Cheap Shot

by Cheryl Douglas

  “I don’t know yet.” Mulligan cracked his knuckles. “My boys are picking Riley up now. I’m anxious to hear what he has to say about all this.” The cell phone on his hip rang, and he answered it. “What have you got for me, McPhillips? Is that right? Can’t say I’m surprised. It sure as hell looked like that in the video. Is she gonna be all right?”

  Jaxon’s gut clenched. He knew they were talking about the fact that Sela had tested positive for Rohypnol. If he saw Riley walking past the glass right then, he might just make good on his threat.

  “How is she?” Jaxon asked as soon as the detective ended the call. “Is she all right?”

  “She’s fine,” Mulligan said slowly. “She’ll be out of it for a while, like sleeping off a bender, but there won’t be any lasting effects. Your friend took her home.”

  Jaxon tipped his head back. “Thank God. I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to her.”

  Mulligan watched him closely. “I’d say she’s one of the lucky ones. A lot of girls don’t get off so easily. Most are the victims of sexual assault. Some even die from a bad reaction.”

  Jaxon rubbed his face with his hands, trying to erase those horrific images from his mind. “I can’t think about that. Not here in a police station while I’m waiting to find out whether you intend to throw my ass in jail for beating the shit out of a guy we both know deserved it.” He looked the other man in the eye, hoping he’d see the truth. “Riley’s a predator, Detective Mulligan. He tried to take advantage of the woman I love. How would you have reacted if someone had done that to your wife… or your daughter?” Not that I had evidence he was a predator when I beat the hell out of him.

  Mulligan drew a deep breath as he hauled his heavy frame out of the metal chair. “Gimme a minute, Davis.”

  The next ten minues felt like the longest of Jaxon’s life. He was dying to talk to Sela, to find out if she was okay. He wanted to get the hell out of there so he could see her in person.

  Mulligan came back into the interrogation room. “Okay, my boss said you’re free to go, but don’t leave town anytime soon. We may want to talk to you again after we’ve dealt with Riley.”

  Jaxon could have reminded him he had a business to run, but he didn’t think that would help his cause. “Fine.” He stood, offering his hand. “Thank you. You’ve been more than fair, and I appreciate it.”

  Mulligan shook his hand with a slight smile. “I don’t have to ask where you’re headed. I hope your girlfriend feels better soon. Let her know we’ll need to get a statement from her as soon as she’s up to it.”

  “I will. Thanks again.”

  * * *

  Jaxon was relieved to see Dylan’s truck in Sela’s parking lot when he pulled in. He didn’t know if they’d apprehended Riley yet, and until he was sure Riley was in custody, he didn’t want Sela to be alone.

  He was exhausted after a long day and longer night, but he couldn’t think about sleep until he knew she was safe. Though her building was decent, the security was non-existent. Now that Sela was living alone, Jaxon would have to talk to her about moving to a more secure building. As much as he loved the idea of her moving in with him, he knew Sela wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment. He had to be patient. That’s what he kept telling himself. In time, he would get everything he wanted and be able to give Sela more than she’d ever realized she needed.

  He knocked on Sela’s door once.

  Dylan answered it. “Am I glad to see you. Sela’s been asking for you. She was worried the police decided to detain you.”

  “No,” Jaxon said, brushing past his friend, “when they got the proof they needed, they were more concerned with apprehending Riley. Thanks by the way, for making sure they got the video.”

  “Of course.” Dylan slapped him on the back. “Anything for you. You know that.”

  “Where is she?” Jaxon peered around the corner into the kitchen when he didn’t spot her on the couch.

  “I convinced her to lie down for a while. I told her I’d make sure you woke her up when you got here.”

  “Let her sleep for a bit. She needs her rest.” Jaxon made his way to the kitchen. “And I need a beer. I wonder if she’s got any in here.”

  Dylan laughed. “Kiki was living here until recently, wasn’t she? There’s gotta be beer in there somewhere.”

  “You’re right.” Tucked away in the back of the fridge on the top shelf, he found half a dozen longnecks. “You want one?”

