Take It Down (26 page)
Elle shook her head, trying to understand what he was saying. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’ve ruined me for other women, Giselle Monroe. I can’t even look at another woman without comparing her to you. Your open smile. That feisty set of your jaw when you’re about to do something stupid and brave. The way you fight for what you believe in, not willing to take
no
for an answer.”
“I took
no
from you.”
“Only because I didn’t give you a choice. And trust me, I’m not going to give you one now. I quit my job. I’ve already found a place to rent here in Atlanta. I’ll find work as a security consultant or I’ll go back to school and maybe get another degree. I’ll sit outside your apartment every night until you let me in. I’ll follow you on every date so that I can ruin it.”
“You’re going to stalk me?”
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, but she could see the determination in his eyes. He wasn’t kidding.
“If that’s what it takes.”
“Good thing I’m such a pushover.”
“Does that mean I won’t have to commit a crime?”
“I don’t know about that,” she drawled. “I have this thing for bad boys…”
She let out a squeal when he reached for her, lifting her high in the air before crushing her back down against his body. His lips found hers, devouring her in the kind of kiss that made her knees give out.
“You’re not getting an apartment. I want you right here where I can keep an eye on you,” she managed to whisper before he pulled them under again.
Both of them jumped when the crack of her door slamming against the wall echoed through the apartment.
Before she could react, Zane pushed her behind him and stood in front of her as a human shield. He really had to stop doing that.
“What the hell is going on? Giselle, I heard you screaming.”
Her brother came into the apartment, swinging. The words weren’t even out of his mouth before the first punch collided with Zane’s jaw. If Zane’s hands hadn’t been firmly on her hips, holding her behind him, he probably would have defended himself. As it was, he refused to let go of her long enough to fight.
It turned out she was the one who came to his rescue.
“Bobby,” she yelled. “Stop that right now.”
Pushing Zane’s hands away, she slid in between the two men. They both towered over her, glaring at each other. Zane tried to yank her back behind him, but she resisted. Bobby wrapped a hand around her arm and tried to move her, too.
She didn’t appreciate being treated like a chew toy caught between two junkyard dogs. But at least neither of them could take another swing with her between them.
“Bobby, this is Zane. Zane, this is my oldest brother, Bobby.”
“This is the asshole who made you cry?” her brother asked, while simultaneously trying to reach over her and clock Zane again.
She pushed at his chest and landed a swift kick to his shin for good measure.
Bobby hopped on one foot, doubling over to grab his shin with the other.
“What did you do that for?”
“To keep you from doing something stupid. Zane’s staying, so you might as well figure out how to get along.”
“What do you mean, he’s staying? I thought you never wanted to see him again. Let me throw him out for you, Ellie.”
Elle turned her back on her brother, smiling across at the man who held her heart in his hand.
“Nope, he’s staying.” She grinned as Zane warily shuffled his gaze between her and her brother. “And as penance for your bad hospitality, you’re going to talk to the chief and see if he needs a consultant on staff.”
“A consultant for what?”
Elle grasped Zane’s hand and pulled him up beside her. “Meet Special Agent Zane Edwards, recently with the CIA.”
“CIA,” her brother parroted back, scowling at Zane with distrust.
She had little time to worry about her brother’s prejudice against anything federal. Not when she was dizzy from Zane spinning her to face him. His arm snaked around her waist and he pulled her close once more.
It was electric, and possibly illegal, the way her body responded to him.
“Do you know, I think that’s the first time you’ve actually used my real title?”
“That’s because I like being able to brag. Before I was trying to push your buttons, now I’ll take anything I can use to keep you right here with me. Even if that means getting you a job with the APD, so my dad and brothers can keep an eye on you.”
His lips drifted down to hers, but at the last second he stopped them from actually touching, casting a wary glance at her brother. “I’d rather
you
keep an eye on me.”
“Oh, don’t worry, I have every intention of doing that, too. Besides, I think it’s your turn to wear the handcuffs.”
