Corrupting Cinderella (39 page)

“Hey, hon.” Lilly leans over and gives me a quick hug. She gestures to her companion. “This is Brad. We work together sometimes and ran into each other on the way down, so I invited him.” She gives me an I’m-sorry-I-hope-you’re-not-mad face. “Brad, this is my friend, Hope.”

He actually stands up to greet me and shake my hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too.” My gaze darts around the cafeteria. “Anything here that won’t make me want to barf?” I ask Lilly.

She squints and points to the far, back corner. “The deli. They make great sandwiches.”

“’Kay. I’ll be right back.”

I’m anxious because I know Lilly only gets an hour for lunch and it takes forever to place my order.

When I return, they’re both talking about someone I don’t know. Work stuff, I guess.

“So, what do you do, Hope?”

My mouth is full of turkey sandwich, so Lilly answers for me. “She’s a lawyer.”

Brad raises an eyebrow. “Nice. What do you practice?”

My nose wrinkles, but I give my standard answer before asking him, “You?”

“I’m a consultant with Empire Canvassing.”

“Don’t let him fool you—he’s a dirty lobbyist,” Lilly says with a dramatic head shake.

My lips curve up at the generic sounding name of his firm. “What are you lobbying for?”

He rolls his eyes in obvious delight and gives me a broad grin. “A new tech company that manufactures grow house equipment.”

My blank look seems to amuse both of them. “They’re lobbying to legalize pot in New York,” Lilly explains.

“Why are tech companies interested in that?”

I get the impression Brad is not impressed with my intellect. “Big money to be made in the states that are legalizing. Think about it. You’ve heard of NORML, right?”

“Sure.”

“Well, they’ve been pushing for marijuana reform for years with no movement. But these investors and lobbyists who are backed by big-money have managed to propel some of the legislation forward in no time.”

I think about some of my clients—heck, Rock being one of them—getting dragged through the criminal justice system for stupid, simple pot possession. “I guess if that’s what it takes to finally get some sensible laws and stop sending people to prison for something so silly, it’s a good thing.”

Brad seems surprised. I guess he thought I’d be judgmental. “Our firm works on other stuff too. This is just a big deal at the moment.”

We talk about some other topics. Lilly mentions a movie she wants to see. Brad awkwardly asks me out. Thankfully, Lilly saves the day. “Oh, Hope’s got a big, scary biker boyfriend, Brad. Sorry.”

Brad’s definitely shocked. I’m a little shocked myself because I’m close to bawling at the table. I’m not actually sure I still have a boyfriend anymore, scary or otherwise. I keep this to myself, though.

“You don’t seem like a biker babe,” Brad says without apology.

Heat creeps over my cheeks. “I wasn’t.”

“He’s not just a regular badass, he’s an MC President,” Lilly brags.

Brad quirks an eyebrow at me. “I hope it’s the Wolf Knights or the Lost Kings. The Vipers don’t have the best reputation where women are concerned.”

What the—

The question must be visible all over my face. “Our firm lobbies for some other interests as well. I know more about this area than you can imagine, Hope. So which one is it? I hear Mr. North is a clever businessman, but someone you don’t want to cross, and Mr. Hunt is a gentleman, but he’s got a nasty streak if you fuck with his family.”

Good grief, my boyfriend has quite a reputation. “Uh, Rochlan North.”

“Please don’t tell him I asked you out,” he says with an absolutely straight face.

Lilly bursts out laughing. Brad and I do not.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

I’m not thrilled with the report I get from Hoot.

Yeah, I’m risking pissing Hope off for good by still having her followed, but I’m fucking worried about her. Greybell finally made bail, and I’m not taking a chance he will come back to finish what he started. From what I’ve been able to figure out, his family shuttled him away to a mental hospital.

He best fucking stay put.

I don’t know if Hope is aware of his release. It’s not like she would change her routine even if she did.

She’s stubborn that way.

However, I’m annoyed with today’s report from Hoot for different reasons.

She’s having lunch with Lilly and some guy Hoot doesn’t recognize. Although I know Lilly enjoys playing the field, I’m concerned she might have taken it upon herself to set Hope up on a date.

The idea kicks my fuckin’ ass into gear.

When Hoot tells me it looks like she left the office for the night, I ask him to tail her until the turn off for her house. He gives me the call that she’s almost here, and I steel myself for what’s about to go down.

This has to go right. Fucking up isn’t an option.

Headlights wash over me, and I squint into the light, relieved when I recognize Hope’s car. She barely has the key out before she opens her door.

“Rock?”

“It’s me.” Shit, I didn’t want to scare her.

The soft slam of her car door, gentle clicking of her heels over the pavement are just background noise compared to her voice. “Why are you here?”

“To talk.”

“Oh.”

She’s close enough for me to see the corners of her mouth turn down. Without inviting me inside, she opens the door. I follow in right behind her, just in case.

After setting her things down, she leans against the kitchen counter. She folds her arms over her chest and nods at me.

Fuck, this is hard. “I wanted to give you this,” I say, while digging into my pocket for the small rectangular box.

Her eyes fill with confusion as she stretches out one hand to take it. She slides the box open and stares at what’s inside for a beat before speaking. “A phone?”

“Uh, yeah. I can have your number switched over to it later if you want.” This is awkward enough without getting bogged down in the technicalities.

“Okay.”

“Turn it on.”

She fiddles around with it for a minute or so before the screen lights up.

“Now what?”

