Training the SECRET (Corrigan & Co #6) (7 page)

“Girly things?”

“You know what I
mean.”

“Yeah, I do. And
thanks, Nate. For everything.”

I’ve got one more
surprise up my sleeve, but that will have to wait for later. “Anytime
Angel. Any fucking time.”

Jade

I hear the doorbell
ring as I get out of the shower. When I walk into my bedroom, I see
my suitcases on the bed. I stop to look for my dress—which is
thankfully there—and then throw on some comfy clothes before going
downstairs for some food. I’m not expecting to see what I find at
my front door.

Nate is standing over
the delivery guy, who is curled into a ball and begging for his life.
The pizza and wings are on the hall table. “What the fuck is going
on?”

“When I opened the
door, this little shit tried to punch me. He thought you were going
to be the one who answered.”

“Did you pay him?”

“Hell no.”

“Pay him, and let him
go. He won’t try this again.”

Nate lets loose with a
string of curses, but takes out his wallet and throws some money on
the kid. “You let everyone know that she’s not alone, and she
never will be. I
will
end anyone who tries to hurt her. Understand?”

The guy nods, and gets
to his feet. “I-I’m sorry.”

“I know,” I tell
him. “Just go.”

“This is bullshit,”
Nate says as the guy drives off through my gates.

“Yeah, well, welcome
to my life.”

“There’s no place
I’d rather be. You know that, right? None of this is going to scare
me away.”

“I wouldn’t blame
you if it did.”

He pulls me into his
arms and holds me tight. “I already told you that the only way I’m
leaving you is if you tell me to go.”

“After chasing you
for two years, I’m not giving you up for anything. Let’s go eat,”
I tell him as I pull back to smile at him.

He looks conflicted for
a moment, and then he smiles back at me. It doesn’t quite reach his
eyes, and that scares me a little. Something’s really wrong, and I
wish he would tell me what it is. I can wait, though. I’ve finally
got him, so letting him take some time to bare his soul to me is
easier than it should be.

“I can look into who
might be good as a manager, if you want,” Nate tells me once we’re
almost done eating.

“Really?”

“Yes, and you
really
need to stop acting surprised by me helping you. Even if we weren’t
together, I’d help you. You should know that by now.”

“I do. I know it.
It’s just hard to accept that we
are
together. It’s messing with my mind a little. This all seems too
easy.”

“Easy? Two years of
wanting you and denying myself were not easy. Stupid, yes, but not
easy.”

“I’m glad you
decided to start being smart.”

“Me too. Now, go take
a nap, or just relax for a couple of hours while I work.”

“You don’t want to
relax
with me?”

“Oh, I do. But I know
you want to go to the party later.”

“Just once?”

“You are seriously
insatiable, woman.”

“And you’re not?”

“I totally am. But
I’m also trying to be a gentleman.”

“What fun is that?”

“None. But I want you
to know this is more than sex for me. I want it all with you.”

My heart melts a little
more when he tells me that. “I
do
know that. It’s a little deep down, which is why I feel
a little insecure sometimes, but I know.”

“Then let me try and
be honorable sometimes.”

“You’re always
honorable, Nate.”

“No, Jade. I’m
really not.”

Now I’m just getting
mad. I stand up and place my hands on my hips. “Do not talk about
my boyfriend that way.”

“Boyfriend, huh?”

“Oh. Umm…I
thought…you said I was your girl…I mean…just forget I said
that, okay?”

“Nope,” he says,
coming to stand in front of me. “I’m not going to forget that the
most amazing woman I’ve ever met just called me her boyfriend. I’ll
remember this moment forever.”

“There you go with
that romance again.”

“It’s becoming a
gift.
You’re
a
gift. Am I allowed to tell everyone you’re my girlfriend tonight?”

“You really want to?”

“More than you’ll
ever know.”

I know I’m still
standing, but I feel like I’ve melted into a puddle on the floor.
Who knew Mr. Tall, Dark, and Deadly could be so fucking sweet? I know
I look like an idiot as I smile at him, and nod.

“You’re too damn
cute, Jade Garrett. Completely gorgeous, and totally fuckable, but so
cute, too.”

