“What? Why?”
“She was from one of those Soviet countries, which meant she had to be a spy.” Brett rolled his eyes. “Can you imagine? Like Nadia could ever hide anything from anyone. But what I’m getting at is that I thought all of those friends would accept her with open arms. Some of them I had known my whole life. So, you can’t be blamed for that asshole’s actions.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now, I have a feeling you wanted to talk to me about something.”
“Yes. I would like to marry Nicola.”
“I had a feeling. What did she say?”
“I didn’t ask yet. I was waiting for you to get here.”
Brett’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, Nicola isn’t going to like that.”
“I don’t care,” he bit out. “Sorry. A friend said the same thing. There were other circumstances.”
“What? What are you waiting for?”
“I wanted to make sure she wasn’t feeling vulnerable.” Then he stared at her father. “Wait, how did you know about all of this? How did you know I wanted to marry her?”
“It was in your voice on the phone. You sounded as if you were losing your entire world. I knew then you were in love with her. Because I would sound the same way if anything like this had happened to Nadia.”
“I have your blessing?”
“Keep her safe and happy, then yes. I couldn’t deny you, Jensen. You love her too much. Of course, I’m not the one you have to convince. And you better do it soon because I can’t keep a secret from her mother. She’ll figure it out and blab to Nicola.”
“I have the ring and planned on it.”
“Now, I think we need to clean up. Our bags aren’t here though.”
“I wanted to have you stay here, but my mother and brother came, and I have Felicia the nurse staying overnight. So, I booked you a suite at the Hilton.”
“I can pay my own way.”
This was just like the stupid argument over the plane. “I know you can, but you’re going to be my father-in-law so get used to it.”
Brett let out one of his booming laughs. “Yeah, I think you and Nicola will figure it out.” He held out his hand. Jensen took it. “Welcome to the family, son.”
Nicola dozed for a few hours and woke to silence. The room was dark, but she could see light from the hallway. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness as she looked around the room. It was then that she saw Jensen. He was sitting in the chair beside her bed. From his even breathing, she knew he was sleeping.
She watched him for a long time knowing that she wouldn’t see him in this way for much longer. They only had a few days left in Hawaii and that would be the end of everything.
“Do you know how creepy it is to have you staring at me like that?” he asked.
She smiled. “What time is it?”
He opened his eyes and leaned forward to grab his phone off her bedside table. “Nine.”
She frowned. “Where is everyone?”
“I sent them out. They were so loud I was afraid they would wake you, so your parents and my mother and brother went out to a Luau. I insisted they go and John drove them, so they could have all the Mai Tai’s and Lava Flows they want.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
He rose from the chair and sat down on the mattress next to her and took hold of her hand. “How are you feeling?”
“Good, I guess. Even though I’ve spent most of the last few days in bed, I’m still tired.”
“The doctor said you needed time to heal.”
Then, neither of them said anything. The silence stretched out to awkwardness.
“Well, I guess I need to start making arrangements for us to head back to England.”
“I told Mother we’re staying an extra week. The doctor doesn’t want you to travel too soon.”
“Ah.”
“There was something I wanted to talk to you about. Well, a couple of things.”
His serious tone worried her.
“Okay.”
He turned on the bedside table lamp. She blinked at the sudden brightness in the room. When her eyes finally focused, she saw things she hadn’t seen before. Jensen had dark smudges beneath his eyes, telling her he hadn’t caught up on his sleep. In fact, he looked a little haggard thanks to the two day’s growth of beard on his face. Why did that man look yummy even when he looked like a mess?
“First, when were you planning on telling me that Micah was your first Dom?”
Shock came first, then irritation. If Micah told him, she would smack him. “How did you find that out?”
“Serenity told me. Not on purpose, she just thought I knew and you are evading the question.”
She slipped her hand from his and struggled trying to sit up, but it was difficult with her shoulder injury. Jensen helped her up and made sure she had enough pillows to support her.
“I don’t know if I would have ever told you.”
He frowned. “Why not? Don’t you think I have a right to know?”
She shook her head. “I didn’t think it was any of your business.”
“Not any of my business,” he blustered. “What the bloody hell does that mean?”
She sighed. “I don’t know your first sub, now do I?”
“No, but—”
“So why do you think you have a right to know about my first Dom?”
“Because it’s different.”
“That makes no sense.”
“What makes no sense is this stupid arrangement.”
