Saving Valentines: Love and the Alpha Male

by Cate Mckoy

  Rick sobered. “I’m glad. Stay safe sis.” He stood and walked to her at the kitchen sink. He gave her a peck on the cheek. “I am going to head upstairs and take care of her. Let me know if you’re going to leave during the night.”

  “You go be with your lady. I got first watch. I won’t be leaving until late morning.”

  Rick nodded and left to go be with Chastity. His heart rate picked up just thinking about seeing her again.

  ***

  Chastity was in heaven. The heated water and agitating bubbles soothed her aching muscles. She wallowed in the luxury of a heated and jetted tub. She had added a bath spa fragrance to the water. The aroma emanated throughout the bathroom. She took advantage of the bath pillow. She closed her eyes, dozing until there was a light knock on the door.

  “Chastity, everything all right?” Rick’s deep baritone brought her from the brink of sleep.

  She mumbled a response, relaxing back against the pillow.

  “Sweetheart, I am coming in. It’s time for me to test your awareness.”

  Chastity didn’t move. Rick entered the bathroom, stopping at the tub. His heart skipped a beat at the sight that greeted his eyes.

  She was fully relaxed in the tub. Her eyes barely opened. But she smiled, acknowledging him with a slight nod. Her body was submerged in the water. Rick could see every delectable curve. All the foaming bubbles had long since evaporated. The jets bubbled the water slowly.

  Rick knelt next to the tub, putting a finger under her chin. He turned her face to catch her gaze. “Who am I?”

  A smile blossomed on her face. “You’re Rick Racuanelli. The intense lieutenant with the pretty eyes that smells really good and made the mean detective go away. The sexy man that took my virginity.” Her eyes opened completely and once again their eyes communicated. “The man that saved me.”

  Rick leaned in and took her lips in a soft kiss. “Ready to get out of here, beautiful?”

  She nodded, accepting the hand and assistance he offered. The water cascade down her body as she stood. Rick watched the incredible sight with a barely contained hunger. “You take my breath lady.”

  He reached for a bath towel from the heated towel bar and wrapped her in the towel before lifting her free of the tub. He didn’t put her down until they were beside the bed. In silence, he dried every inch of her body. His hands sliding gently over her luscious curves. He couldn’t resist kissing parts as he dried them. She trembled when he took a moment to tease her nipples and when his tongue swiped her slit after he dried her there, making her wet in another way.

  When he was done drying her, he helped her to lie down. He grabbed the body lotion she had set out before getting in the tub. Sensually using the lotion, he massaged her body from head to toe. When she was a limp, moaning heap of responding nerves, he helped her into one of his t-shirts, ignoring the gown she had set out. He liked her wearing his shirts.

  Satisfied that Chastity was lucid and comforted he asked, “Do you want or need anything? Something for pain, maybe? The doc did say you could have Tylenol after a few hours.”

  Chastity shook her head, smiling languidly. “Just you please.”

  Rick returned her smile, put away the lotion, removed his all his clothes but his boxers and turned off the light. He got in the bed, aligning their bodies so that his spooned hers, cradling her in his protective embrace. “Your wish is my command lovely.”

  Chastity would have laughed at the ridiculousness of that statement if she wasn’t already sleeping in the haven of his sheltering arms.

  ***

  Chastity awoke with a pounding headache. There was bright light shining through a large window on the east wall of the bedroom. She moaned and reached for the safety of Rick’s arms she had felt throughout the night. Every time she was wakened to answer his questions, she had been less irritated because he held her close while he questioned her. Then he’d pull her closer with a possessive hand at her waist and kiss the top of her head before falling back to sleep.

  However, this time when she reached for his embrace, Chastity encountered empty air. Her eyes sprang open. She sat up on the bed, looking around. She was alone.

  Panic started deep in her belly. Before it could become full blown, Rick walked in the bedroom from the hall door, fully dressed for the day.

  Seeing her sitting up and looking about his smile widened. “Oh, good, you’re awake.”

