Saving Valentines: Love and the Alpha Male

by Cate Mckoy

  Rick laughed and put his arm around her waist and guided her to the front door. She rang the doorbell but then walked inside.

  Chastity called out. “Mother, Father, it’s me. I brought a guest.”

  A maid came hurrying over. She took their outerwear, beaming at Chastity. “Well, Little One it is so nice to have you home again after so long. Your mother is in heaven.”

  Chastity kissed the elderly woman’s cheeks, returning her smile. “Hello, Ida and thank you. It’s great to see you. How is Luther and Luther Jr.?”

  “You know how Senior is, never mind nobody’s business but his own. Still keeps to himself. Jr. done went to university in California of all places. That UCLA. He was home over the holidays, talking that college talk, getting big headed with big ideas. We missed you over the holidays.” Ida gave Chastity a reproving look.

  “I am sorry I didn’t get here. I worked over the holiday season so other nurses could be with their family. I am one of the few nurses that don’t have children. I like to make sure as many as my nurses as possible get to be with their families.”

  Ida’s smile bloomed into a proud mama smile. “That’s my Little One, always thinking of others.”

  Taking attention away from her, Chastity placed her hand on Rick’s chest. “Ida, I’d like you to meet a new friend of mine, Rick Racuanelli. Rick please meet the woman who help raise me, Ida Washington. She and her husband, Luther have been with my father’s family since before I was born.”

  Rick shook the woman’s hand. She gave him a warm and speculative once over. He could see the wheels turning in her head as she moved her eyes from him to Chastity and back again. “How do you do, Ms. Washington?”

  “I do just fine, Mr. Racuanelli. You go on and call me Ida. Everyone does.”

  “Thank you, Ida. And, I’m Rick.”

  “Is that my baby?” A slightly familiar voice called out.

  Rick gasped. The woman coming towards them was an unbelievably stunning look alike. She could have been Chastity’s twin. The woman pulled Chastity into her arms. She held her tight for a moment before she pulled back and looked her over before pulling her back in her arms.

  “Mother, it’s good to see you too.” The woman kissed Chastity’s forehead and both cheeks before pulling her in for one more tight hug. Chastity laughed. “Mother, I can’t breathe.”

  She released her daughter. “Well, I can’t help it. I miss you so much. You don’t come by as often as you used to.”

  “I know, Mother. I’ve been b—"

  “Busy.” The woman finished Chastity’s sentence, shaking her head.

  Her attention switched to Rick. “Now, who is this handsome young man.”

  Rick didn’t have to ponder any longer why Chastity didn’t look anything like her father. She was the spitting image of her mother. Chastity’s beauty will obviously stand the test of time. Her mother was simply beautiful. Upon closer inspection, Rick saw the few lines in her face that told tale of her true age. Her eyes sparkled with a welcoming warmth. And, although they were very much like Chastity’s this woman’s eyes held a knowledge that her daughter’s eyes did not. “Mrs. Valentines, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Rick Racuanelli. A friend of Chastity’s.”

  “Please, call me Vera.” She shook his hand.

  Rick found himself liking the woman that had given birth to the woman he was finding it hard to put out of his mind for other reasons than working her case. He noted her eyes went to his arm at Chastity’s waist and how her daughter was turned inward towards the shelter of his body.

  Her eyes didn’t miss much. Rick was good at reading people. He had to be in his job. He was having trouble reading Vera. He couldn’t tell whether she approved or disapproved of his arm’s possessive position. She had the same polish of wealth he had seen time and again while dating Chelsea. A shine they couldn’t hide if they tried. A glow that said their hairstyle cost more than your car payment. Unlike the women of Chelsea’s ilk, Vera had a homey warmth mixed in to the jaded look of a woman who knew she could buy and sell almost everyone in the room if she wanted. Vera’s façade was tempered with common decency and consideration.

  She gave Rick a genuine smile, waving her hand down the hall. “This way. Ida is about to do one of her fantastic meals. Believe me, you’re going to love it.”

  “I’ve no doubt.” He returned her smile as he followed her down the hall, a guiding hand at the small of Chastity’s back.

