by A. R. Ford
“I’d be game if you gals promise to take it easy on me.”
Leah snorted derisively. “What’s wrong, can’t keep up with a couple of women?” She and Rose shared a good-natured laugh at my expense.
“With two fireballs like you and Rose? Hell no, I can’t keep up.”
Rose left as soon as breakfast was over, but not before ensuring Leah had her cell number, and tentative plans were made for a run tomorrow morning at six. They exchanged hugs, and parting greetings while I grinned like an idiot.
“I like your sister,” Leah admitted after the door closed behind Rose.
I pulled her into the circle of my arms, a thumb tracing the outline of her lower lip. “I’m overjoyed that you and Rose get along. That wasn’t the case with my ex. I think you can be in the same room without a fight breaking out. And you have no clue how happy that makes me.”
“Is this something you’re ready to talk about?” Leah asked. “We should sit on the sofa for serious conversations.”
Was it time to broach the topic? It was one of the most painful events of my life. Driving Leah away was in that same category of emotional pain. I knew I could trust Leah with anything. It was the gut instinct we all have, but rarely use. So, I joined her on the sofa, and started talking for the second time since the divorce two years ago. Leah knew some of the story. It was time she knew the rest.
“My ex was not the person I thought she was,” I muttered. Even thinking about my marriage put me in a dark mood. “We were married for a year when I found out she had an abortion without my knowledge. I’m still not sure if the baby was mine. She’d been cheating on me from the moment we met. I was so blinded by love that I ignored Rose’s warnings. Then, some of the guys on the force started telling me things. She had a profile on several of the dating, and hook-up websites.”
“I’m sorry, Nick.” Leah held my hand while she leaned against me. The silent strength emanating from her solidified my resolve. It was time to get it off my chest, and make peace with the past.
“I did some private investigating work on the side. I decided to put those talents to use, and check up on her. What I found wasn’t good, Leah. It was so much darker than I thought. Hookups in hotels, clubs, and even in an alley, or two. I found out about the abortion by accident while going through the credit card statement. When I confronted her, she admitted everything.” A knife of pain stabbed through my heart. It still hurt after all this time. “She put my future at risk. Not just professionally, emotionally, but physically. She had unprotected sex with a lot of those guys. Don’t worry, I’m clean. I test every six months just to make sure that nothing from her past sneaks into my future. At least the divorce was clean. I haven’t seen her since the last day in court.”
My voice was thick with emotion by the time memories of the betrayal were out. Leah pulled me into her arms. My head pillowed on her breast while she rubbed my back reassuringly. The compassion meant more to me than anything. It was just another sign Leah was perfect for me.
“I’m sorry someone treated you so poorly,” she murmured. “What can I do to help you through this?”
“Be here, stay with me, don’t give up on me when I fall into a dark funk, and love me. Just love me, Leah, because that means more to me than anything right now. I need you in my life,” I replied.
“I’m right here, and don’t have plans of going anywhere without you,” she said in a voice just above a whisper.
She kissed my hair before leaning her head against mine. It was the most reassuring, beautiful gesture. It solidified my belief that Leah was my soulmate. It felt good to have her here. I could definitely get used to waking up to her in bed. I would fight like hell to keep her in my life.
Leah
A SENSE OF EASE FILLED me after the walls came tumbling down. Nick loved me. It was all that I had hoped for, and everything that I needed. A lot of my issues came from a life with a mother who put prostitution, and drugs, over me. The ups and downs, ins and outs of my time with her did some damage to my heart, mind, and soul. Running was the one thing that made me feel at ease. I could run for hours, and forget everything. Nick understood me, and my issues. I was damned sure going to try to do the same for him.
Hearing that his ex-wife was a piece of work made my blood boil. I prayed for the chance to run into the bitch that broke Nick’s heart. Of course, that would have to wait until after I ran into my mother’s pimp, and dealer. I owed both of those bastards for being a part of my mother’s dysfunctional, tormented existence.
