NYC Angels: Flirting with Danger (7 page)

D
ID
B
RAD KNOW
how bitter those words sounded?

Probably not. Her heart ached for him. Her own parents were so involved in their kids’ lives—sometimes too involved—that she couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have parents as detached at his parents had always seemed to be.

“People can change,” she said. “Maybe your mom really was trying to be nice.”

“I’m sure she was.” The tight-lipped response told her he didn’t buy her theory.

Maybe Brad was right. Chloe knew from experience that some people never did change.

Once everything was on the table, they ate in silence. Brad complimented the food but didn’t seem to be in a hurry to start any kind of conversation. The silence eventually got to her. She cleared her throat. “How’s the hunt for a new nurse coming? Have you had any applicants?”

“I had several interviews today, as a matter of fact.”

“That’s great.”

So soon? Her heart plummeted, landing somewhere around her knees. She knew he was going to look for someone else. Knew she was due back at her old job in
less than a week, but it wasn’t easy hearing how painless it would be to replace her.

Why wouldn’t it be? Travis had replaced her before she’d even officially left the marriage.

Besides, the sooner Brad got her out of the hospital and out of his hair, the sooner he could go back to his old, free-wheeling lifestyle. Who knew? Katrina might even stroll back into the picture as soon as the coast was clear.

She swallowed, trying to blot out the wave of self-pity that sloshed through her stomach. Chloe Jenkins: invisible and most certainly expendable.

Getting up from the table, she picked up her plate and headed for the safety of the kitchen, thanking the dinner gods that she’d finished eating because there was no way she’d be able to force down one more bite. The cheesecake in the refrigerator was going to have to wait.

She heard the scrape of Brad’s chair and tensed in front of the sink. He came in and laid his hands on her shoulders. “You okay?”

“Just fine. There’s cheesecake in the fridge if you want dessert.”

“I’m good.” He turned her to face him. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She was so desperate to avoid his gaze that she threw out the first thing she could think of. “Do you want another glass of wine?”

He searched her face. “Let’s take the bottle into the living room and sit for a while. You can tell me about your day.”

Uh … he already knew everything about her day because they worked together. She saw almost exactly the same patients as he did. But right now she was more
than grateful for an excuse to slide away from him. And one more glass of wine wouldn’t do her in.

Whiskey, however … Yeah, she didn’t want a repeat of her first night at the apartment. She’d drink a second glass and then retreat to her room or the kitchen. She could always say she needed to do the dishes.

“I’ll get the table and the dishes later on. Just leave everything where it is.”

Had the man read her mind? She sure hoped not, because there were things inside her head she did
not
want him to find.

Picking up her glass as Brad retrieved the bottle of wine along with his own wineglass, they made their way to the living room. Chloe was reminded of that fateful first time she’d sat here—how horrified she’d been at what she’d been wearing beneath her coat.

That seemed like a lifetime ago. Maybe it was. What had seemed like the closing of a chapter was more like the final page of a book. The new one, full of crisp white pages, was just waiting for the right opening line. Only she had no idea what that sentence would be.

Chloe sat on the brown leather sofa, glad when he didn’t choose to sit in front of her on the ottoman again. Instead, he settled in the space beside her and lifted the bottle of wine to fill her glass. She dutifully held it out and watched the clear liquid trickle until it hit the halfway point. He did the same with his own then set the bottle on a side table.

As there was no way he simply wanted to talk about her day, she wondered if he was trying to find a tactful way to get her out of his apartment. She decided to take the bull by the horns.

“Did you have any luck with the interviews?”

He leaned back against the cushions, his right arm
sliding along the top of it. She swore she felt the tip of her ponytail move in the process. “None. So I’ve been doing some thinking.”

“You have?”

He gave a soft laugh. “As surprising as that may seem to you, I do think from time to time.”

This time the bobbing of her ponytail was not her imagination. What was he doing back there?

The continued subtle tugging on her hair was beginning to give her that weird quivery feeling in her stomach again. She cleared her throat in an attempt to take her mind off it, hoping he’d start talking again. “And what have you been thinking about?”

In a casual move he propped his left ankle on his right knee and shifted his body to face her. “How attached are you to your current job?”

Oh, God. He
was
trying to get rid of her. Wanted to make sure she wasn’t going to cause a scene when he found her replacement. “Don’t worry, I’m not desperate for a job. I already have one, remember?”

