Ice In His Veins

by Tressie Lockwood

  “Chevelle, if you could he would know he can’t play you like he’s been doing. I’m about to—”

  “I know, but it’s fine. Lily and Michael are out there alone. Don’t you think somebody should be out there to make sure they’re not there getting into something?”

  Shawnita gave in. “You have a point. Goodness knows Lily leads her brother into more mess. Call me if you need me, girl. I’ll come right back in here, and I’m not leaving until you do.”

  Her sister eyed Arik with distaste. Chevelle shuffled Shawnita the rest of the way out of the office, and Cael followed after her. She shut the door behind them and took her time turning around to face Arik. Her mouth had gone dry, and she had to resist twisting her hands together nervously.

  With Herculean effort, she raised her gaze to his and approached him. “Give me my check, Arik. I have things to do today.”

  The hardness in his attitude from a moment ago disappeared. She saw the sexy interested lover in his expression, and it took her pulse up to another level.

  Be strong, Chevelle. It’s over. You won’t be influenced.

  He grabbed an envelope off his desk to hold up. “I have it here.”

  “Give it to me.”

  He angled it toward her, and she clenched her jaw. The bastard, he knew she had to come closer to reach it. She couldn’t tell him to throw it to her. That would be both silly and revealing about how weak she felt. A part of her wanted to let her sister into the room to handle this. No, Arik wouldn’t let them get away with it.

  She strode over to him and held her hand up. His snaked out, and his fingers encircled her wrist. A slight tug brought her against his chest, and she fought to free herself.

  “Get off me, Arik. I told you—”

  “Why are you shaking?” he growled. “Have I ever hurt you?”

  Not physically.

  “I’m not shaking!”

  He drew her tighter into his embrace and forced her chin up. The touch of his body wrecked havoc with her senses. His scent sapped all the strength from her being until all she could do was hang on to his arm and struggle to control her breathing.

  “You left,” he whispered in her ear, and she thought she heard a catch in his tone. That was impossible. Not Arik. “We had an agreement.”

  At his second statement, she came to her senses. That cold-hearted agreement bullcrap. Of course there was no emotion when he said she left him. It was all in her head, wishful thinking. Arik was just pissed because she broke it off before he did.

  “Yeah, I did what was right for me—and to avoid this mess right here.” She eyed his arms as they trapped her against him. “You always use your strength against me and make me—”

  “Make you?” The words were a dare. One word and Arik would have backed off. The problem had always been she was willing and able to meet his desire. They were damn good in bed together. Not to mention he stole her heart almost from the beginning. Why the hell did she love such a man so much? Why couldn’t he be a family man, one ready to settle down and make her his wife?

  Why why why? I promised myself I wouldn’t get into that way of thinking. It leads to more pain.

  “What’s done is done, Arik. Let me go.” She looked up at him, and it turned out to be a mistake. Everything about him drove her insane. It had only been a couple weeks, but she felt starved to see him and feel his touch. His face was a sight for her aching eyes. He might be more handsome than the last time.

  No, he looked tired, she realized. There were circles around his eyes, but that wasn’t unusual when he was working hard on a project. She couldn’t recall any accounts that needed the extra attention. Why wasn’t he sleeping?

  He brought his hand up to her cheek and stroked it. She turned her head away, but she couldn’t get out of his reach. His smirk pissed her off. “Let me show you what a mistake you made.”

  She swore. “You arrogant bastard! I never said I’m not attracted to you, okay? But get over yourself. Every woman isn’t going to fall on her knees before you or want to be your lover.”

  “Frightened?”

  She ground her teeth. “Give me my check and let me go, Arik.”

  “Does he kiss as well as I do? Does he satisfy your body and make you scream?”

  Her gaze flew to his, and she realized he thought she’d run off with Eli. A fleeting desire to tell him the truth came over her, but she caught herself just in time. It was better that be believe she was with another man than to know she was free. Arik wasn’t for cheating, so his misunderstanding must be the only thing keeping him from going all the way and claiming her for a kiss.