“Oh?” Her heart sank to her stomach. She had thought they could at least keep the relationship going for the duration of their time in Hawaii. There wouldn’t be a lot of play thanks to her injury, but they could at least have some time together.
“We can’t go on like this. It’s too much to ask.”
She nodded and prayed she would be able to hold back the tears. She wasn’t one for crying, although she seemed to be doing a lot of that since her altercation with Alfie.
“Of course,” Nicola agreed as she smoothed out her bedsheet. She kept her eyes averted so he didn’t see her disappointment. Why did he have to turn the light on? This would have been better in the dark.
“That’s why I think we need a change.”
“What kind of change?”
“Are you going to just keep staring at the sheet or actually have the nerve to look at me?”
She drew in a deep breath and hoped the tears she felt in her eyes weren’t easy to see. The humiliation would be too much. She raised her head and made eye contact. His gaze softened.
“Why do you look so sad?”
“It’s the pain medication.”
His mouth curved. “Is that a fact?”
“Don’t you dare mock me,” she said, trying to sound stern, but her sentence ended on a sob.
“Oh, love, don’t cry. Please.” When the comment just made her cry more, his voice turned panic. “I don’t like it one bit.”
“I don’t care,” she said, the tears flowing down her cheeks. “If you’re going to break it off, then I’m going to cry. Just deal with it.”
He shook his head. “That isn’t what I’m doing.”
“Then what would you call it?”
“I would call it a bloody proposal, but you have ruined it by trying to control everything. I swear to God you don’t take direction well unless there is a promise of a spanking.”
“Well…wait what?”
“I’m trying to propose.”
“Like in marriage?”
“Yes, like in marriage.”
“You don’t want to get married.”
He nodded. “I do. To you.”
“No.”
He blinked. “What?”
“I said no.” She would not take his pity. That would be worse than indifference.
“Why not?” he asked, his voice in a near shout.
“Because you are doing this because you feel sorry for me.”
He studied her
for a long moment. “That’s the biggest load of crap I’ve ever heard, and that’s saying a lot.”
“It isn’t. You never wanted to marry.”
“I did, once upon a time. I didn’t have anyone in mind, but I always wanted to marry, before I fell down the hole with a needle in my arm.”
“Why did that change your mind?”
“I didn’t think any woman would take a chance on me. I could hardly blame her. I’m a drug addict who has already had one relapse.”
“Three years ago.”
“And you were the one who pulled me out of that.”
She shook her head. “I helped but you did it yourself.”
“See, it’s that faith you had in me. You never doubted me.”
“I gave you a choice. I did offer to kill you.”
He chuckled. “That’s true.”
“But the real work was by you.”
“This isn’t an act? You really don’t know, do you?”
“What?”
He took her hand again. “Nicola, you are the center of my universe. I can’t think of losing you to anyone whether it’s that bastard Alfie or two gay wankers who want to have a baby.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. That’s why I made sure Mother had this with her.” He dropped his hand, then pulled something out of his pocket. It was a small jewelry box. “It’s not new. It was left to me by my grandmother.”
He opened the box and turned it so she could see it. Set against the ruby background sat one of the most beautiful rings she had ever seen. The diamond was round cut, but smaller diamonds created a square frame. The band split slightly, each side of it also had diamonds.
“I know platinum isn’t the first choice these days.”
“It’s beautiful,” she said. She lifted her gaze to his. “I love it.”
“So, will you wear it? Be my wife?” he asked, sincerity ringing in his tone, but she still needed to know.
“Why do you want to marry me?”
Nicola held her breath, He didn’t lose his temper this time. “Because I can’t think of another woman I want in my bed or at my mercy more than you. Because these last four years have taught me that I need you in my life to feel complete.” She opened her mouth, but he stopped her with is next sentence. “I love you, Nicola McCann.”
“Oh,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes once again. “I love you, too.”
“Is that a yes?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
He took her hand and slipped the ring on. “A little loose but we can fix that.”
He leaned forward and brushed his mouth against hers. “Thank you.”
“For saying yes?”
“For saving me four years ago and for not walking away a year later when I lost it again. And, for always accepting me for who I am. With your history, I’m amazed you even wanted to get involved with me.”
“It’s different. You always wanted to be better. Oliver didn’t. It’s easy to believe in someone when they tell you they want to recover.”
He raised her hand to his lips. “You will always be the one person in the world I need by my side, in my business and in my bed.”
“Thank you.”
“I really want to celebrate, but you can’t right now.”
She crooked her finger. “We can at least do a little necking,”
He smiled as he rose off the bed and then slipped beneath the sheets with her.
