by Morgan James
Fortunately, the man was a terrible shot, and the bullet had barely skimmed Blake’s shoulder. The flesh wound still hurt like a bitch, and the ER doc had cleaned it out and dressed it with gauze. Almost six hours later, they were finally on their way home. Johnathan’s car had been impounded, and one of the officers retrieved Victoria’s phone for her. Around four in the morning, Blake pulled up in front of QSG, and Con and Clay filed out with twin nods and pointed looks.
As soon as the men were inside the building, Blake hooked an arm over the back of the seat and turned toward Victoria. “So...?”
His heart hitched and his breath caught in his chest as he awaited her answer. She stared at him for several long seconds, the anticipation almost killing him.
“We need to talk.”
He could almost feel his heart freeze and shatter in his chest, falling to the pit of his stomach. Sadness and anger welled up within him and he fought to push it down. He’d been so stupid. He’d thought that once Johnathan was out of the picture that they could be happy. Her reticence pierced him like a blade. He would’ve given her anything, done anything she’d asked, yet she sat here as if it all meant nothing. He’d saved her life, for Christ’s sake. But it wasn’t enough for her. She didn’t trust him, didn’t love him enough to make it work. Maybe it would never be enough.
Spine rigid, he turned back to the road and put the truck in gear. The trip to Victoria’s house was uncomfortably silent. Gray pre-dawn light had just begun to break over the horizon as he pulled into the drive and stopped. He stared straight ahead, waiting for her to get out.
“Blake?”
Expression finally under control, he turned to her. It was so hard not to reach across the truck and haul her into his arms, beg her to give him a chance. Instead, he lifted his chin, cold and aloof.
Her brows drew together and her teeth dug into her lower lip. “Would you like to come inside for a few minutes?”
His shoulders dropped as he heaved a sigh. “I’m really exhausted, Victoria. It’s been a long night.”
“Just...” She trailed off, tears glazing her eyes, and she shook her head. “Never mind.”
His pulse accelerated as he watched her hand close around the door handle, head drooping dejectedly. Fuck. What if he was making a huge mistake? He’d let her walk away once before—he wouldn’t let it happen again. He loved her, damn it, and he was going to fight for her.
He slid a palm around her elbow and she glanced over her shoulder at him, not quite meeting his eyes. “All right. Let’s go.”
She hesitated then nodded. Blake slid from the truck and jogged around to her side to let her out. Rain continued to drizzle from the sky, though noticeably lighter than before. Still, he used his body to shelter her as much as possible as they made their way to the porch. Blake leaned against the door as she disarmed the security system. He propped one foot behind him, adopting a casual pose despite the surge of emotion running rampant through him.
Victoria finally met his gaze and he wished, not for the first time, that he could read those fathomless gray depths. Worry spread through him. He was willing to do whatever it took to make things work between them. But what if she wasn’t? Could he walk away from her and pretend everything was all right? Victoria had touched his soul and she was a part of him, now and forever. His life would never be the same without her.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Here they stood, so close yet so far away. Victoria bit her lip. What if he wouldn’t take her back? She’d wanted so badly to tell him earlier how much she loved him, beg his forgiveness. Now that the danger was over, would he still feel the same? She swallowed hard.
“Thank you.”
He lifted a brow, and her fingers itched to slap the insolent look from his face. He clearly wasn’t going to make this easy for her. She shifted from foot to foot, arms wrapped around her middle.
“I... I was wrong. I should’ve listened to you.”
His face softened. “I never would’ve guessed he was responsible. I just thought—”
“I know.” She held up a hand. “But you were right about Johnathan, about the type of person he is... was.”
She shuddered remembering his plunge into the river. Even had he not been fatally shot, it would have been almost impossible to survive a fall like that. She shrugged off the guilt plaguing her and stood straighter, staring Blake in the eye. “Will you...” She cleared her throat, pushing down the emotion welling up within her. “Could you ever forgive me?”
“Oh, Doc.”
The nickname sounded so sweet on his lips, and she threw herself at him as his arms opened in invitation. “I’m sorry, Blake.” The tears she’d held at bay let loose and she buried her head against his neck. “I’m so sorry.”
“I know, sweetheart, I know.” One arm wrapped tightly around her waist, his free hand smoothed over her hair, holding her close.
She tipped her tear-stained face up to his. “Please tell me I haven’t ruined things between us.”
“Of course not.” Blake shook his head. “I told you I’d wait forever, and I meant it.”
“I don’t deserve you.”
“No, you don’t.” The words were like a dagger to her heart, and she felt her knees go weak. She bit her lip and ducked her head, blinking away the tears scalding her eyes. One large palm slid under her chin and lifted her gaze to his. His hazel eyes stared into her, burning a path to her soul.
“You deserve better, but you’re stuck with me now.” His eyes twinkled with mischief and relief washed over her.
“I love you.”
His arms tightened around her almost to the point of pain. “I love you so damned much. I’m never letting you go.”
She shook her head. “Never.”
