Through the Night (32 page)

It was just a matter of time before the entire story hit every news wire, and Chase gained national exposure for finding the long-lost treasure.

Valerie walked into the house and turned around to face Chase. Now that they were completely alone, he had a wary look in his eyes, as if he didn’t know what to expect from her after everything that had transpired with Nicholas. The two of them still had a lot to discuss—not about what happened at the Garden Club, but about
them.

But first, she needed to wash away the grime and layer of menace still lingering on her skin. “I desperately need a shower,” she said, wanting to be fresh and clean and clear-headed when they talked.

He nodded in agreement, albeit reluctantly. “Yeah, me, too.”

“I’ll take the guest bathroom, and you can have the one in the master bedroom,” she said.

They parted ways, and minutes later, Valerie was standing naked beneath the hot shower spray, which felt incredibly good and helped her to relax and think straight for the first time since Nicholas had pulled a gun from his trench coat and pointed the barrel straight at Chase’s chest.

Her entire body shivered at the awful memory, because she’d known in that moment that the dream she’d had that morning was about to come true. She hadn’t thought twice about stepping in front of Chase. She’d been driven by instinct and her love for him, and she knew she’d do the same thing all over again if it meant saving his life.

But what happened after that was what completely shocked her. Chase had taken her warning about her dream seriously, and he’d come prepared to protect himself and her if necessary. The man who’d once lived life recklessly and without a care to his own mortality saved them both. And his forethought and actions had changed the course of fate in a way she could never have imagined, and made her realize that life was way too short to waste for fear of losing the person she loved.

As Valerie shampooed her hair, she continued to think. She knew it would be so much easier to do what she did best, to walk away from Chase in order to protect her emotions, rather than risking everything that was in her heart and soul. But that wasn’t how she wanted to live the rest of her life, too afraid to let people in, and being too scared of what might happen if she let herself feel.

Chase had gradually, patiently, chipped away at her greatest fears, crumbling the walls she’d built around her heart. He’d taken care of her, had eased her worries, and shown her that he was the kind of man she could trust and believe in … if only she’d let herself.

He’d proved all that, and so much more, today at the Garden Club.

More than anything, she just wanted to free-fall into this relationship, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that Chase would be there to catch her. She’d never had that kind of relationship with a man. She was so used to being on her own, so used to being strong and independent. But with Chase, she knew it was okay to be vulnerable, to express her emotions and know that he’d handle them, and her, with such care. And it didn’t hurt that they shared a psychic ability, a connection that went so much deeper than just the surface.

She sighed as she rinsed her hair, finally knowing what it felt like to be deeply, irrevocably in love, and it was a glorious, amazing sensation. Now she wanted a future full of hope and possibilities, not this half life of regrets, angst, and loneliness she’d carried around for much too long. The kind of hopes and desires that included Chase as the man of her dreams—literally and figuratively. A big smile curved her lips.

Yeah, that tattoo of his was a huge sign that he was truly her soul mate and they were meant to be together forever. She’d been foolishly fighting her own destiny since the moment they met, and if she didn’t at least try to grab that brass ring dangling right in front of her face, she was going to lose the best thing that had ever happened to her.

With a renewed sense of determination, she finished her shower, then got dressed and dried her hair. She and Chase had a whole lot to talk about, and she could only hope that she hadn’t blown her chances with him by letting her stubborn pride, and too many fears, get in the way of the one thing she truly desired.

She found Chase in the living room, standing at the window overlooking the backyard, wearing a fresh pair of jeans and a white T-shirt. He turned around when he heard her footsteps, his gaze weary and cautious because she’d certainly put him through an emotional wringer the past few days.

“Feel better?” he asked, his gaze skimming over her gauzy skirt and blouse before returning to her face.

Despite the tension in the room, and her sudden bout of nerves, her body responded to that heated look as if he’d physically caressed her. “Much better,” she replied and moved a bit closer, even though he did nothing to bridge the distance between them, which suddenly felt like miles instead of just a few feet.

Before they got into a more intimate discussion, there was something she wanted to ask him. “Why did you bring the knife on the excursion today? Did you know that something might happen?”

He looked surprised that she’d asked. “I honestly had no idea. I brought it along because you were worried about me, and I believed your dream. If nothing had happened today, I would have continued carrying the knife, just in case I ever needed it.”

His unconditional acceptance of her and her visions was yet another reason to love him. As were his openness and honesty. “Thank you for that.”

His curt, indifferent shrug was painful for Valerie to watch. How ironic was it that he was now guarding his emotions just when she was prepared to give hers so freely?

“By the way,” he said, his tone as gruff as his expression. “I don’t know what you were thinking today to step in front of me, putting yourself directly in the line of fire. That asshole could have killed you.”

She winced, realizing belatedly how stupid she’d been. “I know, and I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking, just reacting.” It was the absolute truth. “I saw the gun, the dream was still so fresh in my mind, and what I did was instinctive.”

“Yeah, well, don’t
ever
do it again.”

He was so fierce. So protective. “I won’t,” she promised, then tried to lighten the mood a bit. “You found the Madonna’s Tear ruby. You have to be happy about that.”