I hold out my hand, and she moves closer to give me the phone. Standing side by side, when I haven’t been near Hope in what feels like forever, momentarily distracts me. Finally, I manage to call up the screen I need. There’s a small blue heart steadily blinking at the center. I hand the phone back to her, and when her fingers brush against mine, it’s a fight not to crush her against me for a scorching kiss.

“What is that?” She takes the phone from me, studying the screen. “Is that a…map? That’s my house.” Her questioning eyes meet mine.

I pull out my phone to show her the same screen, mine with a pink heart blinking—her.

“You…You’re giving me the same thing?” My chest tightens at the sound of her low, velvety voice.

“Yes. I trust you more than any woman I’ve ever known.” I grab both phones in one hand and tip her chin up. “But. You have to promise me you will
never
come looking for me if I’m out on club business. Ever. If you’re worried, you tell one of the guys, give them the location and let them handle it. Promise.”

She blinks a few times before answering. “Okay, I won’t. Promise.”

I nod, but I don’t let her go yet. I want her to understand how serious this is. “The shit I was in the middle of the other night, sweetheart, if you’d come rolling in…it would have been very bad. For everyone. Especially you.”

“You scare me, Rock.”

My pulse jumps—how can she say that?

The heavy frown I’m wearing must nudge her into explaining. “I’m not afraid of
you
. I’m afraid
for
you. Can you understand that? My husband was very cautious and safe, and yet I still lost him. You’re non-stop danger, and I’m so scared of you…dying,” she finally whispers.

A number of emotions run through me, hearing her admit something so deep. I land on guilt. I need her to hear the absolute truth from me.

“I’m so sorry that I make you worry. But can I tell you something?” She nods for me to go on. “Only three things in this world keep me up at night. The thought of losing
you
. Losing one of my brothers. Going back to prison. That’s it. I’m not afraid of dying, babe.”

Admitting that to her didn’t feel as bad as I thought it would.

“Prison,” she whispers, as if the thought had never occurred to her.

“Yes, babe. You know I’ve been inside. Long time ago. Don’t ever want to go back.”

I watch her face as she absorbs my worst fears. Even though we’ve never talked about it, I know she knows.

“Prison,” she mumbles again as if reality is finally dawning on her. “Then why do you—”

I stop her before she even gets the thought out. “It’s all I know, babe. It’s why I keep so many secrets, and don’t trust anyone outside the MC. It’s why I insulate myself with people who have the juice to keep us out of trouble—like Tony Cain.”

She nods, but I can already see the tears filling her eyes. This is a little too much raw honesty.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about tracking your phone. It’s not because I don’t respect you, I just worry—”

I don’t get to finish, because she pulls away from me.

"My life is only ever in danger because
you
put it there!"

Almost true. "So Adam's client who attacked you, that’s my fault too?"

She's got nothing. She sputters. Fuck me, did I finally outsmart my mouthy lawyer woman?

One corner of her mouth quirks up, and she shakes her head. “What am I going to do?”

I’m not really sure what she means, but I take her hand anyway. “Love me. Let me love you.”

“That’s not enough.”

Oh shit. No, no, no.

“I need you to not get hurt. Can you promise me you’ll do your best to keep yourself safe?”

I expected her to say the risks were too high and she needs to be with someone safer, or to ask me to quit, leave the club. But she demands none of that. No, she’s asking me to keep myself safe.

My throat is so tight, it’s hard to speak. “Of course.”

“I mean from…other things too. I don’t ever want to have to come visit you behind bars.”

After spending the day visiting Grinder and all the bad memories that dredged up, her words are like a knife in my gut. “I’d never ask you to do that, baby.”

Hurt flashes in her eyes. “I wouldn’t desert you.”

What did I do to deserve this woman’s loyalty?

“Besides, I’d wait for you, so I could kick your ass when you got out.”

That’s my girl.

Taking a few steps to the side, I set the phones on the counter, then hold out my hand. She places her hand in mine, and I tug her against me.

“Remember how I told you once I’d let you go, if you wanted me to? I can’t do it now, Hope. I can’t. I love you too much.”

Her wide, green eyes blink up at me. “I don’t want you to let me go. I love you too.”

Thank fuck.

“I need you.” And it’s true. I need Hope more than fucking air right now.

“I need you too,” she echoes with a sweet smile.

She’s incredible, but at the moment she’s not getting me. I walk her gently backwards until she’s pressed up against the wall. Lifting her legs so they’re wrapped around my hips, I lean in and bury my face against her neck. My lips slide over her soft skin, licking and sucking until her breath comes out in jerky little pants.

Now
she understands.

Her arms lock around my neck, pulling me close. My hands find their way to her waistband, where I pull and tug her blouse free. Sliding my fingers over her bare skin, I can’t get enough. I don’t think my big, clumsy hands can work the tiny, delicate buttons of her blouse.

So I tear it off. Creamy lace covers her heavy breasts, but not so much that I can’t spot light freckles and perfect rosy nipples peeking out.

Hope gasps as she looks down at the ruins of her pretty blouse hanging from her. As she shrugs out of it, she pins me with a stern stare. “That
was
expensive.”

There’s no anger behind her words. She’s working hard to keep her mouth from curving into a smile.

“I guess I owe you a blouse then,” I tease.

Her thighs squeeze me tighter, and she reaches for me again, pulling me close. I can’t get enough of her breasts—they fill my hands perfectly. I draw the lace cups of her bra down, placing her on display. Slowly, I skim one hand up her side, smoothing it over her breast, stopping to pinch and roll the stiff tips of her nipples and take in her responses. She whimpers and pushes her hips against me.