Queen of Hearts (21 page)

“Jayne, she knows why she’s here. I didn’t keep that from her.”

I gave him a bitter smile. “Well, at least you offered
her
that courtesy.”

“She doesn’t think she’s invincible and smarter than everyone else. She knows her place.”

“Hey,” Flynn countered, pushing his hand against my stomach to hold me back. I was ready to go for blood. “You of all people know that Jayne just acts on instinct. Maybe you should look at yourself and take some responsibility for that. Between you and her father, she’s been in plenty of positions she shouldn’t have been. Being with me included.”

I watched the muscles in Vince’s jaw tick and the vein in his neck bulge. They were only seconds away from duking it out, and I for one was already sick of the back and forth crap.

“Kelsey!” I called out. “Can you come join us, please?”

“What are you doing?” Vince hissed.

“I may not be the smartest person in the world, but I am no doubt the smartest one in the room.”

She climbed down the stairs, her footsteps hardly as heavy as a feather, and made her way into the room with her head down and her arms wrapped around herself. She looked like a wounded puppy.

“I’m taking you with me, sweetheart. There’s no reason for you to be here all alone when you can stay in the suite with me.”

She looked over at Vince, obviously waiting for his acceptance. I held up my hand to shut him up and went on to explain my reasons.

“Vince, she’s not like us. She doesn’t know how to deal with this crap.” I looked back at her. “Are you scared, Kelsey?” She nodded. “That’s what I thought. Do you like being here alone all the time?” She shook her head.

“She’s not alone all the time. I’m here as often as I can. I have this place monitored and locked up tight. No one is getting in, and no one has any reason to check here. No one knows she’s here.”

I turned to him. “No one will look for her at the Maguire, either. Why would they?”

He gritted his teeth as he stared at her, and the tender look in his eyes took me off guard. Maybe he wasn’t the cold bastard I’d thought he was. But still—she was young, impressionable, and in a very bad situation. When all was said and done, she would have enough to worry about. A broken heart was no joke. I should know.

He got up and walked over to her, and you could see every ounce of stress just fade away. She did feel safe with him, and he’d clearly treated her well. Vince did have a way with broken people, and she was positively broken.

“You can stay here as long as you want, Kels. You know that I want you here. Jayne’s right, though. It might be good for you to be with her for a while. She’ll help you. She’ll protect you. She’s family. You understand?”

She nodded as fat tears fell from her eyes. She was torn. I really wanted her to say yes.

“Are you sure about this?” Flynn whispered in my ear.

“Absolutely,” I said with a nod.

I
woke up groggy and tangled up in Flynn. It had been a long night, and even though the evening started out romantic and idealistic, it ended up much the same as everything else we tried to do. It was a complete mess.

We got Kelsey situated in my suite, and Vince stayed with her. He refused to leave her side, and in some ways, I understood. They clearly had a bond, but I was definitely going to have a conversation with him about the relationship they’d developed.

I felt Flynn’s hand snaking up my leg and smiled. “You’re awake early. I thought you’d sleep in after last night.”

He chuckled. “You fell asleep on me, woman. I wasn’t done, so I’m picking up where I left off.”

I rolled over so that I was on top of him and grabbed his face, kissing him solid on the lips. “I didn’t fall asleep. You knocked me out.”

Reaching around, he grabbed my cheeks and pulled me against him. “What you did last night was good, baby. It’s better that she’s here.”

I nodded, and my eyes fell closed as he pushed my hair away from my face. “I saw myself in that girl. A part of me from a long, long time ago. She can still get away from this. I don’t know what brought her here, what her life was like before she got here, but it wasn’t like this. It was written all over her face, Flynn. I want to save her from becoming me.”

A lone tear fell down my cheek, and I wiped at the moisture pooling in my eyes. I was overcome with what I’d lost, and all the regrets and sadness I’d endured growing up. I was on a path to right the wrongs I’d done to myself and was finally coming to terms with the wrongs done to me by others. There was no way to erase it—I’d tried. All I could do was move forward, build a new empire with Flynn, and become the woman he deserved.

I was no longer a whore. I was a warrior.

“Hey,” he whispered softly. “Look at me.”

