by J. H. Croix
“Do you have food for her?” I whispered, hoping the sound of my voice wouldn’t scare Callie.
“No. I didn’t… Dammit. I didn’t even think of that. What else do I need?” he asked in whisper.
“I thought you’d been leaving food out for her.”
“Just things like leftover chicken and tuna,” he said with a shrug.
“Have you ever had a cat?”
He shook his head, his eyes wide and worried.
I bit my lip to keep from laughing aloud. “Okay, you need food, a litter box and cat litter. How about I go get everything and you stay here?”
He nodded quickly. I started to turn away and then spun back. “Maybe let her explore a bit, but if it looks like she’s getting skittish, open the door. We don’t want her to feel trapped. She’s been living under the stairs here long enough, I doubt she’ll take off.”
I started to turn away again when I felt his hand curl around my arm. He reeled me back, right into his arms. “Thanks,” he said gruffly before dipping his head for a kiss.
All he did was brush his lips against mine, but it felt so damn good, it left me flustered. I watched as he stepped away and quietly went back into his apartment. I jogged the few blocks back to my place and quickly changed into dry clothes before heading out to the grocery store.
I called Olivia on the way.
“Hey, what’s up?” she asked as soon as she picked up.
“Just calling to let you know I might be a little later than I planned.”
“Okay. If you don’t have time…”
“Oh no. I have time. I’m just picking up cat supplies for Alex.”
“Now you have to explain,” she said, and I could hear the smile in her voice.
I quickly summarized how he’d been trying to lure Callie inside and Callie finally braving the inside this morning. Olivia laughed, the sound petering out with a sigh.
“You know, I’ve been trying to stay out of your way, but Alex is a really great guy. In case you hadn’t noticed yet,” she said pointedly.
I took a breath and tried to beat back the little dance my heart did. “I’ve noticed,” I finally said.
My chest tightened and a funny feeling rose inside. It was so unfamiliar, I wanted to shy away, but it was like a ray of sun casting a beam across my heart and I couldn’t ignore it. It was joy. Something I’d thought long gone from my life. I’d been content with feeling peaceful and not afraid. I hadn’t dared to consider more. Most certainly not what I felt with Alex—this scalding hot desire, softened only by the way it felt to be with him. He was so strong, so protective, that I wanted nothing other than to wrap myself in him. Safe wasn’t something I’d ever counted on again, but it’s how I felt with Alex...and that scared the hell out of me.
“While I’m at it, I also think Daisy’s right. You’re not really a fling kind of person,” Olivia added.
Laughter bubbled up. My emotions were running so high, I felt almost punch drunk. When I could catch my breath, I said, “Wow, Daisy would love to hear you think she’s right.”
“I’ll make sure to tell her. Meanwhile, nice deflection there. No comment on whether you’re a fling person?” she asked.
I bit my lip and clicked on my blinker to turn into the grocery store parking lot. “Maybe I’m not. I’ll have to think about it.”
“Well, while you’re thinking about it, don’t forget there aren’t too many guys who would play the long game to take care of a stray cat. Alex is one of a rare few. Plus, he’s totally hot. Not my kind of hot, but you’re kind. And he’s way into you.” I could hear another voice in the background. “Gotta go. Liam’s about to fall off the ladder. I’ll see you whenever you get here.”
A few hours later, I stood in the hallway outside Alex’s door again. Callie was still inside. She’d gone outside once or twice while he’d wisely opened the backdoor of his apartment, which opened onto a small, enclosed yard. She’d carefully investigated the yard and leapt the fence to run around the front and check her little spot under the stairs. The rain kept falling all day. After her brief return to the outside, she’d raced back inside and curled up on the windowsill on a small pillow Alex had placed there for her when she kept circling and trying to get comfortable.
I could’ve stayed there all day and really wanted to, yet the depth of that wanting made me anxious, so I found myself where I was. Looking up at Alex, rubbing the soft fabric of my sweatshirt hem between my fingers and clutching my car keys with the other. “Well, I should go. Olivia’s probably wondering where I am now.”
