by Marie Harte
“And that’s for my sister, you prick. And for Kay. And Amelia.” He heard Lara yelling, and she didn’t sound as if she were playing.
He rushed to her door and tried to open it but found it locked. “Lara?”
“And if you ever touch me again, I will fucking kill you.”
He’d heard enough. Johnny drilled his shoulder into the door and broke through her flimsy lock with ease. To his shock, he saw her kicking the shit out of her ex-brother-in-law. The guy was on the ground, moaning, his dick out, as Lara pummeled him everywhere she could reach. Kicking, punching, his girl was whaling on the guy making broken sounds as he curled into a ball.
Knowing what that exposed dick meant, Johnny saw nothing more than the guy’s gravestone.
He marched forward and grabbed the hand she’d cocked back.
Lara started. “Johnny?”
“I love you, baby.” He saw the bruise on her cheekbone, and kissed it tenderly. Then he pulled her to the kitchen and handed her his cell phone. “Call 9-1-1. And hurry, before I kill him.”
She dialed, her eyes wide, and Johnny hauled Ron to his feet. He had to hold the guy away from him, because Ron started to piss himself. Nicely done, Lara.
“Wait, Johnny.” She quickly reported the incident to the police, then hung up and stepped outside her door, yelling down the hallway for help.
Her apartment soon crowded with neighbors, and she told them what had happened. To Johnny’s surprise, one of the guys in the apartment happened to be a cop visiting family in the building.
“Well, well. One of the upper class slumming so far away from his grand real estate on Mercer Island.” Officer Brewer sounded way too pleased. “I know you, don’t I? You sold my grandmother’s property out from under her a few years ago.” The cop took a step toward Ron.
“Hold on.” Johnny pretended to drop Ron and slugged him in the same cheekbone Ron had bruised on Lara. “Oh, sorry about that. Nearly dropped him.”
“Drop-kick him off the roof,” Lara muttered. “He told me he has bigwig buddies who’ll vouch for his whereabouts. Of course, that was right before he tried to rape me.”
The cop’s face flushed, and Johnny dropped Ron on his ass before he did kill him.
“So you prey on old ladies and young women too?” Brewer growled. Now more worried for the cop than Ron, Johnny planted himself in front of the moaning mound of shit on the floor, keeping Brewer from reaching him. “Hey, can we get some pics of this guy for proof?” He heard a dozen cameras going off, the cop’s included. Then Brewer was on the phone. In less than ten minutes, two uniforms and some EMTs arrived to take Ron away.
Johnny introduced himself to Officer Brewer and described what he’d witnessed. “Lara won’t be in any trouble, will she?”
“Oh, hell no. I have witnesses and pictures as proof. From what Lara mentioned, he did this before at the bar where she works too.”
Next to him, Lara nodded.
“I was there,” Johnny said. “I’ll testify to it. So can Lara’s boss and a few others.”
Brewer smiled. “I can’t stand types like Howell. They take what they want when they want it and step over everyone in the way. Lara, I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks, Matt.”
“I can’t promise he’ll do a lot of time, because he does have contacts in high places. But I can guarantee he gets in front of the right judge for attempted rape, assault, hmm, maybe robbery too? You were clearly here when he entered.”
“He’s a rich guy. Doubt that would stick,” Johnny had to mention.
Lara added, “My door was op—”
“Stepping away now. Can’t hear you. Gotta go book a dirtbag. You staying with her?” Brewer asked Johnny.
“Yeah.”
“Good. Lara, Johnny.” Brewer left her apartment with the others.
Then just Johnny and Lara remained.
She looked wild, her hair still in disarray, her poor cheek a purple oval. She had bruises on her hands and probably her feet too. She’d beaten the hell out of Howell.
Johnny couldn’t be prouder.
Lara, apparently, couldn’t be angrier. “Why are you here?” she bit out.
“Let’s get you cleaned up, hmm?”
“I don’t need your help. You shut me out, remember?”