  He came to the bed and kissed her fully on the mouth ignoring her protests that she hadn’t brushed yet. “Morning, Lara has breakfast. I can bring you a tray or would you like to go to the kitchen.”

  “Hmm, I’d like to go downstairs.”

  He nodded. His hand stroked along her hairline. He frowned, taking in all her bruising. She looked like what she was, battered. In the harsh light of day her injuries and bruises looked horrible.

  He tipped her chin up with a finger. “Chastity, are you sure? You look like you may be in pain.”

  She took his hand that wasn’t caressing her face. “It looks worse than it feels. The bath and your massage really helped with my pain. I just have twinges now.”

  Rick’s look turned hard as leaned in and touched her forehead gently with his. “I should have beat the shit out of that punk.”

  Chastity pulled back and cupped his cheeks. “No, that’s not you. You know that he is not right in the head. He needs medical help not a beating.”

  Rick smirked. “You don’t know me as well as you think. Trust and believe, if that little fucker had done any more to you, he would have needed an ambulance or a rescue helicopter to leave here last night rather than walking cuffed on his own power.”

  Chastity kissed him instead of arguing for she believed him. She was glad Toby wasn’t the genius most assumed he was. He had taken her without any clear planning. They could have succumbed to the elements if it hadn’t been for Rick.

  Rick moaned and deepened the kiss. Pulling back their gazes did that communication thing that was becoming their thing. “Don’t distract me with your sexiness, especially when we can’t do anything about it.”

  Chastity smiled. “We can do something.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and attempted to pull him down onto the bed with her.

  Rick resisted. “Uh, there is nothing I want more than to lie down with you and make you mine all over again. But I won’t be hurting you anymore than I already have. And, I certainly won’t be adding to your pain. We won’t be engaging in any sexual activity until you’re healed.”

  His voice was stern, hers was soft, “But, Rick—”

  He shook his head pulling fully out of her arms. “Don’t you but Rick me with that sexy breathless voice. It’s not going to happen.”

  She frowned and was about to argue some more when he turned towards the door saying. “Get dressed. I will see you downstairs. Unless you require assistance getting dressed?” He paused with a questing look.

  When she shook her head no, he said, “Okay. See you down there.” With those final words he was gone. Sighing Chastity got out of bed and got dressed.

  ***

  “I want to thank you for everything you did for me Lara.” Chastity said, taking the last bite of the most delicious scrambled eggs she had ever tasted.

  Lara gave Chastity a smile that was a feminine version of her brother’s. It gave Chastity pause. The resemblance was strong. The Racuanellis were quite the lookers.

  “Like I have already told Rick, no thanks are necessary. He’s family.”

  “I say thanks are definitely in order. You saved my life.”

  Lara shook her head and took Chastity’s plate, rinsing it and added it to hers and Rick’s in the dish washer. “How are you feeling?” She asked after starting the washer. “I have to say you don’t look any better than when we found you.”

  Chastity laughed. “Bruises tend to look worse before they look better. I am feeling much better than last night. Thanks to your brother taking care of me.”

  Lara smirked, givin
g Rick a teasing look. “Took care of her, did you?”

  Rick threw a dish towel at his sister’s head. “Mind your business brat.”

  Lara caught the towel, laughing. “Sure thing bro.”

  Chastity liked seeing the sibling banter. She had seen and felt his sadness when he had told her about his sisters last night.

  Wow! Had that only been last night when he had told her about his family, and they made love? It felt ages ago to Chastity. She watched Rick pretend fight his sister. They did some moves on each other, laughing the whole time.

  Chastity felt as if she had always known Rick. The night he walked into her kitchen and brightened her world seemed far off.

  The doorbell rang. Startled, Chastity jumped. Suddenly the siblings were on alert and there were guns in their hands. Chastity blinked. How had she missed them draw weapons? How had she missed them wearing weapons?

