Through the Night

by Janelle Denison

  Valerie sat next to him, trying but failing to conceal an occasional sniffle and a surreptitious wipe of a tear as Zoe and Sean promised to love and honor each other. Same with her friend Skye, who was seated next to Valerie. The two women were caught up in the emotional aspect of the ceremony, and when the minister finally announced them as husband and wife and Sean kissed his new bride, both Valerie and Skye were the first ones to jump up from their chairs and clap and cheer.

  The short and sweet nuptials segued right into the reception. Valerie told him earlier that Caleb’s spacious backyard had hosted many great barbecues and parties for the Reliance Group members, which was why Sean and Zoe had decided to use it for their low-key, intimate wedding venue. And now, with the serious part of the ceremony concluded, the festivities began.

  The hired band started playing music, and the bar opened for service. The smell of chicken and ribs filled the outdoor air, and everyone crowded around the new happy couple to congratulate them. Chase stepped back and watched Valerie embrace first one, then the other in an exuberant hug. He couldn’t take his eyes off Valerie as she laughed and smiled in such an open and honest way—giving him a privileged glimpse of the part of her she guarded much too fiercely around him.

  That, and she looked stunningly beautiful. She was wearing a beige sheath dress, the kind that hugged all her curves … from her full breasts to her lush hips to her toned bottom. The hem ended just above the knee, and those slender, gorgeous legs of hers extended all the way down to a pair of sexy black heels that sparked all sorts of erotic thoughts. She’d worn her hair up in one of those deliberately messy upswept styles that made his fingers itch to pull the pins out so he could bury his hands in the mass of silky soft tresses. Hell, everything about her made him want to touch her in sinfully inappropriate ways.

  While Valerie continued talking to Zoe about her dress and the jewelry she was wearing, which Zoe had made herself, Chase caught sight of Caleb heading in his direction, and welcomed the diversion. He shook Caleb’s hand in greeting, since this was the first time he’d seen the man since returning from Florida with Valerie.

  “Nice place you have here,” Chase said, and indicated the perfectly landscaped backyard, which had been transformed with flowers, lighting, and tables draped in white linen for the special event. “Great setup for an outdoor wedding, too.”

  “It’s what Zoe and Sean wanted,” Caleb said with an inconsequential shrug. “Something low-key, relaxed, and fun. Neither one of them are the formal type.” Then Caleb changed the subject. “Steven tells me he’s very happy with the Capone cane you delivered to him yesterday.”

  “Glad to hear it.” Chase already knew that Steven was satisfied with the transaction, but it was nice to know the other man was putting out a good word on his behalf. “It’s quite a work of art. And Valerie’s help in finding the cane staff was invaluable.”

  A hint of a smile curved Caleb’s mouth. “Yeah, she’s good at what she does, and I’m lucky to have her as a member of the Reliance Group. She told me she actually had fun on the assignment, and that’s not usually a word she uses relating to a case. She also mentioned that she’s going with you to Chicago for a few days.”

  The man was incredibly hard to read, so Chase wasn’t sure how Caleb felt about the arrangement. So, he flat-out asked, “Is that a problem?”

  “No. She’s a big girl and can make her own decisions.” Caleb’s words and tone were casual, but there was no doubt in Chase’s mind that the other man would do bodily harm if anyone, Chase included, hurt Valerie. “She said you had some personal business to attend to, and wanted to accompany you.”

  “Yes, that’s true.” There was nothing in Caleb’s gaze or expression to indicate that Valerie had told her boss the nature of Chase’s personal business, which meant she’d kept his secret to herself. And as much as Chase liked Caleb, he wasn’t going to share, either, even though the other man was obviously curious.

  “Hey,” Valerie said cheerfully as she came up to Chase’s side, her timing perfect. “I could use some champagne. Would you like anything?”

  Chase smiled at Valerie, loving how at ease and happy she was today, and intended to enjoy her infectious mood. “I’ll walk with you to the bar. Caleb, care to join us?”

