Authors: Marie Harte
“I’ll be telling it to her lawyer,” she said as Big J shoved him around the building toward the parking lot. She heard Ron swearing all the way.
“About par for the course on a Tuesday night.” Ray sighed. “Lara, honey, you okay?”
“I’m good, thanks. I’ll be right back in.”
“No, she won’t,” Johnny said and pried his arm from Rena while Ray ducked back inside.
“Oh, sorry, Johnny.” Rena shook her head. “No, Lara. Go home. We’ve got tonight covered.”
“I’m fine. Really.” Having some ape of a brother-in-law assault her should have pissed her off. She wanted to hold on to anger, to not feel like a victim. God, she knew better than to go out the side exit with the clientele that normally frequented the place. But most guys knew not to mess with Ray’s staff. She just hadn’t considered Ron would actually touch her.
He never had before.
Johnny’s voice softened. “You’re not fine.”
Oh hell.
She was shaking again.
“I can take her home,” Rena offered.
“I’ve got her.” Johnny put his arm around her shoulders. “That okay, Lara? I can see you home.”
“I’m fine, I said.” She tried to sound mad, but her voice came out shaky. “Fuck.”
Johnny chuckled. “That’s a quarter for the swear jar.”
She smiled, and a tear escaped. “Damn it.”
Rena came over and hugged her. “You take her home. I’ll finish up. And, Lara, don’t worry about tomorrow night either. Sue will cover.”
“But I—”
“Thanks, Rena.” Johnny steered Lara back inside, following Rena before she peeled away. “Hey, let my dad know I had to bail, okay?”
“No problem.”
Ray reappeared and handed Johnny Lara’s purse. “Sorry about this, Lara.” Her boss clumsily patted her on the shoulder.
She felt stupid, so many people apologizing and walking on eggshells around her. “I’m okay, Ray. Maybe just a little tired. I’ll be fine to work tomorrow though.”
“Nah. Sue’s got it. Rena’s orders.” He grinned. “You know she’s really the boss around here.”
“I thought I was,” she tried to joke.
“You are when I say you are,” Rena yelled from the kitchen.
Johnny tugged Lara with him back out the side exit, and she could have kissed him. She didn’t want to show everyone what a wuss she was being. She subtly wiped her eyes and sniffed. They were halfway through the parking lot when he stopped and turned to face her.
“I am so sorry.” He wiped her cheeks. “No one should mess with you like that.”
“I’m really okay,” she said, trying to convince herself. “It’s just been a long day, and I’m tired. I wasn’t expecting him to attack me is all. I’m fine.”
Johnny just stared at her.
“What? Do I have snot coming out my nose?” She wiped her nose on the shoulder of her T-shirt. “Better?”
His slow grin made her heart race. Bruised and no doubt buzzing off the altercation, Johnny Devlin looked better than any man had a right to. “You’re so pretty, even when you’re crying. It’s weird.”
She managed a laugh. “Thanks. I think.”
He took her by the hand and led her to his car, a loud, dark green muscle car. She had no idea what it was, an old Chevy, maybe. Something that said, “I’m a man.”
“I drove here.”
“One of the guys will drop it off later. Don’t worry about it.”
“I have to. I need it for class tomorrow.”
He unlocked and opened the passenger door for her, helping her get in.
“I said I’m fine. Jeez, Johnny. You’re the one who got hit. I just got lip-locked by a rich sissy in ugly clothing.”
He laughed. “He hit like a girl, for sure. No offense.”
She flipped him the finger, and he laughed some more. When he got in the car, the space seemed intimate, and way too small, despite his roomy bucket seats.
He drove her home, apparently not needing directions.
“How do you know where I live?” she asked suspiciously.
“I asked. Duh.”
“Oh.” A pause. “When?”
“A while ago. I believe my exact words were, ‘Who is that bartender with the long brown hair, heavenly rack, and tight ass? Because that’s the future Mrs. Devlin.’”
Her cheeks heated. “Shut up.”
“You are so red right now.” He snickered. “Actually, Rena told me where you lived a while ago, since she thought we’d make a nice couple.”
Friggin’ Rena considered herself a matchmaker. She still took credit for Del and Mike McCauley hooking up, despite the fact that Del had met Mike through his son.
