“A piece of shit. And because of him, dating is not on my radar,” she said softly.
“I would never burn you.”
“Why would you say that? You don’t even know me.”
“I’m going to rectify that.” He brushed his hair back with his hand. “Have dinner with me. Let me show how you should be treated.”
“You’re really good at wooing.”
“So I’ve been told.” He raised his brows and gave his best, sexy, drop-your-panties smile.
Their eyes locked and with every passing second their connection grew stronger. Intense chemistry permeated the space between them. He took a step, closing the distance between them.
“Chloeeeee!” Phoebe’s voice echoed from downstairs. “Get your butt down here.”
Saved by the bell.
Booker cleared his throat. “I think you’re being summoned.”
“Yes, I guess I am.”
Damn—I need a cold shower!
“Sam, you’re so full of it. That’s not how it happened at all.” With narrowed eyes, Chloe wagged her finger at Sam.
Sam crossed his arms. “Okay, Miss I-Remember-Everything. Enlighten us.”
Phoebe and Sage stifled a laugh.
“Hey!” Chloe snapped, not liking the dig. “I’ll let you slide on that one, jerk.”
“Well, we’re waiting.” Sam’s eyebrows raised and he tipped his beer back.
Chloe scanned the faces around the table. Three sets of eyes were wide with anticipation for her side of the story.
Not Julian’s, though.
The man’s thick lashes and intense dark eyes seemed to be undressing her instead. A wave of heat rose from her spine to the base of her neck. She couldn’t control the sudden burn but needed to get a hold of herself. Look away, Chlo.
Chloe let out a slight cough and focused back to the conversation.
“Here’s what really happened. Everything was going smooth. I handled the waves until Sam turned the corner around the buoy. Then this idiot”––Chloe pointed at Sam––“made a sharp turn, zig-zagged, which made me lose my grip and he kept going without looking back.”
“Bullshit!” Sam raised his hand. “You make it sound like I didn’t come back for you.”
“Sam, shut up and let me finish. So, after floating in the middle of the damn ocean for what seemed like forever, Sam finally circled back around. My point is, if you plan on going water skiing”—Chloe arched a brow to Phoebe and Sage—“don’t trust Sam as the driver.”
“At least I came back for my poor wittle cousin,” Sam mocked, making an impression of a crying baby. “Chloe needed to be rescued.”
A sudden dull awareness flashed in the back of Chloe’s mind. A fuzzy image of a man’s face, standing with broad shoulders, a clear bud in his ear connected to a coiled wire snugged under the lapel of his blazer, asking, “Do you need to be rescued?”
Chloe shook her head as anxiety swirled in the pit of her belly.
Was it her imagination––she was on her fourth glass of wine––or a forgotten memory? She couldn’t decrypt the image and if the event had really happened, or not.
What the hell was that?
“You okay?” Phoebe whispered, placing a hand on Chloe’s shoulder.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I think the wine got to me, that’s all.” Chloe brushed off the concern, then slid a look at Julian.
It was meant to be a quick glance, but now she couldn’t tear her eyes away. An acute awareness, a niggling feeling, sent chills to the back of her neck. His ruggedly handsome face seemed vaguely familiar.
Or was it the attraction stirring between them?
His eyes. Where have I seen them before?
Chloe scanned her mental rolodex but couldn’t place him there. It was like she was lost in a maze in her own head. This was definitely one of those moments when being oblivious of her past frustrated her and she wanted to bang her head on the table in hopes to jog her memory.
“Well, since Olinda didn’t leave us anything to clean up, I’m heading to bed.” Sam yawned. He turned to Sage and caressed her face. “Babe, you ready to hit the sack?”
“Definitely,” Sage replied with tired eyes. She nodded at Phoebe and Chloe as she took Sam’s hand. “Goodnight, ladies. See you tomorrow.”
Sam spoke up, “Maybe not, we have an early morning. Driving around the island.” He took Sage’s hand. “Goodnight, ladies,” and they disappeared down the hall.
“Chlo, I’m headed to bed too.” Phoebe stretched her arms up and tipped her head side to side. “You comin’?”