  “Chastity, stay here.” Rick directed as he and his sister walked towards the kitchen door. Rick gave his sister a hand signal and she nodded and disappeared in the opposite direction as Rick.

  Chastity’s heart thumped in trepidation. She started to tremble and have flashbacks of last night’s abduction from the hallway. She got off the stool at the island and ran to the walk-in pantry. Doing an about face she quickly snatched one of the knives out of the butcher’s block on the counter and went deep inside the pantry. She hid behind a shelf of can goods. Kneeling against the wall she held the knife with a death grip.

  She didn’t know how long she knelt there in fear. She didn’t move until she heard Rick’s voice call to her. “Chastity, it’s okay. You can come out. Where are you?”

  “Here I am, Rick.” She crawled from behind the shelf as he opened the door.

  Seeing him in the doorway she ran to him. She didn’t realize how badly she was shaking until Rick pulled her close. “Oh, sweetheart, it’s all right.”

  He took the knife from her, keeping her within his arms he led her out of the pantry.

  “Chastity!”

  She flinched at her father’s harsh voice. She turned away from the security of Rick’s chest. “Daddy?”

  “Young lady, what are you doing with this man?”

  “Daddy, what are you doing here?” Chastity was surprised. “How did you get through the snow?”

  “I am here to take you home. Dirk, kept me apprised of the situation.” Her father spoke with a double entendre, his eyes narrowed on Rick’s arm around her. “And with the right connections, snow isn’t a problem. I didn’t run into traveling issues until I got up here in these mountains. But, again, the right connections and I was able to get someone to help me navigate.”

  Rick frowned. “You mean you paid some fool to go wandering around these mountains.” His arm dropped from around Chastity’s shoulders as he stepped to her father. She was chilled without his protective arm. “Your money could have gotten you and the idiot fool enough to bring you up here killed.”

  Chastity’s eyes bounced back and forth between the only men she had ever felt safe with as they faced off. They were both strong, powerful men. Both, forces to be reckoned with, stern in their business dealings.

  “If you had done your job right, there would not have been a need for me to come up here.” Her father went for the jugular.

  “If you had listened to your daughter in the first place about having someone stalk her, things may have not gotten this far.” Rick wasn’t tip toeing around her father either.

  “You don’t know anything about me or my daughter.” Chastity’s father was fiercely glaring at Rick. Chastity knew this was not good.

  “Daddy, Rick, please—”

  They both ignored her. Rick continued as though she hadn’t spoken. “I know she’s hurt deeply by your inability to believe in her. With your money and resources all of this could have been avoided if you had believed her when she first told you she was in trouble.”

  “Hey, guys—” Lara tried to cool the situation as she returned to the kitchen.

  Chastity’s father stepped closer to Rick. His glare increasing several notches. “From what I’ve learned, you’re the last one to be telling someone about taking care of their love one with a stalker.”

  “Daddy!”

  Chastity watched the muscles in Rick’s face and throat tighten. His hand balled into a fist at his side.

  Lara stepped next to her brother. Her eyes just as cold as Rick’s grey ice. “I don’t give a shit who you are or how much money you have. You just crossed a line insulting my brother in his own home. You now have a problem with both of us.”

  Valentines’ eyes never left Rick’s face. He smirked. “I eat problems for breakfast.”

  Rick’s voice came out low and measured. His eyes left her father’s face. He looked over at Chastity. “Chastity, it’s up to you. I think you should stay with me. You have to sign a formal complaint.”

  “We’re taking care of that this morning on our way out of town.” Valentines spoke with a clipped tone. “Chastity go get your things. We’re leaving.”

  She didn’t know what to do. Her eyes went back and forth for several seconds. Finally, her eyes lingered on Rick. He watched her with unfathomable slate grey eyes.

  “Rick, what should I do?”

  He gave her a small smile. “It has to be your decision.”

  Chastity gave her father and Rick a final look before sighing and making her choice.

