Lexi was mad at him, but hell. If he had to get down on his knees and fucking grovel, he wasn’t above doing so. Just for a damn chance to make the ache in his heart go away—to let her know despite everything, no matter what happened, she was the one thing he cared about in his life. He’d screwed it up royally, but if he had the tiniest shot at making things right, he’d do it in a heartbeat.
She remained in her SUV as he pulled past, driving up the ramp to the next level. His pulse pounded as he realized this level was also full. If he followed her all the way here only to lose sight of her in the damn parking garage, he was going to lose his shit. No fucking way would she let him in her hotel room. Not after she’d snuck out this morning.
He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, turning up another level. Christ. He was about ready to leave his pick-up double-parked while he chased her down. Finally, he saw a car up ahead backing out, and he sped up, waiting for their spot. It took them several minutes to make an easy maneuver out of the parking spot, and he half considered jumping out of his truck and offering to back it out for them.
At this point, Lexi was probably already long gone.
Finally they pulled away, leaving him the precious empty space. He easily pulled his pick-up into the spot and jumped out, running to the stairs in the corner. Lexi was on the ground level, and maybe if he sprinted down he could spot her on the street. He needed to find his girl.
***
Lexi grabbed her briefcase from the passenger seat and climbed out of her SUV. She clicked the remote, setting the alarm, and walked through the lower level of the garage. The place was filled with cars, but oddly enough, there were no other people around. The clicking of her heels on the pavement was the only sound, aside from the street noise drifting in, giving the garage an eerily deserted feel. The bass from a stereo thumped loudly as a car sat at a light, and a moment later, the engine accelerated as it drove off. She wrinkled her nose in disgust as exhaust filled the air.
A large black SUV appeared in the entrance of the garage, its headlights flicking on as it pulled into the darkened structure. She held a hand to her eyes, shielding them from the brightness. Why the hell were they just sitting there, lights beaming right at her?
She sighed and turned toward the stairwell. There was an exit to the street there, too. She’d go out that door and cross Atlantic Avenue to her hotel. No biggie.
The SUV pulled forward as she reached for the handle to the stairwell, stopping only a few feet from where she stood. Uneasiness washed over her. An entire parking garage, and they stopped beside her?
“Excuse me!” a man’s deep, authoritative voice rang out.
A tinted window in the rear of the vehicle unrolled, and she saw the slimy guy in a suit that had been watching her last night. Dark hair slicked back, clean shaven, and still wearing sunglasses even though they were in a garage so dark that the driver had turned on his headlights.
A shiver raced down her spine.
It wasn’t like he was some random thug off the street. He was staying in an oceanfront resort. She was already at the stairway of the parking garage, only feet from the exit. It’s not like he’d rob her or rape her in broad daylight, within spitting distance from traffic on the street.
Would he?
She pulled the handle of the door to the stairwell, surprised to hear someone running down the steps. Someone big, judging from the loud thumping. They were only one level above her. Holy shit. Were there more than just the guys in the vehicle? What the hell did they want with her?
Her heart hammered in her chest, and she frantically looked around. They were on street level. She could run between the parked cars and climb over the concrete wall facing Atlantic Avenue. She’d land in a bunch of bushes, but that would be a hell of a lot better than being trapped in the stairs with Rambo or being pulled into the black SUV, occupants unknown.
She had to get the hell out of here. She released the handle, the large, heavy door beginning to swing shut. She’d rather chance running through the parking garage than risk the unknown.
“Excuse me!” the man from the SUV called out again. The backdoor opened.
She turned away, clutching her briefcase in both hands. If someone came after her, she’d have to use it as a weapon.
“Sorry, I’m late!” she shouted. Would someone on the street even hear her if she screamed?
The pounding down the stairs came faster as the man neared the bottom.
“Lexi?”
She halted, a mixture of relief and surprise washing over her. That sounded like…Christopher? What the hell was he doing here? A day ago, he was the last man on earth she would to run into, but at this moment, she’d never been so happy to hear his voice in her life.
She spun back toward the stairwell as the backdoor to the SUV slammed shut, and it quickly backed out of the garage, tires squealing as they took off. She stared after them in shock as Christopher came pushing through the door. She looked over at him, wide-eyed, clutching her briefcase to her chest.
“Shit, did I scare you?” he asked, rushing to her side. “You’re white as a ghost.”
She lowered her briefcase with trembling hands.
“Lexi,” he said, his voice a low rumble. She met his concerned gaze, and Christopher took her briefcase from her in one large hand, gently lifting his other hand to her cheek. Without thinking, she relaxed into his warmth. This was crazy. For all she knew, those guys were asking her for directions or something. But why’d they take off when they heard Christopher coming? And what was he doing here anyway?
She unsteadily stepped back from his searing touch, wobbling in her heels. She blinked. The ground spun beneath her.
His muscular arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back, holding her close to his side. He still gripped her briefcase, not even bothering to use the handle. Geez, his hands were massive. Something sparked inside of her at the memory of them trailing across her skin. She tried to pull away, to stop the onslaught of unwelcome memories, but he held her close.
