Off Limits (Off 2)

"What's wrong with journalism? It's not like you're going to stripper school or anything."

She sits up in the seat tall and turns to me with excitement. "Exactly! That's the same thing I've been thinking to myself. You get me, Nix."

I give a short laugh. Maybe I am starting to get her.

"So, have you always been this rebel of a daughter?"

I can see from the corner of my eye that her shoulders slump again and she hangs her head just a bit. I've hit on something that appears to be very demoralizing. Her body language reads loud and clear.

"No. I never rebelled," she says quietly. "You wouldn't have liked me very much just a few years ago."

I try to lighten the mood a little because her voice sounds so embarrassed. "Who says I like you now?"

I'm rewarded with a solid punch to my arm.

And then she twists my guts. "You like me."

It twists my guts because I'm afraid she may be right. Her voice is soft and sexy. And she's not meaning for it to come across that way, but that's the way I'm choosing to take it.

Time to lighten the mood again. "You're okay, Burnham. For a girl."

She laughs and it's that husky laugh that tightens my stomach even further. My dick starts to twitch and I have to talk him down.

Must think of something else.

"So why wouldn't I have liked you a few years ago?" If she's that bad, it will forestall a hard on, I'm sure.

"Oh, let's see. I was spoiled, vain, narcissistic, capricious, entitled, bitchy, bratty and snide. And that's just for starters."

Her voice is light but I can tell she really believes she was all of those things.

Surely not? Not the Emily I've seen and come to...admire?

"You're not those things now." I state it emphatically. She may come from money and affluence but she's never once come across as anything but a down to earth kind of woman to me.

"Thanks, Nix. That's the nicest thing you've said to me. I bet that's about the nicest thing you've ever said to anyone."

I glance over and give her a short smile. It's true. That is probably the nicest thing I've said to anyone...at least for a very long time.

CHAPTER 11

Emily

I can't believe the conversation I've been having with Nix. He's normally so standoffish and reserved. I'm not sure what changed, but he's actually engaging me.

And I like it. This conversational Nix, along with the Nix that saved me last night, has me appreciating him on a whole new level.

I about swallowed my tongue this morning when he walked into the kitchen. He was wearing the same jeans he had on the previous night, except the top two buttons were undone and they were hanging very low on his hips. He wasn't wearing a shirt and I almost got dizzy letting my eyes roll over the peaks and valleys of his abs. His muscles were cut sharp at his hips and angled to a "V", and while his chest was smooth, he had that dark trail of hair that disappeared into Happytown below his fly.

I knew I was staring as I also took in his tattoos. I glanced briefly at the barbed wire on his biceps, but I didn't stay there long as I had already had a peek at them. My gaze was stuck on his chest and ribs.

Starting just below his right shoulder and covering his right, pectoral muscle was a huge skull. It had a banner scroll covering its eyes and the words "See No Evil" were written in heavy, Gothic lettering. The scrollwork curled and wove its way off of the skull and across his ribs, disappearing around his back. I couldn't see what was written on the scroll but it was small lines of lettering. Maybe a song? A poem?

I was dying to ask what was written there but I was also put off by the warning across the skull. See No Evil. I probably didn't want to know the rest of the words.

We pull in front of my apartment building and I gather my purse. "Thanks again for saving me last night."

He snorts. "You pretty much saved yourself. I just gave you a ride."

I reach my hand out and lay it on his arm. I'm dismayed when I feel him flinch but I don't move my hand. His muscles are hard and corded under my fingertips and I have the sudden urge to stroke his skin.

But I refrain.

"It was more than just a ride and you know it."

I watch as he swallows hard and mutters, "It was no biggie."

I remove my hand and turn to grab the door handle. I look to the door leading into my building and fury seeps into my bones. "Shit!"

"What?" Nix says with alarm.

"Stalker alert," I respond dryly and open the door to step out of the Bronco, intent on giving Todd a piece of my mind.