She walked stiffly to the couch and sat, no doubt trying to look tough, in control. But he saw her tremor, and he wanted to kill Ron for it.
He sat on her rickety coffee table, facing her. He frowned when she clasped her shaking hands together. “Let’s take you in to see a doctor.”
“No. I’m not leaving my apartment. I’m staying. ’Cause that’s what I do. I have staying power. I don’t walk away when life gets rough.” Her eyes reflected unshed tears.
Johnny grew fiercer. “Fine. I’ll stay with you.”
“For how long?” she blurted. “Until you get scared again? Please. I can take care of myself. I don’t need you to do it.”
“Then why did you say you loved me?” he asked, confused. “You don’t need me.”
“No. I don’t.”
“So why then?”
“Because I love you, you idiot. I don’t have to need you to love you. When I told you it was too bad all of you wasn’t so pretty, I meant it. I could ignore just a pretty face. But you’re so much more than that. You care for people. You’re generous, kind, amazing in bed, and you make me laugh. And you’re so smart.” She scowled. “So how are you so stupid? Do you really not know how much I love you? You big m-moron.”
He sat and watched her spew anger and tears. She said something else, because he saw her lips form words, but he heard nothing more than that she still loved him.
She wiped her nose on her sleeve. “Well?”
“You’re even pretty when you cry.”
She blinked, her eyes swollen from tears, her nose red and stuffy, her cheek a purplish-blue. “Did you hear anything I said?”
“I don’t need you to tell me I’m spineless when it comes to relationships.” He sighed and rubbed her knees, being careful of her in such a frail state. “Lara, I’m good at sex. Well, and jokes. I’m a funny guy. I grew up watching my dad laugh off every bad thing that happened to him. He makes smart financial decisions, but when it comes to women, he’s clueless.”
“And so are you,” she accused and wiped her eyes again.
“And so am I.” He left his spot and returned with a box of tissues he handed to her.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He just stared at her, and it all came pouring out. “I love you so much it hurts. I think I loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you, if you can believe it.”
“Oh, Johnny.”
“I was glad you turned me down so many times. You didn’t want a hookup, which was all I was after at the time. I knew you were—and are—way too good for me. But I wanted you anyway. When that asshole assaulted you that first time, it let me be someone you could need. Someone who had something to give you. My help.”
“Your fists.”
He took her hand in his and kissed her bruises.
“Stop.”
He heard the quiver in her voice and set her hand down, then picked up the other and gave it the same attention. “I hear you missed me.” He looked into her eyes.
“Maybe I missed you a little. But I have no respect for someone who could—who could th-throw me away like that.”
The tears came down in earnest, and Johnny swore. He moved to the couch, took her carefully into his arms, and held her until the storm passed.
“I love you,” he said over and over until she subsided into tearful shudders. “Let me care for you, okay? I owe you.”
“You do,” came the quiet rejoinder.
He fixed her a bath, then helped her ease into it. With the exception of the bruise on her cheek and those from where she’d hit the bastard, she looked physically fine. But her sleepy eyes and little shakes hurt him deep inside. His poor woman
had been through a lot tonight.
He finally took her from the bath and dried her off.
“Quit being nice to me,” she whispered.
“Quit being bitchy,” he whispered back and saw a smile she tried to hide.
Then he lifted her in his arms and took her to bed. He didn’t bother with nightclothes, just slid her between the sheets and lay with her, holding her close.
* * *
When Lara woke, it was to a sunny day and the smell of bacon frying and coffee brewing. She sat up, feeling achy despite only getting punched in the face. As the events from the previous day unfolded, she got up, stretched a little, and found she felt fine—except for her throbbing cheekbone.
“Shit, I’m late.” Hustling into sweats and a T-shirt she’d change out of at the hospital, she grabbed a set of scrubs and raced into the living room, then stopped short.
Lou Cortez held a bouquet of flowers in his hand and was gesturing to Johnny, who stood stonily and shook his head.
The pair must have sensed her, because they both turned.
She gasped. “What happened to you?” she asked Lou.
