When Nick stepped closer, she looked into his bright eyes, trying to decipher his mood. His muscles were clamped in tension. “James, you have to meet Nick’s dog, Talley.”
James bent and petted Talley’s head as the large dog thumped her tail in appreciation. “You’re a gorgeous girl.” James stood and offered his hand to Nick. “By the way, I’m James Weston. And you’re obviously Nick Welby. Grayce has spoken very highly of you.”
Nick shook James’ hand. “Dr. Walters has been very helpful to Talley.”
Hollie wanted James to like Nick although she wasn’t sure why. But in James’ presence, he was all quiet and remote.
And James was more subdued because he must be exhausted after staying with the boss all night. He did look beat. “Can I get you something? Do you want a coffee?”
“No, thanks. I’m going to go home and crash. I’ve been in the ER with Grayce.”
Hollie shook her head. “Davis came to the office and told us about the brakes.”
James flung his hand in his dramatic fashion. “I had to get away from Grayce’s house. Davis was in his protective, take-no-prisoners mood. The sparks flying between them were rather painful and entertaining to watch.”
Nick loomed over her and raised an eyebrow to remind her that he had told her the same thing. Hollie smiled in acknowledgment.
James was moving his lips silently with “Oh, my God.” The heat flamed onto her cheeks with James’ fascination with the interplay between her and Nick.
Nick turned toward James as if he knew he had missed something.
James, with his usual cool-dude attitude, spoke as if he hadn’t been silently high-fiving her. “Davis is going to keep Grayce safe, but until this is resolved, everyone has to be on their guard. How Grayce gets herself into these situations is still beyond me.”
Hollie felt the tension creeping back into her body with the reality of the threat against the boss. “I’m going to guard the boss. Davis asked Nick to watch her when she’s in the office. You’re going to help too, right?”
“Yes, if she’ll let me. She hasn’t agreed to Davis’ plan. But I think Davis will win on this round. Whoever messed with her brakes meant to hurt her.”
Hollie’s whole body shuddered in fear with James’ blatant declaration.
Nick wrapped his arm around her. “It’s going to be all right.”
James winked at her when Nick’s head was bent over. Thank God for small favors that James had restrained himself from his incendiary comments.
“Listen, runt. You need to be more careful too,” James said. “We don’t know why or who is after Grayce, so we have to assume it’s either her helping the Marines or one of her patients. Which means you also could be a threat to the lunatic.”
“I can handle myself.”
James nodded toward Nick. “Wrong thing to say, with Nick and Talley ready to protect you.”
Hollie pulled away from Nick. “Why is everyone acting like I’m helpless? I know how to take care of myself. I’ve been doing it my entire life.”
James gently chucked her under the chin. “And you’ve done a great job. But maybe it’s time to let other people help.”
She didn’t like the way Davis, Nick, and now James were all acting protective toward her, treating her like a victim. She had resolved that she’d never be a victim again. Never. “I don’t need protection.”
James yawned, his perfect white teeth showing as his mouth gaped open. “Too much drama for one day. I’m out of here.”
Hollie now felt like an obnoxious child in the middle of a temper tantrum. James started to walk away. She grabbed his arm. “Thanks for coming, especially when you’ve had no sleep.”
“No problem, runt.” James hugged her, and then looked at Nick. “You’re going to have your hands full with this one.”
Nick gave his stomach-fluttering, knee-shaking smile. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Chapter Thirteen
After James’ departure, Hollie, with her sagging shoulders and her lopsided pony, suddenly looked deflated.
Nick put his hand on her elbow and turned her toward him. “Let’s get an early dinner. We’ve been at this for hours.” If he had said, “You look beat,” she would’ve fought him to stay and work.
He ran his hands along her soft, silky arms. “I’m hungry. Aren’t you? It’s been hours since we ate.” He was hungry for this complicated, feisty woman and knew what would help them both get rid of the tension, but in no way was Hollie ready, especially now that Dr. Walters had been injured.
“You sure eat a lot,” Hollie said.
“Really? I guess with swimming and running, I need to keep refueling. Should we go to the burger place? You eat meat, don’t you?”
Hollie rolled her eyes. “Beggars can’t be choosey. I eat anything and everything.” She abruptly stopped and shifted her attention to packing up her laptop.
He sucked in a breath, unable to speak. Had she gone hungry? When? As a child? A simmering fury filled his body. The idea of her not having enough to eat overwhelmed him. He felt helpless in the face of her obvious suffering. His childhood had been filled with an overabundance of everything, loving parents and family.
He was going to make sure she never suffered again.
In one vicious gesture, she swung her bag over her shoulder and stuck out her chin. He was getting quite adept at reading her moods. When feeling vulnerable, she always took on her don’t mess with me attitude.
Risking her wrath, he took the bag from her shoulder. “Let me carry the bag.”
Her dark eyes narrowed, and the pierced eyebrow slashed down. He might get pummeled.
“You take Talley’s lead. It’s good for her to walk with different people so she knows she’s not working,” he said in a confident voice, acting as if he might get his way.
