Heart Raider (Heartthrob Series, Book 1)

by Knightly, Sophia

  She faced him with her fists braced on her hips. “In this case it is. I had blind faith in you. I never needed evidence to believe you were innocent,” she said, her voice faltering.

  “You’re right. I acted like an ass,” Nick said, his voice heavy with regret and self-loathing.

  She nodded. “From the first day I came to your house, you only believed the worst about me. And when my video hit the airwaves, you questioned my integrity and condemned me before we could even figure out what had happened,” she said, a tear sliding down her cheek.

  “Oh, baby, I’m sorry. Don’t cry.” He gently cradled the side of her face and wiped the tear away.

  “Don’t touch me,” she said, her words barely able to escape her tear clogged throat.

  His hand dropped to his side. “Give me a chance to make it up to you.”

  She wanted to, but he hadn’t said he loved her. She loved him too much to continue if he didn’t feel the same way, especially if he didn’t trust her. “I can’t. You’ll just break my heart again and it hurts too much,” she said, running away from him.

  “Ronnie, come back,” he called.

  She hurried across the street to Natasha’s building.

  “I love you!” he shouted for all the onlookers to hear.

  Her heart soaring, Veronique turned around. Out of nowhere, a black sedan came careening toward her. She tried to step out of the way, but it sideswiped her, knocking her to the ground.

  The last thing she heard was Nick’s anguished shout.

  “Ronnie!” he yelled, catapulting forward.

  Hours later, Nick sat in the emergency room anxiously waiting for the nurse to bring Ronnie back from tests to check for a concussion and broken bones. Sick at heart, he kept replaying the horrible moment in his mind when Ronnie got hit by the car. He had never felt so powerless in his life…or so in love. When he saw her lying limply on the floor, he felt as if his heart had been wrenched from his body and decimated. He had ridden to the hospital beside her in the ambulance, watching over her as the paramedics checked her vital signs and put an oxygen mask over her face.

  His phone buzzed, drawing him back to the present. He answered when he saw it was Fred calling. “Hey Fred. I don’t have an update on Ronnie yet. I finally convinced Helene to go downstairs and get something to eat. She looked like she was going to pass out.”

  “Good thinking. I’m heading over as soon as I can. I wanted to fill you in on the board meeting.”

  Nick listened intently as Fred relayed the details of the board meeting that had just ended.

  “Good thing you sent Ronnie’s flash drive by courier. It arrived just in time for the meeting. Elizabeth showed up late, and when we confronted her with the evidence, she tried to put the blame on her assistant,” Fred said.

  Nick snorted. “I’m not surprised.”

  “She started off acting aloof and superior, but by the time I finished with her, she was livid, especially when the board fired her. That’s when the police arrived and arrested her for attempted murder and fraud.”

  “Good,” Nick grunted.

  “You should have seen her. She shrieked at them, asking if they knew who she was and threatening to have them fired.”

  “She’s delusional.”

  “They had to forcefully restrain her just to handcuff her and she was still ranting when they led her away.”

  “She and Zack can rot in jail where they belong. I hope she gets the maximum sentence.”

  “Me too,” Fred said. “Ronnie’s accident wasn’t a random hit and run. The police put out an APB for the driver’s arrest. Everything was caught on camera.”

  “I didn’t think it was an accident.”

  “Call me when you have news on Ronnie. I’m worried sick about her.”

  “Will do. Thanks, Fred. For everything,” Nick said, hanging up.

  When Ronnie was wheeled in on the gurney soon afterward, Nick’s heart clenched when he saw her. Her complexion was eerily white, so different from her usual healthy glow. The right side of her face was bruised with a purple eyelid swollen shut and the top of her head was bandaged. He could only imagine how bruised—or broken—the rest of her beautiful body was.

  “Is she going to be okay?” he whispered to the nurse, his heart aching over seeing Ronnie injured and helpless. And all because of him.

  The nurse opened the chart and read it, the seconds ticking by like hours until she looked up and met his eyes. “The CAT scan showed she suffered a mild concussion. She was banged up pretty badly, it’s amazing she didn’t break any bones. We’ll have the rest of the results in a few hours,” she said cautiously. “Dr. Draver wants to keep her overnight for observation.