“Right back at ya,
Nate Anderson.”

He leans over and
kisses me, not touching me anywhere but my lips. “Go rest, and I’ll
see you in a few hours. I’ll be the guy knocking at your door to
pick you up for our date.”

“You’re going to
kill me with this romance stuff.”

“You asked for it.”

“Don’t get me
wrong, I’m totally loving it, but I didn’t realize how good you’d
be at it. I can barely stand, I’m so weak in the knees at the
moment. I probably shouldn’t admit that, but it’s true.”

I’m cradled in his
arms within seconds. “I’ll carry you any time you can’t walk.
Unless it’s one of the many times you make me weak. Because I’m
man enough to admit that it happens. Frequently.”

I curl into him as he
carries me upstairs and places me on my bed. He kisses my forehead
and tells me to have sweet dreams about him. Like it would even be
possible to not dream about that sexy hunk of a man.

I wake up to my alarm
going off. Just another thing Nate did for me. I smile, thinking
about being on his arm tonight. It’s petty, but I can’t wait for
him to call me his girlfriend in front of all the women who are going
to the gym tonight. They’re hoping for a piece of him, but I’ve
never played nice in the sandbox—I don’t share.

I put on my dress,
which really does cover everything that should be covered, but still
looks sexy. It’s black with a high neck and short sleeves. The
middle is exposed, with a few pieces of fabric crossing over my ribs,
and the skirt is short, but not scandalous. It fits me like a glove,
showing off my curves without being obvious. A pair of high heeled,
blacksandals with gold stars, and some gold earrings complete the
look. I put my hair in a high ponytail and curl the strands into big
waves that graze my shoulders. I go a little more glam with my
make-up, but it looks good, and not too overdone. At least I think it
does.

The knock on my door
comes just as I’m closing the small gold purse I’ve managed to
fit everything I need into. “Come in,” I say, turning around.

The door opens, and
there’s Nate. And damn if I don’t get weak in the knees all over
again. He’s got on a black suit jacket with a light blue button
down underneath it, and dark wash jeans covering those big and sexy
legs of his. Boots are on his feet, and a wicked smile is on his
face. His short black hair is spiky, he’s trimmed his scruff and
mustache, and his chocolate brown eyes are twinkling, while looking
hungry at the same time. I didn’t know that was possible, but I
should’ve known that anything’s possible with him.

“Angel, you are
seriously trying to kill me.”

“I’m covered up.”

“Nothing can hide
your rack.”

I burst out laughing.
“Thank you for that.”

“You have to know how
much I love them.”

“I do. I was thanking
you for not saying something romantic that would make it even more
difficult to walk. Especially after seeing you.”

“You like my outfit?”

“Maybe.”

“Well maybe I’m a
little weak right now, seeing how beautiful and sexy you look, too.
Actually, it’s not a maybe. You are always beautiful, but when you
doll up, damn girl.”

I blush a little and
bite my lip. “You’ve seen me in a ball gown.”

“I have, and I could
barely control myself.”

“But you did.”

“Yeah, because I was
an idiot. Now that I’m smarter, you should know it’s going down
once we get back here tonight.”

“Oh, I know, Nate.
I’m getting on my knees the second we get in the door.”

“Jade,” he growls
as he pulls me to him. “Stop. We have to go to the party.”

I reluctantly push him
away. “Yes, we do. And we should do just that while we still can.
My dad will kill us both if we’re not there.”

“And I need to stay
on his good side since I’m planning to spend the rest of my life
with his daughter.”

Damn him and his
romance. “That’s a really good plan.”

“I know.”

I swat him on the ass
as I walk past him out the door. “You’re lucky that ‘cocky’
looks so good on you.”

“Well, it does
include the word ‘cock’ so why wouldn’t it?”

“There’s the Nate
I’ve known for the past two years.”

He grabs my arm and
turns me to him at the bottom of the stairs. “There’s only one of
me. I’m not always going to be a nice, romantic guy. You bring it
out in me, but I can’t—won’t—change who I am. Not even for
you.”

