"I'll get your phone," she puts her cup on the counter and then starts to make her way back to the bedroom..
"Nikki, wait," I place my own cup on the counter before pulling her into my arms and placing a soft kiss on her lips.
"You just need to know that I meant what I said last night," she looks up at me with eyes full of confusion. "About hurting you. I didn’t say that because I was horny and wanted to get into your pants," I explain.
"I hope so Mace. I'm starting to have strong feelings for you and I don’t think I would survive it if you ever hurt my feelings in any way. I have a cracked heart that will shatter in a million pieces if you do hurt me," her words tug at my heartstrings, causing my curiosity to rear its head. I could see from the very first moment I saw her that she was sad, that something or someone broke her heart in the worst way. But it's not until now that she confirms it that I want to know exactly what and who the hell could hurt such a wonderful woman.
"Babe, what happened, who made you feel this way," I ask pulling her tighter into my arms.
"I'd rather not Mace. It's in the past and I want to keep it there." She whispers, as if saying it out loud will take her back to whatever it is that happened.
"Okay," I sigh kissing her forehead again. I do want to know what happened but making sure that, that sadness in her eyes dissipates forever is much more important. I have succeeded in getting her to smile, laugh and just enjoy life as it comes. And I plan to keep her that way, even if it is the last thing I do.
"I'll get that phone," she says as she gets out of my hold and makes her way my bedroom.
A few minutes later she walks back in with a smile on her lips and my phone to her ear. I'm sure she's smiling like that because she saw how I programmed her. I start walking toward the living room where I hear the song Despacito playing and I follow the faint sound. Damn she really does love that song if she's even set it as her ringtone. I finally find the phone under the coffee table. I catch a glimpse of the lit screen as I pick it up and burst out laughing just as the phone stops ringing and the screen turning black.
"Great, you found it," she says grabbing the device out of my hand. "What's so funny?" She asks, genuinely confused.
"Abs huh?" Her face heats up instantly but she shrugs like she's not embarrassed.
"Beats Banana girl," she says.
I laugh before speaking again. "So, you did want to know about my abs,"
"Yeah, yeah," she says, her face turning a darker shade of red.
I pull her flush against me again and kiss her long and hard. Savoring her taste. Man, I love kissing this woman. I love the fact that I have her in my life. She makes me feel complete. It’s always been me and my family, a one night stand here and there and I thought I was happy with that. But I was wrong, so wrong. Nicole Parker has been the missing link that I didn’t even know I was missing.
Her phone starts ringing in her hand and she breaks the kiss, glancing down at the screen. A loving smile takes over her features as she answers.
"Hey ma," she pauses for a moment before rolling her eyes.
"No, I'm just happy." I smile at her answer to whatever her mother said.
I'm not sure if I should give her some privacy while talking to her mother. She pulls me to sit with her on the couch just as I decide to go get more coffee.
"I um.. I went to a karaoke bar last night and was tired when I got home so I went straight to bed without checking my phone," she says while I continue listening to the one side of the conversation.
"Ma!" She groans, hiding her face on my naked chest. I wonder what her mother just said.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry I almost forgot. I'll be there! I wouldn’t miss it for the world," she says excitedly. Shit, she's leaving?
"Hold on a minute," she says as she looks at me; "Will you be able to go with me to my home town in two weeks?" I grin at her question.
"Sure," I answer, my grin growing by the minute.
"Okay, ma and I'll be bringing someone with me," she continues on the phone. She rolls her eyes so hard I'm afraid they get stuck at the back of her head at something her mother says.
"I have to go. Tell dad I love him," she pauses for a moment before she groans out loud. "Bye mother," she ends the call and sighs.
"So what's in two weeks?" I ask.
"My dad's sixtieth birthday party,"
"I'd love to accompany you babe," I say, happy that she invited me in the first place.
I have to say, I never thought Nikki and I would reach this point so quickly. But I'm not complaining. I fucking love it!
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
NICOLE
“Hey, Banana girl,"
"Hi," I say looking up from my computer at Connor who comes strolling into my office. I have gotten used to the nickname Mace gave me. There really is no use in trying to fight the Maynards about the name because I have realized that I will never live that damn banana moment down. Ever!
"Don’t work late, remember it’s the monthly office dinner tonight."
"Oh, right. I actually almost forgot about that," I say honestly. I've just had so much work lately that I forget stuff ninety percent of the time.
"I knew you would." He chuckles. "Tomorrow is another day, you can pack up and go get ready. I've already told the rest of the staff that they can all go home as well." He continues.
"Okay," I say as I shut-down my computer. "Um, Connor?" I stop him before he leaves.
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask why I'm the only one who calls you by your first name?" I finally I ask the one questions that has been bugging me for a while now. It feels like he is giving me special treatment and it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, on top of that I really don’t want the rest of the staff to hate me because of it.
"Well, I have asked the rest of the staff to call me by my first name before but they didn’t want to and I'm not going to force them. And secondly, I knew I would be more than just your boss and I insisted that you call me by my first name because it just feels a bit weird when you call me Mr. Maynard." He explains.