She opened her mouth, then immediately closed it, her dark eyes expressive of the conflict. She wanted to fight him, but she wanted to help Talley more. He repressed the smile tugging at his lips. He was learning how to negotiate the prickly Ms. Hollie.
Ignoring him, she cooed at Talley. “You ready to get out of here?”
Talley’s ears went up, and she stood, ready to follow Hollie.
He stuffed his laptop into her bag and placed it on his shoulder, then handed Talley’s lead to her.
“Tell me about James. He’s an interesting guy.”
He stepped back for her to exit first out of the coffee shop. He tracked her crooked ponytail, bobbing as she walked. He’d never expected to feel an incredible emotional and physical connection for a woman or such a responsibility.
Hollie and Talley walked toward the corner of the busy intersection. Hollie said over her shoulder, “James is the sweetest, funniest guy, and I don’t know why you had to go all Tarzan on him.”
He tugged on her ponytail. “Honey, I’m always going to react when you’re in the arms of another man.”
She jerked around so quickly that she pulled on Talley’s lead. Talley immediately sat down. “Oh, sorry, girl.”
“James was right, you know. I’m crazy possessive when it comes to you.” Her face went pale and her eyes fluttered in emotion. He moved closer to pull her into his arms.
She backed away. “Why?” She shook her head. “You don’t even know me. We only met a few weeks ago.”
“I know it’s crazy. It feels a lot longer.” He wasn’t going to let her distance herself. “And I do know you.” He brushed his knuckles along her smooth, honeyed cheek. “I know that you’re sensitive to other’s feelings. You’re protective of anyone weaker than you. You’re loyal; you’re strong. And you’re hot with a killer bod.”
She parted her lips in surprise. He rubbed his thumb along her full lower lip. He was ready to kiss her as she leaned into his touch.
She shuddered, and then shook herself off like a wet dog. “I can’t do this.” The way her body tightened and her eyes darted back and forth, he thought she might break into a run.
He reached for her, but she lunged away, acting like a cornered animal. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I can’t do this.” Her voice quivered in emotion. “It’s, like, normal. And I’m not normal.”
He wanted so badly to touch her but kept his hands at his side.
“You were the quarterback, weren’t you?”
“Quarterback?”
“In high school, you were the quarterback, right?”
Hell. What was this about? “What does that have to do with anything?”
Her face was mottled, and her silly ponytail had lost most of its moorings with her violent head movement.
They were having another moment in the middle of the sidewalk in Fremont. He gently gripped her arm. “Can we talk about this privately? Walk Talley along the water?”
She pushed his hand away. “Tell me, dammit. You were the star quarterback?”
He nodded his head. “Yes, I was the quarterback.”
“And you dated a bouncy, blond cheerleader, right?”
“Yes. I dated a cheerleader. Why does that matter?” He searched her face, knowing that she was building walls between them, reacting against the intense and scary bond between them. She had to get over her fear. It frightened the shit out of him, too, and he had gone to battle in Afghanistan. He couldn’t imagine what it was doing to her, but he wasn’t going to run or let her push him away.
“Because while you were living the Brady Bunch life, I was…” She shook her head and pushed the long hair tumbling across her face. “I was… Never mind.” She marched away, crossing the street, unaware that she had Talley’s lead.
He followed her silently. She had a whole lot of pain and anger, and he wasn’t sure how to help her.
She walked toward the waterfront path, then stopped and patted Talley. He could hear her low voice as she soothed Talley. Although upset and distressed, she stopped to comfort his dog. She was a loving, gentle woman—the right woman for him.
He let her walk ahead, keeping his distance.
When they had gone the two blocks to the waterfront path, she stopped, turned, and waited.
He didn’t try to get close or touch her as they waited at the light. “What did you mean when you said you aren’t normal?”
He had a pretty good guess of why she was upset, but he wasn’t sure if she would confess anything about her background.
She ignored the changed light and huddled next to a brick building on the corner. “Because while you were having a happy life with your happy and loving family, I was hiding from my father, who planned to sell me to one of his meth suppliers.”
He felt sucker-punched—an iron fist hammering him in the head and gut. A killing rage filled his body as his breath came in aggressive surges. Unprepared for the shocking admission, he had no words for the outrage and obscenity of her father.
“I’ve never told anyone that part of my past.” Her lower lip quivered, but she looked directly at him, waiting for him to judge her. “But you’re a really good guy, and now you know why this won’t work.” She pointed back and forth between them.
He was trying to stay on track, but his mind was clouded with disturbing feelings and anger. He couldn’t imagine the depth of betrayal from the person who should’ve been protecting and caring for her. He wanted to decimate the man who called himself her father. He shook his head and tried to get a grip. No wonder she didn’t trust men and held to her staunch claim that she didn’t need anyone.
Her voice was low, overwrought with emotions. If she thought telling him that her father was an immoral bastard would change his feelings about her, she was dead wrong.
With her pitiful voice, her makeup smudged from her tears, and her hair tangled, she was a mess and all he wanted to do was hold her and kiss away all the hurt. He was in deep because learning of her terrible childhood only strengthened his resolve to make up for everything she had missed. He was never going to let his tough survivor flee.
“Didn’t you have other relatives to take you in?” He chose not to ask about her mother, assuming she was part of the monstrous crime against an innocent child.