  “No, you two go ahead,” Caleb said as he glanced across the backyard. “I want to say hello to Zoe’s father.”

  They parted ways with Caleb, and seemingly high on the bliss of wedding vibes, Valerie hooked her arm through Chase’s as he led the way to where the drinks were being served. The open display of affection surprised him, considering they were out in public, but he wasn’t about to question something that felt so good and right.

  When they reached the bar, Valerie ordered a glass of champagne and Chase went with a bottle of Sam Adams. Then she guided him toward a group of people he’d met earlier, before the wedding ceremony. She’d introduced them as friends and other members of the Reliance Group, and when he shook the guys’ hands, he was met with varying degrees of open curiosity, cautious acceptance, and the unmistakable sense that these people Valerie worked with were very protective of her.

  And that included her roommate, Skye, who’d given him a critical once-over when they were introduced, as if she’d been sizing him up to make sure he was good enough for Valerie. He felt as though he were going through some kind of initiation process with her friends, and hoped he was at least making a good impression. It was honestly the first time he wanted to be liked and accepted.

  “Here’s to another Reliance Group member biting the dust,” joked Lucas, the security specialist for the group, as he raised his beer bottle in a toast, and everyone else joined in. “First Nathan, and now Sean. I can’t believe you guys traded in your bachelor status for a ball and chain,” he said.

  Nathan grinned, not at all offended by Sean’s assessment of marriage. “When you find a good woman, it changes everything,” he said, then slid an arm around his wife’s waist to pull her close to his side—a beautiful blonde who seemed completely smitten with her husband. “Nicole is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Oh, and the baby she’s pregnant with. That’s pretty damn awesome, too.”

  There was a moment of stunned silence, leading Chase to believe that nobody had known about that last bit of news, especially since Nicole’s slender figure hadn’t revealed any kind of baby bump yet.

  Skye was the first to break the quiet lull with a squeal of delight. “Oh, my God! That is so exciting!”

  “I’m thrilled for you both,” Valerie added, beaming happily. “I can’t wait to become an honorary aunt.”

  Then the men chimed in with their congratulations and hand shakes all the way around, and even Kane, the former Navy SEAL who’d been standing within the group and exuding a quiet, intimidating presence broke out in a grin, which softened his brooding expression.

  “Hey, man, seriously, I’m happy for you,” Lucas said, making up for his earlier ribbing.

  “Thanks.” Nathan shared an affectionate look with his wife. “It was an unexpected and unplanned surprise, definitely, but we couldn’t be more elated.”

  “Skye and I want pregnancy details, Nicole, and since I’m sure the guys aren’t interested in hearing about all that female stuff, let’s go sit down over at our table and talk.” Valerie grabbed the other woman’s hand to lead her away. “How are you feeling? Any morning sickness or other symptoms?”

  The two women’s voices trailed off, but Skye remained behind, her candid gaze suddenly focused on Chase. “By the way, there’s something I want to say to you while Valerie isn’t around.”

  Chase was all too aware of everyone’s eyes on him, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about being the center of attention among this tight-knit group, not when they were all suddenly watching him with a level of intensity that made him a little nervous. It was sort of like facing down a firing squad and not knowing what would prompt them to pull the trigger.

  “What’s that?” He too
k a drink of his beer, wondering if he should have opted for something much stronger.

  Skye braced her hands on her curvy hips and jutted her small chin out, and though she was petite in stature, she had a way of intimidating the hell out of a man. “I think you’re a nice guy, and Valerie seems to like you. A lot. So just know, if you hurt her, then you will have to deal with us. And though Kane might seem like the strong, silent type, he likes to break bones.”

  The corner of the ex–Navy SEAL’s mouth twitched with humor, reassuring Chase that for the moment, he was in no danger of being snapped in two.

  “Yeah, what Skye said,” Lucas tossed in for good measure.