His mouth covered hers, savage and brutal. One hand left her side to flip the deadbolt on the door before he swung her into his arms, lips never leaving hers. Despite his injury, he carried her as if she weighed no more than a feather. She relished the feeling, and she sank deeper into the kiss, pouring every ounce of love from her heart into it.
She whimpered as his lips left hers and he settled her on the bed. He took a step backward and fear filled her until he pulled his still-damp shirt over his head and dropped it to the floor. Victoria struggled with her jeans for a minute before he stilled her with a hand.
His hungry gaze swept over her and she lay back, allowing him the control he craved. He slipped his fingers inside the waistband and tugged her jeans over her hips and down her legs. He continued until she was bare before him and with one swift motion, he pushed his bottoms to the floor and stepped out of the pool of material.
He placed a knee on the bed between her legs and leaned over her, caging her between his muscular arms. She stared up at him, watching him watch her with those intense hawk-like hazel eyes. She wanted to stare into his eyes every day for the rest of her life. This was what she’d waited her whole life for. She’d been waiting for him.
She raised a hand to cup his cheek and he closed his eyes at the gentle touch, turning his head to kiss her palm. “I love you.”
He showed her without words just how much he loved her, too, until they lay tangled together and drifted off into a comfortable, exhausted sleep.
VICTORIA STOOD AT THE kitchen window and looked out at the horizon over the backyard. The rain had stopped just after noon and the sun shining through the puffy white clouds brought a rainbow across the sky. Absorbed in the beauty of the scene, she didn’t hear Blake until his strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back to him. She released a sigh of deep contentment and allowed her head to fall back against his good shoulder.
“Do you remember the verse in the bible about Noah’s Ark?”
“Sure.” He paused. “Two of every animal and they were stuck on the boat for weeks until they found dry land.”
She chuckled. “Something like that. Do you remember the rainbow?”
His head shook against her shoulder. “Can�
�t say I do.”
“God sent a rainbow to appear after the flood; it was his promise to the world that he would never allow rain to flood the earth ever again.”
“Mmm. I see.”
She could tell he didn’t. “I just... I saw the rainbow and it reminded me that good things still happen—that there are still good people in the world.” She turned in his arms and placed a hand over his heart. “Even if something bad happens, there’s always hope to continue on.” She lifted her gaze to his. “You’re my something good. My salvation.”
“I think that rainbow’s a good omen, then, don’t you?” His head canted to one side as he studied her. “I would do anything for you, Doc. I’ll always be there for you. No matter how bad the storm, I’ll always be there at the end waiting for you.”
“I love you so much.” Hot tears sprang to her eyes. “I’m sorry it took so long.”
“I’m just glad you’re safe. When I got that call from Jason last night...” His voice trailed off and she slid her arms around his waist, anchoring herself to him. She felt his lips on her hair as he spoke. “God, baby, I thought I’d never see you again.”
“I know, but now we’re both home where we belong.”
“Speaking of home.” He pulled back and stared down at her, his eyes filled with regret. “I’m sorry about our fight that night. I never should have—”
She pressed her lips to his, stealing the words that had once driven them apart. One kiss turned into two, and several long moments later she broke away, taking a deep breath to slow her racing heart.
“I realized something over the past few days. I tried so hard to fight my feelings for you—my mind kept telling me it was impossible, that it was too soon to love you. But my heart knew better. It doesn’t matter where we are, as long as I’m with you.”
Hope lit his eyes and his arms tightened, binding her to him as she was enfolded into his embrace.
“I’m right where I’m supposed to be.” Her cheek rested over his heart, beating in time with hers. “Home.”
Thank you so much for reading The Devil You Know! I hope you love Blake and Victoria as much as I do. If you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to check out my other sexy alphas and their sassy heroines in the Quentin Security Series!
If you are interested in leaving a review on any retail site, I would be so appreciative. I always love to hear what readers say, and reviews are immensely helpful in helping me to become a better writer! If you aren’t comfortable leaving a review but would like to reach out to me, I’m always available on social media or by email!
Also—typos are the bane of my existence. If you find one, please feel free to let me know so I can fix it!
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Devil in the Details
Quentin Security Series
Book 2
Keep reading for a sneak peek!
Chapter One
Lydia
“Dirty, low-down, lying, cheating son of a...” I tossed the drink back and set the glass down on the sticky bar with a little more force than necessary. Okay, maybe a lot more than necessary. But I needed to take my aggression out on something. Here I sat, at my cousin’s bachelorette party of all things, only weeks after my own fiancé had walked out. This party should have been mine. Instead, I was now bridesmaid instead of the bride.
With our pending nuptials less than a month away, Shawn had gotten cold feet—or so I thought—and run off. But not alone. Oh, no, that would have been far less complicated than the truth. He’d taken off with one of my best friends. Needless to say, that relationship of twenty-some years was dead now, too.
Our breakup was really a blessing in disguise, though I hadn’t been able to admit it at the time. It had felt like a betrayal and, in truth, the rejection still stung. We’d both been under pressure to marry, from both my mother and Shawn’s father. I didn’t resent him for finding happiness; I did, however, begrudge the fact that he’d chosen to cheat on me instead of ending things amicably.