They drove in silence for a while before Johnny spoke again. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I really am. I think I was just freaked out because it all happened so fast.”
In the passing shadows, she saw his expression darken. “Yeah, it can go down like that. I see that guy again, I’ll turn him into a human pretzel.” He glanced at her. “You let me know if he bothers you.”
“I will.” She most certainly would
not
. She refused to be responsible for Johnny landing in jail. Ron was just the type to goad Johnny into roughing him up where he’d have witnesses. Then he’d involve his many important connections to put her friend away.
Johnny Devlin—her friend.
They pulled into the parking lot of her building, and she directed him to her empty spot. Then he walked her upstairs to her unit. The halls were blissfully empty at ten o’clock on a Tuesday night. She could hear televisions, a few shouts, and laughter through the thin walls. She nodded at a familiar face, a cop who had a sister who lived in the place.
“It’s not much, but it’s home,” she said as they stopped at her apartment. She fished the keys out of her purse and unlocked her door, then turned to him. He’d come to her rescue tonight in a big way. She owed him. That, and she wasn’t ready for him to leave yet.
“Lara?”
“Come on in and let me take a look at that bruise.”
“That’s right. You’re the nursing student.” He watched her, looking for what, she didn’t know.
“Please. It’s the least I can do.” She didn’t want to beg him to stay, but she wanted to thank him, if at least in a small way.
“Okay.” He stepped inside.
She closed and locked the door behind him, not sure what to do with him now that she had him. Fortunately, she’d gone grocery shopping yesterday.
“Can I get you something to eat or drink?”
He stood in her entryway, looking huge in her tiny apartment. Tucking his hands in his jeans pockets, he shrugged. “I’m good.” His glance passed over her living room and kitchen and settled on the kitchen counter. On her plate of cookies.
She smiled. “How about a chocolate chip cookie? I baked some to take to class tomorrow.” She had class work at the college instead of the hospital, so she’d baked some goodies to take her classmates’ minds off their grueling schedule.
“I don’t want to mess you up for school.” Yet he took an awfully long time to look away from the plate.
“Come on. They’re amazing. I’ll even throw in a glass of milk…” she tempted. “Mmm. You know you want to.”
He gave a mock sigh. “Peer pressure. Guess I’ll have to say yes.”
“Great. Go sit, and I’ll be right back.” She set the cookies and milk on the table and rushed down the hallway.
Now to change, force herself to relax, and figure out why it felt like everything between them had turned some weird but important corner.
Chapter 5
Johnny called himself five kinds of fool as he sat at the table in Lara’s homey apartment. Too restless to remain seated, he snooped around, needing to know everything about her. The place was in a rough neighborhood but not so run-down he’d call it a slum or anything. She had a couch and table that had seen better days. A handcrafted quilt thrown over the back of the sofa made it cozy, and the stacked magazines and TV remote had been neatly placed on the coffee table.
A TV stand and potted plants in a windowsill sat across from the couch. In a small area near the tiny, open kitchen, a table and three chairs looked in decent enough condition. The kitchen had clean counters, a ceramic jug full of fresh-cut flowers, and an old-fashioned white refrigerator. The black-and-white tiles and antiquated white cupboards, which could use a coat of paint, gave the place a retro feel. Old and worn but functional. Like everything else he’d seen, the furniture might be hand-me-down but was kept clean and neat.
She’d disappeared down a hallway. He’d be surprised if she had more than one bedroom. They packed ’em tight in the Maryville Apartments. He knew, because he’d had a friend who used to live here. More like a one-night stand a few years ago who’d since moved back to Texas, but still…
He heard Lara moving around, as well as a few other close-by tenants on either side of her place. It made him appreciate his rental all the more, because he never heard his neighbors.
His cheek throbbed and reminded him to watch out for Lara’s asshole of a brother-in-law. Good for her sister for divorcing the schmuck. He’d met rich guys like Ron before. Dickheads who thought they could buy their way out of trouble. Ron might have financed his way through life, but he hadn’t been able to buy Lara.
Satisfaction at her refusal almost made his aches go away. He sat back at the table and waited. His stomach rumbled, the sight of that plate of cookies so near causing him to salivate.
Lara returned in a pair of sweats and a worn, long-sleeve T-shirt. She had her hair still up in a ponytail, but she looked fresh, scrubbed clean. She came to the table, carrying a small box.