  “Yes.” She couldn’t lie anymore than that. Thinking of another man touching her brought both guilt and disgust.

  He said nothing. Neither did he release her. For a minute she thought she felt sadness coming off him, and she stopped struggling. Did he miss her?

  “Arik?”

  He captured her face between his big palms and brought his mouth down to within an inch of hers. She told herself to turn her head, but she stood frozen, staring into his heated gaze, feeling like her entire body was on fire.

  She was tempted. Oh, how she was tempted to tell him if he wanted she could come back—for a little while. Her resolve wavered. All she had to do to test him was to stretch up and let their lips touch. He seemed to be struggling with the decision himself. Or maybe he waited for her to do just what was in her mind to do.

  She licked her lips, and he watched as her tongue traced over the top and then the bottom. His heartbeat pulsed rapidly, almost matching her own. The warmth generated between their compressed bodies grew more intense. Her panties were probably ruined. She would have to go back home and take a shower before doing anything else that day.

  “It’s too late,” he said.

  She blinked. That was the last thing she expected to hear. “Come again?”

  One minute she was held against him and the next released. Cool air rushed in, making her feel bereft and alone.

  “I will be married in a few days,” he said.

  Her world dipped and swayed. “M-married? W-what do you mean?”

  He moved farther away from her around behind his desk. She felt like he was putting more of a barrier between them. She could have told him the words he just spoke did a great job of that all by themselves.

  “I’ve just signed the papers,” he said, not looking at her but at the desk. She clenched her hands into fists at her sides. He’d already lost interest in teasing her. Really, she should have known. This was what was coming all along. She’d known it, had expected it from day one.

  “What papers?”

  Damn! Drop it, Chevelle. The details don’t matter. Get out of here now, before you make a bigger fool of yourself.

  He glanced at her, but she couldn’t read a thing from his expression. Nobody could close off their emotions like Arik. “You should know. I’d like to give you that much respect.”

  Meaning she hadn’t shown him any by running off and dumping him over voicemail. It smarted.

  “I’ve decided to marry Karina. Obviously it’s not for love.”

  “Of course not.” Her insides were coming undone.

  “It makes sense. It’s the best solution for—”

  “For what? Last I heard you didn’t want a family. Oh, wait, I get it. I wasn’t good enough—” She cut herself off. No way was she playing the poor me part, not in front of him. She certainly wasn’t going to break down and cry in his office. “Whatever, Arik. I hope you’re happy with Karina and with your business plans with your uncle.”

  “Chevelle, I want you to hear me out about this.”

  “Save it.” She snatched the envelope from his desk where he’d dropped it. “It’s got nothing to do with me. You’ve got nothing to do with me. Goodbye, Arik.”

  She made it out of his office, past her sister and Cael, who was playing with the kids, out of the building and down to her car. Not until she was on the highway with her cell
phone buzzing in her purse did she break down and sob.

  Chapter 15

  Arik tugged his collar and swallowed. He had no idea why it felt like he was being strangled. Oh yeah, he was getting married in a little while. That might do it. He paced and swallowed again. His eyes burned like fire, and the headache he’d had for days still pounded relentlessly. If anyone said anything to him, he would kill them where they stood. How the hell would he deal with his wife?

  My wife.

  Resentment rolled through him, and he thought he might be sick. Since Chevelle walked out of his office, a day hadn’t passed without him thinking about her. He didn’t want to touch Karina, damn it. His palms ached to stroke Chevelle’s soft skin.

  A heavy hand came down on his back, and Arik frowned at his brother. Cael didn’t seem to be aware that he played with his life. Arik shook him off and continued to pace.

