by James, Anna
He carried her the rest of the way and only put her down to fill the tub. His fingers made quick work of the buttons on her blouse. His soft curse when her shoulder was bared had her wincing. She glanced over and saw more blue and purple covering the entire area.
When the tub filled, she lowered herself into the water, leaned back, and closed her eyes. The splash a moment later made her eyes snap open. A naked Max loomed over her. A Greek god with strong, honed muscles and despite her fatigue, a lick of heat ran through her.
“Scooch forward and I’ll sit behind you.”
She winged up her eyebrow and gave him one of his own imperious glances and he laughed, then she did as he asked. His large frame barely fit in the tub and he had to bend his knees. He snaked an arm around her waist when he settled and drew her near.
“We need a bigger tub,” she said as she wedged up against him.
“Mmm. Just lean back and close your eyes and let the warm water ease your sore muscles.”
His deep, hypnotic voice washed over her and she did just that. They lay quietly for a long time and she’d been on the verge of dozing off when he spoke.
“I have a business meeting in New York the day after tomorrow.”
She twisted around and tilted her head up to see him. “New York? Does that mean you’re considering relocating?”
He smiled and then kissed her gently. “Not a chance. I’d be based out of downtown Chicago.”
She released a pent-up breath. “How long will you be gone?”
“I’m not sure, but at least a couple of days. I want to install a home security system here at the house. I need to make sure you, and Kate, are safe, especially when I can’t be here.”
“I—”
Why are you resisting? the voice inside her asked. Release some of the burden you’ve carried for these last six years. Let someone take care of you for a change.
The longing she’d buried deep inside started bubbling to the surface.
Trust him, the voice encouraged.
She closed her eyes and leaned back against Max, wanting desperately to do just that.
His arms closed around her and held her tight.
She relaxed and let his strength seep into her. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yes. I don’t want to go through anything like I did today ever again. If you can make things safer for us when we’re here, I’m all for it.”
“Good. I’ll arrange for someone to come in tomorrow. In the meantime, I’m sticking to you like glue.”
A little shiver ran down her spine. “Sounds promising.”
He nibbled on her ear. “Someone is feeling better.”
She laughed and tilted her neck to give him better access.
The pounding on the bathroom door a moment later startled her and Max muttered a curse.
“How much longer are you going to be, Nicole? I need to leave in half an hour and I still have to shower,” Kate called.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Max muttered.
“Shh,” she whispered. “I’m afraid not. We only have one bathroom in the house.”
He hefted himself up. “One bathroom. Of course.”
“Who are you talking to?” Kate asked.
“Me,” Max said loudly.
Nicole cringed. She had nothing to be ashamed of but still, some things needed to stay private.
“Oh, um, I’ll just wait in my room till you’re done.”
Kate’s footsteps echoed down the hall then a door closed.
Max tucked a towel around his narrow waist and gathered up his clothes. He turned to face her. “What?” he asked when she only stared.
“We need bigger towels, too.”
He laughed, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her down the hall to her room. “Bathroom’s free,” he called when they passed Kate’s bedroom.
Much later, after an evening of incredible lovemaking, Nicole lay sated in the warmth and security of Max’s embrace, hovering somewhere between sleep and wakefulness. Her cell phone vibrated on the nightstand adjacent to her bed. It might be Ashley or Kate, she thought and reached out to grab it.
Her hand shook when she read the words on the screen.
That check you received today was rightfully mine and you’ll pay dearly for depriving me of it. Better be careful when you’re out and about alone. You never know who’s lurking around the corner. Next time you might not be so lucky.
Her heart hammered as realization dawned. Carlo had mugged her and he was ticked the money she’d gotten from the sale of her mother’s pendant wasn’t in her purse. Next time you might not be so lucky. She hadn’t been lucky so far. What could he do to her he hadn’t already done? Fear knifed through her as she considered the possibilities.
Chapter 15
The door bell rang.
Nicole exited her bedroom and hurried downstairs. Max and Reed stood in the open doorway. Reed said a quick hello as he passed by and headed straight for Ashley, who sat on the living room sofa watching television. Max pulled her through the opening and out onto the porch, jerked the door closed, and wrapped his arms around her. His lips came down, hot and hungry, on hers.
“What was that for?” she asked dazedly when he released her a few minutes later.
“I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
Her lips curved up into a smile. “It’s only been three days. How did your meeting in New York go?”
“It went well. God, I missed you.” He kissed her again, pulling her hard against him.
She groaned when her pelvis came into contact with his growing erection.
“How much time do we have before we have to leave?”
She sighed. “None, but we can be alone tonight. I’m not working at the restaurant.”
“I’ve got to fly back to New York after the ball game today.”
