The knocking continued. “You can stop with the noise, I’m coming.”
As I unlocked the door someone pushed through sending me flying back against the island.
“Where’s the money?” my father snarled.
“Not this again.” Shaking the cobwebs, I straightened my back and rounded the island. “I burned the money. Now leave.”
Prowling towards me, his face was etched in anger. A cold chill settled in in my spine with every step as his brown boots chewed up the space between us.
“Stop!” I eyed him, warning him not to come any closer.
“Tell me where the money is or I will tear this place apart.” His hand gripped a barstool sending it crashing to the floor.
My gaze swung to my purse on the couch. I needed my phone. “Do it and I’ll call the cops.”
He lunged at me, his hand curling around my wrist. “Don’t make me ask you again.”
I twisted from his grasp. “Tell me why you need it.”
“Like I said, it’s none of your business,” he gritted out.
“Tell me and I will think about giving it to you,” I lied.
A single brow rose as his thumb scratched along his jaw. “I have a debt that I need to repay.”
“Keep talking. If you’re getting my money, you’re going to have to give me more than that.”
“So the old bitty did have a stash.” He rolled his shoulders back. “I owe some really bad people a lot of money. If they don’t get it, they’ll come after me.”
I laughed. “Get out. Go peddle your lies somewhere else.”
He glared at me. “How do you think that your mom broke her hip?”
My heart jumped in my chest. With Mom, it was an accident. He was lying. I felt it. Mom would have told me if someone had hurt her. “Was that like a warning to you or something?”
He nodded stepping towards me. My back hit the refrigerator.
“And now this is me warning you. Give me that fucking money.”
Holding up my hands, I shoved past him. “Listen, Dad, thanks for dropping by, there’s the door. Don’t let it hit you on your way out. If you were in real trouble you would have asked nicely, but it’s been nothing but threats—empty threats and lies. Get the hell out of my home.”
He grabbed my biceps heaving me into the chair in the living room. “I’m not leaving without that money. So tell me where it is or you will live to regret it.”
“Fuck you.”
He slapped me across the face and my head snapped back. Fire blazed across my cheek and everything went fuzzy. He tramped across the hardwood towards the kitchen yanking out the drawers and dumping the contents onto the counter. Next he flung open my new cabinets, pulling out my new plates and mugs smashing them to the floor.
Rage curled my fingers into the palms of my hands. “Stop it!” I shot up out of the chair and raced into the kitchen. My father swung his hand out grabbing a fistful of my hair. My hands flew to his and I dug my nails into his skin drawing blood. Moving backwards I knocked over another barstool.
“You little bitch!”
I cried out in pain when he slammed my head against the pantry door. Sickness swirled inside me. Light mixed with darkness turning everything around me into a hazy shade of grey.
“Stevie!” I heard Jax calling out my name.
“Jax, help me.” Stevie’s voice cracked as she fought against her father’s grip. Anger coiled through my veins and my chest shook as I charged through the kitchen.
In a blur of movements, I pulled Martin off Stevie slamming him into the wall.
“You’ll pay for that,” he growled pushing off the wall.
Squaring up to Martin, I struck a swift blow to his stomach. On shaky legs, he landed a punch to my jaw. My hand shot out and I hurled Martin’s body to the floor. Cursing, he pushed up to his knees. I kicked him in the ribs, and he groaned in pain clutching his side.
“Stay down, old man,” I warned. “Don’t make me fucking hit you again.”
Stevie’s eyes met mine. My hands framed her face, and I swept my thumb across her cheek. “Are you okay?” My heart throbbed in pain, at the sight of her reddened cheek. Cocksucker manhandled her pretty good.
“My head hurts, but I’ll be okay.” She winced, swallowing thickly. “What are you doing here?”
“I tried calling your cell, but my instincts told me that you’d see me if I came by,” I said. “I told you that I wasn’t done with our earlier conversation.” I kissed her forehead, rubbing my hands up and down her arms.
She broke out into a smile and tears welled in her blue eyes. “I’m glad that you trusted your instincts.”
“What do you want to do about him?” he asked, jutting his chin towards her father.
“Call the police. I don’t care what they do with him.”
ONCE THE POLICE LEFT, I closed the door to Stevie’s apartment. I lifted one of her barstools and then pushed it back in place. Busying herself in the kitchen, she made quick work of putting things back in order.
“This drawer will need replaced,” she commented, setting it on top of the island. “All my beautiful mugs and plates smashed to pieces.” Her hands shook as she held the pieces.
“They’re just things that you can replace. You can’t be replaced.” My eyes lifted to hers and she broke. Tears cascaded down her cheeks. I wrapped my arms around, holding her tight. “What do you need?”
“You,” she breathed. “Don’t let go, ever.”
My heart throbbed with pain. “I can do that.” Quiet fell over us. I am not sure how long we stayed like that but all I knew was that it felt good. It felt so right. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you sooner. Your dad never should have entered the state without me knowing.”
She pulled back from our embrace. “It’s okay, you can’t keep tabs on him twenty-four seven.”
“Well, actually I can, but I stopped. What was he even doing here?”