  “Okay,” Nick said quietly.

  “I’m taking her to a room now.”

  “I’ll follow you.” Nick wished with all his heart he could pick Ronnie up and take her back to Starfish Island. He hated that his Ronnie, a free spirit who loved nature so much, was stuck in a sterile hospital like a wounded butterfly.

  “Are you related to her?”

  “No, but I’m responsible for her. I brought her to the hospital and signed her in.”

  When they arrived at the designated room, the nurse said, “There’s a painkiller and sedative in her IV. If she needs anything or wakes up in pain, press this button.” She indicated a remote control button on the monitor beside the hospital bed and left.

  Nick stood beside the bed, willing Veronique to open her eyes. When she didn’t, he dropped to his knees on the floor and bowed his head. He hadn’t prayed since he was a little boy, when he would beg God to help them escape his monstrous father. Now he prayed for Ronnie to be well enough for him to take her home and nurse her with tender loving care.

  “Please God. Make her be well,” he repeated over and over again.

  Ronnie’s eyelids fluttered as she struggled to center her vision. Her head felt fuzzy and her throat was parched. She slowly began to make out shapes in the room. It was dimly lit and a man was kneeling floor beside her bed. Disoriented, she stared at him.

  “Nick?” she said groggily when his features finally came into focus. “What are you doing?”

  “I was praying,” he said quietly.

  “Why?”

  “For you to be okay. You had an accident, honey.”

  He was praying for her? “Am I in the hospital?” she said after processing what he’d just said.

  “Yes, the doctor wants to monitor you. How do you feel?”

  “Like I was hit by a car. Now I remember how I got here,” she said after a weighted pause.

  Nick flinched. “Want me to ask the nurse for more pain killer?”

  “No, I don’t want to be doped up.” She stared at him as flashbacks of the accident invaded her mind. “You saved my life,” she marveled. “Thank you. If I hadn’t turned when you called out, the car would have killed me.”

  Nick heaved a tormented sigh. “Don’t say that. You almost got killed because of me! I don’t ever want to lose you. I’ll never forgive myself for lashing out at you. I’m sorry I hurt you. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”

  “Yes, but you need to hear me out first.” She sighed. “First get up. You look positively tragic. No one is getting rid of me that easily.”

  “Good thing, cause I’d miss your sassy mouth.” Nick sank into a chair beside her.

  “I want to explain about the video. You deserve the truth, but oh God, it’s embarrassing.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Embarrassing? How?”

  Veronique inhaled much-needed air into her lungs and said, “When I saw you working outside shirtless, I had to capture how hot you looked. I told you I wouldn’t take more pictures, so I filmed you instead.” She looked away from his searching gaze. “I didn’t know how much longer I’d have with you and I wanted to keep it as a memory. For my eyes only. I swear,” she said, her cheeks ablaze.

  He leaned forward and gently kissed her head where it wasn’t ban
daged. “It’s okay, I believe you, honey. I’m no longer upset about it. I’m, well… I’m flattered,” he said with a lopsided grin.

  She expelled a deep sigh of relief. “You’re flattered and I’m mortified,” she said ironically, wishing her vivid blush would fade as she searched the room. “Where’s my purse? You needed the flash drive for the meeting.”

  “Don’t worry, I sent it by courier and it got there on time.”

  “What happened at the meeting?”

  “Elizabeth got kicked out as CEO and was promptly arrested and hauled away in handcuffs.”

  “Good!”

  “She’s in jail. And I just got a text from Fred that the hit man was caught near the Canadian border.”

  “Yay,” she said weakly. “I’d smile, but it hurts too much.” She looked around the room. “How long have I been in the hospital?”

  “It’s four o’clock. The ambulance brought you in around ten this morning. Do you remember anything about this morning?” he asked earnestly.

  “I do. The most important thing,” she said softly, her gaze tenderly roving his face.

  “What’s that? Did you see the hit man’s face?”