  “It’s ridiculous how heavenly her food is. I’ve struggled to stay in my clothes when she starts getting a notion to bake.”

  Rick’s eyes traveled the length of Vera’s body. He could see she had absolutely no trouble fitting her burgundy dress. It hugged luscious curves, like her daughter’s. Due to age, Chastity’s were a bit perkier, Vera’s were nonetheless just as attractive.

  “I’ll thank you to take your eyes off my wife’s body.” Sterling Valentines walked in from a door opposite the one they had just walked through.

  “Daddy!” Chastity admonished. Looking at Rick with apology.

  “Oh, Sterl, stop with the silliness. This young man is not looking at me when he has our daughter on his arm.”

  Sterling snorted. “Okay.”

  Rick smiled at Valentines. He knew exactly when another man was checking out his woman. Although, Rick wasn’t looking at Vera in a sexual way, it was certainly in a way he was appreciating her beauty. “No disrespect, sir. Your wife is a beautiful woman. As is your daughter.”

  Chastity and her mother responded with identical smiles. Chastity’s with her touch of innocence and her mother’s with a touch of knowledge. They both were extremely beautiful women. Valentines was a lucky man.

  “I don’t need you to tell me that. I got eyes.”

  Vera laughed. “Oh, hush.” She turned to Rick. “Don’t mind my husband. He’s grumpy when he’s hungry.”

  Rick laughed as he held a chair for first her mother and then Chastity, seating them at the long formal dinning table. The dinning room was a huge formal room with expensive decorations and a long solid wood table with matching ornate chairs.

  “Ida has made your favorites. So, simmer down and be polite to our guest.”

  Sterling grumbled under his breath before offering Rick a drink. He requested a beer, thinking of all the driving he would be doing later.

  They all were seated when Ida began bringing in serving platters of exquisite looking food. They had light hearted banter while piling food on their plates. The men discussed sports and the stock market of all things. The food was delicious. The company enjoyable. Rick couldn’t say when he enjoyed himself more getting to know someone. He liked Chastity more and he liked her parents. Yes, he found himself even liking her father. Once you got pass the gruff exterior and accepted his no nonsense approach to everything, Sterling Valentines was a likeable fellow. Rick was more than willing to accompany Valentines into his den when he suggested after dinner cigars. The women went off to prepare a tray of coffee and dessert.

  Valentines got right down to business. “Now, you tell me what’s going on with my daughter and this stalker. What are you doing about this?”

  “I have to rule your daughter out as the person doing these things herself.” Rick held up a hand, warding off whatever was going to follow Valentines’ glower. “It’s procedure. I have to rule her out beyond a shadow of a doubt.”

  “Your police detective getting hurt ruled her out for me. My daughter is the sweetest, gentlest woman you’d ever want to meet. Besides, she’s a nurse first and foremost. She’d help someone not hurt them.”

  “Your reasoning is sound. However, there are illnesses that have this type of behavior.”

  “My daughter may have her hang ups and anxiety issues, but she doesn’t suffer from anything like the kind of sickness she’d have to have; to try to kill a cop, leave bloody messages, and worry her mother.” Valentines handed Rick a cigar.

  Rick nodded. “I understand your view. I have to do this
my way.” His eyes were direct, conveying he wouldn’t tolerate any interference of his job. They stared at each other with understanding as he lit their cigars.

  “What do you plan to do when you finally realize there is a man stalking my daughter?”

  “The plan is always to do my job. I am taking your daughter away. The stalker will have to come out of hiding if he wants to find her.”

  “What do you mean you’re taking her away? Where to?”

  Rick shook his head. “The less people who know that information, the better. Your daughter doesn’t even know that I am taking her away tonight.”

  “Tonight? She’ll never go for it. The snow is supposed to start. She has that charity gala thing tomorrow night.”

  “The snow is going to start very late and barely an inch is expected. The bulk of a much bigger storm is going to happen late tomorrow night. As for the gala, she’ll have to give that a miss.” Rick was adamant.