“I’ll be up in a minute. I’m going to walk Julian out.”
Phoebe stood and turned to Julian. “Goodnight, Julian. I guess we’ll be seeing you around.”
He nodded with a grin as Phoebe went to bed.
“There’s no need to walk me out.” Julian’s voice was low and raspy. “I can lock up behind me.”
“I just want to make sure the doors are locked. I’ve made it a sacred routine.”
“Well, it’s a good routine to have and I don’t want to turn down a beautiful woman’s offer to walk me to the front door.”
She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt as they walked through the hall to the foyer.
Butterflies tickled inside her belly when she quickly glanced up at him. His warm grin showed off his sexy-as-hell dimples. It should be a sin to be that good looking.
Chloe had believed men like him were conceited and egotistical. But Julian surprised her and was quite the opposite. Sure, he’d flirted with Chloe upstairs, but there was a difference between arrogance and the confidence this man exuded.
And something else about him, something sweet and dignified.
Still there posed a question of the unknown familiarity, lingering at the tip of her mind.
Chloe’s chest tightened and stomach hardened. She obsessed over the flashing images of the faceless man in a suit and tie who’d asked if she needed to be rescued.
Rescued from what, or whom?
Desperate, itching for an answer, Chloe inhaled.
“Julian, I have to ask…have we met before?”
“What makes you think we’ve met before?” He raised a brow.
“Never mind.” She shook her head. “Of course, we haven’t…it was a silly question.”
She was emotionally drained and didn’t want to elaborate. Didn’t want Julian to know about the crazy amnesia she’d endured from her attack.
Her body and mind had been on overdrive for the past year. From her mother’s death, the physical healing of her stab wounds, to the nightmares, and now these strange flashes.
Chloe was a patient of patience and in time, at least she hoped, the images would eventually reveal themselves so she could be whole again.
Julian opened the front door, stepped onto the porch and turned to Chloe. He leaned with one arm extended on the door frame, dark eyes flickering from the porch light above.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” came his voice, velvety smooth.
“Yes, see you tomorrow,” she answered, biting her bottom lip.
“Well, goodnight.” Julian wet his lips with his tongue, right where she wanted to lick and taste and… What the hell is wrong with me? Snap out of it.
Julian took her hand and brought it to his mouth. Her skin was hypersensitive to his touch and Chloe swore she felt a swipe of his tongue as his lips brushed her knuckles.
An electric current ignited her lady-bits and her thighs throbbed. The hairs on the back of her neck began to tingle, and her heart pounded so loudly in her ears she thought she might go deaf.
Sexual tension lit the air on fire.
Chloe struggled with the desire and her breath caught in her throat. Needing to break the connection, she stumbled a few steps back until she was on the other side of the doorway.
“Goodnight, Julian.” She slowly closed the door, locked it, leaving Julian in the dark warm night.
Chloe entered her bedroom trying to subdue the silly-ass g
rin on her face. Phoebe sat on the queen-sized bed, brushing her hair.
“Well…how’d it go with your Latin lover?” Phoebe jumped to her knees on the mattress.
“Feebs, I thought you went to sleep.” Chloe toed off her shoes and chucked them in the corner of her room, not caring in the least bit where they landed. “And he’s not mine.”
“Don’t hold out on me, you little hussy. He’s freakin’ hot! I think he’s into you,” Phoebe prompted. “Did he ask you out?”
Chloe rolled her eyes. The two women had been best friends since they were kids. When Phoebe had been new to the school, Chloe and Ryland had introduced themselves to her, and the trio quickly became inseparable.
Even though they were roommates now, seeing Phoebe on her bed reminded Chloe of their many sleepovers as kids, long phone calls and sharing each other’s clothes as teenagers. After high school, Phoebe and Chloe remained glued to the hip as Ryland left for UCLA, which landed her an internship then a career opportunity in Switzerland.
Chloe missed Ryland who had been the buffer between herself and Feebs. Chloe had a feeling this was a time she needed Ryland in the room with them, and with Phoebe’s prying instincts.
“No…yes…” Chloe stuttered. “God, I need Ryland right now.”
