Hero by Night

by Sara Jane Stone

“Sorry man,” Peyton said, his brow furrowed, his gaze fixed on the angry retriever. “We got in the mood for pizza on the way over, you know? And I’ve always wanted to meet a real ninja.”

  “Not today,” Chad said. “You might want to order your pizza. Now.”

  Chad waited until they walked away before sitting down. “Lena, I’m sorry—­” He caught himself. Those weren’t the words she needed to hear. She didn’t need pity, not from him or anyone else.

  “—­about your ice cream,” he added.

  She picked up a napkin and started cleaning her hands. “Me too,” she said, her voice shaky.

  Chad glanced at the stoned men stumbling through the door to the restaurant, wondering if he should go after them and throw a few punches after all. After robbing Lena of her teasing, confident tone, Tim and Peyton deserved to have their butts kicked.

  “I’d only had one good lick of the vanilla,” she continued, the tremble in her tone fading with each word. “I was thinking about moving on to the chocolate. You know, spice things up a little bit.”

  Relief swept over him. If she’d been anyone else, he would have pulled her close, held her tight, and told how much he admired the way she refused to let her fears hold her captive.

  “Lena, I’m ready to move past vanilla whenever you are. With you, I’m up for anything.”

  LENA FOLLOWED CHAD to his truck, forcing a calm she didn’t feel. Hero clung to her side, his body pressed against her leg as they walked. Children and stoned men who believed in ninjas—­those things didn’t send normal ­people diving headfirst into a panic attack.

  She stopped by the passenger side door and rested her forehead against the window, closing her eyes. “Shit,” she murmured. “Shit. I just wanted to eat a pizza with my pretend boyfriend.”

  “Hey now,” Chad said. “I’m not complaining.”

  She opened her eyes and turned her head, spotting Chad leaning against the rear of his truck. He wouldn’t approach her with her eyes closed, she realized.

  “You have good ears,” she said.

  He headed toward her, walking around to open her door. “I grew up with two brothers and a sister. I think they would tell you I have selective hearing. Before we finalized the sale with Moore Timber, I would run the other way when I heard the word ‘paperwork.’ Hop in, Lena.”

  She climbed into the truck, buckling her belt as Hero claimed the space between them. Chad pulled out of the lot, waving to the growing crowd at the picnic tables.

  “So you’re continuing the job search tomorrow?” he asked as they turned onto the two-­lane country road leading to the Summers family home.

  “Yes.” She needed to find something soon or she’d be forced to turn to either her ex or her parents for money. Neither option appealed to her. She didn’t want to give them one more reason to look at her and see failure. “Is there an Internet café in town? I need to find a computer.”

  “Come by the house in the morning,” Chad said. “Katie has a desktop in the study that you can use.”

  “I don’t want to be in the way.” Or face an inquisition, she thought.

  “You won’t be.” Chad steered the truck down the bumpy driveway. “You can help yourself to the fridge. There will be coffee. Brody makes a pot every morning. And Hero’s welcome.”

  “You had me at coffee,” she said. “Thank you.”

  He parked the truck by the barn, but kept the engine running as he turned to her. Flashing his panty-­melting smile. “You’re my girl, now.”

  “It’s not real, Chad,” she murmured. The parts of her body that would have ignored that smile twenty-­four hours ago sparked with interest. Now that she knew his smiles weren’t empty promises.

  “Lena, we made it real tonight. After what happened—­”

  “I’m sorry,” she said. The words felt like a reflex.

  “No, Lena. Don’t apologize.” His smile faded. “Word will get back to Eric that we went out for pizza, and I just about murdered one of his guys for sitting down next to you.”

  “Eric knows I struggle with strangers approaching me,” she said softly.

  “Yeah, and he knows I’m not the guy who stands up and plays hero. That’s not me, Lena.”

  No, it wasn’t. Chad charmed everyone, men and women, with his looks and his words. He wasn’t the big, bad alpha man rushing in to save the day. No one felt threatened by him. Until tonight. The way he’d stared down the man who honest-­to-­God thought she was a ninja—­pure alpha male. And she had a feeling it wasn’t an act.

