“I'm so sorry, Nicole.” Pam whispered.
Nicole looked away from Damon with a shrug, turning to Pam with a smile, trying to keep it together. “It was just a kiss. No big deal.” She didn't know who she was trying to convince, herself or Pam.
“Come on; let's go beat the crap out of Jared.” Pam grabbed her arm, throwing a dark look over her shoulder at Damon, who was still staring at Nicole.
The workout was pretty laid back. They worked mostly on cardio and a few easy self-defense techniques. Damon stayed away from Nicole and helped everyone but her and Pam. Nicole had watched the woman leave and knew she fell short. Way short. The woman was a ten and a half, while Nicole put herself around a five on the hotness scale, if that. The sad part was if she had to pick a woman Damon would be with, it was that woman, not someone like her. Wow, what a total self-confidence killer. Seeing Damon walking off the mat where Mitch was waving her over, she sighed and headed that way.
“We need to talk to you.” Mitch frowned, not looking happy at all, which wasn't much of a stretch.
For a second Nicole thought, what the hell, it was just a kiss, but then realized Damon wouldn't have blabbed about that. Obviously it was not as memorable to him as it was her. God, get over it already....it was just a freakin kiss. So what if it about set her panties on fire.
“Nicole?” Mitch snapped his fingers in front of her face.
“Huh?” Nicole jerked her head toward Mitch, not wanting to even glance at Damon, who she knew stood next to Mitch. “What?”
“Didn't you hear what I just said?” Mitch sighed, giving her the “getting ready to bitch you out” eyeball.
“Mitch, just spit it out.” Nicole felt her face flame. Damn, she had to get her head on straight.
“Well I did, but you had your head up your ass.”
“I'm tired Mitch. I've had maybe four hours of sleep and I'm hungry. You of all people know what I'm like with a lack of sleep and no food.” Nicole rubbed her eyebrow with the back of her hand. She just wanted to get out of there, grab a heart attack in a sack at the closest fast food joint and then crawl into bed and sleep until her alarm clock went off on Monday morning, signaling the start of another long week. “And before you ask, no, I don't want you to throw me a pity party. So let's just get this over with before I go PMS on you.”
Mitch cursed. He was use to her long speeches, but by the look on Damon, Jared and Duncan's face, they were shocked if not a little amused. Jared was the first to burst out laughing. “Damn Mitch, we do not want to go there.”
“Believe me, I know.” Mitch smirked. “Been there, done that, more than you even know.”
Nicole threw up her hands, walking away. “I'm going home. Text me.”
“Get your ass back here, Callahan.” Mitch sighed, looking as tired as she felt. “We have a problem.”
“Is Steve okay?” Nicole woke up fast.
Damon shook his head in amazement. Thinking of others first was one of things that had drawn him to her.
“The man we took down at the club last night was after someone.” Jared began, glancing at Damon then back to Nicole.
“Yeah, I know. Damon told me.” Nicole wasn't putting two and two together. “So, did he get away from you?”
Jared choked a chuckle back. “Ah....no." His head did though, but he kept that to himself. “We know who his target was.”
Still Nicole stared at them, even Damon. “And......”
“It was you.” Mitch added when Jared didn't.
“Me?” That took her mind off Damon real quick. “Why would he be after me? I have never seen that man before in my life.”
“It seems someone thinks you are doing your job too well.” Jared again eyed Damon, who stood still staring at Nicole.
“As of today you are on a leave of absence.” Mitch put on his boss hat.
“No.” Nicole shook her head. “First of all, this has to be a mistake. You got it wrong.” She looked at the three vampires then back to Mitch. “I am not going on a leave of absence, Mitch.”
“Yes, you are and I am not budging on this, Nicole.” Okay, he was serious. He just used her first name. He never, ever did that.
“Is there any family you could go stay with?” Duncan ask before Nicole could tear into Mitch.
Shaking her head. “No, there isn't.”
“I'll call my brother and see if you can stay with him and his wife in Michigan.” Mitch started dialing.
Nicole stood there speechless. Suddenly her life spiraled out of control, or at least out of her control, and if Damon didn't stop staring at her, she was going to scream. Grabbing Mitch's phone, she snapped it shut and tossed it back to him. “While I appreciate you doing that Mitch, it's a waste of time. I'm a big girl who can make big girl decisions and have been for most of my life.” She turned to Duncan. “I really don't see a problem if you got the guy. Right?”
There was some nervous shuffling of feet and looking away. “We had him” Duncan looked at Damon.
“So that's the problem? He got away?” Nicole did not like where this was heading and seeing three nervous vampire warriors was not helping matters.