  In the mansion’s back garden music played from the live band. He had looked out a window earlier and noticed people standing around chatting and laughing as they waited for the ceremony to start. Flowers of all kinds were everywhere, not just ones planted in the garden but more added by Karina, as if there weren’t enough. She was somewhere in the mansion getting ready, and when the deed was done, they would fly to St. Lucia. Anticipation for a vacation should feel good. Instead, this whole farce felt like a death sentence, one he had pronounced onto himself.

  The door opened, and Brand walked in glaring at him. “What?” Arik growled.

  “Don’t do this,” his brother said, surprising Arik. Cael had told him not to marry Karina countless times, and he’d said Brand felt the same, but Brand never spoke about it. Until now.

  Arik pushed fingers through his hair and turned away. “Stay out of my business.”

  His brother stomped over to him and jerked him around to face him. Arik ripped his arm out of Brand’s hold. They stared each other down, but Cael moved between them, a hand on either of their chests.

  “Let’s calm down, big bros.”

  Arik grunted and moved away from both of them.

  “You’re being an idiot,” Brand said. “I can tell you don’t even want her. Why are you marrying Karina?”

  Arik didn’t answer.

  “I wasn’t going to say anything—”

  “Then don’t.”

  “I thought you were smarter than this.”

  Arik faced him. “If you’ve come in here to insult me, you can save it for later. I’m not interested. I’ve made my decision.”

  Brand snorted. “And you’re the type to stick with your decision even if you figure out it’s boneheaded. I’ve heard of stubborn, but you go beyond anything I’ve ever seen.”

  “Thanks for the compliment.”

  The snide tone seemed to piss Brand off. His countenance darkened, and he appeared to hold back the desire to punch Arik in the jaw. Arik almost welcomed an attack, anything to distract him from this stupid day.

  He rubbed his eyes. “All we need is time, and we’ll get used to each other. It’s a marriage of convenience. That’s what I’ve said from the beginning, and she agreed.”

  Brand snorted. “Of course she did. She’s getting exactly what she wants, a way to get her hands on Reinhart’s money.”

  “I’m not taking Reinhart’s money. We have a business agreement…”

  “…that means you’re eventually going to be rich.” Brand shrugged. “Either way, it’s money. That’s what your wife wants, not you.”

  “Yeah? And what do you want?”

  Brand watched him for a long while saying nothing. Arik thought his brother would play his cards close to the chest, so he was surprised when Brand spoke openly.

  “I want us to…” He colored and rubbed his neck. “…to be a family. A real one like we were supposed to before she messed it up.”

  “You’re talking about Mom?” Cael said.

  Arik winced and looked away. He had never talked to his brothers about the past and about their mother. Perhaps Reinhart did. He never said so one way or another. Not that Arik had ever given him the chance.

  “You were her favorite, weren’t you?” Brand said.

  That answered Arik’s question of whether they knew, and he heard anger simmering in Brand’s tone.

  “If I were… Whatever. It doesn’t concern me now.”

  Brand went back to the original conversation. “Don’t marry Karina.”

  “Enough! Both of you get out! I’m done talking. Go!”

  “Big bro, don’t be this way.” Cael refused to cow to his temper.

  Brand dragged Cael toward the door. “Leave him alone, Cael. He’s stubborn and stupid. Let him marry her and be miserable.” His sudden grin sent a cold chill down Arik’s spine. “When she cuts his balls off later, you can say you told him so.”

  Arik started to quip a response, but his brothers left and slammed the door behind them. He sank into a chair and put his face in his hands. The pain grew worse. He needed to sleep, yet every time he closed his eyes, his brain refused to shut down.

  A couple hours. Then it will be over. My head will get it, and I’ll calm down.

  He dared not address the fact that he separated his head from his heart—or what was in his heart at that moment.

  Chapter 16

  The bell rang, and Chevelle cringed. She had just sat down with a huge bowl of popcorn, a cola, and a thick slice of chocolate cake. Over the last few weeks, she had gained weight, and today’s lunch—if one could call this junk food—was not going to help narrow her hips. No matter how many pep talks she gave herself, she couldn’t stop lifting the damn fork to her mouth.