“Well, too bad, Ry can’t save you, you twit. Which is it, yes or no?” Phoebe stroked her long ebony hair with Chloe’s brush. “He’s definitely fuckable.”
“Shh…keep it down.” Chloe put a finger to her lips. “And who said anything about fucking him?”
“I saw how he looked at you. He has those fuck-me eyes.” Phoebe calmed herself and crossed her legs on the bed. “So…?”
“Yes, he asked me out to dinner, and no––I’m not sure I want to go.”
“Why the hell not?” Her hand stopped midway down her hair.
Chloe sighed. “I don’t want to start something that isn’t going anywhere.” She opened her suitcase and began to hang her clothes in the closet and put some away in the dresser. “Remember what happened with Luke Jensen?”
“How dare you even mention his name. He didn’t deserve your time then, he sure as hell doesn’t deserve it now.”
“I know, but Feebs, I thought he was the one.” Thoughts spun in her head when Chloe’s mind returned to that night. The night she caught Luke with another woman. “Not only did he screw me over, he screwed that damn nurse. Funny thing, after I caught them together, I haven’t seen her come back.”
The relationship with Luke lasted four months. Luke was good looking with perfect golden-brown hair, hazel eyes, a clean-shaven, squared jawline and sexy, gleaming smile. The most eligible bachelor in town and a successful surgeon at San Francisco General. He was secure and stable. The kind of man Chloe liked.
After Mom died, Luke was at the funeral. As a matter of fact, it seemed all of the San Francisco General Hospital staff was there. Several weeks afterward, Luke had checked on Chloe to make sure she was doing alright. Eventually their friendship grew into something more.
Though his mere presence had the nurses practically dropping their panties, for some reason the delicious male specimen had showered Chloe with all his attention, spoiling her with flowers, extravagant dinners… Then one evening, Luke told Chloe he’d be running late. Something about last-minute rounds and he needed to check on a patient before he left. Chloe took advantage and arrived at his townhome early to surprise him with fresh groceries to make him dinner. A couple bottles of pinot noir, two filets mignons, asparagus and fingerling potatoes were on the menu. This was a stretch for her since she practically burnt everything.
As she opened his front door of the townhouse and entered the hall, nothing could’ve prepared Chloe for what she saw: Luke’s scrub pants pooled around his ankles, hips thrusting against a woman bent over his desk.
Reyna Donovan, that slut!
Chloe froze at the sight of the man who’d just shattered her heart in a million pieces. The air reeked of sex. The ecstasy on Luke’s face, the moans uncurling from Reyna’s throat and slapping of their skin was like taking a dull scalpel to Chloe’s veins so she could slowly bleed out.
Hot tears rolled down her cheeks and rage boiled in the pit of her stomach. The bag of groceries fell from her hands with a loud reverberating thump when it hit the wood floor.
Luke’s head snapped at the sound. His eyes locked on Chloe’s. Reyna tugged down her skirt and with one swoop, Luke pulled up his boxers and pants.
“Fuck—Chloe!” he yelled, following her as she darted down the hall to the front door. “It’s not what you think.”
Chloe squeezed her eyes shut, clutching the door for support.
“It’s not what I think?” she argued, adrenaline rushing throughout her body. “Maybe a wild guess, but I’m thinking she was part of your last-minute rounds.”
“Chlo, let me explain,” Luke stuttered, trying to put words together, but failed.
She willed her eyes open to look at him, standing so close she could smell Reyna’s perfume emanating from his naked torso. “How long…how long have you been fucking her?”
“I can’t.”
“Can’t?” Bitterness sharpened her voice, wanting to claw out his eyes. “That’s what you should have told Reyna before you shoved your dick in her.”
He scrubbed his mussed hair back off his forehead. “I don’t want to tell you…”
“Answer me, dammit!”
“Shit, Chloe…does it matter?”
“It matters to me.”
“Two months,” he muttered.
“You bastard.” Chloe choked back the bile rising in her throat. “How could you? I thought––”
“What? That I loved you? Fuck, Chloe… We’ve been together for what, four months. How can I love someone I haven’t had sex with?”
Rage in her eyes met his unemotional face. Her heart exploded from the raging inferno building in her chest.
