Chasing Strength
A Harper Family Romance
Nancy Stopper
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Books by Nancy Stopper
About the Author
Chasing Strength
Harper Family Series, Book 4
By: Nancy Stopper
Published by Nancy Stopper
© 2019
Cover by Razzle Dazzle Designs
This novel is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual events or locals or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author at [email protected].
Nancy Stopper
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Chapter 1
Alexis Harper threw her hands in the air, letting the music surround her. The deep thrum of the bass vibrated through her body. She closed her eyes and gave herself over to the music, to the words that spoke of love and happiness and a life that had, so far, been elusive to her. She’d reached a point recently where dancing at FitzGeralds, a few extra-strong Madrases in her system, was the only way she could quiet the thoughts in her head.
She was feeling no pain tonight, the welcome numb that came from the drinks finally settling into her system.
Her friend Jessica leaned in and yelled into Alexis’s ear. “The DJ is really spinning it. I love the vibe. It’s electric in here tonight.”
Alexis nodded. Jessica’s sole purpose in going out dancing was to meet men. Alexis wasn’t opposed to finding a man, someone she could lose herself in for a few hours, but she wasn’t keen on anything long term.
There were a few promising prospects around the room tonight. She made eye contact with an especially tall drink of water, his dark hair swept over his eyes and his square jaw sporting a five o’clock shadow. She could practically feel the scratch of his whiskers on her palm as she ran her hand down his cheek.
The man in question winked, the movement slight. If she hadn’t been staring at him, she might have missed it. Two could play this game. She smiled back, throwing her hair over her shoulder and thrusting out her chest in a move proven to gain a man’s attention. He was interested—there was no doubt. She saw no need to adhere to archaic dating principles of waiting for the man to approach her. When she was interested in a man, she didn’t hesitate to make the first move. But before she could cross the room, a brunette wearing a skimpy blue dress sidled up behind him, her hand brushing across his ass and settling on his abs.
Damn, he had been flirting with Alexis right in front of his date, or girlfriend, or whatever she was.
Alexis was tempted to go over there anyway, to show the girl what kind of jerk he was but thought better of it. The woman probably knew already.
If they cheat with you, they’ll cheat on you.
She was definitely not interested in a cheater.
The song blasting through the speakers ended and a slower one started. Jessica pulled the blond hunk she’d been flirting with all night into her clutches. His buddy turned to Alexis. “Want to dance?”
She shook her head. “Thanks. I’m going to get another drink.”
The brown-haired man, Mark or Mack or something like that, was handsome enough, but she wasn’t feeling it. Typically, she was always up for pressing her body against a super-hot man for a few hours.
She tapped Jessica on the shoulder and tipped her thumb and pinky toward her mouth. Jessica nodded.
Alexis crossed the scarred hardwood floor toward the bar that stretched the entire length of the side wall of FitzGeralds, the only bar in Cedar Hill. The room was packed on this Saturday night, and it took a couple minutes to push her way through the five-deep crowd of customers to reach the bar rail.
Once she did, she thumped her hand on the bar a minute to catch Dylan’s attention. One benefit of being a regular, all of the bartenders knew her favorite drink. With a simple gesture, she ordered two drinks. These should last her a while because she didn’t want to force her way to the bar again.
As she waited for her drink, a body shoved into her left side. She braced herself on the bar but wobbled on her four-inch stiletto heels. Before she could catch herself, she fell into someone on her other side.
Strong hands landed on her shoulders, thick fingers grasping her and keeping her upright. Most definitely a man, his touch was firm and gentle at the same time. She’d only wanted a drink and a few minutes to herself, but now she couldn’t ignore the man who’d helped her. She had to at least thank him, right?
Drawing in a strengthening breath, she spun around and encountered the most captivating set of hazel-green eyes framed by eyelashes that most women would die for. Her gaze traveled across the blond man’s shoulders and down his arms, sinewy muscles rippling beneath tanned skin.
His fingers squeezed her shoulders. “Are you okay?”
Alexis’s gaze snapped to his thoughtful one. She’d had enough of everyone’s kindness and concern to last her two lifetimes. Why were people always asking if she was all right? “Fine, thanks. No offense, but I’m not looking for a hookup tonight.”
The man raised his eyebrows and chuckled. “I wasn’t offering.”
She turned her back on the man, willing Dylan to finish her drinks so she could escape. She was safer on the dance floor where she let her body speak for her and didn’t have to endure the knowing gaze of the people around her.
Dylan finally slid both of her drinks across the bar. “Here ya go, babe.”