"And to be honest Nikki, now it feels like you are family, not just another employee. So, I wouldn’t have it any other way." he smiles.
Tears sting my eyes at his heart-warming words. I'm starting to realize that moving to this place was the best thing I’ve ever done. I've met pretty awesome friends. I've met a the most caring and wonderful lover too. I now see what people mean by 'everything happens for a purpose. I would have never moved from home if it wasn’t for what Donald and Gabby did. To be honest, I'm now happier than I've been in a very long time.
"Nikki," Connor pauses before continuing. "I'm happy that you smile again. I'm so freaking happy you took this job and met my brother because, you bring the best out of him," he says just before leaving my office.
"I'm happy I moved too," I whisper. I genuinely have never been so damn happy. And I have the Maynards to thank, most of all I have Mace to thank.
****
The monthly office dinner is fun. It's great spending time with my colleagues outside of the office. Some of the people I work with are really fun and spontaneous when they've had a few drinks. Mace joined the dinner but he's been annoyed at Jason, the new guy from the tech department who's been eyeing me ever since we got here. I've caught both Mace and Connor glaring at the guy. I know I should feel uncomfortable because of all that glaring from the two brothers, but I don’t, I feel protected and loved.
"Babe, you ready to get out of here?" Mace asks, kissing my hand that is laced in his. "Before, I strangle a poor fucking sap," that last part was said so low I'm not sure I was supposed to hear it.
"Yeah, we can go."
We say our goodbyes before making our way out of the same restaurant we had dinner at the first time. I smile as I think back to that night. It was actually the first time Mace inserted himself into my life. Whether I liked it or not. Until recently, I didn’t realize just how much I needed the company. I had started closing myself
off to the rest of the world and it was lonely. I'm so damn thankful that Mace and his family are so freaking persistent and didn’t leave me to wallow in my heartache. If it wasn’t for them- if it wasn’t for Mace, my emotional wounds wouldn’t be slowly but surely starting to heal.
I stop walking as my heart starts beating too fast when I catch a familiar frame in the distance. Can it be? I squint my eyes, trying to see the better.
"Babe?" My eyes snap from the familiar frame to be met by Mace's questioning eyes.
"I..." I look back at the spot but there is no one. Well damn, maybe now I'm starting to go a bit crazy. "Nothing, I thought I saw something," I say.
"You sure you're okay, your face is so pale. It’s like you just saw a ghost or something," I plaster a smile on my face to ease the worry I hear in his voice.
"I'm okay. Come on let's go," I give him a peck on the lips before walking toward his SUV again.
My mind has been racing the whole way to my place. Mace glances at me before climbing out to open my door for me. We walk in silence toward my door where we stop so that I can unlock.
"I can't stay tonight," Mace says, causing me to frown up at him.
"Oh?" I'm disappointed.
"Yeah I actually have a conference call in the morning and need to go work on some contracts tonight. If I come in, I will never leave, that-" he points at my red tight, short dress. "Has been driving me fucking insane the whole night," he continues, his lust-filled eyes burning a hole right through my panties.
Mace groans low in his throat when I start chewing on my bottom lip. His lips lock with mine in an aggressive toe curling kiss that sends a shot of electricity all the way to my clit. My panties get soaked even more when he groans again, his one hand tugging my hair and the other pulling me even closer to his body by my waist.
"You are making it hard for me leave baby," he whispers as he finally breaks the kiss that leaves me breathless. "But, I really do need to go."
"Goodnight Mace," I whisper before pulling him down for one last kiss.
"Night babe. I'll come pick you up for lunch tomorrow," he says, kissing the top of my head gently.
"See you tomorrow then," I say opening my door and stepping in.
Mace doesn’t say anything else as he makes his way back to his car. I close the door behind me and make my way to my room. Maybe it’s good that Mace didn’t stay tonight. I'm actually kind of tired and tomorrow is a work day. I would really hate to look like a damn zombie at work.
A loud racket at my window startles me as I'm busy changing into PJ's. I pause for a moment, being as quiet as I possibly can. I sigh a breath of relief and shake my head when I don’t hear anything else. Damnit, now I'm going crazy. First, I thought I saw Donald and now I'm hearing things. I shake my head again as I make my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth.
A shrill scream bubbles from my lips as I walk back into my room and see a silhouette of a person standing at the other side of my window. My heart starts pumping blood into my ears when the silhouette moves away from the window, proving that there really is someone outside my bedroom window. I quickly grab my phone and text Mace.
Me: 911 HELP
Luckily Mace reads the message instantly and my heart thuds even louder as fear takes over my body.
Abs: What's going on babe?
Me: someone outside window! I quickly reply on shaking fingers.
Abs: Stay inside I'm on my way
I clutch my phone tight in my hand and then sit on the floor against the bed with my knees pulled up to my chest. This is the only shit thing about being a woman living alone. You do not have anyone to have your back when creepers stand outside your damn window.