  “Sometimes we surprise ourselves,” she said. And prove we’re not who we thought we were.

  Hope blossomed. Maybe she had it in her too. Maybe she’d prove to the ­people who’d written her off as broken that she could glue the pieces back together.

  “Yeah, I guess we do.” His brown eyes studied her, brooding and intense. His jaw tightened, his gaze dropping to her lips. His fingers gripped the steering wheel as if he had to hold on to something to keep from reaching for her.

  Desire—­spurred by the knowledge that this man didn’t expect any more than she could give—­took over. She opened the passenger side door, but didn’t move to get out. As soon as Hero jumped down, she closed it and turned back to Chad.

  She focused on his lips, unable to look away. If she kissed him, that empty feeling might return. Right now, she felt a rush of emotions when she was with Chad. He put her at ease and made her laugh.

  “Lena?”

  She raised one hand, pressing a finger to his lips. Moving her hand to his cheek, she leaned forward until her mouth hovered close to his. She wanted this kiss even if tomorrow she freaked out at the thought of touching her lips to his. Even if it left her wishing she could run and hide, or that horrible numb feeling she’d endured for so many months returned and she shunned everyone again, she wanted to take the leap.

  Closing her eyes, she brushed her lips over his—­a soft touch, nothing more. But this kiss—­it didn’t feel meaningless. Her heart raced, but it wasn’t headed for panic central. The blood flowing through her didn’t freeze. Just the opposite. Every part of her burned with desire for more.

  She kissed him again, opening her mouth to his, deepening the connection. And he didn’t back down. His lips moved over hers, vying for control, letting her feel his desire, his need—­it was potent and demanding, a perfect match for the wild lust pulsing through her.

  Maybe they could take this further, making love here, in his truck . . .

  Uncertainty rose up, and she felt her breathing change. The panic she’d fought at the pizza place had receded, but it hadn’t disappeared. She could feel it waiting on the sidelines.

  Chad drew back, breaking the kiss as if he understood that they’d reached an imaginary tipping point. Staring into her eyes, his lips curved into his devilish smile. “Why don’t you head in, Lena?”

  “You’re not coming?”

  He let out a short, rough laugh. “No, beautiful. Not tonight. But I left your present on your nightstand in case you want to.”

  I don’t want the toy. I want you. But her mind knew better. Tonight wasn’t the night to push her boundaries. Not when she was inching her way toward normal.

  “I’ve had enough excitement for one night,” he added. “I’ll keep the headlights on so you can get inside. And I’ll see you at the house in the morning.”

  She nodded as she opened the door and climbed down from his truck.

  “And Lena?”

  She glanced over her shoulder, her dog pressing against her side the minute her feet touched the ground.

  “Dream of me.”

  Chapter 9

  CHAD LEANED HIS head back against the tiles, the water rushing over him. Daylight poured in the small tempered glass window. Eyes closed, his mind revisited last night, in the studio, before pizza. The way her hands m
oved over her breasts, the soft, needy sounds she’d made, her pleas for more—­

  “Chad! Where are you? I swear, when I find you . . .”

  A familiar female voice echoed in the hall, stealing him away from the fantasy. The door swung open, the brass knob hitting the tiled wall. The wimpy hook Brody had installed to give them the illusion of privacy proved to be no match for the ranting, raving woman who’d invaded the bathroom.

  “Is it true?” Katie demanded.

  Chad pulled back the curtain just enough to show his face, careful to keep the rest of his body hidden behind the hunter green fabric. It was a damn good thing his sister hadn’t chosen one of those clear plastic shower curtains.

  “Kinda naked here,” he said.

  Her eyes narrowed, her wild red curls surrounding her face like a pile of Medusa’s snakes. Yeah, she was sure as hell pissed off, and he had a hunch he knew why. Somebody had spread the word about his “date.”

  “Did you take Lena out?” Katie demanded, folding her arms in front of her chest.