“My grandmother tried to protect me, but she didn’t have any legal rights.”
He tried to imagine her as a young girl coping with the fear and betrayal with no one to protect her. He had to touch her, comfort her, and he didn’t care if she tried to nut him. He pulled her tight against him. “I’m so sorry, honey. I wish I had been there for you.”
He loosened the remaining hair from the rubber band and smoothed her thick hair down her back. His dog nudged her nose against Hollie’s leg. “Even in high school, I was big, and I would’ve kicked the shit out of your dad before I had him arrested.”
She tried to laugh, but it came out as a sob. She buried her face against his chest. He could feel her tears soaking through his shirt.
“I’m sorry you were alone and that there was no one to protect you.” He rubbed her back, trying to calm both of them.
She cried quietly, which made it all the worse, as if she were afraid to cry. The only sound was a hiccup as she tried to smother the distressing sounds against his chest.
He tucked the hair covering her eye behind her ear. He kissed the tears on her cheeks, her nose, and her lips.
“Honey, you’re not alone anymore. Talley and I will never let anything happen to you. You’re safe.”
She pushed against his chest with both her hands. “You’re not listening to me. I can’t do this.”
He took both her hands into his. “What, exactly, is this?” She tried to pull her hands free. He tightened his hold. “What have you decided you can’t do?”
“Date and shit. You think you need to protect me? I’m fine taking care of myself.”
“I know you can take care of yourself. You obviously had no one to take care of you, until now.”
“Look at me and look at you. Goth girl with Captain America.” She pulled away again, and he let her hands go.
“What I see is a strong, beautiful woman who, despite a shitty family, is loving and gentle.”
That gave her pause. Her exotic eyes widened, and she bit her lower lip. “What bullshit. You need to find yourself another cheerleader type. Blond and perfect.”
Admitting her shame was difficult, and he’d do anything to help her move past it.
“I’m thinking you’re really focused on the cheerleader as an excuse. Are you worried that I’ll be like Angie—have a flashback on the street?” He didn’t mean to sound aggressive, but she had a way of pissing him off and frightening him at the same time. He was afraid that her deep pain would make her reject him.
“No, I didn’t mean… I know you’re recovering, but I’m not worried about you that way.” Her voice was tremulous and unsure.
Seeing her concern for him softened his reaction. “You’re not worried that I might go off.”
“Never. It’s never entered my mind. You’re solid and reliable.”
He wanted to kiss her, but they needed to clarify their feelings. He wasn’t going to let her hide behind her defenses.
“Okay, so what’s this bullshit about me wanting a perfect woman? I’m not perfect, so why would I need a perfect woman? Unless you think I’m shallow. Is that it?”
“No…”
“I want you and only you. Why can’t you believe it? That your father was a sick shit has nothing to do with us.”
She pushed her hair away from her face. “You’re a hero. And now that you know how repulsive my family is, you’ll want to rescue me.” She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “The last thing I want is to be pitied.”
He loomed over her. “Pity you? I don’t wake up every night because I’m thinking about a woman I pity. I lay awake because of a woman who makes me laugh, challenges me, and has brought me out of my funk. A woman I want under me.”
He would have laughed out loud at the shock on her face if he hadn’t just declared his feelings for her. He was almost as sh
ocked as she was.
Her mouth was open wide, and her hands were clenched at her sides. “Oh,” she said.
He picked up a strand of her silky hair and twirled it around his finger. “‘Oh’ is all you have to say?”
He could feel her hot breath from her open lips and her shallow pants. “Don’t you want me a little?”
Hollie gazed into his eyes. Her black eyes were glassy from the tears. She looked down and nodded slightly.
He lifted her chin with his thumb. “Is that a yes? Honey, help me out here. I’m a desperate man. I don’t go around declaring myself every day.”
“But Nick…” Her pink lips were parted and so ready to be kissed.
“What, honey?”
“I’ve never done any of this.” She said this in a quiet, unsure voice so unlike her.
“‘This’ meaning dating?”
She laughed nervously. “That too. I’ve never dated, but I meant never been with a guy.”
Nick got another sucker punch—this time a wallop to his throat and his heart. His brain was scrambled from this newest revelation. Hollie was a virgin? A mess of emotions blasted through him. He had been worried that she had been raped by those sick fucks. He was relieved that she hadn’t been traumatized. But sexually inexperienced—a surge of protectiveness and tenderness rushed through him.
“Yeah, is that right?” He brushed against her pale throat and quivering pulse with his fingertips. He wanted to trace the vibrating pulse with his tongue, tasting her.
When she looked up at him, her color was wan, her lips pale, and voice quiet. “My experience with men hasn’t been exactly ideal, and I’ve never met anyone…I…”
“I get it. It’d be pretty hard with scumbags.” He shook his head. He didn’t need to remind her of the creeps she had to deal with. “I’m glad, honey, that you were never forced.”
He brushed his fingers across her cheeks. “You know I’d never make you to do anything, right? Do you trust me?”
She chewed on her lower full lip as she wiped at her tear-streaked face. “I do.”
The Grayce Walters Romantic Suspense Series Page 56