“Thanks. Just put them on my tab.”
She lifted one of the glasses, tipping it up and swallowing almost half of the sweet orange, cranberry, and vodka mix. That hit the spot. Just how she liked it, the tangy concoction muting her senses and quieting her mind. Her head swam and heat flooded her body.
She downed the last of that drink, slammed the glass onto the bar, and then lifted the other.
She caught the gaze of the blond man, and he raised a single eyebrow in question. She knew that look. She’d seen it on her siblings’ faces more than once, the look that asked if she really wanted to be drinking that next drink. Yes, she did. She knew what she was doing. She was getting through another day. The same way she’d gotten through yesterday, and the way she’d get through tomorrow. The slow slog of her life that alcohol propelled her through.
But the man didn’t avert his gaze, and that pissed her off. If he didn’t annoy the crap out of her so much, he’d be perfect inspiration for the hero in
her next book with his blond hair and days worth of stubble on his chiseled jaw. “What?”
He shook his head as he brought his own carbonated drink to his lips. “Nothing. Just, uh, well, nothing.”
She motioned her second glass to him in mock salute. “Have a good evening.”
Without another glance behind her, she returned to the dance floor.
After that, the hours blended together, as did the drinks. The dark-haired man who’d asked her to dance earlier slid up beside her and slipped a new drink into her hand. She gulped the refreshing liquid.
“This band is great,” Alexis said, or at least she thought she said, after an especially energizing song. The words sat heavy on her tongue, and she had to force them out of her mouth.
Jessica laughed, tugging at the top of her little black dress to keep from falling out. “Alexis, this is a DJ.”
The blond man wrapped his arm around Jessica’s shoulder, and she leaned into him. Her friend was in the zone tonight. His dark-haired buddy sidled up to Alexis, his hand gripping her waist. For some reason, the image that flooded her mind was not the man hugging her, but the one at the bar with the intriguing hazel eyes. The eyes that had challenged her with a simple look.
She searched the room until her gaze landed on him again, sitting on that same stool, staring at her.
Well, she’d show him. She slipped her hands around her dance partner’s neck. “What was your name again?”
“Matt. You’re Alexis, right?”
She nodded, and immediately regretted the move, as the room spun and pain shot through her temple. But she plastered on her trademark smile and pressed her body into him.
Matt’s hand slipped lower and cupped her ass as he whispered in her ear. “You’re sexy as hell.”
The music kicked up a beat and Matt spun her around, pulling her into his chest, his groin against her ass. The evidence of his desire nudged her backside, and she teased him, wiggling her hips.
She raised her hands, relaxing into the music and the feeling of his body against her. Matt tightened his arms around her, consuming her, his breath hot in her ear. “Damn. See what you do to me? I can’t wait to take you home and feel your naked skin against mine.”
She should respond, should tell him that she didn’t know him and wasn’t going home with him, but her tongue wouldn’t form the words. Before she could shake the fog out of her brain, Jessica’s hand landed on her shoulder. “Hey, Alexis. Are you all right?”
Dammit, there it was again. She was so fucking tired of answering that question. “I’m fiii-nnnnn-eeee.”
Jessica tugged on Alexis’s arm. “Come on. I think it’s time to go.”
Matt pulled her closer to him, blocking Alexis’s view of her friend. “I’ve got her. I don’t think she’s ready to leave yet.”
Alexis gritted her teeth and blinked a couple of times. It would be better if she left with Jessica, but Alexis was fed up with trying to please everyone else. For once, she wanted to do something on her own terms. To leave when she wanted to, not when someone else thought she should. “I’m fine, Jessica. You go ahead.”
Jessica eyed her suspiciously, but Alexis threw her friend that look. The one that said, “Back off.” Jessica knew good and well to leave Alexis alone at this point—that arguing would just piss her the hell off.
Jessica backed off and gestured in surrender. “Whatever. Call me tomorrow.”
As Alexis watched, the blond man steered Jessica to the exit, the door closing behind them. And then Alexis was alone. Well, except for Matt.
He puffed out his chest, a grin on his face, as if he’d won. Jerk. This wasn’t about him. It was about her need to show the world that she could make her own decisions. That she didn’t need anyone else telling her what to do and how to live her life.
Now she just had to find a way to extricate herself from him. She didn’t plan to go home with him—she just wasn’t ready to leave with Jessica.
“So, how ‘bout it? Do you wanna get out of here?”
“I don’t—”
Matt pressed a finger to her lips. “Uh-uh. You don’t need to say anything.” He removed his finger and then kissed her, his tongue snaking into her mouth. He tasted of beer and cigarettes, and she placed her hands on his chest to shove him away. But he tightened his hold, her hands trapped between them. “I can’t wait to get this dress off.”