“So you wouldn’t be interested in staying at Angel’s on a more permanent basis?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.” She thought she’d just made it clear that she wasn’t angling for the position.

“Aren’t you?”

Bewildered, she shook her head.

The subtle brush of something soft across the nape of her neck made her swallow. The warmth in her stomach increased. He was trailing the tip of her ponytail across her skin, and her gaze somehow landed on his mouth before she yanked it back up to his eyes. Was he trying to drive her crazy?

“Would you stay at Angel’s, if I asked you to?”

Her thoughts moved slowly, as if slogging their way through thick molasses. “You want me to stay?”

“I thought I’d made that obvious at the beginning of the conversation.”

“No—I thought. I thought you were trying to tell me not to get too comfortable.” She licked her lips. “Are you offering me the position?”

His mouth curved in that slow, devastating smile that wreaked havoc on her senses. “That depends. Would you say yes?”

She wanted to, heaven knew. But something about the way he said it—along with that damned sweep of hair across her neck—made alarm bells go off in her head.

“Did Jason put you up to this?”

“Jason? No, of course not.” His smile faded.

She gulped. She could only think of one other possibility. “Are you doing it because you think it’s expected?”

The sudden darkening of his eyes told her she’d made a serious gaffe. The prickly sensation on her nape halted. He’d just talked about his mother giving him a set of dishes because it was the expected thing to do. Equating his actions with hers was not a good thing.

“Is that what you think of me, Chloe?”

“No, of course not. I didn’t mean—I know you’re actually …”

“Actually what?”

“A nice person.” Something else she’d said about his mother’s gift. Wow, she was really hitting them out of the park this evening.

He laughed, the hand in her hair tightening, forcing her to look at him. “I’m really not, Chloe. Just ask
your brother. I think he might know me better than I know myself.”

The pounding in her chest couldn’t be her heart, could it? Because she could barely believe he was offering her the perfect way to leave her old life behind. And although she wanted to grab it before he changed his mind, she had to be sure he really wanted her to stay.

“Why do you want me here?” She touched his hand. “And please don’t tell me it’s because you feel sorry for me. I—I couldn’t bear it.”

Swish
. Her hair brushed the side of her neck this time, sliding under her chin, along her jaw. Her breath caught in her throat.

“You’re good at your job. The patients and the staff all like you. And I know I can work with you.” Another tug on her hair. “So please don’t compare me with my mother.”

“Sorry about that.” She smiled. “Jason told me what you had to deal with.”

His head tilted. “And what was that?”

Uh-oh. “He didn’t gossip about you, Brad. He just came home so angry one day I thought he was going to explode.”

“Angry at me?”

“No. At your parents.” She paused. “I pulled him into the backyard and pestered him until he finally let it slip.”

“Let what slip?”

“That your parents had padlocks on …” She swallowed. “That they used to lock you out of the house sometimes.” The words sounded horrific when said out loud, and Chloe immediately wished she could call them back.

She wasn’t about to admit what else she knew. That
a teenage Brad—as tough and cynical as the best of them—had fought back tears as he’d told Jason what he’d endured. His parents hadn’t merely locked him out of the house—that had been during his later years. But when he’d been younger, his mother had routinely locked him in a closet in his bedroom whenever he’d done something she hadn’t liked. Jason had seen one of the locks and asked about them.

Brad hadn’t understood why his parents hadn’t loved him the way Chloe and Jason’s parents loved their kids. The way they loved
him
.

His motorcycle accident had happened a mere week after his confession. Chloe was pretty sure it hadn’t been a coincidence. She could remember her terror when she’d seen the damage to his face, his shredded T-shirt … bleeding arm.

Brad had gone very still at her words. Well, most of him, anyway. One small muscle in his cheek was tensing and releasing in a slow, methodical movement that held her captive. Made her mouth go dry.

For a second she thought he was going to withdraw his offer and get up and leave, but he didn’t. He sat there, without saying a word, until that muscle finally went still. “I don’t want to talk about my parents.”

“Okay.” She pulled in a breath, relief going through her. She was just as desperate to change the subject as he was. “What do you want to talk about?”

Her ponytail, which had gone slack over the last couple of minutes, went taut again with a couple of quick bumps, and she realized he’d wrapped it around his hand. He used it to tip her head back an inch or two.

“I don’t want to talk at all.”

The pupils in his eyes grew, turning black. With anger?