“Sorry. Had to get the stink of Ray’s off me.”
“You mean Ron.”
She grinned. “Him too.”
He couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d felt when he’d seen her getting mauled. Pure, unadulterated rage. It had taken some serious control not to bash Ron’s brains all over the concrete slab. He’d been distracted enough by the thought of her trauma to let the ass get a shot in. Sloppy of him, and he resolved to do better next time. With Ron, he had a feeling there’d be one.
“What’s in the box?”
She set it down by him then slid a cookie his way.
An open invitation he couldn’t refuse.
He took a bite and closed his eyes. “These are
sooo
good,” he moaned and blinked his eyes open. “I took a hit to the face. That means I get more than one, right?”
Her finger grazing his cheek stilled him, and he felt the contact all the way to his toes. He swallowed the cookie he’d been chewing and stared at her.
“I’m so sorry you got hurt because of me, Johnny.”
Her hand felt like pure heaven, and he cupped it to him, loving her touch. “Not because of you, honey. Because some dickhead needed to be taught a lesson.”
“If you say so.” She tugged, and he let go. “At least let me patch you up.”
Fascinated, because he hadn’t had a woman take care of him in…
forever
…he sat still while she scooted her chair closer.
“Drink your milk.” She nudged his glass to him.
“Yes, Mom.”
“Smart-ass.”
He chuckled and continued to watch her. She looked all professional as she withdrew some antiseptic, cotton balls, and a bandage from her plastic box. “So you’re studying to become a nurse, huh?” He could totally envision her in one of those naughty nurse costumes from Halloween—which was coming up in another month. He wondered if he could talk her into wearing one.
“Yep. I’ve been piecing together classes for a few years now, but I finally decided to stop messing around and fully commit. I’m now full-time, and seriously, it’s a bitch. We’re starting clinicals again, where we actually follow a nurse around and do what they do—on real people.” She smiled. “So you’re not my first bandage. Fun stuff, let me tell you. Fall term just started, and I got a little lazy, having the summer off.” She dabbed something onto a cotton ball and raised it to his cheek. “This might sting a little.”
Hell. His cock was hurting worse, so he didn’t much mind. Anytime around Lara, he ached with a fierce need to kiss her. Hug her. Slam her against a wall and fuck her until he passed out.
He’d never been so captivated by a woman before. He’d seen prettier women. But something about Lara Valley struck him in the heart, the brain, and yeah, right between his legs.
He hoped she kept her gaze on his face, because he couldn’t do much about his erection with her so close.
She dabbed his cheek, and it stung. When she leaned in to get a closer look, he swallowed a moan. Dear Jesus, she was killing him. He smelled the flowery soap she’d used to wash her face. Fresh and clean, the way he always thought of her.
“Sorry.”
“What?” He sounded hoarse and had to clear his throat.
“For hurting you. I saw you flinch.”
From wanting you too much.
“Don’t tell the guys, okay? I have a rep.”
She chuckled and continued to be gentle with him. “I promise. I owe you.”
He stopped her from swabbing his cheek, his hand over hers. “No, you don’t. You don’t owe me a thing, Lara. I’m serious.” He didn’t want her gratitude. It made him uncomfortable, felt wrong, somehow. Taking care of her was no big thing. It just was.
Her slow smile warmed him all over again. “Okay. I don’t owe you. Then can you do me another favor and be a willing patient while I practice my nursing skills on you?”
“Well, if you put it like that. And you did insist I eat your cookies.”
“I did.” She tried to look solemn, but her smile ruined her attempt.
He sat, staring at her, while she took care of him. Man, she was something else. So damn beautiful it hurt to look at her. She’d make eye contact before quickly glancing away, her eyes dark, a fathomless brown, rich and addicting and impossible to deny.
His heart raced anytime she was near. And damn if he didn’t want to protect her from the world—himself included—while lusting after her all the same.
I am so totally gone on this chick.
He tried to act cool and collected but feared he looked like a love-struck ass. Not that love had anything to do with the way he was feeling—or so he’d been telling himself for years—but it probably described his expression better than anything he could come up with.
She put a bandage across his cheek. “There. You were bleeding a little, and you’ll bruise, but you should be all better soon.”