I spent the rest of the day with Nick. It was comfortable, and easy, almost as if we were old friends. I could tell he was much more relaxed than he was as a cop. Knowing he wasn’t in the line of fire every day was a blessing. Eventually, we ended up in bed again. There had only been two other men before Nick with a total of half a dozen sexual experiences that lasted mere minutes. I wasn’t a fan of sex, until Nick.
Tears filled my eyes again after we reached the peak together. Nick held me, tenderly kissing the tears from my cheeks. We showered together before I dressed for work. I didn’t want our day together to end. Nick seemed to share my reluctance. On the drive to my apartment, he held my hand after the Dodge Charger was in fifth gear.
“I’ll pick you up after work if it’s okay?” he asked once the car sat at the curb in front of the building.
“I think I’d like that. I get off at midnight, but I assume you already know that.” I maneuvered my body across the gear shift, and console, until I sat in his lap. Fingers stroked the lengthy growth of hair on his face. “You should let this get longer. I’ve never seen you with a beard.”
“Midnight, and a beard. I can do those things,” he replied with that grin that melted my heart. His mouth crashed down on mine with an intensity that left me breathless.
“I should probably go before things get out of hand. Can I have a raincheck?”
“Absolutely. I can handle another night of you in my bed.”
“I’m not sure I can handle another night of you, but I’m damned sure going to try,” I whispered against his ear before tugging the lobe between my teeth. Liquid desire pooled in my core as the instant, intense physical connection between us woke up yet again. “Love you, sexy beast. I should get going before we end up having sex in the front seat of your car.”
Nick groaned against my neck. “I’ll make sure to pull the car into the garage tonight. We can have sex in the front seat if you want to.”
We shared another intense kiss before I grudgingly climbed out of his lap, and the car. “Midnight, or I turn into a frog.”
The Charger roared off into the night. The throaty rumble reminded me very much of Nick. I couldn’t wait for midnight, or Nick to get here.
He was there a half hour before my shift ended. My heart leapt when he walked in looking delicious in a form-fitting black shirt, and jeans. His grin met my smile before he sat in my section.
“Decaf coffee.” His dark eyes raked my body at the same instant that I caught a whiff of his cologne. Spicy, clean, and manly, just like Nick.
“I’ll be right back,” I murmured.
I lingered at Nick’s table since he was my only customer. “Rose said to tell you hi.” Nick took a sip of coffee before continuing. “She wanted to know if she should stay away tomorrow morning. I told her entering the house before twelve noon might be unwise. She said get with her to reschedule the run.”
“Oh. Do you have plans?”
“I think you know what plans I have, Leah,” Nick lowered his voice to a whisper.
Damn. Nick melted my panties with his words. Thankfully, it was time to clock out. I couldn’t wait to see the plans Nick had in store for me.
Chapter 10
Leo
FURY BREWED IN MY GUT when I learned that the two bungling idiots failed to take the girl out. I rubbed my forehead, willing the intense throbbing there to go away. This was a minor inconvenience. It was a good thing I elected to visit my condominium in N
ew York immediately after the trial. It gave Elise and I time to reconnect and relax. It was something badly needed after the horrible event a few months ago.
I pushed the dark thoughts from my mind. There was no point in dwelling on something that was being addressed by my top assassin. My usual boys were taking care of the idiots named Darian and Lefty. The last call I received let me know the men were on the run, heading out of Warner. Good. They needed to understand what it meant to disappoint Leo Soranno.
Elise breezed into my study. Regardless of everything going on, seeing my daughter brought a smile to my face.
“Hi, daddy. How are you?” She walked behind the desk and gave me a hug and kiss. Bright blue eyes, the same color as her mother’s eyes, caught my gaze.
“I’m okay, baby girl. How are things going with the renovation?”
“It’s okay. The crews are working as we speak. It left me with nothing to do, so coming to New York with you was a nice vacation. I want a few people to help me when the Victorian mansion has been renovated.” Elise paused, face suddenly serious. “You look so serious, daddy. What’s wrong?”
