Chapter Fourteen
Nick had tried to stay out of it, he really had. He was on guard and Elliott was still searching for information. He’d thought they could be alert enough on Jackson’s behalf.
But when he’d driven up to his brother’s house and heard that Jackson was taking Raina on a date, the control he thought he’d mastered snapped.
He grabbed her by the arm, ignoring her gasp of outrage. She was a master at playing it up, pretending to feel things she really didn’t. No one knew that better than he did, yet he still relaxed his grip a bit as he dragged her across the threshold and into the house.
“I knew you were a bitch, but I didn’t think even you were that cold.”
He advanced on her, walking forward until she was backed up against the wall. She was tall for a woman but she still had to look up to meet his eyes. He stilled, surprised at the sheen of tears in her eyes. Raina didn’t cry. Ever. The impact was almost enough to make him back down.
Almost, but not quite.
“Nick, what are you talking about? I don’t know what I did to make you hate me so much.”
He laughed cruelly. “You don’t know what you did?” He swore and then braced a hand on the wall above her head. “You don’t remember? Is that the game we’re going to play? We had the most amazing night, the hottest, wettest sex in every position we could bend ourselves into, and you don’t remember?”
He clenched his fists, on the verge of turning and running out. He’d never raised a hand to a woman in his life and never would, but damn if he didn’t want to just shake her until her teeth rattled. Or spank her. No, no spanking. Her soft curves beneath the palm of his hand would be more his undoing than hers.
“Nick, wait. You don’t understand—”
Still on edge from the visual image of her bent over, he slapped the wall above her head, the loud sound making her jump. He didn’t want to hear her excuses or whatever lies she’d prepared to explain what she was up to. She was using his brother to punish him and it had to stop.
“I know what you’re trying to do. You screwed with my head and I let you. But leave Jackson alone. I mean it.”
She gazed at him with wide, watchful eyes. The innocent look was just an act; he knew that but he couldn’t stop himself from reacting to it. His body saw her hurting and it strained to do whatever necessary to protect her.
Even though his mind knew that Raina needed protection about as much as a baby piranha.
“Stop fucking with my brother’s head.” He leaned down until they were nose to nose and whispered, “We both know he’s not the one you really want.”
His eyes dropped to her lips and he thought, To hell with it.
Then he dragged her against him and covered her mouth with his.
* * *
Jackson signed his approval on the video treatment Mac had handed him just that morning and slid it back into its envelope. They’d finally come up with an original concept for the video and now that he’d approved the budget, the project could proceed.
He’d taken work home with him, instead of staying at the office so he could enjoy a little more time with the boys.
And with Ridley.
More and more when he thought of family, his thoughts included her. If he didn’t see her for too long, he missed her. If she needed something, he wanted to help her get it. For someone who was determined not to sign up for commitment, he was teetering dangerously close to falling for her.
He could see it coming for him and was powerless to stop it.
Raised voices floated up the stairs. The loudest one sounded like his brother, Nick. He got up and walked to the top of the stairs. Ridley stood against the wall and holy hell, she looked amazing. When she’d told him about her undercover mission to get clothes from her house, he’d asked her to bring Matt along as well. Elliott already had bodyguards assigned to watch his house, but he still wanted someone he knew personally to go with her. Plus, Matt had a pickup so they could get everything she needed in one trip.
Just then, Nick hit the wall with his fist.
“I know what you’re trying to do. You screwed with my head and I let you. But leave Jackson alone. I mean it. Stop fucking with my brother’s head.”
Ridley looked afraid and Jackson’s fists clenched at his side. He knew Nick was just trying to protect him, but this was taking things too far. He wouldn’t let his woman be threatened in their own home. He opened his mouth to yell out a warning.
Then Nick leaned down and kissed Ridley.