  Valentines nodded and said. “Uh, huh. We’ll see.”

  ***

  Rick stood against a wall in his tuxedo, watching Chastity work the ballroom. He sighed, recalling Valentines’ knowing look when he had predicted they would see how this situation would turn out. Chastity appeared vulnerable and meek. When she was fighting for something she wanted, she was anything but. Nothing was going to stop her from getting her way. Rick had wanted to just pick her up in a fireman’s lift and cart her away against her will. The distaste he felt at doing something against her will soured his stomach. He didn’t want to see that frightened, vulnerable, little girl lost expression she wore the night they met and the night of the sleepover ever again.

  He very much liked how she looked now. She wore an ivory, silk gown that clung to her womanly curves that smashed her air of innocence to tiny pieces. An air that she fostered in her beautiful eyes and the virginal white that now flowed along her body. Rick was reminded of her lie about being a virgin. He had to admit, at the moment, she looked like what she claimed. A phantom feeling flashed through him as he remembered the incredible suction of her sweet little mouth on his dick. Yeah, right, a virgin. He knew men who would kill to have a woman give head like that, come like she had from his caresses and still be a virgin. Shit, he was one of them. He could be convinced to marry the woman who did those things to his body and who knew only him. His body. His touch. His taste. His alone.

  Suddenly, the discrete earbud in his left ear sounded with Danes’ voice. “Well, well, look what we have here.”

  “What is it?” He softly questioned.

  “Your five o’ clock. The thin, bookish looking Asian with the glasses. It’s our wannabe Romeo from Chastity’s class the other day. Toby Linz.”

  “Murdock, I thought you gave him a talking?” Rick grimaced in annoyance.

  “I did.” Murdock’s voice sounded annoyed too. Rick watched him close in on the kid that was closing in on Chastity.

  “Let him get her away. I don’t want a scene for Chastity’s event.” Rick said as he moved.

  ***

  Chastity was glad that she was able to talk Rick in to letting her attend the charity event. Smiling to herself she amended her thought. There was no talking to him. He had been dead set against it. Chastity had simply refused to get in Rick’s car. She had told him in no uncertain terms. If he wanted to take her away before the charity dinner dance, then he would have to do so by force. She had known from his narrow-eyed glint that he had considered doing just that. At the very last minute he had changed his mind, growling, “Tomorrow night immediately after the dance.” He had moved in close and spoken softly in her ear. “If you give me any trouble don’t think for a second, I won’t pick your pretty ass up and haul you out of there by force.” Chastity had shivered from his closeness, his subtle breath along her cheek and neck. Her nipples had tightened as she remembered his manly touch. Her womanly parts had clenched in anticipation. Rick had stepped back and checked the house. No one had been surprised to find the pink paper with a number on it in her mailbox.

  She was glad Rick had agreed. She was having a good time. She had sat at the board’s table, ignoring most of them, listening to the speeches and then the music. She was surprised when Chad Forthworth had asked her to dance when the floor had opened for dancing. Frowning she had taken his offered hand and spent an awkward few minutes waltzing around the ballroom with a silent Chad who had looked everywhere but at her. At the end of the dance he had given her a stilted smile and thanked her. Confused, she had watched him go over to his sister and speak rather urgently with her. The siblings parted abruptly when they looked over to see her watching them.

  She had spent some time with Sydney and Erica, dancing and laughing. She had been surprised her two friends had shown up. This type of charity event was neither of their normal activity. They were more the wings and a pitcher of beer at the local bar types. But she was happy they supported her event. Chastity knew it was much easier for Sydney to afford the event than Erica but neither would exactly be hurting after paying the thousand dollars a plate to attend.

  After hanging with her friends for a bit she did her duty, mingling and going around to all the big donors, thanking them for their generosity and making sure they knew about the next charity shindig. She also received new donations while working the crowd.

  She spent a few moments with Betty Coleman and Alison Reed. Betty had been one of the speakers tonight. As the shelter’s director she was able to shed some light on the needs of the women and children that resided there. Alison was Betty’s special guest. It was nice to see Alison smile even with a black eye the makeup couldn’t hide. She looked lovely in her borrowed gown and shoes. Both, Alison and Betty seemed to be enjoying themselves. Alison got out for the first time in a long while and Betty got to network for the shelter.