“No, I killed him.” Damon replied with ease as if discussing the weather. “And someone will take his place.”
Nicole stepped back, stunned. He killed him.
“We need to get you somewhere safe until we can find out who put the hit on you.” Duncan looked at Mitch. “Call your brother.”
“No, Mitch.” Nicole tore her gaze from Damon. “I am not going into hiding. I don't understand any of this, but I know I am not going to run and leave my job. I'm not stupid. I'll be careful and lock my doors, but right now, I need to get home and feed Ren and Stimpy.” Why the hell she said that she didn't know. All she knew was she had to get away from them and the only thing that came to mind was feeding her turtles. Grabbing her bag she raced out the door to her car.
“Who the fuck is Ren and Stimpy?” Jared turned to look at everyone, confused.
Damon ignored him as he let his shitkickers lead him out the door behind Nicole.
“Let it go Mitch.” Hearing heavy footsteps coming up behind her, Nicole didn't even turn around figuring it was Mitch. “I'm not leaving and I will be at work Monday morning.” Opening the door she threw her bag in the backseat, got in and slammed the door.
Damon put both hands on the hood of her car, leaning down so his face was in her window. “We need to talk.” He opened her door.
“No, I don't think we do.” Nicole went to close her door, but he stopped it with his hand.
“You need to listen to Mitch and get out of town for a while.” Damon leaned down closer to her level.
Feeling more tired than she ever had in her life, she turned to look at him, laying her head on the steering wheel. “I can't afford to take off work Damon. Who will pay my bills? Who will feed my turtles?” She just stared at him, as if she could find the answers in his eyes. “I don't have anyone and I'm not going to live with strangers.” That was all her life had consisted of growing up. No, she wouldn't put herself in that position again.
Damon rubbed his eyes and sighed. “This is your life we're talking about.”
“You're right. It is my life and this isn't your problem, Damon.” Nicole started her car with a rattle and puff of smoke. “Now please shut my door so I can go home and go to bed.” She wanted to add, so he could go back to his girlfriend, but didn't. She wasn't in high school anymore. She really didn't know what she felt for this man and she was afraid to find out. A broken heart was definitely something she didn't need right now.
“Dammit Nicole, get out of the car before I pull you out.” Damon stepped back and that was the break she needed. Slamming into gear she lifted her foot off the brake and took off, her door slamming shut from the force of the car speeding off.
“Pull me out, my ass.” Nicole snorted then glanced in her rear view mirror thinking to see him standing in her dust, but to her horror he was running right u
p behind her leaping into the air before landing on the top of her car with a loud boom. Screaming, she let go of the steering wheel, her hands flying to her face covering her eyes she slammed the brakes. “Are you freakin crazy?!” she screamed, afraid to look to see him splattered all over the hood of her car.
Jumping down, Damon threw open her door almost yanking it off the hinges. “Get out.”
Turning her head, she peeked through her fingers, hoping to find him in one piece and not a bloody mess. Seeing him standing in her door unhurt pissed her off to a roaring level ten. He had just scared the crap out of her. Jumping out, she punched him as hard as she could in the stomach feeling a wicked satisfaction when she heard him grunt. “What were you thinking? I could have killed you!”
“I'm a vampire, remember?” He stated with a sloppy grin, rubbing his stomach. That had actually hurt a little.
“That doesn't mean I couldn't have run over you.” She slapped him in the chest. Twice. Hard. Shaking her hurting hand, she glared at him. “You scared the crap out of me.”
“You think that's scary?” He leaned in her face with a glare, then grabbed her hand and rubbed it gently. “That's nothing compared to what could be coming after you.”
“I'm....” She cleared her throat, looking at his large hands rubbing hers. Just that small touch made her skin crawl in a good wicked way. Okay, Nicole, get a grip. Lifting her eyes to his, she pulled her hand away. “I'm not leaving my home and job. I'll be careful.”
Damon nodded, turned away and reached in her car taking the keys out of the ignition. “You have to be the most hard headed, stubborn human I have ever met and believe me I have met a lot of them.” Grabbing her elbow, he headed back to the warehouse.
“Hey...” Nicole straightened her legs trying to stop, but she slid right along behind him in the gravel. “What are you doing? Give me my keys dammit!”
“Stop or you're going to hurt yourself.” Damon slowed, but still pulled her along. When she didn't start walking, but kept skidding along the graveled parking lot, he stooped, hitting her in the stomach with his shoulder, lifting her off the ground.
“Put me the fuck down!” Nicole grunted as her soft stomach bounced on his shoulder.
He whacked her butt. “Watch your mouth.”
Sucking in her breath Nicole snarled. “You did not just spank me.”