Luke never loved me. God, I feel so stupid.
Heated blood rushed from her face down to her hands, balled up in fists, nails digging into her palms. “Are you saying you love Reyna?”
“No. I don’t love her. It just happened. A man has needs, baby.”
Chloe’s fist flew over his jaw. “Go to hell,” she hissed. “And I’m not your baby, asshole!” She bolted out the front door slamming it behind her. If her mom were still alive, she would have been outraged and regretted introducing him to Chloe at the fundraiser gala.
After Phoebe found out what Luke did to Chloe, her livid best friend anonymously called one of the nurses’ stations to start a rumor. These nurses were relentless with gossip. In no time Doctor Drop-Your-Panties became known as Doctor Limpy-Jensen who took male-enhancement pills. The rumor lasted several glorious weeks.
Though Chloe couldn’t condone the move, she did appreciate Phoebe’s efforts toward sweet revenge and solidarity.
“Chlo, you’re my girl,” Phoebe said, snapping Chloe out of her memory. “Doctor Limpy is ancient history.” She paused as if an epiphany struck her. “You have to jump his boner.”
“Who? Luke?” Chloe jerked her head back. “You’re joking, right?”
“No, you moron. I was referring to Mr. Irresistible, lick-his-lollipop Julian.” Phoebe giggled. “And if it doesn’t work out, we’re gone in a few weeks. No harm, no foul.” Phoebe shrugged.
“Do you always have sex on the brain?” Chloe didn’t want to admit it, but the image of Julian made her weak in the knees.
“Damn straight.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
“How are we even friends, you lady-tramp?”
“I can’t help that I’m in touch with my sexuality. Besides, ever since I got dumped by that douchebag Bryan, I’ve become a different person. Heartbreak can really screw with a woman’s mind and heart, ya know…speaking of screwing.”
Chloe stared into Phoebe’s mink-brown eyes. “Why are you so up in arms about me and Julian?”
“Hon, I want you to have a good time on our
vacation. I said it once and I’ll say it again. You will leave this beautiful island with a new perspective on life and lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice.”
“I’m going to enjoy my vacation regardless. And Julian was not on the agenda.”
“He is now,” Phoebe countered.
“Give it up, Feebs.”
“More like you need to give it up. God knows you got some cobwebs up in there.”
“I’m not jumping Julian’s boner. Besides, I’m saving myself.” Chloe leaned against the wall, suppressing a sigh.
Phoebe stuck her finger in her mouth to gesture a gag. “Oh, please. Don’t get all righteous on me. I love you, Chloe Harper Channing, but you need to get your head out of the clouds and out of those romance books. We’re in the twenty-first fuckin’ century and chivalry is long gone. Prince Charming is the boy next door. That knight in shining armor is a divorce attorney in a three-piece suit. Besides, didn’t Snow White step out of the gingerbread house to meet her hunky Fabio?”
“First of all, Snow White lived in a cottage with The Seven Dwarfs. Secondly, Hansel and Gretel were abandoned by their parents and they lived in the gingerbread house, and third, I don’t read about Fabio.”
“A woman living with seven men sounds like one big orgy. And parents abandoning their children proves fairytales are bullshit. Anyway,” Phoebe argued, “you get my point.”
“There’s no point. Julian lives here and my life is in San Francisco. I’m pathetic, I know. I’m a twenty-nine-year-old virgin looking for someone I can share my life with and he’s back at home…somewhere. I know it.”
“Live it up for once and take off that damn chastity belt!” Phoebe exhaled, pulling at her smooth, onyx hair. “Look, I know you’re saving yourself for the perfect guy. But what if Julian is that guy?”
“This conversation is over and I’m tired.” Chloe yawned. “Now, you can either go to your own bed or stay so I can tell you a bedtime story about Hansel and Gretel.”
Phoebe scrunched her nose. “No, thanks, I’ll pass. But I’m not done talking about this.” She scooted off the bed. “Operation Lick-His-Lollipop begins.” Phoebe snickered as she dodged a pillow Chloe threw at her.
Till I Found You: The Broken Hero Series—Book One Page 5