Maybe. But Brad wouldn’t hurt her. She knew that without a doubt. “What do you want to do, then?”

“Something your brother warned me not to.”

Panic started to skitter up her spine, coming face to face with a warm, lethargic wave of need that was traveling down it. The two battled for control of her central nervous system while her vocal cords acted of their own accord. “And what is that?”

“This.” Brad’s pupils swam before her eyes, until they came so close she could no longer see them. Then his mouth covered hers in a searing kiss.

S
HE EXPECTED TO
feel fear. There was none.

A man was using her hair to hold her prisoner—the way Travis used to do. Was devouring her mouth like he couldn’t get enough of her, and all she felt was elation.

That couldn’t be right.

Neither could the way her lips were pressing closer, parting to actually invite him in of their own accord instead of clamping shut to prevent the unwanted invasions of the past.

Because this was different.

Brad may have kissed her to shut her up, but she hadn’t realized until now how desperately she’d wanted to repeat that day at the park.

There was no mistaking this for flirtation, though. This kiss was all business. And she couldn’t get enough of it.

A small sound exited her throat. Her eyelids slammed shut as the whirling emotions caught her up in a funnel cloud, sweeping her along some unknown path. He let go of her ponytail, his hands going to either side of her face, thumbs lining the hollows beneath her cheekbones.

His tongue took her up on her invitation and she tensed for a second as it slid past her lips, but despite the desperation she sensed in his kiss he didn’t hurt her.
Didn’t force his way in and cut the tender insides of her mouth with his teeth.

This was exploratory. Feeling his way. Brushing along her tongue. Licking the roof of her mouth. The backs of her teeth.

Some instinct had her tightening around him, forming a channel that guided him, squeezed him. Coaxed him to stroke her.

A low groan met her ears as he did just that.

He liked it.

Brad hadn’t said a word. Hadn’t given her a blow-by-blow list of instructions on what he wanted her to do. And yet—as his hand moved to cup the back of her neck and the friction of his tongue across hers set her on fire—she knew.

Her arms wound around his neck, grateful just to let herself feel for once—not have to do something someone else wanted.

Yet somehow she was. The confusion of it all tangled up inside her, but she let it. She could try to unravel it later. But right now …

Umm …

His lips left hers and trailed along her cheek, kissing each of her eyelids. She wanted him back where he’d been. Hadn’t finished kissing him yet. But even as she lifted her head to find his mouth again, he stayed on track with whatever he was doing. Kissing the tip of her nose. Her chin. Nudging it up so he could slide beneath it.

Okay, so she could kiss him again later. Because what he was doing right now was … was …

Fantastic
.

The heat of his mouth continued down her throat
then roamed back up the side of it until he reached her ear. And bit it gently.

A shiver went over her, the air rushing from her lungs in an audible sigh.

She wanted him everywhere at once. As soon as he left one place, she missed him. But, then, so did the next place he visited. Until she was a squirming mass of need, her whole body crying out for more.

Her nipples tightened, and instead of recoiling at the thought of his touch they were seething with anticipation.

She moved closer, frustrated at the angles that kept her from pressing fully against him.

As if he’d read her mind, he eased her down onto the wide couch until her head sank into the softness of the overstuffed arm.

Then they were body to body, one of his legs between hers, the hard ridge against her right thigh unmistakable.

She waited for the fear to finally make its way into the pit of her stomach, but his mouth was back at her ear. Whispering this time.

“You okay?”

The words took her by surprise. Made tears spring to her eyes.

Not once had Travis ever asked her that. Not even afterwards.

She nodded, her lips touching his face, then following the same path he’d taken on hers. But before she could complete the trip, he’d captured them with his own, his hand on the side of her neck, thumb stroking her throat as he kissed her.

These kisses were more familiar. The same light brushes she’d experienced at the park.

That wasn’t enough this time. She wanted more. Wanted that same hard kiss he’d given her a few minutes ago. But when she tried to increase the pressure, he pulled back with a soft laugh. “Your husband was a fool.”

She stiffened, coming back to herself all at once. All the reasons why this was a bad idea flooded her. But when she tried to scoot away, he held her in place. She opened her eyes and found him watching her in a way that made her squirm.

He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. “I want you, Chloe, but I don’t want you to do something you’re going to regret.”

Regret? The only thing she regretted was that she was going to have to tell him the truth. That
he
was the one who’d end up with a pile of regrets if this went any further, not her.