  Nathan just smirked, but Chase didn’t doubt for a second that the other man wasn’t just as protective of Valerie as everyone else.

  Chase glanced back at Skye, who was waiting for him to acknowledge her warning. “I got the message, loud and clear.”

  She gave him a bright smile. “Excellent,” she said, then turned and headed off in the same direction Nicole and Valerie had disappeared.

  Nathan rubbed a hand over his mouth, as if he was trying to hide his mirth. “Umm, that one can be a bit of a ball-buster.”

  “Yeah, no kidding,” Chase said, chuckling.

  Thank God the conversation took a turn for the better when Lucas asked about what Chase did for a living. All three men were fascinated with not only his psychometric abilities, but also how he traveled the world for clients to find rare and valuable artifacts.

  In the next half hour, dinner was announced, a buffet-style meal that included chicken, ribs, and an assortment of savory side dishes. Chase sat down at the table next to Valerie and the rest of the Reliance Group members, and after the meal, when the band kicked up the music, people flocked to the dance floor, including Nathan and Nicole. Valerie excused herself because there was someone she wanted to say hello to, so Chase hung back at the table with the other two bachelors, Kane and Lucas, and continued to chat with them.

  From a distance, Chase kept an eye on Valerie, watching as she talked to people she knew, so at ease in her element. With only a few dozen people attending the wedding, there was a strong sense of closeness and acceptance within the fold, and Chase experienced a twinge of envy that Valerie did have a family with the Reliance Group, while he truly had no one.

  In order to take the sting out of his family’s writing him off, he’d convinced himself that he preferred to be alone, that he was deliriously happy as a single, unattached guy who didn’t have a care in the world. A guy who could come and go as he pleased and had no ties keeping him chained to any one place or person.

  He’d fed himself the lie for years, and suddenly he was looking at a woman who made him want a lasting commitment. When he looked into Valerie’s deep brown eyes, so gentle and caring and real, he wondered what a future with her would be like. How having a family with her would change his life, for the better.

  So many emotions welled up inside him, and instead of feeling stifled by his strong feelings for Valerie, he felt freed of years of regrets and a deeper bitterness that had driven him to such extremes. With his job. With his life. Because he hadn’t believed he deserved real happiness after his best friend died.

  But now, finally, he truly felt he had something to live for, and that was Valerie.

  “Yo, Chase, you still with us?”

  Lucas’s voice penetrated his thoughts, making Chase realize that somewhere along the way, he dropped out of whatever conversation they’d been having. “What?”

  Lucas frowned at him. “You look a little dazed. Are you okay?”

  Chase grinned as the band started playing a slow ballad. “Yeah, I’m great. Couldn’t be better,” he said and stood, then headed straight for the woman who’d just boosted his mood without even knowing it.

  When Chase reached Valerie, who was talking to another woman he hadn’t met, he lightly touched her arm, and that’s all it took for her to know it was him. He heard the audible catch of her breath because of that ever-present “static electricity” between them before she turned to look at him.

  “I’m going to steal you away for a dance,” he said, not giving her the chance to refuse. Chase apologized to the older woman for interrupting, then whisked Valerie toward the semi-crowded dance floor. Then he pulled her into his embrace, taking one of her hands in his and sliding the other securely around her waist and bringing her body flush with his.

  She slid her arms around his neck and smiled sensually up at him. She’d had a few glasses of champagne, just enough to soften her in all the right ways. “Are you having a good time?” she asked.

  “Things just got much better,” he admitted as he caressed his hand down her back and let it come to rest just above the curve of her ass. He was so tempted to go lower, but behaved himself. “I don’t think I’ve told you yet, but you look incredibly beautiful tonight.”

  Pleasure lit her eyes at his compliment. “Thank you. And I was right. You do look very handsome in a suit.” She absently smoothed her fingers down his silk tie.

  “If I remember correctly, you said ‘gorgeous,’” he said in a teasing tone. “But handsome will do.”