“So soon? But you just got back late last night.”
“Believe me, sweetheart, I wish I didn’t have to go. I’d much rather spend time with you, but we have a few more details to work out before we can finalize the partnership and my contact is leaving for Paris on Monday morning. He’ll be gone for at least eight weeks. We either meet tomorrow or I have to wait until he gets back.” He gazed into her eyes. “You’re still not sleeping well.”
No, she wasn’t. Not since the mugging, even with the new security system Max had installed. The constant worry over what Carlo would do next had her looking over her shoulder at every turn and tossing and turning well into the early hours of the morning.
“I worry about you. You’re pushing yourself. Too hard, in my opinion. I know Ashley is home so you can fit her dress, but promise me you’ll get some sleep while I’m gone.”
She smiled and savored the warmth spreading through her at his caring words. She’d been carrying the burden alone for so long now and it still amazed her to have someone worried about her well-being. “I will.” His lips crushed hers again, and Nicole gave herself up to the pure bliss of the moment.
“Will you two get a room already?”
Heat crept up her neck as she eased out of Max’s arms and turned her attention to Reed, who stood in the door opening. He rolled his eyes and let out something between a snort and a laugh.
“Right back at you, bro,” Max said. “You might want to wipe the lipstick off your face.”
Reed blushed and lifted a hand to his cheek and rubbed.
Kate came out on the porch to join them. She handed Nicole her purse and a light jacket. “You guys ready to go?”
“Yes,” Nicole said.
“Wait for me,” Ashley called and hurried down the staircase and out the door.
Max waited for her to set the alarm and lock the house while the others headed toward the car. “Remi
nd me again how our date for the baseball game went from the two of us to the five of us?” he asked.
Nicole brushed her lips across his. “You reluctantly agreed to let them join us after mentioning we were going, and Reed thought it would be great if all of us went together.”
“What the hell was I thinking?”
She laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll have a great time.”
“Mm,” he responded, but didn’t sound as if he believed it.
Two hours later they sat behind home plate watching the game. “Is anyone hungry?” Ashley asked. “I’ll go get some snacks.”
“What’s a baseball game without beer and nachos?” Reed said.
“Works for me,” Max added.
“What about you, Nicole?” Ashley asked.
She nodded.
“Will you come and help me carry everything back?”
“Sure.” She gave Max a quick kiss and followed Ashley.
“So . . .” Ashley began when they reached the line at the concession stand.
Nicole raised her eyebrows inquiringly. “Yes?”
“What’s the deal with you and Max? Reed says you two are spending a lot of time together.”
She grinned and enjoyed the tiny shivers racing through her at the mention of his name. “I think I’m in love with him.”
Ashley gasped.
“But, you can’t say anything, even to Kate, because I haven’t told him yet.”
“Good grief, Nicole. What happened to your other boyfriend? I thought things were serious with him?”
Nicole frowned. “What are you talking about? Max is the first guy I’ve dated in months.”
“What about your mystery man? You know, the guy you’ve been seeing every weekend for the last six months.”
She grinned. “I guess it’s time to come clean on that score. I wasn’t seeing anyone.”
“Then where have you been going every weekend?”
“To the restaurant.”
“The restaurant? Why? I thought you quit when you got the job working for Reed.”
“I did.”
“So why are you back working there again?”
Nicole wrung her hands together. “I’m a little short on cash.” That part was the truth, but she wouldn’t get into the reason for the deficit.
Ashley gave her a speculative glance. “Does this have anything to do with the wedding?”
“No, not at all. Reed’s been very generous agreeing to pay for everything.”
They stepped up to the counter and placed their order. “Then, why didn’t you say something?” Ashley asked while they waited for their food and drinks.
“I didn’t want to worry you or Kate. You’ve both got enough on your plates.”
“So, Kate doesn’t know?” Ashley persisted.
She shook her head. “And I don’t want her to.”
“Why?”
Nicole glared at her sister. “Because I said so.”
Ashley folded her arms across her chest. “That doesn’t work anymore, Nicole. What about Max, does he know?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me or Kate?”
“I really don’t want to get into it.”
“What’s with this secretive crap you’ve been pulling lately? You didn’t even tell me about getting mugged. I had to find out from Reed. Kate and I are not children anymore. We’re both adults. We have a right to know what’s going on, especially if it involves us.”
Nicole sighed. “You’re right, and I’m sorry. I should have told you about the mugging myself.”
Ashley rolled her eyes. “For heaven’s sakes. You can stonewall me all you want but I won’t stop pestering you until you tell me why you’re short on money.”
A frustrated growl escaped from her parted lips. “Fine. Let’s just say I made a really bad investment.”
“How much did you lose?”
“Ten thousand.”