  More footsteps sounded in the hall. Chad had a sinking feeling the number of ­people in his bathroom was about to double. Liam Trulane, the number two at Moore Timber and his kid sister’s boyfriend, poked his head in the bathroom, spotted Chad, and quickly retreated.

  “Katie,” Liam called from the hall. “Let him finish his shower first.”

  “No,” she snapped.

  “Great, now I have an audience,” he said, pulling the curtain closed and stepping back under the water to rinse his hair.

  “I’m leaving, man,” Liam said.

  “Can’t you toss her over your shoulder and take her with you?” Chad called.

  “Your sister?” Liam let out a laugh. “Not if I want to see tomorrow.”

  “Did you take Lena out on a date?” Katie repeated.

  His hair rinsed, Chad turned off the water and stuck his hand out. “Hand me a towel, will you?”

  She slapped a towel into his hand. “Trish from the pizza place told Georgia that you nearly took Peyton Monroe’s head off for sitting next to her. Why would you take her out? You’ve seen her dog and the way she reacts when anyone gets near her.”

  “I thought she’d like to split a pizza. Talk and get to know each other better.” Chad dried off. Wrapping the towel around his waist, he drew back the curtain. “Peyton and Tim showed up stoned and got a little too close. It spooked her, so I told them to back the hell off.”

  “Hey, who called a family meeting and forgot to invite me?” Brody, the oldest of the four Summers siblings, leaned against the bathroom door frame, his arms folded to match Katie’s what-­did-­you-­do-­now-­Chad look.

  “Chad took Lena on a date after I invited her to stay in the apartment,” Katie said.

  Brow furrowed, Brody’s attention darted back and forth between them. “Lena, the woman with the dog? Georgia’s friend?”

  “Same one,” Katie said. “The dog helps with her PTSD and the fact that she doesn’t like to be touched or let ­people close. How’s that working out for you, Chad?”

  Pretty damn good considering that kiss last night. Sure, he’d given her one helluva orgasm before dinner, but that kiss had blown him away. But it wasn’t his place to kiss and tell.

  “None of your fucking business, Katie.” Chad stepped out of the tub. “I left you alone to make your own decisions when it came to Liam, right? Because you’re a big girl. Well, I’m bigger and older than you, so leave me the hell alone.”

  “But—­”

  He stared down at his sister. “And don’t you dare write Lena off. She’s fighting her way back from something you and I can’t begin to understand. The only thing we can do is grant her the space and the respect she deserves. And if she wants to join me for dinner, well, that’s her call.”

  “I’m not giving up on her,” Katie said stubbornly. “I’m looking out for her. The last thing she deserves is to fall for you.”

  “You know, sis, some ­people find me charming.”

  “You are charming. And sweet when you want to be.” She raised her hand, poking him in the chest. “But if you hurt her—­”

  “I won’t.” Chad dropped his voice low. “Not that it concerns either of you, but I like her.”

  “Katie, he’s right,” Brody said. “This isn’t your call.”

  “I hate to interrupt.” Liam appeared in the doorway again. “But Lena’s here. In the kitchen. I offered her coffee and she asked about using the computer.”

  Chad nodded. “I told her she could use the study. She needs to get online and the library is closed today. That won’t be a problem, will it?”

  Katie gave him one last searching look. “No. I’ll get her set up.”

  “When you’re done,” Brody said, shifting his gaze between Katie and Chad, “and when you’re dressed, we need to talk. About Josh. There’s been no change and we need to start making some decisions.”

  Chad nodded. “I’ll find you in the kitchen.”

  The bathroom door closed, leaving him alone with the realization that he meant those words. I like her. Their relationship might be a fraud, but he liked Lena. And he’d just locked them into this lie. It was too late to turn back now and tell the town, his family, and Eric Moore that it was a sham. Now they had to move forward with it, or stage a breakup. Either way, ­people would talk.

  Chad rested his hands on the vanity and stared into the mirror. “I sure as hell better live up to my end of the bargain.”