He sported a black eye and a displeased expression. “I ran into a door.”
“Um, okay.” She took the flowers he handed her.
He looked her over, then grunted and turned to Johnny. “We square?”
“Yeah.”
Lou left her with more questions than answers.
“Really?” Johnny shook his head. “I might have believed you and Foley having a thing, but not you and Lou.”
She flushed. “Not my idea. Del thought that if you saw me with another guy, you’d get jealous.”
“No shit.”
She didn’t know what to say.
“Lara, I know you went through a lot yesterday, and you might not remember me saying this, but I fucking love you.” The exact same words he’d said the first time they’d truly made love.
She blinked so as not to cry, but the jerk saw it. “I’m not crying because of you.”
“Yeah, and I didn’t run far away because I thought I had nothing to give you but a good time.”
“You really thought that?”
“I’m really that much of a dumbass. So I’ve been told by everyone over and over and over again. So please, don’t feel the need to hold back.”
“You’re a dumbass.”
He groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Can you forgive me for bailing? I mean, if you can’t, I get it. But this time I’m not going away. I’ll just keep annoying you until you finally give in and forgive me.” He walked to her and stopped, then caressed her cheek with a finger. The Johnny move. The one she couldn’t ignore.
“I don’t know why I love you.”
His smile turned him from handsome into earth-shatteringly beautiful. “Maybe it’s because you’re so smart you’re scary. Because you know if anyone’s obsessed with you it’s me. Or maybe you like nursing so much you need a wounded soul in your life. Or maybe—”
“I just have great taste,” she finished for him and did what she’d been wanting to do—she kissed him.
When they finally parted, he cupped her cheeks and kissed her once more. “I love you so damn much.” The joy in his eyes made his love plain to see.
“That’s a quarter for the swear jar.”
“Fuck it. Let’s make it a solid damn dollar for my shitty treatment of the most beautiful, smartest, funniest woman in the world.”
“Well, if you put it like that…” She kissed him again, but before they turned hot and heavy, he stopped her.
“A few things.”
“Really?” She gripped the solid evidence of his arousal, and he hissed. “You want to talk now?”
“Really.” He sounded strangled. “First, you’re not going to school today. I called Kelly from your class—she’s on your cell phone—and explained. You’re covered for the week.”
“But—”
“No.” Forceful Johnny had returned, and she shivered in his arms. “Second, we need to get you to the police station so you can make a statement.”
A good thing Ron had already settled with Kristin in one lump-sum payment. Being rich had its perks. Especially when it came to expediting the legal process.
“Okay.”
“I’m not done,” he said when she groped him again. His breathing grew faster. “Third, I want you to move in with me.”
She froze.
“I know this is soon, but, honey, I love you. I don’t want to smother you or anything, but your security sucks. I broke down your door in two seconds.”
“Because you’re a brute.”
He smiled. “Gee, thanks.”
“Well, maybe. After Ron, I admit the place is kind of tainted.”
“Look at it this way. I need more help than you do. I can’t cook worth a damn.”
She studied him, seeing what she’d missed earlier. “Aw, Johnny. You lost weight. You were mourning me, weren’t you?” Delighted at the thought of his misery, because, well, he’d earned it, she smiled, then laughed when he blushed. “And you’re turning red. So cute.”
“You can be so mean sometimes.” He sighed. “That’s another reason why I love you. Do you know Jenna called to see if I’d come to my senses and snapped you up? My father is on my ass to stop being stupid and hold on to you. Lou—even after I punched him in the face for pretending to act like you and he had a thing—actually said you’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Lou said that? Wow. That’s surprising. Del had to twist his arm to agree to this stupid stunt—according to Lou. I thought he hated me.”
“Nah. He’s just protective.” Johnny’s eyes blurred, and she couldn’t tell if it was because of her tears or his. “He’s family. My extended, loud-mouthed Webster-centered family thinks I’m a sucky human being without you.” He wiped her eyes, then his. “Lara, I’m not perfect.” Before she could say no shit, he muzzled her with his hand. “My head is messed up about stuff, but for you, I’ll get help. And I won’t run the next time I have a problem.”