  “No, I’m gonna pass by High Rollers on the way home.”

  “Why?” Jaxon twisted the cap off the bottle and tossed it into the trash bin below the sink. “Did you forget something?”

  “No. Sabrina texted me. She heard about what happened to Sela and you, and she wanted to know if you guys were okay.”

  Jaxon smiled for the first time all night. “She’s a real sweetheart.”

  “Yeah, she is.” Dylan leaned against the counter. “So is your girl, by the way. She was pretty out of it, but even with all she was going through, she was more worried about you than herself.”

  “God, I love her, Dyl.” Jaxon was amazed at how freely those words flowed. “We’re not where I’d like us to be, but she’s back in my life, and that’s more than I could have hoped for.”

  “Jesus, y’all are droppin’ like flies. Pretty soon I’ll be the only single one left.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Jaxon said, taking a swig of his beer. “I can’t see Brett gettin’ tied down anytime soon.”

  “I can’t either, but I would have said the same about Matt and Zach, and look at them now. Happily married, family men, the whole nine yards.”

  Jaxon had thought his friends were crazy to commit the rest of their lives to one woman, but losing Sela made him see things differently. He would never find someone to replace her, and he didn’t even want to try.

  “Hey,” Sela said, standing in the doorway rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. “I thought I heard you out here.”

  She looked adorable in a black-and-pink sleep shirt with a serious case of bedhead. Jaxon wondered how she’d managed to undress all by herself, but he wouldn’t stoop to asking. Dylan was like a brother to him, and he’d never take advantage of Sela’s state.

  “Hey, baby,” he said, setting his beer down before he crossed the room to hug her. “Are you feeling any better?”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on as though he was her lifeline. “I am now. I was so worried they would believe him over you. I thought they were going to lock you up.”

  “Ssssh, it’s okay,” Jaxon whispered, stroking her hair. “I’m here now. Everything’s going to be fine. They’re gonna find Riley and lock him up. He won’t be able to hurt you or any other woman for a hell of a long time.” At least that was the outcome Jaxon hoped for. He feared the more likely scenario would have Riley posting bail and walking the streets by tomorrow.

  “I’m just so glad you’re here,” she said, squeezing him tighter. “You can stay, can’t you?”

  “As long as you need me to, sweetheart.” He had no intention of going anywhere, but he wanted her to feel as though she was the one calling the shots.

  “Well, it looks like you’ve got everything under control here,” Dylan said, slapping his friend on the back. “I’m gonna head over to High Rollers and fill Sabrina in.”

  “Thanks, man.” Jaxon disengaged from Sela long enough to shake Dylan’s hand and draw him into a half-hug. “I don’t know what I would have done without you tonight.”

  “Hey, what are brothers for?” Dylan chuckled.

  Their running joke was that they were all brothers from another mother, and Jaxon couldn’t have picked a better group of men to stand beside him.

  “You take good care of yourself,” Dylan said, kissing Sela on the forehead. “Don’t feel you have to rush back to work. Take all the time you need to recover.”

  Sela stood on her tippy-toes to kiss Dylan’s cheek. “Thank you for
everything. You were amazing tonight.”

  Jaxon wished he could have been the one by her side at the hospital, but since it couldn’t be him, he was glad it was Dylan.

  “My pleasure, honey.” Dylan ran a hand over her tousled hair. “You get a good night’s sleep, and you’ll feel like a new woman in the morning.”

  “I sure hope you’re right,” Sela said, reaching for her head. “’Cause right now I have a killer headache.”

  “Let Jax take care of you.” Dylan winked at his friend. “He’s good at that.”

  “Go lie on the couch while I walk Dylan to the door, baby,” Jaxon instructed. “I’ll be right back.” They walked to the door, and Jaxon whispered, “Let me know if you hear anything about Riley, okay?”

  “You know I will. G’night.”

  “What was that about Riley?” Sela asked, lifting her head off the cushion.

  “Nothing for you to worry about, sweetheart. Just lie down. Do you want me to get some tea?”