His dark eyes held mine. After a beat, he nodded. “Right then. I’d offer to come with you, but…” He gestured behind him.
“You have to stay with Callie,” I said quickly.
“How about you come back later? You could bring Stanley back with you,” he offered with a slight smile.
I had brought Stanley with me after my trip to the store. He’d wandered in the back yard and curled up by the door. Callie didn’t seem bothered by him, and Stanley had enough sense to hang back. At the moment, Stanley was waiting by the outer door, his eyes pinned to the street. Before I thought about it, I was nodding. Because that’s exactly what I wanted to do. Come back here and curl up on Alex’s couch while it was raining.
At my nod, Alex flashed another one of his devastating grins. His grins weren’t thrown around casually, so every time I got one, my heart did a little hop, skip and jump. He dipped his head and brushed his lips across mine. I instinctively flexed into him.
“Not enough,” I murmured against his lips as I slipped my hand into his rumpled hair and tugged him to me.
I could feel his smile against my lips, just before his tongue swept into my mouth. He lifted me against him and spun me against the door behind us. I’d gotten more than I bargained for with his hard, hot body pressed against mine. There were kisses and then there were Alex’s kisses—long, slow, hot, and deep. By the time I came up for air, it was a damn good thing I had the wall behind me and Alex holding me up. Otherwise, I’d have melted to the floor. Somehow I managed to gather myself together enough to push away from the wall when Alex stepped back.
“Okay, then…I’ll see you later,” I said weakly, little shocks of pleasure pinging through my body.
He reached over and brushed a lock of hair off my cheek, tucking it behind my ear. A shiver chased in the wake of his touch. “Okay then.”
I had to order my feet to move and made my way down his front steps on shaky legs. I reached the sidewalk and stopped, discombobulated enough I couldn’t recall where my car was. Stanley nudged my leg and I glanced down to see him looking to the right. Following his gaze, I remembered where my car was—a block down the street on the other side. I gave myself a mental shake and started walking that way, Stanley following alongside me, his presence steady and calm.
We crossed the street. I had my keys in hand and my eyes on my car when I heard a voice call my name. I reflexively turned toward the voice, but my body reacted before I knew for certain who it was. Dread coiled in the pit of my stomach, a flash of panic knotting my chest. I didn’t want to look, but my eyes went right to Joe Schmidt. He stood a short distance beyond my car. He was tall and lanky. His dull blonde hair was damp from the rain. I swallowed and fought the urge to run. I was frozen in place, my feet rooted to the sidewalk. Stanley stepped closer to me, his body pressing against my leg. I could feel his low growl rumbling.
I stared at Joe, unable to look away. He looked back at me, his flat gray eyes exactly as I remembered. I’d only seen him a few times up close, but the expression in his eyes had been the same—flat with a hint of anger. I didn’t remember the look in his eyes when he raped me. I watched as Joe closed the distance between us, panic tightening like a vise around my throat and chest. He stopped a few feet away, as if conscious of the fact we were on the street in full view of anyone who happened to be nearby.
“Tell your boyfriend to back off,” Joe said, his expression never cha
nging. “I don’t have anything else to answer for and I sure as hell don’t need the media stirring this shit up.”
I stared at him, genuinely puzzled by what he meant. Alex hadn’t done anything with the press. In fact, I’d said more to the press with my interview than Alex had at all. Anger rose inside, a forceful wave rocking me. I could feel myself shaking, tremors rippling through me. This feeling—the fear, the panic, the inability to reel in my visceral reaction to Joe—had been what drove me to accept the prosecutor’s suggestion that they offer a plea deal to Joe. I had the option to refuse, but the months of volleys from his defense attorney had only made it worse. I’d gone from numb to paralyzed by anxiety and so many sleepless nights, I could hardly function. It had been a relief when it all ended.