Ashley’s jaw dropped. “Oh no. Kate’s tuition.”
“Now do you see why I didn’t want to say anything?”
Ashley nodded. “I’ll talk to Reed. I’m sure—”
“No. I got myself into this mess and I will get myself out somehow. Now promise me you won’t say anything.”
Ashley sighed. “Okay, but under one condition.”
“Ashley—”
“I mean it, Nicole. You have to promise if you can’t get the money back in time, you’ll come to us for help.”
Nicole sucked in a deep breath. “Okay, I will.”
Later that night, Nicole yawned and brought the Lincoln to a stop at the red light. She’d dropped Max off at the airport earlier and he’d insisted on her using his car while he was away. Good thing too, because the restaurant called and needed her to fill in at the last minute and Kate had taken their car to meet up with some friends.
Come on light. Turn green. She didn’t like sitting here alone, out in the open, and wanted to get home. Now.
You’re being ridiculous, the voice inside her chastised. You should be worrying about finishing the alterations to Ashley’s dress before she goes back to school tomorrow afternoon and not letting Carlo’s threats intimidate you.
Of course she shouldn’t because that was exactly what he wanted. Still, a trickle of fear whispered down her spine. Stop it right now.
The light turned green and she breathed a sigh of relief. Her foot pressed down on the accelerator.
Suddenly a car crossed the center line and streaked toward her. Heart pounding, she slammed on the brakes.
Then the world went black.
Chapter 16
Rhythmic beeping and buzzing sounds penetrated Nicole’s muzzy brain. The throbbing at her temples came next. A soft voice called to her.
“Come on, sweetheart, open your eyes. You can do it. Please open your eyes.”
Her eyelids fluttered and flickered open and the room came into focus. What am I doing in a hospital? The pounding in her head grew louder the more she concentrated. A soft moan escaped her parted lips.
“Nicole,” Max said. He brought her hand to his lips and planted a soft kiss on her palm. “Thank God you’re awake.”
“What am I doing here?”
“Don’t you remember?”
Nicole sighed. “My head hurts. I can’t think.”
“You had a car accident.”
A memory flashed into her mind. An oncoming car heading straight for her as if . . . As if it wanted to hit her. No, that couldn’t be right because the car swerved at the last second, avoiding a head-on crash, skidding into the passenger side instead. “I’ll find a way to pay for the damage to your car.”
He dragged an unsteady hand through his already disheveled hair. “Do you think I give a damn about the car?”
“I . . .”
“Why were you on the road at one o’clock in the morning? You didn’t have to work and—”
“The restaurant called on the way back from dropping you at the airport and asked me to fill in.” She frowned. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in New York.”
“I came home as soon as I heard about the accident.”
“But your meeting?”
“I’ll reschedule the damn meeting. It isn’t important. The only thing that matters to me right now is that you’re going to be okay.” He shook his head. “You can’t continue at this pace, Nicole. I want you to quit your job at the restaurant.”
“I can’t. You know that. I—”
“Need the money, I know, but at what cost? You could have been killed tonight. When I think . . .” A shudder ripped through him. He gripped her hand and squeezed tight. “I don’t know what I woul
d have done if I’d lost you.”
“I’m all right,” she said.
“Thank goodness. I hope the police catch the bastard who did this and puts them behind bars.”
“What do you mean, catch?”
“The driver fled the scene of the accident. The police found the car abandoned on the side of the road about a quarter of a mile away. It was reported stolen earlier in the evening. Did you get a look at him or her by any chance?”
An image of Carlo invaded her head. No. She was being paranoid. She hadn’t seen the person driving the other car. It had been too dark.
You’re gonna pay. His threat reverberated in her mind. No! This was crazy. Even Carlo wouldn’t be stupid enough to crash a car into her. Would he?
Chapter 17
Nicole sat in the passenger seat of the car she shared with her sister as Kate drove.
“How are you feeling?” Kate asked.
She gave her a weak smile. “Okay.”
“You don’t look okay. You’ve turned a putrid shade of green. Are you sure you still want to go to the mall? I can take you home if you’re not feeling well.”
The hospital released her last evening after twenty-four hours of observation and several tests, satisfied she hadn’t suffered any significant injuries, so the throbbing in her head and nauseous stomach had nothing to do with the accident and everything to do with the text message she’d received a few minutes ago as she and Kate had gotten in the car.
She hadn’t been paranoid after all. Carlo had caused the accident. And that scared the hell out of her because if he was willing to ram a car into her, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to get what he wanted.
“Nicole?”
She turned to face Kate. “Yes?”
“Do you want me to take you back home?”
“No. I need to pick up a few things at the fabric store to put the finishing touches on Ashley’s gown.”