By the time my feet hit the sidewalk, Nix is already out of the vehicle and standing beside me. I look to Todd and I notice his hands are clenched as he's watching us. He's seriously pissed and I know it's because I just got out of a man's truck while wearing last night's party dress.

I take a step toward Todd but Nix restrains me by taking hold of my wrist. "Get back in the truck, Emily."

"No," I say firmly. "I can handle him."

"Get back in the fucking truck, Emily." His words are harsh and frankly, they scare the crap out of me. I look at him uneasily but he's not even looking at me. He's staring at Todd as if he's relishing the thought of tearing him apart.

I pull my wrist out of his grip and he finally looks down at me. "This is not your fight, Nix." I keep my words fluid and cajoling.

He glances back at Todd for a second and then turns back to me. "Fine. But I'm staying right here until you get into your building. You've got two minutes to send him on his way or I'm going to do it for you. And I really hope you go over the time limit, Emily."

I don't know why, but his words are a turn on. He sounds dangerous, protective and animalistic. I have this sudden wave of desire come over me and I can't fathom why. A searing image blankets across my brain...of barbed wired biceps wrapped around my naked ribs, holding me tight while he pounds into me.

I shake my head and take a stuttering breath. What the hell was that?

I give Nix one last look--hoping it didn't look as lustful as it felt--and turn to walk toward Todd.

As I approach, his face is livid. I stop just a few feet short of him and hope he doesn't make a threatening move. I know if he does, Nix will be there in a flash and beat the shit out of him. My heart rate is spiking hard and I needed to put a quick end to this unexpected meeting.

"What are you doing here, Todd?"

He doesn't pull any punches. "Are you whoring yourself out for some street thug?"

I know I should be offended. Hell, maybe I should even be scared by the vehemence in his voice. But the fact he called Nix a street thug actually makes me laugh out loud.

My laugh dies suddenly as the look of fury on Todd's face intensifies. I need to nip this now. "You have no say in a

nything I do, Todd. I need you to get that through your head and just leave me alone."

I watch as the fury slides from his face and his eyes soften. I'm creeped out when his voice turns whiny and pathetic. "But baby...you know we're good together. You need to give us another shot."

I glance quickly at Nix and he's leaning back against his Bronco. He taps his index finger against his watch a few times, indicating that time's ticking.

I decide to go out on a limb and lie my ass off.

"Fine. I didn't want to have to break it to you this way, but I'm seeing someone new." I point back at Nix. "My boyfriend is not happy to have you waiting outside my apartment. And here's the thing...he told me that he is only giving me two minutes to get rid of you, then he is going to come over and stomp the shit out of you. Do us all a favor, Todd...save your own skin and please just leave."

I hope my words are convincing enough. Nix is in no way my boyfriend. Heck, I'm not even sure he's a friend. But there is no doubt he will pound Todd's ass into the concrete if he doesn't leave.

Todd's eyes lose the soft begging and instantly harden once again. He's shown me a variety of emotions in the last minute and I wonder which is the true one that is fueling his actions. He glances at Nix and I can see the muscles in his throat jumping. He looks back at me and then grins, in a coldly malevolent way. I actually cringe inward.

"You just fucked up, Emily." He starts walking backward away from me, holding my eyes. He raises a hand and points his index finger at me. "You fucked up big time, Em."

Then he turns and casually walks away, hands in his pocket.

My heart is pounding. Todd's stalking had always seemed to be childish and spoiled. But there's been a shift. I can feel it and there's a darkness to it that I had not noticed before. It's settles over me like a heavy blanket and I shudder, feeling slightly suffocated. I think I'm actually afraid of him.

I look over my shoulder at Nix. Whatever is on my face worries him and he pushes away from his truck to walk toward me. I give him a fast shake of my head and hold my hand up for him to stay. I try to give a reassuring smile and he stops in his tracks. He looks undecided but I turn away and walk into my building.