I finally managed to speak. “You got off easy, and you damn well know it,” I spat out, experiencing a flash of satisfaction when Joe’s eyes widened slightly. I imagined he thought his intimidation tactics would work with me. He should’ve remembered I’d fought like hell before even if I didn’t have enough strength and force to hold him off. “Alex hasn’t talked to the press, but I have and I’ll keep doing it if I feel like it. You took the deal they offered and it didn’t involve me keeping my mouth shut.”
“You fuckin’ bitch,” Joe said, advancing on me.
Panic roared through me—I felt cold and numb all over, my hands tingly and my pulse racing so fast, I could hardly breathe. I heard my name again. This time it was Alex’s voice, the sound of it ringing like a bell inside of me. Relief hit me so hard, I almost stumbled. Before I could even turn to see him approaching, I heard someone call his name. I turned to see Alex running toward Joe with Ethan hot on his heels. Alex bolted past me, his hand curling into Joe’s jacket and yanking him off his feet.
Ethan caught Alex’s arm just as he pulled it back, I assumed to plow it into Joe’s sneering face. Alex tried to shake free, but Ethan didn’t back down. “Don’t make things worse, mate.”
Alex never even turned Ethan’s way and held tight to Joe. “Back the fuck off, you bloody arse. Don’t you dare come near her again. Understood?”
Spit flew from Alex’s mouth and landed on Joe’s face, the force of his words vibrating with his anger. Ethan caught my eyes and nodded his head toward Alex’s building. I had no idea where he’d come from. I’m sure Alex would’ve preferred I get the hell out of the way, but I wasn’t going anywhere.
Ethan’s focus shifted away from me when Alex tried to shake his arm free again. Ethan held firm. “Bloody hell,” Alex muttered. He eased his grip on Joe’s shirt and took a step back. “Stay the hell away from her.”
Joe’s sneer hadn’t faded. “Not gonna look too good for you now, is it?” he taunted.
Ethan stepped in front of Alex, literally shoving him out of the way. It was only now dawning on me Joe might’ve been trying to provoke Alex. Ethan’s unexpected appearance was a huge relief, if only because he had the height and strength to contain Alex. While a part of me would’ve relished witnessing Joe get his ass kicked, I didn’t want Alex in any more legal trouble than he already was.
“You got nowhere with this,” Ethan snarled, his finger in Joe’s face. “Now get the fuck out of here before I punch you next.”
Joe backed away rapidly. “Fuck off!” he called as he reached the corner and bolted down a side street.
Ethan turned back to us, his gaze scanning Alex. “Don’t follow him, mate. That’s what he wants.”
Alex glared at him. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Saving your bloody arse from more charges,” Ethan retorted.
Joe was out of sight now. Alex’s fists were clenched and his features hard. After a moment, he gave his head a shake and looked to me, his concerned gaze coasting over me. “Are you okay? What did he say to you?”
“Not much. He said to tell you to back off and something about not needing the media to stir things up.” My entire body was buzzing—the panicky numbness had given way to relief.
Alex stepped to my side, his palm sliding down my back in a slow pass. His touch was so comforting and his presence so strong, I wanted to collapse against him.
“Hey, easy luv. You’re shaking. Fuck, are you sure you’re okay? That fucking asshole. I’ll…”
Alex had started to tense up, and I shook my head. “You will not chase after him,” I managed. I hadn’t even noticed I was still shaking, but my brain was functioning enough to know Ethan was right. It was way too convenient that Joe happened to be across the street from Alex’s apartment and happened to be there right after I was leaving. The thought that he might’ve been watching us sent a cold bolt of fear through me. “I’m fine. The shaking thing is just because…well, just because. Come on, let’s go inside.”
Ethan walked in silence beside us as we crossed the street and returned to Alex’s apartment. Stanley was pretty much glued to my side, his solid, steady presence warm and comforting. I’d completely lost track of the fact it was still raining until we stepped back into Alex’s apartment. He strode quickly to the bathroom and returned with a towel as I sank into one of the chairs at his kitchen table. Ethan shook his jacket off and hung it by the door before sitting down with me.