“I’m not very …” Her throat closed up, and she had to fight to get the words out. “I can’t…. I don’t want you to be…”

Disappointed
.

He cupped her face. “I won’t be. Even if it goes no further than this.”

Surely that wasn’t the truth. But as she continued to look at him, she saw nothing but raw sincerity reflected back at her. How could that be? He was still hard against her leg. His breathing not quite steady. Would he really be okay if she called a halt to it right here?

Something inside her said he would.

She took a deep breath. “I want it to.”

His fingertips brushed her cheek. “You want it to what?”

“Go further than this.”

His eyes darkened. “Are you sure?”

“If you promise not to …” How could she put it into words? She didn’t honestly think he’d make fun of her afterwards, but she didn’t want him to get part way into it and then realize she was so not what he was hoping for. “I want to try. But I don’t know if I can.”

“Chloe, look at me.”

She thought she had been. But she found the center of his pupil and focused.

There was an intensity swirling inside it she hadn’t noticed before.

“The second you start to feel differently, I want you to tell me, and we’ll stop.”

She wouldn’t tell him. She never did.

His fingers tightened on her shoulder. “Promise me.”

And admit she was a failure? Again? She shook her head.

To her surprise, Brad sat up, dragging a hand through his hair and swearing softly under his breath.

She caught his hand before he could get up and walk away. “Please don’t go.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.” Did she really believe that? That the act itself wouldn’t hurt? No. But even if there was some kind of physical discomfort, she knew that he would never wound her deep down inside, where it really mattered.

“Then promise me.”

“I—I … It’s too embarrassing.” She averted her eyes.

“You don’t have to use words. If you don’t like something I’m doing, hold onto me like this …” he gripped her arms “… and push. That’ll be my signal to back off. It’s that easy. And I’ll be okay with it. I promise.”

“Are you sure?”

“Have I ever broken a promise to you?”

“No.”

He leaned down and kissed her lips. “Okay. Your turn. Promise me.”

She waited long seconds before she got up the nerve to say it. “I promise.”

At her words Brad released the tension that had been steadily building in his jaw. He wanted this woman more than he’d ever wanted anyone in his life. And he’d just promised to stop the second she gave his arms a little squeeze. He hoped to hell he actually could. It had taken almost every ounce of his strength to sit up when she’d shaken her head and refused to agree to his terms. But he’d found the willpower then, and he would find it again if it came down to it. But right now all he wanted to do was kiss that beautiful mouth all over again.

The second his lips lingered on hers, a sigh rippled through her chest as if she’d been waiting her whole life for this. The thought inflamed him, made him want to take her in a rush, but he pushed the need aside and instead savored the way she returned his kisses, reveled in the tiny sounds she made when he lifted his head to move somewhere else. How could any man in his right mind call her frigid?

Chloe was anything but.

Instead, there was an untapped innocence about her that he’d never thought he’d find sexy—until now.
Virgins need not apply
had always been his motto.

He didn’t need the headaches or the complications. But this was something very different. And he found himself wanting to break all his self-made rules to have her.

Just this once.

Chloe wasn’t looking for another husband. And he certainly wasn’t looking for anything lasting either.

Maybe he was as untouched as Chloe was, in some ways. And that thought made him tighten all over again.

Her hands on his shoulders pulled him back to her, until they were breast to chest. He eased away just long enough to recline beside her again, then wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her neck and breathing her scent deep into his lungs. When her head shifted slightly once or twice, he leaned back and frowned, then realized her ponytail was pressing against the cushions.

That couldn’t be comfortable. “Let me get that.”

He tilted her head to the side, finding the elastic and sliding the loops—one at a time—over the length of hair. His fingers pushed into the thick, glossy strands and set them free. “Better?”

“Yes.” She licked her lips. “Do you want to go into the bedroom?”

He did. Wanted to see her sprawled on that huge bed for a reason other than sleep, wanted to watch as she straddled him and took him deep inside. But something made him hesitate. That refusal to promise to make him stop.

Had she done that before? Let Travis do things she didn’t want to do without attempting to stop him?

He nuzzled her cheek, his decision made. “Let’s stay here for a while.”

He was going to make this all about Chloe. Show her that all men were not created equal. Some really did care about their partner’s enjoyment. Show her how much it enhanced his own pleasure to know she was responding to his touch. To his murmured words.

He could wait. For ever, if necessary. But he had a feeling Chloe had already been kept waiting far too long.