“I’m tired. I think I’ll just go home.” She whipped her phone out of her tiny cross-body bag and tapped to open her Uber app. She should get frequent flier miles for all the rides she took with the car service.
Before she could request a ride, Matt pressed the button to darken the screen. “I’ll take you home. My car’s right outside.”
She tried to object, but Matt wrapped his arm around her waist and steered her toward the door. Apparently, she was going with him whether she wanted to or not.
Chapter 2
Chris Kennedy swirled the dark liquid in his glass and then downed the last sips of his soda. From the moment the blond in the skimpy red dress had practically fallen in his lap, he could think of nothing else. On the surface, the woman looked like any young woman out in a club in any city, the short dress, the high heels. But when he’d made eye contact, he’d seen beneath the façade to the haunted look she tried and failed to hide.
He knew for certain that this woman was hiding something beneath her big personality and back-off vibe.
After she downed her first drink and carried her second to the dance floor, he’d kept his eye on her. Something told him that he should.
“Hey, man.” His buddy Eric slapped him on the back. “A table just opened up in the back. We’re going to go shoot a few games of pool. You coming?”
“Yeah, man, there’s a good-looking crop of women back there,” Zach added. “And the drinks have been flowing. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel to land one of the hotties tonight.”
Chris bristled and clenched his jaw. A year ago, he was just like Eric and Zach. Out for a good time, looking for a willing woman to share his bed. But not anymore. “You really shouldn’t be picking up anyone that drunk.”
Zach chuckled and slapped Eric on the back. “Yeah, but that’s the best kind, right?”
Chris sprang to his feet and stabbed his finger into Zach’s chest. “I don’t ever want to hear you talk like that about a woman again. They are not fish to be caught, and you should never take advantage of one when she isn’t fully able to consent.”
Eric shoved his shoulder into Zach. “Chill, man. He’s been on edge since Robin.”
It pissed the hell out of him when his friends minimized the situation. That was part of the reason he hadn’t come out with them recently. “You’re damn right. And if she hadn’t met an asshole like you guys, maybe she’d still be here. Besides, I still want to talk to the bartender that was on duty that night. She may have remembered something new.”
He turned his back on his friends and cursed his empty glass. He motioned for Dylan to refill his soda and plopped back on his stool. He should have trusted his instincts and stayed home tonight, but Zach and Eric were relentless. He had shut out his friends in the past few months and felt guilty about that, so he’d given in and joined them for a drink.
They probably regretted the invitation now.
After drawing a huge gulp from his fresh drink, he scanned the room, his gaze landing squarely on the blond who had snubbed him earlier. Her red dress clung to every curve and stopped well short of her knees. Her high-heeled stilettos barely moved as she swayed in the arms of the man who had claimed her not long after she’d returned to the dance floor. Chris watched the couple sway to another song, drawn to the woman, remembering the look in her eye when she’d let down her guard earlier.
That song ended and the woman stepped back. Well, as much as the jerk would let her, his arm latched around her waist. He leaned down and said something in her ear, and she tried again to free herself from his grasp. Her head snapped toward
the door and her hand reached into the small bag at her waist. Maybe once she left, he could stop obsessing about her.
But then the man wrapped his fingers around her arm and steered her toward the door. He might think nothing of a guy insisting to his drunk girlfriend that it was time to leave if it wasn’t for the way she dug her heels in, or the wide eyes that pierced him straight to his heart.
Chris shot a look at Dylan who had been eyeing the scene himself. That was why they had a bouncer here, right? “I think that’s a problem. Where’s Carl?”
“Daggone. That’s why we brought him in after the incident. He’s out back dealing with another issue. You go. You know what to do.”
Chris jumped to his feet, threw a couple bills on the bar, and dashed to the exit as the woman steered the man toward a table. Maybe she’d find a friend who would help her out. He didn’t know what was up with the woman and the man currently guiding her out, but she didn’t look happy.
Taking advantage of their change in direction, he slammed through the door, positioning himself just out of sight. A minute later, the door swung open and the blond in the skimpy red dress stumbled out, hanging on the guy’s arm as he half dragged, half led her.
Chris had seen enough. He stepped out of the shadow and planted himself in front of the couple.
The guy puffed out his chest, tucking the woman behind him. “Hey, man. What’s your problem?”
“You’re my problem.” Before Chris went any further, he tilted his head and caught the woman’s eye. “Are you all right?”
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