Though he hadn’t admitted it, I even knew why he’d cheated on me. Every waking moment was spent in my bridal salon, trying to get it off the ground. I’d opened Something Blue only eight months ago and, while we were doing well so far, I still had a long way to go. Shawn had been extremely jealous of the shop, as if it were a living, breathing thing that took my time away from him. In a way, it kind of was. It was my baby, and I loved the salon far more than I’d loved Shawn.
My mother, Jolene, met Shawn through the law firm where he worked. When she suggested I go out with him, it was easier for me to just agree than fight it. While my feelings for Shawn were only lukewarm at best, Jolene had been enamored of the charismatic young man on a fast track to be a lawyer at his father’s firm in Dallas. Shawn did all the right things, said all the right words. But something had always seemed... off. When he proposed after only a year, Jolene was thrilled. My friends loved him, and I began to question whether something was wrong with me. Despite my reservations, I accepted his offer.
So here I was, eight months later, alone in a bar in godforsaken Las Vegas. The land of weddings and huge jackpots. I rolled my eyes. Maybe I could buy a groom. Someone tall, dark, and handsome with—
“He was an asshole.”
I startled, nearly falling off my stool as I whipped toward the deep, masculine voice. “I’m sorry?”
My gaze swept over the equally sexy body attached to the voice as the man slid onto the stool beside me. Even seated, he was a head taller than me. Golden blond hair crowned his head, cropped close to his skull, and a day’s growth of whiskers adorned his square jaw. The sight sent a tingle of pleasure straight to my core. If there was one thing in this world I couldn’t resist, it was a man with sexy scruff. It got me every time.
“The asshole you’ve been muttering about over here. Sounds like a dickhead.”
I stared in open-mouthed fascination. Or horror. I wasn’t sure which. “You heard me?”
The man chuckled. “Oh, darlin’, I heard ya. The lying, cheating fool.” My cheeks burned with embarrassment, and I dropped my gaze to the bar. I could feel the man’s eyes sliding over me, but his voice was still a surprise when the rough drawl rumbled from his throat. “There’s just one thing I can’t figure out.”
I looked up at him in question. Blue eyes met mine before sliding over my face, then lower. His intense perusal sent a tendril of heat curling through me, and my skin flushed. I reciprocated the gesture and looked him over. He was tall. Like tall-tall, probably a good six or seven inches taller than my own five-foot-seven frame and built like a Norse god. I allowed my gaze to roam the broad shoulders encased in a short-sleeved button-up shirt, the muscles of his biceps popping out under the sleeves. I dragged my eyes back up to his face. The pale blond of his hair enhanced his sharp cheekbones and straight nose, and his cerulean eyes drilled holes through me like he was staring into my soul. A strange feeling coursed through my body. I would have blamed it on the alcohol, but I wasn’t that drunk. Yet.
He gave his head a slight shake, like he just couldn’t quite wrap his mind around whatever he was thinking. Finally, he spoke. “Why the hell would a man cheat on you?”
“I guess I just couldn’t compete.” I shrugged, aiming for nonchalant. In truth, it hurt to even say the words aloud. “He ran off with my best friend.”
The man’s eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open in an ‘O’ of shock. “I... don’t even know what to say to that. Seriously?” He threw me a bewildered look, and I nodded solemnly. “I just... Jesus. The man obviously wasn’t right in the head to leave you, let alone betray you like that. Fucking hell.” He tossed back his drink and I smirked.
“Well, that part was probably my fault. I didn’t love him as much as I should have.”
The man studied me. “Doesn’t make
it right, either way. You’re still better off without him.”
“Oh, I know. It was more than just that.” I lifted one shoulder offhandedly. “I may have also mentioned something about him being a pretentious, self-absorbed, scum-sucking lawyer trust fund baby.”
The man threw back his head on a shout of laughter. “Good for you.”
“Yeah, well, it wasn’t much of a consolation.” I tossed back a shot of tequila.
He nodded once. “What he did was low. But”—he shrugged—“it’s a good thing you figured it out before you married the idiot.”
I laughed. “Thank God. I’d rather marry some stranger off the street than spend one more single day with that selfish prick.”
He gestured at the bartender to refill our drinks before turning his attention back to me. “You have no idea how glad I am I stopped in here tonight.” A smile split his face, showcasing a row of even white teeth. He held out a hand. “Alexander McLean. My friends call me Xander.”
I slipped my palm into his. Immediately, the warmth of his touch enfolded me, and the feel of his rough callouses turned my cheeks crimson. “Lydia Dawson.”
“My pleasure, Miss Dawson.”
I heated under his gaze, his smooth, cultured words rolling over my body, practically caressing my skin. What was it about this guy? My fingers tingled where they lay in his, and awareness streamed through my body as if I were hyperaware of his every movement. He casually stroked the back of my hand with a thumb before releasing me and reaching for his whiskey.
“So, that’s some getup, girl.”