She kissed his hand, and when he removed it, she kissed those sweet lips, telling him everything would be all right. “I love you too, baby.”
He moaned. “I love when you call me baby.”
She smiled. “I know. I can feel how much you love it.” She rubbed against him. “So if we could hurry up and get done all the mushy stuff, I’ll move in with you.”
“Great.”
“But I’ll pay rent.”
“You cook and do laundry, we’ll call it even.”
She opened her mouth to argue, thought the better of it, then nodded. “Okay. That will help with my college fund. And don’t even think about offering to help me pay for it,” she threatened. She still didn’t know if she’d gotten that scholarship or not, but not having to pay rent would be a huge load off her financial shoulders.
“Fine. But once we’re engaged, you know, when you finally get that bug out of your ass about needing to be with some rich guy in Upper Queen Anne, can I help you pay for things then?”
She gaped like a fish, not sure if she’d received a marriage proposal or not. “But, I, um…”
“I know I’m hot, so looks and a big dick aren’t the problem.”
She closed her eyes, feeling flush, then opened them, unable to look away from his shining gaze for long.
“Sweetheart, I love you. I want to marry you, warts and all.” He kissed her tenderly.
“Wait a minute. Who has warts?”
“I meant me. I’m a frog who’s never going to turn into a prince.”
“But you’re my frog.” She kissed him again and moaned when he cupped her breasts and flicked her nipples. “And you have a really big dick.”
He smiled against her lips. “Don’t forget the sexy tattoo and dominant personality in bed. You know, the stuff that gets you all wet for me.”
“Oh God. Would you stop sweet-talking me? Okay, I’ll marry you.”
“You will?”
She snickered. “That’s what you were asking, isn’t it?”
“I, ah, yeah. But I thought you’d make me wait.”
His surprised pleasure grounded her despite her skyrocketing arousal. “Oh, we’ll wait. I want a long engagement, and some therapy for you and me, together. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll wear that nurse uniform for you for your birthday.”
He gave her a smug grin. “That’s in another week.”
“Yeah, well you missed mine, baby. So I figure you owe me first.”
He took off her shirt and stripped her down to her panties. “How about we let you feel my mighty hot rod between your legs and see how you feel?”
She moaned when he slid two fingers inside her and stroked. “Only if it’s a one-way trip to funville.”
“For you, baby, anything. Anything at all.”
Chapter 22
Two weeks until Christmas, and Foley glared at Johnny, who’d taken to fucking singing Christmas carols during the day. Ass was all in love and grooving to his own tunes now that Lara had taken pity on him. A fine woman like that and Johnny Devlin. Maybe hell had frozen over.
“Hey, Foley, did you take my quarter-inch ratchet?” Sam yelled.
“Huh?”
“Dude, my quarter-inch air ratchet. I can’t find it.”
Foley glanced at Sam’s toolbox and cringed at the abundant disorganization. “I’m surprised you can find your toolbox under that grime.”
Sam studied his station. “What?”
“Nothing.” Poor bastard had been living in clutter since he was a kid, and despite Foley and Foley’s mom’s best attempts to organize him, Sam refused to cooperate. “Check the counter over there.” Where he’d last seen Sam messing around with a part.
“Oh, right.”
Foley nodded, content with his place in the grand scheme of things. He watched over the garage when Liam or Del weren’t around, like this afternoon. Lou often had painting assignments and hung out at Heller’s Paint Shop lately, though they’d managed to snag him for the shit work this week. His turn, after all. Plus, the guy could always be counted on for a good time at Ray’s.
Now that Sue had finally forgiven Foley for, gee, adhering to the rules they’d both set for themselves before fooling around, he figured Ray’s was a safe enough place to hang out this weekend. Truth be told, he was tired of pulling security at Strutts. The strip club had been fun, but he didn’t want an easy blow job with no strings attached anymore.