“I'll do it again if you don't watch your language.” His grin was downright wicked and secretly he hoped she did so he could have a reason to put his hand back on that nice rounded ass.
Knowing he would, she bit her bottom lip to keep her mouth shut. As she bounced up and down her eyes fell on his rear end that was temptingly in her face. It would serve him right if she took a bite. God, it was so tempting.
“Don't even think about it.” Damon warned, as he opened the door to the warehouse, then set her down. Nicole swayed as the blood rushed to her head. “I bite back.”
“You're pushing it buddy.” She poked his chest with each word.
“And you owe a dollar to the jar.” Damon reminded her with a smirk.
Nicole shot him a nasty glare. She hardly ever said the f-word, but he had her so twisted she didn't know what she was doing anymore.
Mitch, Duncan and Jared stood staring at them with grins on their faces. “I told you he could change her mind.” Jared grinned. “He has a way with women.”
“I didn't change my mind.” Nicole hissed, glaring at Damon. “And he doesn't have a way with me. I am so not like those women who probably fall at his feet and do his every command.” Okay....where did that come from?
Jared snorted, trying to hide his grin behind his hand when Damon glared at him. “Shut the hell up, Jared.”
Damon turned to Duncan. “As you heard, the human has decided to play Russian roulette with her life, so we need to have someone with her twenty-four-seven until this gets taken care of.”
Rolling her eyes, Nicole sighed loud and long. “Come on. This isn't necessary. You guys got better things to do than hang around me, waiting for something that may or may not happen.”
“Oh, it's going to happen. Jamison was one of the best and if not for Damon last night, you wouldn't be standing here right now.” Jared turned serious. “You'd be dead or wishing you were.”
Okay, seeing the funny and goofy Jared turn serious in a blink of an eye put things in perspective. “Okay, so what can I do that doesn't involve me leaving my job and life?”
“Who wants to do it?” Duncan looked between Jared and Damon. Well, the silence said a lot. Nicole felt like an idiot standing there waiting to see who was going to be the sacrifice.
“I'll do it.” A man walked out of the shadows of the warehouse.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Damon frowned at the newcomer.
“I called the council. We need more help down here, so they sent Sid and a few more are on their way.” Duncan replied, daring Damon to say anything.
Nicole just stood staring at Sid. Hot damn, these warriors were gorgeous. Not usually attracted to blondes, she had to rethink that one. Standing at the same height as Damon's six-three he was slimmer, but wasn't hurting for muscles. He looked solid as a rock and actually looked like Brad Pitt starring in a beach boy movie. Ignoring everyone in the warehouse, he stopped in front of Nicole. “Name's Sid Sinclair.” He put his hand out and she took it in a strong shake.
She nodded trying not to stare, failing miserably. “Nicole Callahan.”
“So you're the children's hero, huh?” Sid dropped her hand and smiled, looking her up and down. “Not much to ya. Figured you'd be ah....taller.” He winked.
“Children's hero?” Mitch looked around confused.
“Oh yeah....this woman is well known around the council.” Sid smirked at Damon's frown. “She's put a dent in the blood selling business by pulling kids from the homes that are exploiting them.”
“Seriously?” Pride warmed her, Nicole grinned. All her hard work was finally paying off and she loved it.
“Oh, yeah.” Sid grinned, looking her up and down. “So, I would be honored to guard that body.”
Even though Nicole thought Sid was hot, he was not her kind of hot. The vampire growling with a nasty sneer at Sid was more her style. Too bad he was taken.
Duncan knew if he didn't step in there was going to be a killing. He didn't know why Damon hadn't stepped up, but he knew Damon well enough to know there was a good reason why he didn't. “Sid, I have something else in mind for you. Jared, get your stuff together and go with Nicole.”
Jared nodded. He didn't volunteer earlier because he knew something was going on with Damon and Nicole, but hell, Damon hadn't stepped up. “Sure thing.” He turned and walked away.
Grabbing his bag Jared turned to go back out and came face to face with Damon. “Hey, big guy.”
“Keep her safe.” Damon demanded blocking the door.
“I know my job, Damon. What I don't know is why you aren't doing it.”
“I have my reasons.”
“Yeah, well hope you can live with them if something happens to her.” Jared tried to walk around him.
“Nothing better happen to her Jared, because if it does it will be your ass.” Damon snarled.
Jared dropped his bag and got in Damon's face. “You need to back the fuck off. You don't want to be the one to guard her so shut the hell up. I don't know what crawled up your ass, but I will guard her and I will die for her if need be. Can you say the same?”
Damon (The Protectors Series) Book #1 Page 7