  “No, I meant when you shouted out that you loved me.” She drew in a tremulous breath, hoping he’d say it again.

  “I do love you, Ronnie. I was too damned stubborn and too blinded by past hurt to admit it.”

  “Really?” she whispered, deeply touched by his humble tone. Her heart expanded with happiness.

  He loved her!

  “Yes, really.” He smiled and shook his head. “When I saw you that first day through the window doing a happy dance in the rain, it occurred to me how dull my life had been the past six months. I don’t want to go back to Starfish Island alone. I want you beside me, making life beautiful. I can’t live without you, baby.”

  Her heart nearly stopped with joy when he dropped to his knees again and she saw pure love reflected in his eyes. She held her breath and gazed into his beautiful eyes. He looked like he had something very important to say.

  “I don’t have a ring for you yet, but I’m giving you my heart since you’ve already stolen mine. Marry me, Ronnie. Make my life complete,” Nick said, his voice hoarse with emotion.

  She searched his tortured eyes. He looked so distressed, she could only imagine how guilty he felt over her almost getting killed. “You don’t have to do it out of guilt, Nick. None of this was your fault. I know how you feel about marriage—”

  “Hush, now you’re making me upset,” he growled. “I need you more than the air I breathe. If it weren’t for those tubes you’re connected to, I’d show you just how much right now.”

  “Oh, how I wish you would.” Her heart felt close to bursting with so much love, it was almost painful.

  “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll make up for lost time when I bring you home with me. We have a lifetime of loving ahead,” Nick said, rising from the floor to deposit a tender kiss on her lips.

  “A whole lifetime,” Veronique agreed. Happy tears welled up as she gazed at the wonderful man who raided her heart many years ago and never let go.

  Epilogue

  Two months later on Starfish Island…

  Veronique sat next to Nick on the porch step with her white kitten asleep on her lap. Nick had bought her the kitten when they’d returned from New York. As soon as she’d stopped bawling like a baby that he’d brought her a kitty that looked just like Slinky, she’d promptly named her Abby.

  Veronique had recuperated from the accident and her bruised body was healing nicely. The doctors had voiced their amazement that she hadn’t broken anything. She loved telling everyone it was hearing Nick say, “I love you,” that had made her bounce, rather than break.

  The past two months, Nick had watched over her like a hawk, making sure she rested and ate healthily. It was a good thing too, because she would need the extra nutrition now. Maman was in a tizzy planning her wedding and her Heart sisters had assured her they’d drop everything to be her bridesmaids. They were all rejoicing that she’d be marrying Nick. Teddy had let out such a loud whoop that Veronique almost dropped the phone.

  It seemed the happiest of all was Nick’s mom, Susan. From the moment Veronique met Susan, she felt an affinity with her. A warm, affectionate woman, she’d pulled Veronique into her arms for a tight hug. When she’d stolen a moment alone with her, Susan had said, “You’ve made my son so happy, I love you already, Ronnie!”

  Nick was happier than ever these days. The missing funds had been returned to the Cameron Hope Foundation and he was at the helm as CEO again. His next project was to fund a shelter in Miami for abused women hiding from their violent partners. Veronique was already planning a series of articles to bring awareness to their plight.

  She was relieved Elizabeth was in jail awaiting trial. Vying for a lenient sentence, the hit man had pleaded guilty and confessed to killing Slinky and targeting Veronique to kill her on Elizabeth’s orders.

  “Look at her.” Nick’s voice stirred her from her musings and brought her to the present as he nodded at the tiny white kitten curled on her lap purring softly. He petted Abby’s head and said, “You’d think she was attached to your lap.”

  “She’ll have to make room for another soon,” Veronique said happily.

  Nick’s hand went still on Abby’s head as he looked up. “What do you mean?”

  “Contrary to what you might think, you are not infertile, Nick Cameron,” she said, grinning broadly.

  “You mean?” His beautiful blue eyes searched hers with wonder.

  “Yes! You’re going to be a daddy.”

  His eyes widened as his jaw dropped. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I’m sure,” she said proudly.