“I’m not happy at all,” he said, shocking her with his words. His lips were compressed into a thin line, a combination of frustration, anger, and desperation etching his features. “That ruby is an inanimate object. In the scheme of things, it means absolutely nothing to me. You, on the other hand, mean
everything
to me.
I love you,
and I just wanted you to know that before you walk out of my life.”

She stared at him in stunned disbelief, trying to process his heartfelt declaration. The breath seemed to squeeze from her lungs, and it took her a moment to be able to speak. “I’m not going anywhere, Chase.”

“What are you talking about?” He crossed his arms over his broad chest, still wary. “You’ve made it clear that you’re going back to Vegas in the morning.

She stepped closer, aching to touch him, to place her hand over his heart and
feel
his love for her. But he wasn’t ready for that, and she still had more to say. “Well, at some point, I do have to return to Vegas and my job, but right now, at this moment, the only place I want to be is right here with you.”

His frowned deepened. “And tomorrow?”

Clearly, he wasn’t getting her drift, so she tried a little harder. “I want to be with you. Every single day. I want to fall asleep wrapped safe and secure in your arms, and wake up in the morning knowing that I don’t have to face the day alone. Here in this amazing house. Or in Vegas. Wherever we want to call home.” A spark of hope flared in the depths of his eyes, and she took that as her cue to completely close the distance separating them, needing that physical contact with him.

She placed her hands on his strong arms, knowing they would always shelter her, and looked up into his gorgeous face. “I want you. I need you. But most importantly, I love you, Chase Pierson. More than I ever believed possible. And I’m done letting my fears rob me of something that makes me so incredibly happy.”

“Thank God.” His big body shuddered in relief, and with a groan he fisted his hands in her hair and kissed her—a hot, deep, forever kind of kiss she never wanted to end. Much too soon for her liking, it did.

He lifted his head, but didn’t let her go, which was fine with her. “We have some important things to discuss.”

“Like what?” she asked, tipping her head curiously, her arms still entwined around his neck.

“Like, where are we going to live?”

She thought about his question for a moment, and realized there were plenty of options. “Well, my job is in Vegas, so that could be our home base when
we’re
not traveling,” she said, making it clear that she intended to join him on his treasure-hunting adventures whenever possible. “And this lovely ranch house would make a nice place when we just want to get away for a few days.”

His slow, sexy smile stole her breath and made her weak in the knees. “I was thinking this place could be a family home, a place we bring our kids during vacations and summer breaks. Maybe we could get a few horses, too. I think my grandparents would have loved that.”

“Kids?” she repeated, her head spinning wildly at the thought.

He nodded, his gaze alight with the sweetest kind of affection. “Yeah, I was thinking at least two or three. But we’d have to get married first, because I’m not going to knock you up without a ring on your finger that clearly states you’re
mine.
”

“Married?” She realized she was beginning to sound like a parrot, but couldn’t help herself. It was as though he was granting every secret wish she’d ever harbored in her heart.

“Yes,
married.
And don’t
even
attempt to talk your way out of it,” he teased.

She laughed, and was suddenly filled with incomparable joy. “I wasn’t even going to try.”

He stared into her eyes, more serious than she’d ever seen him. “Then you’ll marry me?”

“Absolutely.” She caressed her hand along his jaw, absorbing the sense of peace and contentment drifting through her—and knew he was the reason for the change. “You make me feel so safe, and happy, and hopeful.”

A wicked gleam danced in his gaze as one of his big hands drifted down her back and over the curve of her bottom, aligning their bodies in all the right ways. “What else do I make you feel?” he asked huskily.

His caress made her smolder and burn. “Hot,” she whispered. “Really hot.”

“Yeah?” Grinning, he dipped his head and nuzzled her neck, his mouth skimming damp, sensual kisses up to her ear. “Anything else?”

She trembled in anticipation as she realized he was maneuvering her closer to the oversized couch, even while his mouth and hands worked their magic on her. “Aroused. And ravenous. For you.”

“I like the way that sounds,” he said in a low, sexy growl as he pulled her down to the couch with him.

In between deep, endless kisses and hot and heavy petting that made her gasp and moan, they managed to strip off their clothes, both of them eager to feel skin against skin. Once they were both naked, Chase moved over her, sliding inside her in one slow, easy thrust that made her melt around him. The intense connection between them—the pure, perfect symmetry of emotion surging through her—sent her flying.

There was no fear, just an abundance of love that filled her to overflowing. She embraced everything about it and about Chase, wondering how she’d lived so long without him in her life.

She was a very lucky woman. And now that she’d found him, she was never letting go.

Praise for Janelle Denison

“This first entry into a new series is sure to garner a devoted following. Members of the Reliance Group are introduced well and there are obviously some secrets to be uncovered about each and every one. First up is Nathan Fox. Hold on tight, this one is a page-turner!”

—
Romantic Times,
4½ stars, Top Pick!

“
Into the Night
is an incredible mix of intense suspense and sizzling-hot sexual tensions.”

—Once Upon a Romance

“I was completely enraptured from the beginning to the mind-blowing end.”

—Single Titles

“
Into the Night
is an explosive beginning to a series with all the right ingredients—a demanding plot, interesting characters, and action-packed drama—to get the reader hooked. This is one fabulous read!”

—Fresh Fiction

Also by Janelle Denison

Night After Night

Into the Night

About the Author