  It’s because I still love him even though he broke my heart.

  She chided herself for the millionth time. Hate should be the emotion she felt for Arik after he sprung that crap on her about getting married. How long had she wished things could be different? How long had she dreamed of him coming to her one day and saying he was wrong? He wanted her to be his wife.

  Ha! I was never good enough in the first place.

  Tears filled her eyes, and she jabbed a hand into the popcorn to crunch it between her fingers. She brought the mess to her lips and ate as she sniffed. “Jeez, I’m pathetic. Let it go, Chevelle.”

  The pain stayed constant. She wished she could flip a switch and change over to being pissed. That was an earlier stage, the one that let her walk out of Arik’s office with her head held high and her eyes dry. After its wall crumbled, she crashed down along with it and cried off and on ever since.

  She sniffed. “Okay, get together, Chevelle. You’re stronger and better than this.”

  The doorbell rang again. She continued to ignore it. Someone started banging, and she groaned. She recognized Cael’s voice. He wouldn’t get the hint that she wanted to be left alone. All she could do was let him say whatever it was he had come to say and get it over with.

  She opened the door and was surprised to find Brand with Cael. The two big men barged in. She stumbled out of their way and took her time shutting the door. “Please make yourselves at home,” she grumbled. Too late she remembered she hadn’t combed her hair that day. Nor did she care what she threw on. Looking down, she found that she wore an old gray T-shirt with a big hole near the waist. Her hot pink sweatpants were covered in blue lint balls.

  Wonderful.

  She wiped her face quickly before either man could see the evidence of her tears. “What are you two doing here, Cael?”

  Brand stared pointedly at her lunch, but he spoke before Cael could. “We’ve come to get you to stop the wedding.”

  She gasped. “Say what? You must be crazy. I’m not doing that!”

  Brand shrugged. He was almost as cold as Arik. No one would question their relationship even if they didn’t look alike. “Then talk to him.”

  She folded her arms over her chest and looked from him to Cael. The youngest of the Johansson brothers had already snagged her bowl of popcorn and was helping himself. Chevelle snatched it f
rom him and sat it on the table. “I don’t know what’s going on, but Arik is no longer my concern. His wife can talk to him for whatever reason you feel he needs it.”

  Cael took the bowl up again and began munching. He had no shame whatsoever. “Come on, sis.”

  She blinked at him, and he grinned.

  “Trying it out. You could be my little sister. If you talk to my bro.” He set the bowl down and brushed his hands together. Brand moved up beside him, and her heart skipped a beat at how handsome the two were. They looked amazing in their tuxes, and they smelled good too. Sharp regret was a tight pain in her stomach, not because she was attracted to the brothers, but because they reminded her of so many times she’d help Arik straighten his tie when they were getting ready to go out. She would tell herself it wasn’t permanent, but her heart loved every moment.

  “Cael, what is this about? I don’t have time for the games.”

  Brand spoke over Cael. “He hasn’t slept. He’s not thinking straight. If you talk to him, he might call off the wedding.”

  “And say what exactly?”

  “Anything,” Brand said. “Tell him he’s being an asshole.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m sure that will go over well. Whatever the case, he’s a grown man. I’m sorry he’s not sleeping. I’m sure it’s just the stress of his impending wedding. I’m assuming…” Her voice cracked a bit, and she coughed. “Today is the day?”

  The two nodded.

  “I’ve got it!” Cael snapped his fingers. “We trick him into coming to see you, tell him you’re seeing someone else.”

  “He already thinks…I mean knows I’m seeing someone else.” Might as well keep the lie going to save face.

  “He can come here,” Brand said. “You can help relieve his stress.”

  “Maybe you didn’t hear me the first time. I said his wife can do that! I’m not responsible.”

  Brand’s gaze turned stormy. “He needs you.”

  “He needs Karina. I’m not going to hurt her because you guys think I’m the only one that can make him feel better.”