  “No.” She held out her hand. “I just want you to come over here and sit with me.”

  “That I can do.” Jaxon smiled as he pulled up an ottoman and sat beside her, holding her hand. “I hate that I let this happen to you.” He’d been tearing himself down ever since he realized what Riley had pulled off in his bar. “I’ll make sure we tighten security so nothing like this can happen again. I don’t know where the hell Donnie was,” he said, referring to the security guard usually posted in front of the V.I.P. lounge, “but I intend to find out. When I do, he’d better have a damn good reason for missing this.”

  “Please don’t be upset with him,” Sela said softly. “Donnie’s a great guy. This wasn’t his fault. I never should have agreed to talk to Riley.”

  “Why did you?” Jaxon had been wondering that all evening. Why had she put herself in the line of fire, knowing Riley’s only motive was to get her into bed?

  “I wanted to tell him I wasn’t interested in him.”

  “Oh.” That made Jaxon feel better, but he still wished he could have been the one to deliver that message.

  “I’m sorry I caused so much trouble.” She flinched as she brought her hand to her head. “I should never have gone out with that jerk in the first place. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  “I do.” He kissed her hand. “You were hurt and angry, and you wanted to make the pain go away. No one understands that better than I do.”

  She tried to smile. “Thank you for understanding. I was worried you’d be angry with me for setting this whole thing in motion.”

  “You didn’t do anything wrong. Riley’s an arrogant S.O.B. whose ego won’t let him believe any woman alive isn’t ready and willing to jump into bed with him.”

  Looking alarmed, she tried to sit up. “It was never like that between us. You have to believe me. I never slept with him.”

  Jaxon eased her back on the cushions “I do believe you.” It would have killed him if she had, but that wouldn’t change the way he felt about her. “Just relax. Can I get you a pain reliever?”

  “No, thanks, Dylan took care of that. I think I’d like to go back to bed.”

  “Sure,” he said, helping her up.

  She held his arm for support. “Jax, can I ask you a favor? You can say no if you want to.”

  There was nothing she could ask of him that he would refuse. “Sure, what is it?”

  “Will you sleep with me tonight?” Her face tinted with color as she bit her lip. “I don’t mean it like that. I just meant…”

  “I know what you meant,” he said, slipping his arm around her waist as he led her down the hall. “You don’t want to be alone. You want someone to hold you.”

  “Not just anyone,” she whispered. “You. I want you to hold me tonight.”

  Just when Jaxon thought she already had all of his heart, she managed to steal another little piece. “You got me, angel. I’m all yours.”

  * * *

  Sela woke up to a sight she hadn’t seen in too long… a half-naked Jaxon tangled in her sheets. She rolled over, propping her head in her hand as she admired him. When he was resting, the lines fanning out from his mouth and eyes were softer, making him seem less intense. His dark eyelashes were so long, they skimmed his cheeks when his eyes were closed, and she had the overwhelming urge to kiss him.

  “Hey,” he said, his eyes opening gradually. “What are you doing?”

  “Admiring how gorgeous you are.”

  He groaned as he pulled her close. “Stop.”

  His solid chest against her felt like heaven. “Does your lip hurt?” She traced a fingertip over the cut.

  He chuckled. “Honey, I’ve been in more barroom brawls than I can count. That was nothing.”

  She knew Jaxon could take care of himself, but it still bothered her that he’d felt the need to fight because of her. “You were pretty heroic last night, coming to my rescue that way. I should at least make you breakfast to thank you.”

  “I’ll make the breakfast,” he said, brushing her hair off her face. “I want you to spend at least half the day in bed, just to make sure you’re over the worst of it.”

  She couldn’t deny her head still felt heavy, but she felt much better than she had last night. “I’ll be okay. A nice hot shower might make me feel better.”

  “Are you sure about that?” he asked, looking concerned. “I wouldn’t want you to get dizzy in there. You could slip and fall.”

