condition.”
He didn’t look happy about her putting a condition on it but
too bad for him. He canted his head to one side. “Let’s hear it.”
“Whatever the extra cost is, you take it out of my pay.”
A slow smile covered his face, making his rugged features
even more handsome. His brown eyes twinkled in the lights. “That means you’re
keeping the job.”
So it did. She hadn’t even realized that when she’d said it.
She wanted to stay. To make a stand. She was tired of running, of constantly
looking over her shoulder, of not really living. “It does.”
Rabb gave a whoop and swept her into his arms. He swung her
around in circles until she began to get dizzy. “Rabb, stop.”
He came to such an abrupt halt her legs kept swinging for a
second after. “Sorry about that,” he began.
“It’s okay. It was just making me a little queasy.”
He set her on her feet immediately. “Are you okay? Damn, I
didn’t mean to do that.”
“I’m fine.” And she was. Better than she’d been in a while.
She had a job, a place to stay and a remarkable man who wanted her. Life hadn’t
been this good in a long time.
“Do you need to sit?” He was already leading her toward the
sofa.
“No.” She stopped and placed her hands on his broad chest.
Rabb was so strong, but he never used that strength against someone weaker. Not
like Jason did. Rabb was a man of honor. A man a woman could trust.
He was also hot. She loved the way the seams of his shirt
were stretched by his broad shoulders. His heart beat steadily beneath her
palm. A lock of hair fell across his forehead and he absently shoved it back.
She loved him so much she ached.
Up until now, Jason had been the monster under the bed, the
boogie man. And with good reason. He’d cost her everything she’d earned and
built. And he’d almost taken her life from her. But no more. It was time to
fight. And with Rabb by her side, she felt strong enough to do it. She was no
longer alone.
“I’ll have to call Detective Zurkowski and let him know
where I am.”
“That’s fine. I wouldn’t mind talking to the detective.”
Rabb frowned, and she could almost read his mind.
“It’s not his fault. He believed me and did everything he
could. It’s not his fault that Jason is a slippery SOB. Jason always has an
alibi. Plus he’s made a lot of people believe I’m the one making his life
miserable.”
“Yeah, I get that. I don’t have to like it, but I get it.”
“Let’s wait until after the new year to do anything.” Eliza
was happy. And it had been a long time since she’d felt that way. “Let’s just
work and enjoy the next few days and deal with this mess after the first of January.”
“We shouldn’t wait,” he began.
“Please.” Eliza knew she was being shameful, knew Rabb would
cave because he cared. Sure enough he nodded.
“Okay, but you’ll take the phone. And you won’t leave the
club unless I’m with you.”
“Deal.” She could tell by his shocked expression she’d
surprised him. “What? I can see reason.”
He grinned. “I’m not touching that one.”
“Smart man,” she shot back. This felt like old times, the
two of them talking and bantering. “So what’s next?” She rubbed her hands over
his chest, loving the play of his hard muscles beneath his shirt. A quick
glance downward showed her he was aroused. Again. He was definitely good for
her ego. The man always seemed to want her.
“The tree.”
He caught her off guard and the beginnings of her sexual
fantasies went up in a poof of smoke. “The tree?”
“Yeah.” He turned her so she was facing the pretty pine tree
covered in colorful lights. “We need to decorate our Christmas tree.”
Our . The word almost brought her to her knees. She’d
been alone for so long and had forgotten what it was like to feel like a part
of something, to feel as though she belonged.
“I’d like that.”
Rabb patted her butt as he left her and went to a box
He didn’t look happy about her putting a condition on it but
too bad for him. He canted his head to one side. “Let’s hear it.”
“Whatever the extra cost is, you take it out of my pay.”
A slow smile covered his face, making his rugged features
even more handsome. His brown eyes twinkled in the lights. “That means you’re
keeping the job.”
So it did. She hadn’t even realized that when she’d said it.
She wanted to stay. To make a stand. She was tired of running, of constantly
looking over her shoulder, of not really living. “It does.”
Rabb gave a whoop and swept her into his arms. He swung her
around in circles until she began to get dizzy. “Rabb, stop.”
He came to such an abrupt halt her legs kept swinging for a
second after. “Sorry about that,” he began.
“It’s okay. It was just making me a little queasy.”
He set her on her feet immediately. “Are you okay? Damn, I
didn’t mean to do that.”
“I’m fine.” And she was. Better than she’d been in a while.
She had a job, a place to stay and a remarkable man who wanted her. Life hadn’t
been this good in a long time.
“Do you need to sit?” He was already leading her toward the
sofa.
“No.” She stopped and placed her hands on his broad chest.
Rabb was so strong, but he never used that strength against someone weaker. Not
like Jason did. Rabb was a man of honor. A man a woman could trust.
He was also hot. She loved the way the seams of his shirt
were stretched by his broad shoulders. His heart beat steadily beneath her
palm. A lock of hair fell across his forehead and he absently shoved it back.
She loved him so much she ached.
Up until now, Jason had been the monster under the bed, the
boogie man. And with good reason. He’d cost her everything she’d earned and
built. And he’d almost taken her life from her. But no more. It was time to
fight. And with Rabb by her side, she felt strong enough to do it. She was no
longer alone.
“I’ll have to call Detective Zurkowski and let him know
where I am.”
“That’s fine. I wouldn’t mind talking to the detective.”
Rabb frowned, and she could almost read his mind.
“It’s not his fault. He believed me and did everything he
could. It’s not his fault that Jason is a slippery SOB. Jason always has an
alibi. Plus he’s made a lot of people believe I’m the one making his life
miserable.”
“Yeah, I get that. I don’t have to like it, but I get it.”
“Let’s wait until after the new year to do anything.” Eliza
was happy. And it had been a long time since she’d felt that way. “Let’s just
work and enjoy the next few days and deal with this mess after the first of January.”
“We shouldn’t wait,” he began.
“Please.” Eliza knew she was being shameful, knew Rabb would
cave because he cared. Sure enough he nodded.
“Okay, but you’ll take the phone. And you won’t leave the
club unless I’m with you.”
“Deal.” She could tell by his shocked expression she’d
surprised him. “What? I can see reason.”
He grinned. “I’m not touching that one.”
“Smart man,” she shot back. This felt like old times, the
two of them talking and bantering. “So what’s next?” She rubbed her hands over
his chest, loving the play of his hard muscles beneath his shirt. A quick
glance downward showed her he was aroused. Again. He was definitely good for
her ego. The man always seemed to want her.
“The tree.”
He caught her off guard and the beginnings of her sexual
fantasies went up in a poof of smoke. “The tree?”
“Yeah.” He turned her so she was facing the pretty pine tree
covered in colorful lights. “We need to decorate our Christmas tree.”
Our . The word almost brought her to her knees. She’d
been alone for so long and had forgotten what it was like to feel like a part
of something, to feel as though she belonged.
“I’d like that.”
Rabb patted her butt as he left her and went to a box
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