“I didn’t ask you
to. I love all the different sides of you. Well, except when you’re
pretending that you don’t want me. I kind of hate that part.”

“That’s one thing
you don’t have to worry about ever again.”

“Then bring on the
ego. I can handle it.”

“I don’t deserve
you.”

“Well, too bad,
because you’re stuck with me now that you’ve said romantic
things, and fucked me like no one else ever has.”

I pull him to me and
kiss him, pouring everything I feel into it. He does the same, and I
feel his love wash over me, protecting me. Just like I’ll protect
him from anyone and anything that tries to hurt him. I know he has
secrets, and if they come back to haunt him, like mine are haunting
me, I’ll defend him. To my death if I have to.

* * *

Nate

Jade is going to be the
death of me. All the important bits may be covered up, but she’s
filling out that dress like her life depends on it. I’m going to be
fighting off the men at this party; although, I’m not worried about
her being interested in any of them. She’s all mine, and neither
one of us are into sharing. I will have to share her a little bit
tonight, but I can handle that. She needs the surprise I have planned
for her.

When we get to the gym,
the parking lot is almost full. Hunt had a spot up front saved for
us, so I pull in when Heath moves the cones blocking it. He opens
Jade’s door before I can, and then stumbles back a little.

“Damn girl, you clean
up real nice.”

“Yes, she does.”

“You ready to fight,
Nate? Because those guys in there are going to make a play.”

“He doesn’t need to
fight. I’m going home with him tonight, and every night. So the
boys can play all they want, but they won’t win.”

“Let the fun begin,”
Heath says with a chuckle. “I wasn’t expecting a show tonight,
but I’m not complaining.”

He holds the door open,
and Jade walks in. All conversation comes to a stop as everyone sees
her like they never have before. I place my hand on her waist as I
glare at all the wolfish looks coming her way. She leans into me and
places her hand over mine. Until she sees my surprise that is.

“El? Oh my God!”
she says, running to her best friend and hugging her tight.

“Hi, J. I missed you
so much.”

“How are you here?”

“Nate called and told
me there was a party I couldn’t miss tonight.”

“Did he now?” she
asks, turning to blow me a kiss. I catch it and blow one back to her.
“How long can you stay?”

“As long as you need
me to. Reina said I’m cleared for you.”

“I thought she’d be
pissed.”

“We’ll talk more
about that later. Show me around.”

They walk off, arm in
arm, as every eye in the place follows them. Ellie’s not stacked
like Jade, but she rocks what she’s got, and looks damn fine doing
it. The two of them are a force to be reckoned with—in more ways
than one.

“It was good of you
to get Ellie here. I can see Jade looking happier already,” Hunt
says, coming up beside me.

“If you want her to
be happy, you’ll go along with the plan she wants to talk to you
about.”

“I have a feeling I’m
not going to like her plan.”

“I doubt you will,
but it’s what she needs. So you’ll do it.”

“Yeah, I’d do
pretty much anything she asked me to.”

“So would I.”

“I believe that,
Nate. I probably shouldn’t, but I do.”

“I’m going to do
everything I can to earn the faith that you’ve placed in me. I
promise you that.”

“What’s going on
over here? The two of you look way too serious for a party,” Jade
says, coming up and grabbing both of our hands.

“We were just talking
about how much we love you.”

“I love you too,
Daddy.”

“I also told your dad
that you have a plan you want to talk to him about tomorrow.”

“You told him? How
could you tell him?” she asks, hitting me on the arm.

“I didn’t tell him
the
plan. Just that
you had one.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

“I never taught you
to hit first, and ask second. Even if you did grow up in this gym.”

“He brings it out in
me.”

“I like her feisty,
Hunt. She can hit me whenever she wants,” I tell him with a laugh
as she sticks her tongue out at me.

“TMI,” Ellie says
with a laugh, making Jade blush all over again.

I pull her to me and
shake with laughter as she buries her head in my chest. “I think
I’ll just die of embarrassment now,” she whispers in my ear.

“Don’t do that. I
have plans for when we get home. Hot, sexy plans.”

“My dad is right next
to us.”