  “What makes you think that?” Sela thought it was sweet that he was so concerned about her well-being. The old Jaxon had always been protective, but he kept her at arm’s length, letting her know it had more to do with the fact she was a woman than it did that she was his woman.

  “I couldn’t sleep after you drifted off,” he admitted. “I researched the effects of roofies, and it said headaches, dizziness, and nausea are all pretty typical.” His lips thinned into a tight line. “I still can’t believe that bastard had the nerve—”

  “Sssh,” Sela whispered, gliding her lips gently over his. “I don’t want to think about him right now.” She placed her palm on his tight abs and felt his muscles tense. “I’d much rather think about the fact that I have an incredibly sexy man in my bed offering to make me breakfast.” She reminded herself they were supposed to be taking it slow, but Jaxon’s chiseled body would tempt a saint.

  He covered her hand with his. “I should probably apologize for stripping down to my boxers last night.” His voice was low and husky. “But it was hotter than hell in here.”

  “Sorry about that,” she murmured, her eyes falling to his lips. “The air conditioner’s not working properly. I’m waiting on the landlord to fix it.”

  “I’d like to blame it on that,” he said, his eyes traveling over the sheet covering her. “But I didn’t get hot until that sleep shirt came off.”

  “I...” She must have gotten hot and pulled it off, forgetting she wasn’t alone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

  He laughed. “Honey, I’ve seen it all before. I’d love to see it again, but that will have to wait until you’re feeling better.” He threw his legs over the side of the bed. “Why don’t I get started on that breakfast now? If I lay with here with you any longer, all bets are off.”

  Sela should remind him she hadn’t decided whether she was strong enough to pursue a relationship with him again, but his broad tanned back made it difficult to think straight. The phone tore her out of her musings, making her groan when she saw the name on the caller I.D. “My parents. I should get it. If I don’t, they’ll just call back, or worse, my mother might stop by.” She could only imagine Andrea’s reaction if she found Jaxon in her daughter’s bed.

  “You get that. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”

  “I’m not sure you’ll find what you need in the fridge,” she said, trying to remember the last time she’d been to the grocery store.

  “No problem, I’ll run out if I need to,” he said over his shoulder. “Don’t worry about
anything. I’ve got it covered. Just talk to your parents.”

  That was the last thing she wanted to do, but she didn’t have a choice. “Hello.”

  “I heard what happened at High Rollers last night,” her mother said, her breath coming in short bursts. “Are you all right? Your father and I—”

  “How did you find out?” Sela asked.

  “It made the local news. It’s not every day the owner of a nationwide bar chain beats up a former pro athlete in his own establishment. I don’t know why I’m surprised. That beast is liable to do anything.”

  Sela crushed the phone against her ear as she tried to hold her temper. Her mother had obviously heard only half the story. “You don’t know what really happened, so I’d appreciate it if you got the facts before you started calling people names.”

  “Don’t use that tone with me, young lady. I’m still your mother, and I called because I was worried about you. We both are. I knew you shouldn’t have gotten mixed up with him again. Nothing good can come of it. He’s completely out of control. A loose cannon—”

  “Jaxon may have saved me from being raped last night.” Sela let those words sink in before she said, “The guy he beat up slipped something in my drink.”

  “What are you talking about?” Andrea gasped. “The news didn’t say anything about that. If that was his excuse for acting the way he did, I wouldn’t buy it. He’d resort to any under-handed trick to win you over.”

  Sela held the phone away from her ear and stared at it in disbelief. Just when she thought her mother’s behavior couldn’t get any more outrageous, it did. “I didn’t say he tried to slip something in my drink. He did. I felt it.”

  “How do you know Jaxon didn’t do it? Maybe he was the one responsible, and he tried to blame it on some innocent man.”

  “Innocent man?” Sela’s blood boiled when she realized her mother was siding with a man who’d been plotting to assault her. “Didn’t you hear what I said? Jaxon came to my defense. Had it not been for him, I hate to think what could have happened to me last night!” Sela was shouting, but she didn’t care. Her mother had it coming. “Instead of tearing him down, you should be thanking him for saving me!”