Lifting my eyes, I saw a warmth in his that melted me through and through. He got me. He understood me like no one else ever would. There was no judgment—not really. I knew he never liked what I’d done, but it was in the past, and he would make sure it stayed that way. We wanted better for each other.

“You don’t have to feel ashamed—not with me. I never thought of you as anything other than a beautiful girl with sad eyes. I understand what you saw when you laid eyes on Kelsey because I’d seen that in you—many, many years ago. I couldn’t save you then, but I’ve made you a promise. I will take care of you now.”

“And her?” I asked.

“And her.”

I started to rock my pelvis back and forth over his erection, my body heated despite the somber conversation. My body instinctively knew that it needed him.

“I love you,” I whispered. “I have since the beginning. I never stopped loving you.”

Reaching between us, I pressed him at my entrance and sunk down, throwing my head back as he filled me. With his hands on my hips, guiding me, I rode him, pouring all my love and commitment out for him to take.

He lifted his knees and I fell back, creating a position where he went deeper, harder. He was hitting me just right, and within minutes I was falling apart.

Once I’d come down, he flipped us over and started to drill into me with a renewed fever. I could feel the need, see the passion in his eyes. Each brush of his fingers, every little kiss made me fall harder and harder for him. I tried to relay that to him with my eyes, my touch, my words. I was giving him everything—all of me.

“Forever,” he panted into my shoulder as his hips increased their thrusts. “I will be here for you forever.”

“Oh God,” I cried out as another wave washed over me. “I love you!”

He pumped into me frantically before slowing, and with a loud grunt, he stilled, releasing into me with long hot streams and collapsing on top of me.

“Damn,” he breathed out. “That was fantastic.”

I hummed happily. Staring up at the ceiling, I let myself bask in the bliss I felt. We’d gotten so close, so fast once again, and although the crazy part of me wanted to freak out, I pushed that back and let myself be content.

There was a knock at the door and Flynn groaned, pressing his face into the pillow underneath me. “Someone better be dead.”

I ran my hand over his back and sighed. “I’m pretty sure it’s Vince.”

He growled and pushed himself up, kissing me quickly on the lips before strolling toward the door in all his glory. I propped myself up on my elbow, smirking as I watched him walk out.

It was quite a view.

“Aren’t you going to cover up, honey?” I teased.

I heard him chuckle and shook my head at his audacity. I heard the door open and then voices, sighing when I recognized that it was Collins. I was so sick of that damn guy. I had a fleeting thought about blowing Flynn until he agreed to fire the guy.

I got up grudgingly and slipped on my robe before heading into the bathroom to shower. I couldn’t wait to sit down with Kelsey. First of all, I wanted to give her some reassurance after I’d flipped out on her. I thought it’d be good to just spend a girls’ day at the pool and relax. I truly wanted to develop a friendship, or a semblance of a friendship. I had a feeling she needed it.

I soaped myself up and washed quickly, washed my hair and shaved my legs, and then got out and dried off. I was almost surprised that Flynn hadn’t joined me, especially since he hadn’t bothered to put any clothes on, but when I opened the door and heard the hushed conversation in the other room, I had my explanation.

I wanted to eavesdrop, and as I tiptoed into the hallway, I mentally slapped myself for being such a sneak. I had to trust him if I wanted things to work. He’d come a long way, and I had to have faith that he’d tell me whatever I needed to know.

That was another thing. I’d lain awake thinking about just about everything that had happened the night before and realized that I had to come to terms with the fact that I didn’t need to know
everything
. It was a hard pill to swallow, and it was going to be difficult to change my ways. I was a control freak.

I moved away from the hall and slipped back into the bedroom without a sound. I rummaged around for something to wear and noted that I needed to keep some things in his suite, especially if Kelsey was going to be around awhile.

I had a sundress I’d left behind, so I slid it over my head and tugged the hem down over my ass. My panties rarely made it out of Flynn’s room alive.

A door slamming startled me, and I darted over to the bed and sat while I waited for Flynn to come in.

His footsteps were heavy and angry, and when I saw the look on his face when he reached the doorway, I bit down on my lip to hold in a gasp.