With a growl, Zane crushed his lips to hers.
And somewhere in the back of her mind, she heard her brother say, “Elle,” in that exasperated way of his before he slammed out the door.
Epilogue
THEY STOOD TOGETHER IN THE empty gallery, hand in hand. Soft light streamed down over the paintings that hung on the white walls. The blank backdrop was perfect for the colorful exhibit of Giselle Monroe originals.
Zane squeezed her hand. “Are you happy?”
She laughed. Only Zane would ask her that question right now.
“Well, I sold every last painting tonight, so yeah, you could say I’m happy.”
“Almost every painting.”
Elle twisted in his hold, bringing their bodies flush against each other. Standing on tiptoe, she whispered against his lips, “Almost every one.”
She’d given him the painting she’d been working on the day he barged into her apartment—complete with paperwork that proved he was now the proud owner.
The gallery had agreed to hang it, with the portrait of her grandmother beside it, at the entrance to the exhibit. It was the perfect introduction to the showing she’d created—the evolution of their love story.
Zane had been in Atlanta for six months. He’d moved into her apartment and they’d immediately begun talking about getting a bigger place. It was perfect for one, but cramped for two. Especially with her studio taking up so much space.
He’d taken a job with a local security firm, working as a consultant to businesses in the area. The chief had asked him to work with the force, but Zane had turned down the offer. He didn’t want to put her in any kind of danger. And, honestly, she couldn’t protest, since his current job was safer for him, too. It offered him a way to use his skills without putting his life on the line. She’d promised him she could live with the fear—she’d done it all of her life she could do it again. But Zane had refused.
Everything was perfect.
Or so she thought, until he pushed away from her.
His expression was weird and her heart began to pound in her chest. Something was wrong. She could see it in his shuttered expression. It appeared sometimes, when he was thinking about the past and dealing with the emotional fallout that he still struggled with.
She tried to reach for him, but he moved out of her grasp. “Zane, you’re making me nervous.”
He laughed, a broken sound that did nothing to settle her nerves. “That’s
my
job.”
“To be nervous? I don’t understand.”
He dropped to the ground at her feet and she started to sink down beside him, thinking something was really wrong, when he squeezed her hands and stopped her.
“Elle, the past six months have been the best of my life. I’ve been happy. You’ve made me happy. And I didn’t think that would ever happen again.”
And in the single moment, she realized what he was doing.
“Ohmygod.”
His lips twitched upward before turning serious again. “I know I haven’t always done or said the right thing.”
“Could have fooled me. Last night sure felt right.”
“Would you shut up and let me do this?”
Elle threw her head back and laughed. Tears gathered beneath her eyelashes and the biggest, brightest smile she’d ever felt stretched her face and tugged deep at her heart.
“Well, then hurry up. I want to get to the good part.”
He looked up at her, his eyes shining with the love and passion that they’d found with each other.
“Whatever comes after yes. Yes, I will marry you. Yes, I will have your children. Yes, I will love you for the rest of my life. Yes, I will let you handcuff me anytime you want.”
“God, you can’t do anything the traditional way, can you?” He rose from his knee, pulling a small velvet box from the pocket of his sports coat.
“Nope, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.” Throwing her arms around him, she buried her face into his neck and simply inhaled. Her lips found the warm skin beneath the dress shirt he’d worn just for her. Her tongue darted out so she could taste the speeding pulse that meant they were both alive.
His breath fluttered the tendrils of her hair against her temple as he whispered into her ear, “Giselle Monroe, will you marry me?”
Pulling back, she looked into his eyes and said, “You better believe it.”
Behind them, her grandmother’s eyes watched as they embraced and Elle could have sworn they flashed for just a second. No doubt, a trick of the light. But sharing this moment with the woman who had brought them together just felt right. She’d gone to Île du Coeur looking for the past, but instead had found her future—the man holding her. She was finally happy, as her Nana always told her she would be.
* * * * *
ISBN: 9781459223004
Copyright © 2012 by Kira Bazzel
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