Of course, my daughter could see straight through the mask. Just like her mother. I laughed before replying, “It’s a business deal gone south. Nothing for you to worry your pretty head about.”
Elise looked at the floor. I saw teeth tugging at her lower lip. Something was on her mind. “Daddy, I want to ask you a question. Please be honest with me.”
“Of course, Elise. Ask me anything.”
“I saw on the news that Jimmy Ellis’s body was found in Lake Orion. The report said he had been mutilated and tortured. Did you have anything to do with it?” Her voice was somber, pale skin a shade lighter than ivory.
She needed to know the truth. No one would touch my daughter and live to tell about it. I had plans for everyone involved in the sick incident. “I’ll do what is necessary to protect you, Elise, and send a strong message to everyone that hurting my daughter is a death sentence. Now, don’t worry your pretty head about this. Let me take you out to dinner. New York has so many nice restaurants. Where would you like to go?”
Elise wrapped her arms around my neck. Her body trembled and a soft sob caught in her chest. “Thank you, daddy. You’re always there for me.”
Having dinner with her, calming her down, all of it was a nice way to forget the problem Darian and Lefty presented. There would be plenty of time to deal with them later. An idea for addressing the woman came to mind after Elise and I decided on a restaurant. The night was turning out better than I thought it would.
Chapter 11
Nick
I BROKE THE SPEED LIMIT to get home. Leah sensed the urgency. She didn’t protest when I pulled her to the bedroom. We made love for hours. The first few times were desperate, and lust-filled. The last couple of times were tender, sweet, and reverent. A thirty-year-old man should be damned proud of that feat, and I was. We fell asleep, exhausted, and satiated for the moment.
I woke just after dawn, as was my daily habit. I got out of bed, and dressed, leaving Leah asleep in bed. A pot of coffee, and the morning paper held my attention for a couple of hours. A knock at the front door broke through my reverie. “I’m coming, Rose.” Only my sister would come visiting this early in the morning.
The door swung open to reveal the one person I did not want to see. Jacinda, my ex-wife, stood there smiling. She wore a spaghetti strap top, mini skirt, and stiletto heels. It was apparent to me that she had been out all night. Her hair was tousled, makeup smudged.
“Nicky. Can I come in?” she asked.
I stood unmoving in the doorway as my past life came rushing back. “That’s not a good idea, Jacinda. I thought I was clear the last time we spoke, two years ago in the courtroom. You remember, when our divorce was finalized?”
“Nicky, please! I made a mistake. I was a fool,” she whined.
My resolve was steadfast. “Hell, no. You’re not coming in. You’re not welcome in my life, or in my house. Now get out.”
Jacinda did what she does best. She pouted, and whined. I stood firm. Then Leah’s voice came from behind me. “I wasn’t aware you were expecting guests, Nick. Had I known; I would have worn something more appropriate.”
Jacinda‘s eyes widened. I turned to see Leah standing there wearing my shirt from last night. Her eyes were flat, mouth compressed in a thin line.
“Leah, this is Jacinda, my ex-wife. She’s on her way out,” I replied.
“Who is this whore?” Jacinda snapped.
Those were the wrong words. So very wrong. Leah stepped outside before standing toe to toe with Jacinda. “I’d be careful who you’re calling a whore,” Leah stated.
“I only see one whore, and she’s right in front of me,” Jacinda shouted. She had never known when to quit. I wasn’t surprised when Leah grabbed Jacinda by one arm, twisting it behind her back before levering the much smaller woman against the brick exterior of my home.
“Listen, Jacinda, I’ve already heard enough about you to hate you. Then, you go and call me a whore. I’ve had exactly three men inside of me, one being your ex-husband. All were serious, committed relationships. My understanding is that your playlist approaches infinity.” Leah spat the words out like bitter bites of food that offended her palate. An upward crank on Jacinda’s arm brought a shriek from its owner. “If you speak to me like that again, you’ll be eating those porcelain veneers. Understand?”