He glanced over at Alex who stood by the counter, his hands gripping the edge of it as he looked over at me. I didn’t know how to interpret what was held in his gaze. It was dark and intent. Meanwhile, I was still reverberating internally from being closer to Joe than I’d been since he raped me. I’d had to see him in court a few times, but it had always been at a distance and the entire setting around us completely controlled. The times I’d seen him in the park had also been enough of a distance I hadn’t really felt what it was like to be near him.
Ethan’s voice made me jump. “Thought I’d stop by to check on your cat,” he said with a shrug. “Good thing, eh?”
Alex looked to him, his gaze puzzled. “Huh?”
Ethan drummed his fingers on the table. “Liam said you’ve got some stray. I was driving by, so figured I’d come see for myself. You’re such a softie.” He flashed a sly grin, and I sensed he was doing his damnedest to snap Alex out of his thoughts.
All things considered, I figured that might be a good thing right now. I didn’t want to dwell on what just happened and certainly not now. Alex’s gaze cleared, and he glanced to the window. Callie was still there, curled up on the little cushion. For a stray, she had an endearing preference for soft places to sleep. “Aye. There she is. How does Liam know? She just finally came inside this morning,” he said, glancing back to Ethan.
Ethan looked over at Callie. “She’s a scraggly little thing, eh?” He glanced back to Alex. “I dunno how Liam knew. He just did.”
“I told Olivia when I called to tell her I’d be later than I planned,” I said, suddenly recalling I had been on my way to see her before “Oh, I have to go!”
I stood abruptly. Alex immediately pushed away from the counter. “Don’t go.”
My heart gave a squeeze, and I wanted, oh how I wanted, to just stay right here in the haven of him. Oddly, I pushed back against that feeling. I’d spent so much time putting the pieces of myself back together, I didn’t want to let myself stumble back to a place where I worried about Joe and if I might encounter him somewhere. Even though I had plenty of misgivings about seeing him and plenty more about how it seemed he’d tried to up the ante on Alex’s charges, I couldn’t let him cow me. I shook my head. “It’s okay. I told Olivia I’d be over this afternoon, and I will. I’m not letting this change what I was planning to do.”
His gaze held mine, the force of it intense. His shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath. “Please stay,” he repeated.
I stepped to him and put my palm on his chest. His heart beat strong and steady underneath my touch. “I need to do this. Okay?”
Another deep breath, and he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his expression was pained, but he managed a nod. “Okay. I’ll walk you to your car.”
Ethan stood with us and called to Alex when we reached the door. “Don’t forget we’ve got practice in an hour. We can ride over together if you want.”
Alex glanced back, looking startled, his expression clearing after a second. “Bloody hell. Forgetting everything today. Sit tight, and I’ll be right back,” he said to Ethan.
Ethan nodded, his eyes catching mine. “We’ve got your back, Harper. You know that, right?”
Warmth bloomed in my chest. Ethan’s usual teasing manner had disappeared, and I was beyond relieved he’d chanced to stop by Alex’s place today. He’d kept a bad situation from getting far worse, and I figured his presence with Alex now would keep him from dwelling on Joe. I nodded. “I know. Hey, do me a favor?”
“Anything,” he said quickly.
“Keep Alex out of trouble.”
Ethan flashed a grin. “As long as I’m around, I’ll do my best.”
Chapter Seventeen
Alex
I threw myself into practice and was relieved Coach put us through a grueling one today. He started us off with running drills and didn’t let up for two full hours. We had a big game coming up in two weeks against a team we’d lost to last season. So far this year, we were ranked first in our conference and we wanted to keep it that way. After practice, I raced through a shower. The moment my focus from play ended, my mind spun right back to Harper. She was the wind that spun my weathervane, always spinning in reflex toward her. Ethan was conveniently as quick as I was and met me at the locker room doors. We stepped into the hallway together.
“Think maybe we should tell Coach what happened,” he said.
“Bloody hell,” I muttered in reply. “Nothing happened. You kept me from beating the guy senseless, so there’s no story.”