After what feels like forever, my doorbell rings startling me. I quietly stand and make my way to the door. Dear God, am I stupid? I've seen enough horror movies to know that you do not walk toward the danger. But here I am, instead of hiding, I'm walking toward the door.
"Nicole, its Mace!"
My quiet steps turn into a loud sprint. I unlock and open the door to a find a frantically worried Mace on the other side. I launch myself into his arms as tears start falling down my cheeks. I really was terrified.
"Hey," Mace whispers while holding my head against his chest. "I already checked, there is no one here, whoever it was is long gone," he says as he kicks the door shut.
"I really did see someone out there Mace," I say, shaking in his arms.
"I believe you baby. I'm staying here with you tonight,"
"Thank you," I say, a sense of relief washing through me. I would never be able to sleep if I was alone tonight.
I pull out of his arms and he gets to work on locking my door and switching off the lights before picking me up bridal style and carrying me back to my room. He gently places me on the bed before pulling his shirt over his head and then taking off his sweats. He's clad in only his boxers but I'm just too scared to even appreciate the sight.
"Go to sleep baby," he says as he climbs in behind me in bed.
The last thing I feel before falling asleep is his lips at the back of my head as we lie in bed spooning.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
MACE
Nikki's even, heavy breaths tell me that she has fallen asleep but my heart's still beating a mile a minute. I don’t remember the last time a text scared the shit out me the way hers did. I swear, my heart stopped for a split second when the thought of a random man forcing himself inside her house- shit, forcing himself on her, flashed through my mind.
I've never driven so damn fast in a very long time. When I got here, the first thing I did was run around the house, looking for any signs of an intruder and to my horror I found footprints on the flower bedding right outside her window. Man do I wish I got here while that creeper fucker was still here. I would have loved to kick his teeth in.
I make mental note to get an alarm system installed first thing tomorrow. And I'm sure as hell not letting her sleep on her own for a while. I grab my phone from the nightstand and dial Chase.
"What's wrong?" He answers
"I need a favor man,"
"What?"
"I need you to bring me my laptop and the notes at my house." I say. I don’t think I can sleep so I might as well just finish working on that contract
"What, but where the hell are you?"
"I'm at Nicole's and don’t want to leave her alone tonight..." I proceed to tell him what happened earlier.
"Fucking creepers!" He spews by the time I finish telling him what happened. He's pissed, which is understandable. My family has accepted her as one of us. "Okay, I'll go get the stuff. Text me the address,"
I end the call then text him the address.
****
"Morning, Banana Girl," I kiss Nikki softly on the lips as she rouses from her sleep.
"Morning," she smiles, her hand brushing my chest.
"How'd you sleep, baby?"
"Good thanks. You must have slept good too if you're waking up so excited," she says as she motions to my morning wood.
"What can I say, waking up next you has its benefits and I think I love it more than kissing you," she moans when I bend to start nipping at her neck. I have learned that, that’s her weak spot. The woman goes crazy when my lips connect with her neck. I was going to try and ignore my boner but now that she has mentioned it, I just can’t. I want her.
"I think I love it too," she whispers before pulling me in for a slow kiss. I straddle her perfect body and cup her breast, her erect nipples make me even harder and I make quick work on removing her short pajama pants and lace panties.
My boxers are next to go and once we are both completely bare from the waist down I start to sink inside her but stop.
"Shit, I don’t have any condoms," I curse.
"I'm clean and on the pill," she breaths, her beautiful blue eyes looking into my greens.
"I was hoping you'd say that," I groan as I sink in deeper and feel her walls stretching to accommodate me.
This is perfect, she is perfect and I thank the stars that she chose to move to this town and that she's mine. And I plan to keep her mine as long as I can.
CHAPTER TWENTY
NICOLE
Loud thumping music greets us as Mace and I make our way into the packed club called Club Harley D. I wasn’t really in the mood to come out tonight but Chase insisted we join him here because he thought that a Saturday night out would take my mind off the whole creeper outside my window debacle. But I would have been happy with spending the night at home watching DVD's with Mace.
"Hey, what up fam!" Chase greets from behind the counter as Mace and I take a seat on the barstools at the bar.
"Hey Chase," I smile at the same time Mace says "Sup, bro,"
"You work here?" I ask when Chase starts whipping together a cocktail like a pro.
He chuckles under his breath before answering; "Yeah, kind of," he places the blue drink in front of me and I take an appreciative sip.
"Wow, this is fantastic, what is it?" I ask, because well this is the first time drinking any kind of cocktail. I'm more of a wine or cider kind of girl.
"It's called a Blue Dragon," he smiles as he hands Mace a beer. "Okay, I’ll be right back love birds," he says as he goes to talk to one of the other bartenders.
"This is a very nice place," I tell Mace as I look around the spacious club that even has a stage complete with instruments.
"Yeah, this is Chase's place, he named it Club Harley D because he's obsessed with all thing bikes, he owns about six motorbikes."
"Club Harley D... Bikes?” I ask confused because well, I know close to nothing about bikes.
"Harley Davidson, it’s a type of motorcycle," he explains.
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