“One thing Wulf men do know how to do is please the women they love.”
She slipped her one good arm over his shoulder. “I can attest that you are very good at that.”
“Yes, but I think I have to prove myself after my botched proposal.”
“I think it was beautiful.”
Jensen was smiling when he bent his head as her heart filled with joy. She had the only Dom she could ever want all to herself. A woman couldn’t ask for anything more.
A note from Mel
Thank you so much for reading A LITTLE HARMLESS FAITH. If you enjoyed the book, please think about leaving a review at your favorite online retailer. Reviews help my books gain visibility and I truly appreciate any reviews.
It is still hard to believe that I started THE HARMLESS SERIES in 2004 with the short novel, A LITTLE HARMLESS SEX, which is free everywhere. Nicola and Jensen first made their appearance in A LITTLE HARMLESS SCANDAL, book 12.
Harmless has two spinoff series: A LITTLE HARMLESS MILITARY ROMANCE which features military romance novellas, and TASK FORCE HAWAII which features romantic suspense stories built around an elite law enforcement group.
Coming up next is the next exciting installment in THE CURSED CLAN, FLETCHER, Book Five.
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About the Author
From an early age, USA Today Bestselling author Melissa loved to read. First, it was the books her mother read to her including her two favorites, Winnie the Pooh and the Beatrix Potter books. She cut her preteen teeth on Trixie Belden and read and reviewed To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school. It wasn’t until she was in college that she tried to write her first stories, which were full of angst and pain, and really not that fun to read or write. After trying several different genres, she found romance in a Linda Howard book.
Since her first published book, Grace Under Pressure, Mel has had over 60 short stories, novellas, and novels published. She has written in genres ranging from historical to contemporary to futuristic and has worked with 8 publishers although she handles most of her publishing herself. She is best known for her Harmless and Santini series.
After years of following her military husband around the country and world, Mel happily lives with her family in horse and wine country in Northern Virginia.
Keep up with Mel, her releases, and her appearances by subscribing to her NEWSLETTER or join in the fun with her Harmless Addicts!
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Also by Melissa Schroeder
HARMLESS:
A Little Harmless Sex
A Little Harmless Pleasure
A Little Harmless Obsession
A Little Harmless Lie
A Little Harmless Addiction
A Little Harmless Submission
A Little Harmless Fascination
A Little Harmless Fantasy
A Little Harmless Ride
A Little Harmless Secret
A Little Harmless Revenge
A Little Harmless Scandal
A Little Harmless Faith
THE HARMLESS SHORTS:
Max and Anna
Chris And Cynthia
Evan and May
Micah and Dee
A LITTLE HARMLESS MILITARY ROMANCE
Infatuation
Possession
Surrender
THE SANTINIS
Leonardo
Marco
Gianni
Vicente
A Santini Christmas
A Santini in Love
Falling for a Santini
One Night with a Santini
A Santini Takes the Fall
A Santini’s Heart
SANTINI BUNDLES
VOLUME ONE
VOLUME TWO
SEMPER FI MARINES
Tease Me
Tempt Me
Touch Me
The Semper Fi Marines Collection
THE FITZPATRICKS
The Lost Night-free prequel
At Last
TASK FORCE HAWAII
Seductive Reasoning
Hostile Desires
Constant Craving
Tangled Passions
Task Force Hawaii Vol 1
TEXAS TEMPTATIONS
Conquering India
Delilah’s Downfall-returning soon
THE ELDRIDGES OF TEXAS
Scorched
SPIES, LIES, and ALIBIS
The Boss
ONCE UPON AN ACCIDENT
An Accidental Countess
Lessons in Seduction
The Spy Who Loved Her
Once Upon an Accident Bundle
THE CURSED CLAN
Callum
Angus
Logan
BY BLOOD
Desire by Blood
Seduction by Blood
BOUNTY HUNTER’S, INC
For Love or Honor
Sinner’s Delight
TELEPATHIC CRAVINGS
Voices Carry
Lost in Emotion
Hard Habit to Break
Bundle
LONESTAR WOLF PACK
The Alpha’s Saving Grace
CONNECTED BOOKS
The Hired Hand
Hands on Training
A Calculated Seduction
Going for Eight
Bundles
Trouble in Texas
Blame it on Texas
SINGLE TITLES
Grace Under Pressure
Her Mother’s Killer
A Little Harmless Faith: Wulf Siblings Trilogy, Book One Page 20