I pulled Leah away from Jacinda before things got uglier. “Just go inside, Leah. I’ll deal with her.”
Leah glared at me with a delicate brow arched. “I had things under control.”
I grabbed Leah’s arms a bit too tight, fingers digging in harshly. “Get your ass inside, and wait on me. There’s no need to make things worse.”
Leah pulled away without a word. The door slammed behind her. Jacinda was more than willing to leave with a warning to stay away. By the time I made it inside, Leah was gone. Colorful strings of epithets decorated the air after I punched the bedroom wall. Jacinda could ruin anything. Now it looked like her trail of destruction extended into my love life.
LEAH IGNORED MY CALLS, and text messages for a couple of days. I gave up trying to talk to her by phone, and staked out her apartment, instead. She appeared on the stairs after a late shift at the diner. I gave her time to make it to the second floor before following. I caught the door before she could close it.
“We need to talk,” I said.
Leah glared before releasing the door. I closed, and locked it behind me. Her shoulders were tense, body stiff, and hands clenched into fists. Pissed was not the word I would use to describe her mood. Furious maybe.
My hands slid from her shoulders to each arm. I pressed my lips against her neck before whispering, “You left before I could say I was sorry.”
A soft mewl burst from her lips as she turned into my embrace. Her body trembled; arms looped around my neck. Tears dampened my shirt. “I wanted to break her face!”
“I know, baby. I know.” I maneuvered us toward the sofa. Leah curled into my lap, fingers clenching in the fabric of my shirt. “I know it was tough for you. She just showed up. I thought it was Rose.”
The vulnerable side of Leah broke my heart. “You loved her once. You could again.”
“There is no way in hell I could love Jacinda again. Not after what she did. Not when I’ve got the sexiest goddess in the world in my lap. There’s no one but you that I want in my life, Leah. I want to grow old with you, have children with you. I want us to do everything together.”
“Everything?” Her brown eyes found mine, searching, imploring.
“Everything, baby,” I reassured her with a slow kiss. She sighed into my mouth, fingers caressing my scruff-covered cheeks. Her tongue flicked inside my mouth an instant before she broke free. “I want you to move in with me. I want you there in my bed every night. I want your coffee, your smart mouth. But most of all, Leah, I want you.”
“That’
s a big step. I don’t have a car. I could try to find a job closer to where you live,” she said slowly.
“I may have something for you. Lukas Knight called me. He’s asked that I consider coming on board the new company he, and his brother, started. He said to bring anyone who might fit in along with me.” I kissed her nose, giving her time to turn things over in her head.
“Lukas is the man we met that night at The Flying Crown. He used to run Bright Enterprises.”
“The one, and the same. He’s low key, and doesn’t have a god complex. I’ve only seen him get bent out of shape on one occasion. That was when some creep was stalking his wife. What do you think?”
“I have to give at least a two-week notice. And I need boxes to pack my stuff up. Are you sure about this, Nick?”
“I’ve never been more sure about anything, baby,” I muttered. “Except how much I love and need you.”
A soft sigh fell from her lips when I kissed her neck. A smile that lit up the world with its radiant beauty appeared. “Then, it’s a yes.”
Rose volunteered to help with packing, and moving. She and Leah continued to talk with an ease that usually comes after years of friendship. Rose was there throughout the move. Seeing her with Leah, relaxed and laughing, made everything right in my world. The two most important women in my world got along, and genuinely seemed at ease together. It was more than I could say for the few times Rose and Jacinda interacted.
I left to pick up pizzas the evening that Leah moved in. When I returned, Leah and Rose were deeply entrenched in a task in another area of the house. “Pizzas are here, girls,” I called from the dining room.
Hushed giggles alerted me that they were up to something. I leaned against the door jamb to see them sitting on the bedroom floor. Rose turned the pages of an old photo album, pointing at photographs as she went. “This is Nick in first grade. Isn’t he cute?”