She breathed deeply. “He wanted money and I need to tell you about that recent development.”
Taking a seat at the breakfast bar, Stevie launched into a story about how her Gran had helped Mr. Lin when he was about to lose his business. She asked me to advise her on what do with her money and I happily agreed. I would do anything for her, which meant that I needed to tell her about what I knew about her father.
“I need to tell you something I found out about your father.”
Her soft fingers drifted over my cheek. “He hit you.”
“Doesn’t hurt a bit,” I assured her. “According to my father, back when he was running drugs, on occasion your dad let the Miami crew stash the cars and drugs in empty wash bays for a small fee.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
“That’s what my dad said. I have no idea if there’s any truth in it. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“That’s very interesting, because tonight my dad said he needed the money because he owed some very bad people.”
“Do you believe him?”
Stevie took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I don’t know. He mentioned something about them hurting my mom a few months ago. Oh my God—Mom!” She hopped down off the barstool and skirted across the room grabbing her phone. “Sorry, Jax, I need to call her.”
“I understand.” I realized I’d left my own phone in the car. Giving Stevie some privacy, I trekked out to my car. Swiping the screen to life, I dialed Archie.
He picked up on the first ring. “What can I do for you, boss?”
“How quickly can you get someone stationed outside Danielle Brockman’s place?”
“Got one of my best guys up in Athens, should be a few hours. Is there an imminent threat?”
“No, my gut tells me this is simply precaution. Martin Brockman was arrested tonight here, he attacked Stevie. Says he needs money to pay off a debt. Look into that for me would you?”
“Right away and I’ll let you know when we have eyes on the house in Kennesaw.”
We lay facing each other in my bed. Too afraid to close my eyes for fear she might not be here, I stared at her, drinking her in with every breath. Stevie’s hair fanned out over the pillow and she looked like an angel in white lace.
“I’m sorry I tried to push you away,” she whispered.
My fingers stroked the tears from her cheeks. “Yeah, what was that about, anyway?”
“Temporary insanity?”
“I would almost buy that, but I think there’s something else.”
She sighed. “I know the real reason you called things off with Trina.”
I shrugged. “I told you that our relationship was meaningless.”
“Not for her apparently. According to Carol she fell in love with you.”
“What else did Carol say?”
“She told me that I needed to let you go and explained to me that you wouldn’t choose me to protect me. A life in the spotlight would be damming for the both of us.” Her bottom lip quivered, and she swallowed hard. “But, I was wrong. Maybe this moment in time is all we have, Jax. But I don’t want to live with any regrets. Past, present, future. You can’t control any of that and when you love someone you fight for them.”
A slow smile spread across my face. “You love me?”
Her blue eyes went wide with fear, and her fingers flew to her lips.
My fingers teased under the thin strap of her lace tank. “You love me,” I whispered.
Stevie searched my face, worry still apparent. “Fuck me. Shit.”
“I love you like crazy,” I breathed out. “I’ve never had what I have with you, with anyone else. I love you.”
“Jackson.”
“I’d rather face a firing squad than live without you.” My fingers drifted along her ribcage, and I brushed my lips to hers. “And I’ll gladly take you up on your offer, but we need to have a discussion.”
“Are you moving to Montana? Are you selling the hotel?” she rushed out.
“Okay, first I need you to breathe. I know at Thanksgiving, I blindsided you with a lot, including my political aspirations. Honestly, I never dreamed that I’d be considering it so soon. I thought I’d at least be thirty-five, when the time came to make a decision. Those few days in Montana gave me a lot of time to think. I know what I want. I’m not selling Hart Hotels, it’s mine and I will run things daily until it becomes something that I can’t do.”
“Carol painted a very vivid picture about what the press might dig up about my past. My life.”
I’m going to have to deal with Carol. Meddling in my personal life and screwing with Stevie’s emotions was not okay. Part of me wanted to fire her on the spot. The other part of me didn’t care what Carol’s motives were now that I had Stevie back—for good.
“Now, my dad is in jail. It’s embarrassing.”
“And my brother is in prison,” I reminded.
“Yeah, but no one knows that he’s your brother.”
“If the press looks hard enough they’ll find out. There was a student journalist at the FIU gala who pressed me about my last name and my past. She’s probably close to cracking the case.”
“But still, I can’t possibly do the job of governor’s girlfriend,” she protested.
I pressed my finger to her lips. “Let me win the race first and then we can talk about your role. And if I can point out, the way you handled yourself at FIU when I gave my speech, in my book that is definitely ‘first girlfriend’ material.”
“That was different. Are you willing, really willing to take that chance?”
“I am. I’ll take a thousand chances on you. Say you’ll take a chance on me.”
She snaked her arms around my neck. “Okay, I’m in. I’ll stuff envelopes and hand out buttons. I’m going to have to trade in my bikinis for winter coats.”
“Keep the bikinis,” I told her. “Our house will have an indoor pool.”
“Our house?”
“Yeah.” I tilted my mouth to hers. “Move in with me.” I pinned her beneath me, layering my lips to hers. “Say yes, Stevie.”
