Page 11

Gianna

“I think that’s for you.” Antonio nods toward the door and my heart skips a beat.

Stud. Have mercy. If the man gets any sexier, I might combust. He’s leaning against the doorway in his leather jacket with a white long-sleeved tee underneath paired with dark jeans and his riding boots.

Silver rings on at least four of his fingers on both hands that look like they’d do some serious damage in a fight.

His dark hair seems shorter and my belly flutters. He had a haircut.

Then I spot the red long-stemmed rose he’s holding. Shit . He’s got a sweet side.

“You ready to go? ”

“Yup.” I look back at Antonio and give him a small wave.

“See you next week.”

As soon as I reach Stud, he hands me the rose, brings me in close, gives me a squeeze, then tugs me out the door to his truck. I bring the rose to my nose once I’m belted in and he’s climbing in the driver’s side.

“Have you had dinner?”

“No. You?”

“Nope was waiting for you.” Again, with this sweetness that is so damn pure it makes my teeth ache.

The truck starts and Stud places his right hand on my upper left thigh, sending heat to all the right places.

“Need to tell you something, and I don’t want you to give me no lip or throw me any sass. It’s important.”

I straighten in the seat. “Okay. I’m listening. ”

“Told you I was seeing about a kitchen today.” He pulls onto the main road, and I notice he isn’t driving toward Chaser’s house, but I keep my mouth shut because I said I’d listen.

“Jesse Lancaster is bad news.”

“We already discussed this.”

“Babe, listen, remember?” I narrow my gaze at him but remain silent.

“From the moment he marked you back in the area he started working your old man for information. Started about two weeks ago. Wanted to know everything your father could share, but he didn’t know much being you hadn’t been close.

Got reason to believe he’s up to something and that he tampered with Jelissa’s car while you were at your dad’s place to get you alone.

I don’t know what he had planned, but we got eyes on him.

Until we know what he’s planning you’re with me. ”

That’s a lot to take in, and Stud drives in silence allowing me time to process.

I mean yeah Jesse was a bit aggressive, but maybe after all this time he was simply curious and wanted to know how my life was before he approached me.

Would he hurt me? He doesn’t have a reason to.

Maybe Stud is using this as his in. I don’t know what to think. “What do you mean I’m with you?”

“Living situation has changed. Got all your stuff at my new place. So I mean not only are you with me as my woman, but you’re living with me at least until we know what Jesse wants with you. And after if you wanna stay we’ll figure out where we’re at.”

“Whoa. Back up. Has Jesse threatened me?”

“No.”

“Has anyone threatened me?”

“No. ”

“Stud.”

“Look, I get how this might sound, but if Jesse is a threat do you want to chance him hurting Erik?”

Damn he’s got me there. My nephew is the most precious thing in this world to me. Chaser’s dark eyes and Jelissa’s blond hair. He’s adorable and perfect. If anything, ever happened to him, and it were my fault, I don’t know what I’d do.

“All right. I’ll stay with you until you and Chaser figure out this thing with Jesse, but I’m sure he’s harmless.”

The truck slows to a stop. I was so caught up in our conversation I wasn’t paying attention to where he was taking me.

“Where are we?”

“Home sweet home.” He climbs out the driver’s side and hurries around to the passenger door to help me out. Its too dark to tell much about the outside. Stud leads me up a set of wooden deck stairs, taking me in through the back door of a trailer.

The hallway light flickers on and we’re standing in front of the laundry cove. We move to the kitchen. It’s simple, bare, but also clean. “You got a kitchen.” I say lamely.

“Told you I want to decide if that meatloaf is ring worthy.”

“Dude.”

“Don’t dude me. I don’t expect to sample it tonight, but sweetheart, I want a taste.

” Grabbing my left hip with one hand, he slides my purse strap down my arm with the other.

I don’t think he’s talking about meatloaf.

My purse is placed on the counter behind us along with my rose.

Stud backs me up against it, and then he’s on me.

Tongue delving between my lips and battling me for control .

I let go and give it to him.

Sliding a hand through my hair he kisses me hard then soft…rough and sweet. It’s real nice. I adore this side of him a lot. His cell phone vibrates from his jacket pocket and he breaks away.

“Talk to me.” Stud smiles at me, brushing his knuckles along my cheek. “Right. Bastard.” His smile fades, his green eyes darkening with flashes of anger swirling through them. “Yeah. Alert came through I received it. We arrived a few minutes ago. Yeah. I’ll talk to her. Later, man.”

I wait till he lays his phone on the counter. “What is it?”

“Shit that I don’t want spoiling this, but I’m afraid it’s gonna.”

“Spit it out and tell me, Stud. I’m a big girl. I can take it. ”

“That was your brother. He called in some favors and the last girl Jesse dated nearly lost vision in one of her eyes he beat her so badly. He has a case pending against him for terroristic threatening and sexual assault.”

My stomach rolls. “What?”

“I need you to trust me when I say this guy is bad news.”

“I trust you.”

“Good.”

“Chaser sent you pictures, didn’t he?”

“Yeah, babe. He did. You don’t need to catch sight of that shit though.”

“Show me. I want to know what he’s capable of.”

“He will never touch you. I’ll make damn sure he gets the message.”

“Stud. I don’t want you going after him. Let the law handle him. ”

“He needs to know that pieces of shit like him won’t be tolerated. I may be an outlaw. And darlin’, I’m no saint. I’ve done time for stealing cars, but there’s a line even I won’t cross, and that’s I’ll never fucking put my hands on you or any woman out of anger.”

“I believe you.”

“Perfect. Now let’s forget about that shitstain and get back to where we left off.” He dips his head, and I press against his chest.

“Show me what he did.”

“You’re not gonna let this go, are you?”

“Nope.”

“All right. You want a beer? Wasn’t sure what you like. Jelissa sent me a list of some of your favorites. So I got Diet Coke.”

“A beer sounds terrific.” I think I’m going to need something with what he’s about to show me and after all he’s told me .

Stud swipes his finger across his screen and hands me his phone. He’s the first guy who has just handed me his phone. Noah would have rather died than let me gander at his phone which should have told me all I need to know about him. I suck in a breath and tap on his messages.

The images load and I gasp. Tears spring to the corners of my eyes. The photos show a young woman with brown hair with dark dried blood crusted around the hairline. Her eyes and nose bruised and swelled up so much I can’t tell what she looks like.

“Told you it wasn’t pretty.”

“I thought I was prepared, but that’s just…”

“I know.” He wraps an arm around me.

“I could do with that beer now.”

“Can do. ”

Stud goes to the fridge, and I go into the living room trying to push those images far from my mind but failing. I kick my shoes off and plop down on the couch. I hear him popping the caps off the bottles before he joins me, minus his boots and leather jacket.

“Place came furnished but we can change out anything you want.”

“This is fine. I don’t want you going to the trouble. I mean, I might only be here a few days.”

Stud growls but doesn’t make a comment. Instead he hands me my beer. “Picked up some Chinese takeout from that new place that opened last month. Jelissa mentioned you fancy it. It’s in the fridge if you want any.”

“I’m fine, but seriously I don’t want you going out of your way for me. ”

“I do it because I want to. Told you. I like you and want to explore this. I’m not in any hurry, but you know where I stand.”

I don’t know what to say. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around this situation with Jesse.