Dangerous Rhodes, page 8
“I’ll tell you what I know.” Kimberleigh’s voice wobbled but she didn’t retract her statement.
Chapter Eight
Nearly a month later
Violet reclined in the office chair and dropped two olives in her mouth. Across from her, Hastings polished off his burger like he’d been without food for a few days. She got it, their past few days had been balls-to-the-walls busy.
She’d woken early and did work at the center, then headed to the hospital to sit with Evan for a while then had taken baby Eirian so Kimberleigh could get some sleep. The single mother was struggling, that was obvious, but she gave her props, for how much she tried. Every single day.
Having barely seen this hunk of a man alone for the past three and a half weeks made this time with him, right now, all the more special. Even though their time had been sporadic at best, he never failed to make her realize he saw all of her.
Then again, perhaps it is how he speaks to me. How it’s like each of his words to me are designed to turn me on.
Mission accomplished.
Angling her head, she spied at him from below lowered lids. His eyes were closed as he ate. Worrying her bottom lip, she exhaled slowly as she observed him. Most of his thick dark chocolatey-with-streaks-of-reddish-rust hair had been gathered back with a simple black tie, but a few strands had escaped and fallen forward. His close-cropped beard begged her fingers to stroke and push through it.
She flexed her leg muscles at the knowledge of how his facial hair would scratch her sensitive inner thighs when he buried his head between her legs. A whimper escaped and his head snapped up, those graphite eyes locking on her like a heat-seeking missile.
Without dropping her gaze, he pushed the few sprouts that had been on his burger in the corner of his mouth. “Something you need, Curls?” He skimmed her. “Or something you want?”
Shit, she was in trouble. No matter how she lied to herself about not doing military men, she’d roll over and give it up for this one. Anytime he asked. Hell, he wouldn’t even have to ask. Snap and point.
She was in.
Sitting up, she stretched as her hiking boots hit the floor with a thud. She ignored the squeak of the chair beneath her as she inched it closer to the battered metal desk. Her veggie tray had been demolished for the most part, the ranch dressing gone and only a few pieces of broccoli and celery left. She’d just polished off the olives.
“Yeah,” she said, acknowledging how low and needy her voice was. “There is.”
Hastings swallowed the bite in his mouth, swallowed and sat upright, eyes never leaving her. He balled up the paper from his burger and dropped it in the trash can on the side of the desk.
She gulped as he took a long sip from the paper cup holding his drink and placed the tall container back by his foot.
“What’s that?”
“I want to get to the bottom of this, finish the opening without any more drama and get on my way.”
God, the lies she spouted.
He knew it. She didn’t have to wonder if he saw through her explanation. However, Hastings didn’t call her on it. Instead, he nodded and bent to lift his drink once more. After he’d set it on the desk, he slid his chair closer and sat, the bang of his knees as he reclaimed his seat jarring her focus from staring at the hard planes of his torso.
“Let’s go over it then.” He reached for a napkin and wiped his mouth. “Give it to me.”
God, she wanted to.
So she did. Went over the news they’d learned from Kimberleigh and from some of the other homeless she’d, correction, they’d spoken to over the past weeks.
“All signs point to a pimp, in my opinion.” She reached for a piece of celery and swiped it through the container, hoping for any tiny bit left.
“When the dead man threatened her, she went to Evan and he went to confront him.”
Violet nodded and crunched the celery, chewing thoughtfully. She wasn’t going to touch how he’d called the man who’d hurt Evan dead, that wasn’t her concern.
“Then something happened, like he had more than one guy there because one man wasn’t going to take Evan down. No fucking way.” Hastings’ tone grew harsh.
“How sure are you he wasn’t doing drugs?” Violet didn’t want to ask, but she had to.
“I’m positive, Violet. Like I said before, his mom died of an overdose and he vowed never to touch them. We’d seen some shit while deployed and regardless that he may have done a lot of things that haunt him, drugs weren’t ever an option for forgetting. Not for him, and not for me.”
“Okay. I had to ask.”
His shrug was a lie—he was pissed and the fury rolled off him in waves. Even if his body language hadn’t changed for almost anyone who watched him, Violet knew it had. And yes, she was the only one in the room but hell, she stared at him enough. She knew.
Swallowing back her uncertainty of what she was about to do, she rose and went to the door. With a small sigh, she pushed it closed then walked back to the chair and sat.
“I believe you, Hastings, but I did have to ask. You’ve said yourself that you didn’t know a lot about what had been going on with him.” The urge to touch ran roughshod over her. She wanted to offer this man comfort.
“I may have failed him as a friend and fellow soldier, but I know he wasn’t on drugs. What is this? You told Kimberleigh that you believed her.”
She pursed her lips briefly. “We need her to trust us. This is just you and me. We need to be honest and look at the truth no matter how ugly it may be.”
Even with his beard, she could see the flexing of his jaw and she squeezed her legs together. Again. This man was wreaking havoc on her resolve. He wore down a layer simply by breathing.
Finishing off her celery, she rested her forearms on the desk, grateful for the long sleeves protecting her skin from the metal. The day had gotten dark, and rain once again sluiced down over the city.