“Yes, I’ll move in with you.”
“Yes.” I repeated.
She kissed me slowly, nodding. “Here’s to another new beginning.”
Summer
I WAS CERTAIN THAT THE fates above were having a good laugh. It had to be the hottest day on record. Lucky for all of us, the breeze coming off Lake Michigan offered some relief. The sun shone bright in a cloudless sky drenching every inch of Masson’s Rooftop Bar at the Hart Hotels and Spa.
I stood sipping my champagne admiring the design of the outdoor seating area. It was a proud moment, I watched as the staff from Chicago Magazine photographed the design concept that I crafted right down to the candle holders and topiary trees.
I caught Jackson’s stare from across the terrace. Wearing an impeccably tailored, ink black suit in only a way that he could, his blue eyes dazzled as he spoke—every powerful inch of him was captivating. Jackson Hart, so perfect. So handsome. So sexy and all mine. Once the hoopla ended, I planned to take him up to our suite and christen every flat surface and then some.
“Your dress is a little short, Miss Brockman,” Carol interrupted my scandalous thoughts.
“Dressed like nun per usual, I see, Carol,” I chided taking in her beautiful navy, Dior jumpsuit. “Or do you call this Olsen twin chic?”
She bumped my arm with hers. “Well, some of us need to leave something to the imagination for our suitors.”
As it turned out, Carol actually liked me. All her bitchiness was her way of testing me. On some level, I was the Andy Sachs to her Miranda Priestly. Over the last months, we’d become quite good friends.
February
On a Tuesday afternoon, I find myself sitting in Jax’s office along with Carol. Carol is sitting on the edge of the couch looking impatient as shit. I have a million things to do and this impromptu meeting has curiosity clawing at every inch of my brain.
Jax steps inside closing the door behind him. “Sorry I’m late. I appreciate you both meeting me on short notice.” Unbuttoning his jacket, he takes a seat across from us. “I’ve called you both in my office today because, Carol, I’d like to transfer some of your responsibilities to Stevie.”
“You cannot be serious.” Carol narrows her gaze and stands. “I’m being demoted so that you can give your girlfriend more responsibility?”
“Great here we go,” I say tossing a glare at Carol.
Carol’s head snaps in my direction. “I started working for this company well before this hotel even opened.” She shifts towards Jax. “I’ve been your right hand and your left hand, Jackson, and now you expect me to step aside just because your girlfriend’s temporary position will be up in a few months?”
“Carol, hold on a moment,” he says, waving a hand through the air.
Keeping her focus on Jax, she points to me. “Miss Brockman is completely underqualified and this is extremely unprofessional.”
Eyes wide, I stood in a rush. “Now wait a minute. We don’t know what responsibilities Jax has in mind.”
She cuts me a sharp glare. “Oh please, like I’m to believe the two of you didn’t already discuss this during pillow talk.”
“Maybe they’re the duties that you hate doing,” I countered.
Carol scowls at me. “I don’t dislike any part of my job, probably because I earned it by standing upright.”
Anger funnels through my veins. “Wow, really? Are you that threatened by me? No, you just like messing with people’s personal lives. I’m sick of you treating me like I’m an incompetent twit. I am very good at what I do, and this ‘created job’ is perfect for me. You and I both know it—so I suggest you suck it up, Miss Edgerton, and reali
ze that I am not your competition, but I am here to stay.”
Jax clears his throat. “Are the two of you finished?”
Crap. My heart jumps in my throat at the sound of Jax’s voice. Slowly I turn to face him. “I’m finished if she is,” I nod towards, Carol.
Carol crosses her arms. “Yes, I’m finished.”
“Good, now sit back down and listen to what I have to say.”Jax leans forward. “Carol, I’d like you to shadow me for the next few months. Stevie and Beth will be splitting your responsibilities. I have big plans for Hart Hotels and you will be a key player. Furthermore, Stevie is right—she is here to stay. And Carol, I don’t know why you saw fit to meddle in our relationship, but it ends now. You will treat each other with respect, and if I so much as hear a snide comment or a degrading remark, I’ll fire you on the spot. Do we have an understanding?”
Nodding, my response comes out in a full boom. “Yes.”
“Yes, Jackson, and thank you for the opportunity,” Carol says, clasping her hands in her lap. “May I say something?”
Jax nods and leans back into the chair.
“It was wrong to meddle, and for that I am sorry.” Carol shifts to look at me. “However, I am not sorry that I pressed you, Stevie. You show great promise as a woman in business, but as a woman in the spotlight, I had my doubts. I didn’t want people to assume you only earned your position because you were the boss’s girlfriend.”
My brows crinkle. “Yet you see fit to remind me of that every chance you get.”
Her lips twist into a small smile. “And the more you heard it, it pissed you off. You never went off on me, well, until today, but I deserved it. You always show grace and poise. Never let them see you sweat.” She pushes to her feet and smooths her sleek ponytail.
“Wait, what?” I ask and stand. “This was all a lesson?”
Carol places both hands on my shoulders. “Yes, and you pass with flying colors.”
Wicked Gentleman Page 22