“What’s wrong?”

Somehow, he’d managed to find a pair of boxers and covered himself. I had a hard time picturing a conversation that could get him that angry with him standing there butt naked.

“I have to go meet with the authorities. They’ve got a trace on my dad.”

I sat up straight, surprised. “What does that mean? They found him?”

He rubbed his hand roughly through his hair. It looked amazing in the morning. Wild and long and sexy. It was probably completely inappropriate to think about dragging him back to bed by his locks at a time like that, but that was what he did to me.

“No, but he’s on the move. I thought he was going to stay underground in Mexico, but he was spotted over the border yesterday.”

“Oh shit,” I spat. “Do you think he’s coming here?”

He shrugged and started toward the bathroom, grabbing a fresh pair of boxers from the dresser. “I have no idea. Do me a favor and stay put today. Call my mom and tell her you can’t make it, and tell her why. She’ll know what to do.”

My heart thumped frantically in my chest, and I jumped off the bed and ran for him, hugging him around the middle. With his strong back against my chest, I placed my lips against his skin, my eyes filling with tears.

“Be careful. I’ll do what you asked.”

He reached around and rubbed the cheek of my ass and then gave me a pat. “Just let me know where you are and what you’re doing so I don’t worry. Keep an eye on Kelsey.”

I gave his back another quick kiss and pulled away. Looking over his shoulder, he winked. “I told you not to worry about anything, Janie. He won’t get to us.”

I nodded and walked out of the room, making my way out of the suite to go talk to Kelsey and get on with the day. When I reached the door, I hesitated. I decided it was best to knock so I wouldn’t walk in on something I didn’t want to see.

Vince answered the door, shirtless and smiling wryly. “Can I help you?”

I cocked my hip and put both hands on my hips. “You can put some clothes on.”

He laughed and reached for me, squeezing me against him tightly. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I don’t want to fight with you.”

“I don’t want to fight with you either.”

He gave me a couple pats on the back and pulled back. “Take it easy on her, okay? She’s a nice girl, Janie.”

I nodded. I totally agreed. “I am fucking cuckoo right now, Vince. I’m trying to wrap my head around everything, but I’m scared. I can’t help it that I’m so paranoid.”

He grabbed my shoulders. “Don’t be paranoid. There’s no reason to be worried. We’ve got this.”

I nodded. “I believe that now. I mean, I’m trying to figure it all out, but I do trust you. I trust Flynn.”

Raising his eyebrows, he smiled. “Well, shit. The kid has come around. It’s about time.”

I rolled my eyes. “Where’s Kelsey? Is she awake?”

He pulled me inside and shut the door, locking it behind us. “She’s in your room. I think she’s still asleep.”

I turned to him, shocked that she was alone. “You mean you didn’t cuddle?”

“She’s upset, Janie. She wanted to be alone, so I slept on the couch. Don’t push her on this shit, please. I care about her, and I don’t want to hurt her.”

“Well, well, well,” I teased. “You’re just a big old surprise, Vince.”

I didn’t wait for a response and went toward the bedroom. I really hoped she was awake because I wasn’t digging my commando look and I wanted to change.

I knocked softly, careful not to scare her. “Kelsey, it’s Jayne.”

I waited, pressing my ear against the door, listening for any movement. I heard the lock click and stood back to wait for her to open up.

She opened the door, and she sure wasn’t what I expected. After the night she’d had, I figured she’d be disheveled and blotchy. Instead, the little angel that greeted me looked like she’d had a full night of rest and a stylist.

I shook my head, embarrassed that I was gawking at her. “Good morning. How do you feel?”

She smiled and ducked her head. “I’m fine. Did you need to get in your room?”

“I do, but will you stay? I wanted to talk.”

She let me in and smiled. “I tried to pick up. I just woke up a little bit ago.”

Shutting the door behind us, I turned to face her and on instinct, I grabbed her in a hug. “I am so sorry for the way I behaved last night. I hope you’ll give me another chance.”

She giggled, and it sounded like bells. I could instantly see what had Vince in knots and why he’d broken his golden rule. She was irresistible.

“What do you think about sitting around the pool for a little while? We can get some sunshine and talk.”