  AN HOUR LATER, Chad sat on the edge of his younger brother’s hospital bed, wishing he could take a quick ride in his helicopter. He needed to clear his head, not dive into what promised to be the first of many serious conversations for the day. And he refused to skirt the second one. When he got back to the house, he wanted to talk to Lena and learn more about what she’d seen and done while serving her country.

  As much as he hated to admit it, Katie had a point. He couldn’t hurt her. And to avoid going down that road, he needed to know if he could fulfill his side of their deal without pushing too far too fast. Sure, she could always say no, but that might not be enough depending on what had happened overseas.

  “Chad? What the hell, man? You look grim,” Josh said, sitting up in his hospital bed. Not much older than their little sister, Josh had the same red hair, green eyes, and pale skin. Chad and Brody had inherited their father’s brown hair and eyes, their skin not quite so pale. Although Chad suspected his baby brother’s paleness was due to the weeks spent lying in a hospital bed.

  Josh had traded in his hospital gown for sweats and T-­shirt after waking from his coma, but he still wore the big white bandage around his head—­a clear and present reminder that he belonged here. The other reasons, the ones not visible, those were the ones they needed to talk about today.

  “Did one of the nurses turn you down?” Josh added.

  “He’s off the market,” Brody said from the chair beside the bed. “He’s dating someone.”

  Josh’s red eyebrows shot up. “Chad? No shit. I thought you kept it casual. Never more than one night, afraid that every woman you date will walk out on you just like Mom abandoned Dad.”

  The words stung. More than Chad wanted to admit. “You can’t remember what you had for breakfast or how the hell you landed in the hospital, but you want to play Oprah when it comes to my love life?”

  Josh shrugged. “Short-­term memory loss, bro. I remember the things that matter.”

  “I don’t think who is in my bed should make that list. And for the record, I don’t steer clear of relationships because Mom left.” Not entirely. “I just like women too much to settle down.”

  He heard Brody shift in his chair and knew his brother was thinking back to this morning’s conversation in the bathroom.

  “But Lena’s special,” Chad added.

  “Lena?
The girl with the dog who moved into Eric’s place? I heard from some guys on the crew I was working with before I ended up here that she doesn’t like to be touched. Not even a handshake. How the hell does that work?” Josh leaned forward as he delivered his rapid-­fire questions.

  “If you think I’m giving you a play-­by-­play—­”

  “Enough,” Brody said. He rose and began to pace. “We didn’t come here to talk about what Chad is doing at night.”

  Josh leaned back against the pile of hospital pillows. “Why are you here?”

  Pausing at the foot of the bed, Brody hovered over them, looking every inch the big brother who’d carried the freaking weight of the family on his shoulders since their dad passed away seven years ago. It didn’t matter that his siblings were technically adults, even Katie, who’d been eighteen at the time. By a matter of weeks, but still, legal. Brody had taken over the struggling family business. He’d made sure there was food on the table and a roof over their heads. Now here he was again, taking charge. And Chad didn’t begrudge him this role at all.

  “We’ve talked,” Brody began. “And Katie would be here too, but she got a call about a hog that needed a new home.”

  “I get laid up and we become pig farmers?” Josh joked. But the words failed to mask the quiver in his voice.

  Chad rested his hand on his little brother’s leg. It must be hell to wake up in a strange place every day, unsure why you were there. “Katie and Liam are starting a pig farm,” he said. “Or at least adding hogs to their barn of rescued misfits.”

  “Katie’s with Liam Trulane?” Josh said, and Chad wanted to kick his own ass square into the next county. The last thing his brother knew, Katie had walked away from Liam. Sure, she’d explained everything to Josh, telling him about her wild love affair and the fact that she planned to move in with the man she once despised. But even if she’d told him yesterday, chances were he wouldn’t remember today. It was as if his memory drew a firm line between before and after the accident.

  “Yes,” Brody said in his I’m-­taking-­charge-­now voice. “She is. And Chad’s right. The pigs are their problem. But we talked with her this morning after I learned that the hospital plans to release you. They want to send you to a long-­term care center by the university.”