Christopher was a wall of rigid muscle beside her. His clean, masculine scent surrounded her, and the warmth from his frame seeped into her as he tucked her against his side, making her feel safe, secure. Her body relaxed into him, her breathing uneven. The adrenaline pumping through her was because of her fright. It had nothing to do with the hard-edged SEAL holding her close.
“Lexi, you’re shaking.” He bent and set her briefcase on the ground before turning her to face him, his sure hands gripping her waist. The weight of them sent her reeling, her head spinning. She’d fall over if Christopher wasn’t holding her up.
“Did something happen?” he asked. Gentle brown eyes searched hers.
“Those guys—I thought—”
“What guys?” His brow furrowed.
“There was a car, right before you got here. An SUV. I saw this creepy guy watching me last night at my hotel. And he was here. Now.” She shook her head, trying to clear her disjointed thoughts. Christopher watched her hair swish back and forth before once again searching her face. She wasn’t even speaking coherently, just rambling like some lunatic.
“Lexi.” His voice was soothing. Quiet.
She met his gaze and swallowed.
“Tell me what happened. Should I call the police?” Anger sparked in his eyes. God, he’d probably chase after them himself if she let him. Christopher had always been one of those protective, alpha males. He was cocky and arrogant with the goods to back it up. But he was also fiercely protective of those he cared about—or was most of the time, she thought bitterly, recalling the way it had ended between them years ago.
She let out a shaky breath, her resolve strengthening. “Just forget it. I can take care of myself.”
“Hell, Lexi,” he ground out. “I know you’re still mad at me. But so help me God, tell me what the fuck just happened. If someone is trying to hurt you, I’ll rip their goddamn heart out.”
The aggressiveness in his voice startled
her. Calmed her. Just because she was mad at Christopher her ex-boyfriend didn’t mean Christopher the Navy SEAL wouldn’t protect her. Her eyelids slid shut, and she took a deep breath. He was watching her closely when she finally opened her eyes, an unreadable expression on his face. Anger, somehow mixed with…want. Concern.
She explained about the man she’d seen when checking in last night and then how he’d pulled into the garage in his SUV and called out to her.
Christopher’s jaw ticked. “Did you get his plates?”
“No.”
“I’ll get footage from the security staff at the hotel. Otherwise I’ll look into whoever operates this garage. One way or another—I’m finding out who he was. Even if I have to hack into their damn systems myself. License plates, names, everything.”
“It’s probably nothing—just some creep chasing after women.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Some men are pigs,” she said with a shrug.
“I don’t like it,” he said, his voice steel.
“Christopher—”
“I’m not letting anything happen to you. Not after finally finding you again.”
The emotion in his voice startled her. He sure wasn’t acting like someone who didn’t give a damn. True, he had come back to her apartment, years ago—eventually. But her heart was already shattered by then. He wasn’t the man she thought that he was. She couldn’t be with a guy who ran every time he panicked. Not then; not ever. And the concern he was showing right now? It was too much. She didn’t want any of the thoughts or memories currently racing through her mind. She wanted to forget about Christopher. The fact that he’d shown up in her life again all these years later meant nothing.
She pulled away and bent down to pick up her briefcase. She’d go back to her hotel room and pretend this little encounter never happened. Whatever the hell he wanted would just have to wait. She wouldn’t get answers by ignoring him, but maybe the truth wasn’t worth it anyway. Sometimes the past was just too damn painful to revisit.
“So that’s it?” Christopher asked, crossing his arms in irritation.
“What’s it?”
“I tell you I’m not letting anything happen to you, and you act like you’re leaving.” His thumb jerked toward the stairwell.
“I guess we’re both good at that.”
She turned, and his hands were on her in an instant. He pulled her close, his large body hovering behind her as an avalanche of shivers raced down her spine. He towered above her, his chin atop her head, and she crashed into his solid chest, loving a little too much the way her body fit perfectly against his. She felt safe. Shielded. His warmth and scent surrounded her. His lips brushed against her hair. She was drowning in him.
His hands flexed, digging into her waist, sending her mind reeling. One move, and he could turn her around and pin her against the wall, kissing her senseless. Proving her wrong. All his power and strength was attractive. Arousing. His entire body was tense, ready to spring at any moment, and she felt his thick arousal against her lower back. Liquid heat began to pool at her center.
“Why the hell are you here anyway?” she asked, her voice shaking. “Last I checked, Navy SEALs don’t live in oceanfront hotels.”
“I came here for you,” he growled.
She pulled away and spun around to glare at him. Heat flushed her cheeks. She was aroused, angry, and everything else in between. How dare he chase after her now. He had his chance ten freaking years ago, and he blew it. “You shouldn’t have come. Actually, no, you never should have left in the first place. But that’s on you.”
His eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer, forcing her to tilt her head back to meet his gaze. No way was she letting his size and strength intimidate her. Christopher was angry. Turned on. Her mouth dropped open in surprise at the heat in his eyes. Ten seconds ago he was ready to pummel whoever had been in the SUV. He’d been worried about her. Now he looked only like he wanted to haul her over his shoulder and not let her out of her hotel room until morning. To work out whatever it was still brewing between them between the sheets. Repeatedly.
“Walking out on you was the biggest fucking mistake of my life. I’ve regretted it every single day since. I’m not sure how the hell I got lucky enough for you to show up in my life not once but twice, but I know there’s still something here between us. Last night was pretty damn amazing, and as long as you’re here, I can’t keep my hands off you.”
His eyes softened as her lower lip began to tremble. She couldn’t keep doing this dance with him—not tonight, not ever. Maybe he did regret the past, but that didn’t mean their future was any different. Life would go on as it had—without Christopher.
“Come with me tonight, Lexi.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you. Last night shouldn’t have happened.”
He flinched, and his lips pressed together. “Not to your hotel room. Let’s take a drive, me and you. We’ll go to the beach just like old times.”
She searched his brown gaze, trying to summon the strength to tell him no. There were a thousand reasons that she shouldn’t go anywhere with this man, but a tiny part of her yearned for what once was. For the girl she’d once been.
“I need to change.”
“I’ll wait.”
“Meet me back here in twenty minutes.”
“Some guy spooks you in the garage, and you think I’ll let you meet me right here? Not a chance in hell.”
Lexi rolled her eyes.
“I’ll pick you up in front of your hotel. Twenty minutes, or I’m coming up after you. And no one will be able to keep me from tearing the goddamn door down.”
Chapter 10
Christopher pulled to a stop at the secluded north end of Virginia Beach, Lexi tucked safely into the passenger seat of his truck. It was quiet here, peaceful in the waning evening light. The lazy red sun was dropping in the sky behind them, seagulls swooped down through the air, and powerful waves crashed against the sandy shore. It reminded him of nights with Lexi a lifetime ago—of beers and bonfires on the beach when they’d both been young, foolish, and carefree. When he’d been high on life and love and hardly a damn thing could bring him down. When he’d make love to his girl until morning.
Seeing the pain on her face when she’d shot him down the morning after their fight all those years ago had crippled him. She’d been the one good thing in his life, and he’d thrown her away, like garbage. When her roommate had shown up a week later, telling him Lexi was long gone, he’d felt like his goddamn heart had been ripped from his chest. The hole had been vacant for years, empty and aching, and until he’d seen Lexi the other night at Anchors, he hadn’t quite realized she held the missing piece.
Nearly ten years had hardened him—he’d seen more damage and destruction as a SEAL than he could’ve ever imagined. He’d been so hurt by Lexi’s inability to forgive him that he hadn’t ever been in a serious relationship since. That and the fact that she was the one his body craved. Fighting with his men for those who needed help made him prouder than damn near anything. But doing right by his girl? He’d be on top of the world.
Lexi glanced at him from the passenger seat, looking hesitant, wary. She’d been angry last night, furious this morning, but at the moment? She mostly looked defeated. The sadness filling her violet eyes was overwhelming. He’d give her anything she wanted just to have her stop looking at him that way.
Long black hair cascaded down to the floral sundress she wore, trailing across her bare shoulders and collarbone. Her cheeks were slightly flushed. She was so feminine and beautiful it ached just to look at her.
Reaching across the seat, he took her delicate hand in his. His thumb lightly caressed her knuckles, and she closed her eyes. He’d do anything to know what was on her mind—to take any sadness she had away.
“Let’s go for a walk,” he said huskily.
She looked out the window, refusing to meet his gaze. “I think I should go back to my hotel. This wasn’t a good i
dea.”
“Just hear me out,” he insisted. “If you still want to leave after that, I’ll drive you back.”
And beg you to give me a second chance.
She sighed and agreed, pulling her hand away. She was out the door before he could assist her, and he grumbled as he jogged around the truck and again took her hand. Her sundress blew in the breeze, dancing around her shapely legs. She’d kicked off her sandals and stood barefoot, looking innocent and unsure. He laced his fingers between hers and tugged her down toward the water so they could walk alone along the deserted beach. The wind blew in off the ocean, and Lexi shivered. Late summer days gave way to cool evenings, and Christopher was more than happy to tuck her under his arm.
Right where she belonged.
“Why’d you leave Coronado?” she asked, surprising him. He expected about a million different questions from her, but that one wasn’t even on the list. She knew his mom was there in California, and he’d planned to stick around to help her out. As much as he could anyway, since his SEAL team deployed frequently. He sent his mom money every single month, thinking she deserved a break after struggling to support him for so many years. Hell, his own goddamn father had failed to provide for them in any way.
“It was too hard to stay,” he admitted. “Every single thing there reminded me of you. The beach, my apartment, even the damn FA-18 Hornets racing across the sky.”
“You remember watching them together on the beach.”
“You were the best thing in my life, Lexi. After you left, I couldn’t even walk around base without imaging you there. I was a complete and total mess.”
A SEAL's Surrender (Alpha SEALs Book 3) Page 8