hospital after the rescue if he’d been drinking. Of course there’d been nothing there.
“Nick, this case is far from an easy victory,” Paul told him.
“Haven’t you spoken with the staff who treated me after the accident?” Nick asked. Nope. Still not worried, he thought.
“Yes, but it took six hours to find you, another hour before you were in the hospital. You lost a lot of blood, were dehydrated, and severely injured. The other attorney is saying alcohol could have easily been out of your system at that point.”