  Chastity was leaving the main ballroom, headed for the bathrooms when her path was suddenly blocked by Toby Linz. She remembered that Linz’s family was very well off and Toby’s father attended various charitable functions throughout the year. Mr. Linz was a regular at all the hospital’s events. Chastity had decided to act as if the awkward moment in the lecture hall with Toby hadn’t happened.

  “Good evening, Toby. It’s nice to see you and your family here, supporting the less fortunate.”

  His smile was a hollow looking one. Then his voice came filled with a strong emotion. “You look so sweet and innocent, loving. Like an anime heroine. But you’re mean when someone tries to love you. You look perfect in the white gown. Perfect.” By the time he finished the troubling litany, he was talking more to himself rather than her. He raised his hand to her bare arm, sliding one of his fingers from her shoulder to her wrist.

  Chastity shrank away from his creepy touch. “Please don’t touch me.”

  Toby’s eyes turned mean. “Everything about you says love me, touch me and then you open up your mouth.” He forcibly grabbed her arm and marched-walked her all the way into the empty hallway leading to the foyer.

  Chastity pulled back, trying to dislodge his hand on her arm. “Let me go, Toby. What are you doing?”

  He was much stronger than he looked. He pulled her along, shaking her. “Shut up!”

  “No, I—”

  Before she could say another word, they were literally surrounded by Murdock, Danes and Rick.

  Chastity had eyes only for Rick. He stood there looking like some vengeful warrior character from the anime Toby mentioned. “You have exactly two seconds to get your hands off her before you’ll be kissing the floor.”

  “Who do you thi—”

  It was all Toby got out before Rick moved like lighting and in swift moves that almost appeared as one, had Toby’s hands off her and him pinned to the floor with his face being mushed into the carpeting. Well, he had been warned.

  Rick made a motion for Murdock to take over the restraining of Toby. He turned to Chastity and gently touched her arm. “Are you all right? He didn’t hurt you?”

  Chastity could only sh
ake her head and go into his waiting arms. She closed her eyes basking in the warm haven, the only place she felt safe lately. He stroked her back in a comforting caress. After a few minutes, he pulled away, resting his hands at the small of her back, looking down he asked, “Are you ready to go?”

  Smiling she nodded. “I just have to use the ladies’ room.”

  Rick smiled. “Ok, I will go get the car and bring it up front. Do not leave the foyer after you’re done in the bathroom.”

  Chastity watched him leave. He looked incredible in his tux. He looked like a sexy James Bond. Danes and Murdock had disappeared. She will never cease to be amazed at their stealth. Shaking her head, she made her way into the ladies’ lounge. She stopped short just inside the door. Chelsea Forthworth was seated on one of the overstuffed benches at the long vanity counter, applying a bright red lipstick.

  Chelsea caught her eye in the mirror as Chastity walked further into the bathroom. “I see you’re the belle of the ball tonight.” Her eyes scanned Chastity’s gown. “Looking like a Disney Princess before she’s the princess. I am wondering why you didn’t break out in a sickeningly sweet falsetto to commemorate the occasion.”

  Not one to back down, Chastity retorted. “Oh, I see the wicked Ice Queen is also in attendance at the ball.”

  Chelsea ugly-ed her face to sneer at Chastity. “Just remember that, I am the queen. You will never take my place so stay in your lane. You’re just a lowly peasant I allow in my realm.”

  Ignoring her, Chastity went on with her business. She rolled her eyes to find Chelsea still there as she washed her hands.

  “You won’t take my place at that hospital, at these events and certainly not with Rick.” Chelsea continued as though the few minutes Chastity took to use the bathroom hadn’t passed.

  Until that second, Chastity chose not to engage with Chelsea. Upon hearing Rick’s name connected with Chelsea’s, it turned her stomach. “It’s none of your business what I do with Rick Racuanelli.”