  “You and that ego of yours,” she said with an amused shake of her head.

  He laughed as they swayed to the slow beat of the music. He glanced across the way and saw Skye literally dragging a reluctant Caleb out onto the dance floor. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his, closing the distance between the two of them. Caleb kept his hands safely on Skye’s waist, a less-than-pleased look on his face—which Skye either didn’t notice or didn’t care about.

  Chase suspected the latter, which meant Caleb had his hands full with that one.

  “What’s up with those two?” he asked curiously. “There’s, like, all this crazy sexual tension between them, yet Caleb is clearly trying so hard to act indifferent.”

  “Which makes Skye torment him all the more.” Valerie sighed, and turned her head to glance at the other couple, exposing the creamy, inviting column of her neck to Chase’s gaze. “There’s a definite attraction there, but Caleb treats her more like a little sister.”

  Chase had to resist the urge to dip his head and kiss her throat and that tender, sensitive spot just below her earlobe. “Why?” he asked instead.

  Valerie looked back at him, a small smile on her glossy lips. “Probably because Caleb is our boss and he doesn’t want things to get complicated.”

  “It’s only complicated if someone makes it that way.” And yeah, he’d just made the conversation about the two of them.

  She blinked up at him, and he felt her stiffen ever so slightly. “Relationships are complicated.”

  “Not if the two people involved are willing to work on the issues between them, whatever they may be.” Before she could formulate a reply, or their discussion turned too serious, he spun her around in his arms and dropped her into a slow, playful dip over his arm that made her laugh and, most important, relax.

  He spent the rest of the evening flirting with Valerie and showing her how enjoyable the right kind of relationship could be. He touched her at every opportunity, made sure she felt the heat rise between them, and wanted her to remember how good it felt to have his hands on her bare skin, his mouth skimming across intimate, tender places. He danced every slow song with her, and each time they came together, the sensuality and need grew between them. By the end of the night, desire burned bright in her eyes.

  When the reception ended, Valerie drove him back to the hotel, since she’d picked him up earlier. She entered the employee parking garage and brought the vehicle to a stop at the private elevators that would take him up to his penthouse.

  “I guess this is good night,” Valerie said, her hands gripping the wheel.

  Chase took one look into her eyes and knew if he invited her upstairs, she’d come willingly. He’d just spent the past few hours seducing her mind and body, and while he knew they’d ease into sex with no
problem, it wasn’t easy he was after. Because the next time he had her beneath him, both of them completely naked, he wanted more from her than just her body.

  “Yeah, good night,” he said huskily, and had to hold himself back from leaning across the console and kissing her. But he knew what a kiss with Valerie would lead to, and that would defeat his purpose. “I’ll see you at the airport tomorrow morning.”

  He got out of the car, and steeling himself against the disappointment that flashed across her features was more difficult than he’d imagined. But he hoped holding out for just a bit longer would be worth it in the long run.

  * * *

  After dropping Chase off at the Onyx, Valerie drove home to her apartment, her thoughts on how fun the evening had been, despite the way Chase had spent the night seducing her, only to leave her aching. The wedding had been simple but beautiful, and the reception afterwards had been one big party, which the Reliance Group always did exceptionally well when they were all together.

  Chase had fit right in, not that she’d expected anything less. He was so likable and easy to get along with, and while she’d heard that Skye issued him a friendly warning that included siccing Kane on him if he dared to hurt Valerie, she knew he’d taken it all in stride. Even if Skye had been serious.

  Besides, the one thing she believed wholeheartedly about Chase was that he would never do anything to deliberately hurt her. She trusted him that much, and every moment she spent with him, she knew he was knocking down barriers and insinuating himself in her life in a way that should have given her an anxiety attack. But instead, for the first time ever, those fears she’d lived with all her life were beginning to subside, and it was getting increasingly more difficult to resist anything about the gorgeous, sexy, charming Chase Pierson.