“I have a meeting tomorrow with the doctor. Not sure what he will share but at least he is willing to meet me.” Violet chewed the inside of her cheek.
He sucked something off his thumb and reclined in his chair. Legs spread, offering her an unobstructed view of what he had between his legs. And if she was honest, which she was, she was enjoying it. Probably too much, but there it was. Hastings draped one arm over the back of his chair while he sat there.
Bastard knows exactly what he’s doing.
The sexy half smirk told her that.
Determined to ignore her clamoring ovaries and the majority of her body, which was firmly on Team Jump Hastings, she laced her fingers together and promised her body relief. Later.
“Want me to go with you?”
Her gaze locked on his index finger, which he dragged up and down the edge of the chair, and she shifted in her seat. Christ, even that was a turn-on. Skin flushing, she shook her head. “I’m good. We have more people coming in tomorrow.”
“Bradford did good by picking you to do this. You’ve made it seamless.”
Her snarky comeback was cut short by his phone ringing. Didn’t help her in the slightest when he bucked up his pelvis to drag the phone from his back pocket, thrusting all that she wanted in the world more firmly in her face.
God, if it were in my face again. She licked her lips, missing his earthy scent and the heavy weight of his cock on her tongue.
“What?” The word fell from his lips low and growled as he pushed up from his chair and walked toward her.
He never made it. The man froze. Like he’d been hit with a freeze ray or something similar. Violet leaned back in her chair, taking in his expression. Marble. Granite. Stone. Something hard and immovable.
“I see. Thanks.” He ended the call and shoved his phone into his front pocket.
“What’s wrong?”
He didn’t respond.
She licked her lips and cleared her throat. “What’s going on? Hastings?”
The use of his name seemed to tug him from whatever stupor he’d been in. Those incredible gray eyes were as impersonal as a brick wall. What the fuck happened?
“Talk to me? Is it Evan?”
“No.” He sighed with his entire body.
Thank God for that, at least. “Then what?”
“My old man is here.”
Five words had never sounded so ominous.
Anger and resentment locked his limbs as he stood before Violet’s desk. The mere thought of that fucker near him pushed him to be the mindless killer many viewed those in the military as. Granted, his focus would be on one who he wouldn’t have trouble doing that to. The man who had made his childhood hell.
“Hastings.”
There it was. A thin thread of light snaking through the darkness surrounding him. He gripped it and held tight, allowing her voice to guide him out.
Blinking, he glanced down at her. She’d not gotten out of the chair but there was concern in her gaze. He took it to heart.
“What?”
“Here where? In San Francisco? About to walk through the door?”
“Airport. His private plane just landed.”
She pressed her lips together, flattening them. He nearly reached out to her simply to cup her jaw and get her to stop doing that.
“How do you want to handle it?”
Hastings grunted then bent forward, placing his hands on her desk, boxing in where hers still remained clasped.
“I don’t want him around you.”
“I’m not scared of your father. Daisy’s told me all about him.”
Fury became liquid fire as it pumped through his veins. “He’s not getting close to you. I’ll kill him.”
“I can handle him. You need to focus on Evan, Kimberleigh and Eirian.”
“He’ll try to take you from me.” His words were drenched in possessiveness.
Her smile was slight, but there. “I’m not yours, Hastings. He can’t take from you what you don’t have.”
Everything in him stilled as he processed her words. Took a breath and ran them over in his mind once more. He lifted his lips in a smile as he reached out and cradled the nape of her neck with one hand.
God, her skin was so soft. Perfect, even. Silky smooth beneath his callused touch.
Watching how her lips parted on a small sigh kicked lead to his cock. He would be inside her soon or he was going to lose it. He wanted this woman more than his next breath. And she wanted him too, no matter what she said.
He tugged her closer, until they were barely separated, breaths mingling. “I’ll tell you what I told my brothers, Curls. And what I told you in that bathroom. It’s dangerous to ignore what’s right in front of you.”
Hastings could have sworn her tongue dragged along his lips, teasing him.
“I never said I was ignoring you, Mr. Rhodes. What I said was I don’t fuck military men. And regardless of that, I’m still not scared of your father.”
He lost himself in her gaze for a moment then gave a small shake of his head. “I’m a very controlled man. Mostly. But that man, after growing up how we did, he is a trigger for me, and if what I perceive as danger comes anywhere near you, baby, I’m going to lose my shit. It’s just what it is.”
She opened her mouth but he shook his head once.
“I’m not finished. You can say all you want about there not being an us. I’ll wait for you to see it. In my mind, we’re a fucking given. It’s happening. You and me. Bodies entwined. Exchanging fluids. Hot, dirty, sex.”
Her pupils dilated and he hid his smirk. Yeah, she wanted him.
“Me eating you until you come all over my face. Us fucking everywhere we can. Hard and fast. Slow and drugging. All the ways. I’m going to learn every inch of this body, Curls. Our happening is as sure as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. So that’s not even up for debate. What you have to understand is I had to stand and watch that fucker hit my brothers because I was the youngest, the smallest, and they protected me.”
She curled a hand around his wrist as best she could but didn’t try to speak.