  Chapter 11

  Chastity walked around her parents’ garden. Although still chilly, the snow was gone. The sun shone brightly. A severe contrast to Chastity’s mood. It had been three days since her father had insisted, she leave Rick’s cabin in Echo Cliff. Three whole days in which Rick hadn’t called her.

  Tomorrow was Valentine’s Day. Her stalker was captured. She supposed there was no reason for him to call her. There was nothing left to do on her part but the court dates. Toby Linz’s parents were doing all they could to make sure his punishment was little as possible. They used their money and power to influence the law. Her father was making sure his power and money was countering everything the Linzs did. Chastity’s head was spinning with all the legal motions filed by her side and theirs. Her father was turning into a permanent fixture at the D.A.’s office. She kept out of it and her father’s way.

  Her mind was on other things than the court case for her stalker. She thought constantly of Rick. She had dialed his number a million times since she chose to go with her father instead of staying with Rick, always hanging up before it could connect. Why didn’t he call?

  “I thought I’d find you out here.” Chastity’s mom said from behind her.

  She turned and faced her mother. “Did you need something mom?”

  “Your father has started another shouting match with the lawyers. I needed a break.” Her mother fell into step beside her.

  “You’ve been with us for three days. Were you planning on going back to your place any time soon? The police car out front is making your father nervous.”

  The question irritated her. “You want me out mom? First you complain about not seeing me enough and then you complain about seeing me too much. What do you want from me? And, it was Rick’s idea to have the police guarding me until after Valentine’s Day.”

  Her mother stopped, putting a staying arm on Chastity. “First, you won’t take that tone with me young lady.”

  Chastity bowed her head at her mother’s disapproving tone. Shame filled her. She was yelling at the person who deserved her attitude the least. “I’m sorry mom.”

  Vera Valentines looked at her only child. She couldn’t stand seeing the hurt and sadness in her eyes. “Talk to me rather than lashing out.”

  Chastity looked at her mom. The disapproving look was gone, sympathy and understanding were prominent in her loving gaze. “Mom, he hasn’t called me.”

  “Ah, the handsome lieutenant.” Her mother turned her, putting an arm around her shoulders, she continued their walk. “Honey, men aren’t
as complicated as you might think.” At her daughter’s utter look of disbelief Vera elaborated. “Oh, don’t get me wrong. There will be things about them you will never comprehend, and you wouldn’t want to. But, with the important stuff, their thought process is simple. Hungry, they eat. Tired, they sleep. Horny, they—”

  “Mother!”

  Vera laughed at her daughter’s shocked expression. “Child, please, how do you think you got here?”

  “You say it’s not complicated, but he hasn’t called. And, I don’t know why?”

  “Well, let me simply ask…have you called him?”

  Chastity looked at her mother. “What? No. I haven’t.”

  “Why haven’t you called him?”

  “I…I… I, uh.”

  Her mother smiled. “Exactly.”

  ***

  “When I say triplicate that’s what I mean!” Rick’s voice thundered throughout his office.

  Murdock walked in, side-stepping the scurrying clerk. He put a finger in his ear and shook it. “Wow, Lieutenant, you want to bring it down a few decibels?”

  Danes laughed, entering behind Murdock. “Man, she flew out of here. Lieutenant, you’re scaring all the clerks. They’re drawing straws to see who must come in here. Before, they were jumping over each other to get in here to look at those pretty eyes of yours, now they’re ducking.”

  “Don’t say that!” His jawline grew tense.

  Murdock and Danes exchanged looks. Danes ventured. “Don’t say what? We said a few things.”

  Rick ran a hand across the back of his neck. “Pretty eyes.”

  Murdock and Danes exchanged looks again. They knew why he didn’t want to hear that. Danes changed the subject, getting down to business. “We couldn’t break Linz’s alibi. It’s solid. He was across town at his father’s office when Forbes was stabbed.”

  Murdock added, “Time-stamped, tamper-proof surveillance video proves Toby Linz was nowhere near the stabbing.”