  “You’ve made me so happy!” He took Abby off her lap and set the kitten on the floor. Lifting Veronique in his arms, he carried her inside, huskily murmuring in her ear, “I’m going to show you just how happy.”

  And he did until she was speechless with bliss.

  The End

  Excerpt - Heart Melter (Heartthrob Series, Book Two) by Sophia Knightly

  Chapter One

  “You’re flat,” Simon called out from the third row of the dark theatre.

  “No, I’m not.” Natasha White gritted her teeth and raised a challenging eyebrow at the director. Her hands curved on the waist of her fawn satin teddy as she tamped down her simmering temper. Simon Worth was referring to her pitch, not her breasts, although he had spent most of the morning ogling them while she danced. It was the third time he’d rudely interrupted her song, and he’d made Freddie the choreographer change her tap number so many times, her muscles were screaming in protest. But she ignored the pain; it was worth having the starring role of Legs LaRue in “The Bee’s Knees”, a new roaring twenties musical sure to be a Broadway hit.

  Simon was pushing hard during dress rehearsal—unfairly so. But what else could she expect from the control freak who had written the songs and lyrics of “The Bee’s Knees” and was also directing it? The thirty-nine-year-old musical genius was temperamental and rude, but that wouldn’t have stopped Natasha’s mother, legendary Broadway diva, Anitra White, from letting loose a rant that would have singed Simon’s bushy black brows. Where her acerbic mother would have screamed, Natasha held her tongue, even if she felt like strangling Simon. She didn’t want any comparisons with her drama queen mama, not now, not ever.

  “She was pitch perfect,” her accompanist, Bruce, said instantly. Her white-haired defender pushed his horn rimmed glasses up on his high-bridged nose and glared at Simon. Bruce was an experienced, old school Broadway accompanist and nobody dared contradict him, not even Simon.

  “Sounded gorgeous to me. Piss off, Simon.” Freddie the choreographer’s jaw clenched beneath his trim salt-and-pepper goatee as he sent a supportive nod Natasha’s way. He had already had a meltdown this morning over Simon’s intrusive meddling in his choreography. His compact dancer’s body was coiled tig
htly, ready to spring on the director if he continued to bully Natasha. Not that she needed protecting. If she could handle her mother’s tough criticism all those years growing up, she could certainly endure Simon’s.

  “Thanks, guys,” Natasha said, blowing them kisses. She alternately rolled her neck and shoulders, and then peered into the theatre, her gaze zeroing in on her understudy, Lisette Raye, who watched with rabid ambition.

  It was no secret Lisette was hot for the starring role—and the director. The pushy twenty-one-year-old actress and Simon were already sleeping together. Once he’d plowed through the ensemble and slept with most of them, Simon settled on Lisette, who eagerly pleased him in all areas. Well, she could have the pompous gasbag. Musical genius or not, he didn’t appeal to Natasha, and she’d be damned if she’d sleep her way to the top. She’d seen too many failed “showmances”—mostly hook-ups that thrived during shows, but rarely made it past the last curtain call. Hanging around backstage as a child during her mom’s Broadway shows had taught her to steer clear of romances in the business. It had also toughened her enough to let Simon’s insults slide and not affect her performance.

  “Let’s take it from the top, and this time make sure your E makes me weep,” Simon drawled caustically, ignoring the collective groans from Bruce and Freddie.

  An hour later when Elisha, the stage manager, called lunch break, Natasha fled the theatre intent on grabbing a bite to eat and taking her Pomeranian puppy, Evita, for a quick walk. Evita was a gift from her childhood friend, Ronnie, and Ronnie’s gorgeous new husband, Nick Cameron. They’d given her the puppy before leaving on their honeymoon. The moment the puppy emitted a melodious, crooning howl while Natasha sang, she promptly named her Evita, after the musical.

  Natasha hurried across Times Square, her nerves frayed from Simon’s heedless interruptions and unwarranted criticisms. Something wasn’t right; she could feel it in her bones. Thinking back to her horoscope this morning, maybe she should heed Sydney Taggert’s advice: Keep an eye on your back and an eye toward the future.