“I vowed that won’t happen again. They will never have to take that for me and no woman, especially my woman, will have to be in position where that asshole can threaten her. I would kill him. Do not test me on this.”
Her grip tightened and he felt the answering jolt directly to his cock. It wasn’t like her move was overly sexual, hell, it probably wasn’t in the slightest, but this woman was a walking ad for sex in his mind. Her breathing was a turn-on for him. But she was his, he was supposed to be attracted to every part of her.
“I run this center. We have enough bad press with the attack on Evan and people trying to claim having unhoused veterans living here will be a bad thing. What we need is good press. That means you not rising to your father’s bait when he comes here and tries to provoke a response out of you.”
Without asking, Hastings claimed her mouth. He wanted to lose himself in her soft curves. The lush pillows of her lips. Cradle her to him. Lie between her hips and allow himself to be nestled in her legs, their pelvises aligned.
Did he dream of sliding his cock inside her pussy? Fuck yes. Would he be happy with simply the privilege of holding her? Absolutely. The sex was going to happen, but his entire body relaxed a fraction when she touched him.
“He won’t hurt me, Hastings.” Violet’s voice was low and smooth.
“Damn straight he won’t, he won’t have a chance.” He tried to keep the growl from his voice but knew he failed.
“I’ve met men like your father.”
“No, you haven’t.”
Her grip flexed once more. “I have, actually. I know he made your childhood hell and I’m not discounting or brushing off your experience. But I’ve worked around rich, entitled men before. And my revolving-door mother didn’t exactly bring home good examples of men before she ditched me.”
The thin sliver of vulnerability he heard kicked him into gear. He swept around the desk and had her up and in his lap as he settled back in the chair before she could say anything else.
Not giving her a chance to argue with him, he fisted his fingers into her thick curls and tugged her head back, claiming her mouth when she gasped in shock. Or want.
Personally, I’m going with want.
While he longed to remain kissing her, he ended it and nipped her lower lip before breaking away.
“We’ll talk about your mother shortly, Curls. Right now just,” he cleared his throat, “let me have this.”
One hundred percent a win when she simply settled against his chest, leaving one hand spread over his torso.
“Five minutes.”
He hid his smile in her curls as he buried his nose in her hair. The bite of the citrus scent was incredible and matched the woman who currently sat quietly against him. Allowing him his five minutes.
“You may as well just admit you like being in my lap, Curls.”
“I admit nothing,” she replied.
Hastings closed his eyes, wrapped his arms around her and breathed deep, determined to enjoy his remaining three minutes and forty-five seconds. Because this woman, he knew without a doubt, would jump off his lap at the end of the time she’d allotted him.
Chapter Nine
“Are you not worried about how these people will bring problems and crime to the neighborhood?” A redheaded reporter asked the question, his eyebrow up in such a mocking way that she wanted to smack it off his face. “I’ve already heard that one of them was attacked and hospitalized because of his need for drugs. Him and his street woman, with their baby. Are you letting them stay here?”
Not smack. This fucker deserved to be punched in the junk. Repeatedly. However, she’d not been lying when she’d told Hastings she didn’t need his protection. She’d dealt with enough assholes in her life. Reporters included.
Shoving down her desire to growl at him, she turned to look at the man and cooly arched an eyebrow.
“Let me understand your question before I answer it.” All cameras were on her, and the recorders were doing their job as well. “You want to know if I’m worried about the men and women who volunteered to serve this country, were willing to die to protect our freedoms here and abroad? Willing to be apart from loved ones and family for months, even years at a time? You want to know if I’m worried about them being treated with the respect and honor they deserve? Not in the slightest. I however am worried about someone like you, who obviously never served a day in their life, and looks to try to profit by being insulting and downright vulgar to people who have fallen on hard times.”
There were more than a few snickers in the crowd.
He opened his mouth but she waved a hand through the air. “I’m not finished. All of our residents know the rules and we have a strict no-drugs policy. They are required to have a job. Now, I know while you sit on your overpriced couch at night and watch your supersized television, eating food people probably delivered to you, you feel like you have a right to condemn others. That’s not going to work with me. You want to come here and ask questions, fine, but you will show some fucking respect to the veterans of this country. Or I’ll have you arrested for trespassing.” She held his gaze for a moment longer then dismissed him. “Next question.”
As she continued the interview, she noticed Senator Hayes stepping from a blacked-out SUV. The vehicle behind him let out another man and immediately she knew this was the senior Mr. Rhodes. Their sons carried some of his looks.
The two men pushed through the gathered crowd until they were before her. Violet merely sketched an eyebrow. “Can I help you?”
“Do you know who I am?”
She flicked her gaze over him. Mr. Rhodes. Then she sniffed before moving it to the man in the three-piece suit that matched the reflective silver of his sunglasses. The senator.
“Something you needed, Senator?”
He frowned at her. Mr. Rhodes, clad in a black suit, edged closer. “Do you know who I am?” Disdain dripped from his tone.
She glanced at him once more. Unimpressed all the way around. “Yes, Mr. Rhodes, I do. Is there a reason you’re here? In fact, what reason are both of you here?”
