WildLoving (6 page)

“I’m not answering that,” she countered. It wasn’t too late
for her to run. She didn’t need her knapsack or coat. There was a shelter not
far from here where she could probably get a replacement for both. It wasn’t as
if she had anything of real value in her bag. What little money she had was
stuffed in her jeans pocket for safekeeping.

Nevar stepped back and opened the door wide. “Come on in,
Eliza.”

Her stomach churned and her knees felt weak, but she stepped
into the apartment. It was exactly like Rabb’s in the layout, but it was
decorated differently. A Christmas tree stood in one corner of the living room,
its pine scent perfuming the air. The radio played low in the background. It
felt warm and cozy.

A pretty woman with short brown hair and blue eyes smiled
when she saw Rabb. Her expression turned curious when her gaze landed on Eliza.
She was dressed casually in jeans and a sweater, but her clothing was good
quality. Eliza tugged on the hem of her sweater, feeling more ragged by the
second.

“Hi, I’m Allison.”

“Eliza.” She stuck out her hand. “Sorry to barge in without
calling.” She shot Rabb a glare that should have scorched him. Instead, the
damn man just grinned at her.

“Don’t worry about it,” Allison told her. “Do you want some
coffee?”

“That’s okay.” As much as she wanted it, she didn’t want to
be a bother.

“I need to run some errands. Can I leave Eliza here with
you?”

Shame filled her. She felt like a stray puppy that needed
watching so she didn’t pee on the carpet. “This really isn’t necessary,” she
began.

“No problem,” Nevar told his brother.

Eliza frowned at both men. Nevar was proving to be like his
brother in more than just appearance. Like Rabb, he steamrolled over her
objection.

“Why don’t we have some coffee and chat,” Allison suggested.
“And let the men talk among themselves.”

Shooting Rabb another glare, one that promised retribution
for his embarrassing her, she then turned to Allison. “If it’s not too much
trouble, I’d love a cup of coffee.”

Rabb wanted to go to Eliza, wrap his arms around her and
apologize. He knew she was embarrassed, and that had never been his intention.

“Who is she, Rabb?” Nevar asked. He kept his voice low and
one eye on the women.

Rabb knew his brother was curious, but it wasn’t his story
to tell. At least not now. He didn’t have time. He also didn’t want Eliza more
pissed with him than she already was.

“She’s important. That’s all you need to know. Keep her in
sight while I’m gone.” Rabb checked his watch. He was running late and he hated
to be late. “I’ll be back before the bar opens.” He glanced once more at Eliza,
but she was talking to Allison. He had to believe she’d still be here when he
got back.

He started to leave, thought better of it. She was annoyed
with him as it was. He didn’t need to make her any angrier.

Eliza watched him as he walked over to her but didn’t speak.
Instead, she tilted her head to one side and waited. “Listen,” he told her.
“I’m going now but I’ll be back as quick as I can.”

Then he kissed her. It was fast and over almost before it
got started. He hadn’t planned to but she was just so damn pretty he couldn’t help
himself.

They stared at one another for a long moment. Rabb left
before he did something even more stupid—like carry her back to his place and
take her to bed—and hurried down the stairs. He turned up his collar when he
hit the outside and stuffed his hands in his coat pockets. They hadn’t had much
snow yet, but it was cold.

His stride lengthened as he hurried to the corner. His first
order of business was to get Eliza a phone. She needed the ability to contact
the police if necessary. As much as he wanted to keep her in his sight 24/7, he
knew that just wouldn’t be possible.

As for the second order of business, he pulled his phone out
of his pocket and scrolled through his contacts until he found the number he
was looking for. He made the call and listened while it rang once, twice. “Come
on,” he muttered.

“Archer.” The voice was abrupt.

“It’s Rabb.” He looked both ways before darting across the
street without waiting for the light to change.

“Hey, buddy. Long time, no hear.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. The club keeps me hopping.” His
ears were starting to freeze and he really wanted another cup of coffee.
Thankfully there was a café a few doors away. He hurried and held the door for
a woman loaded down with a takeaway tray filled with cups. She nodded her thanks
and he ducked inside. The warmth of the place surrounded him. He should have
worn his hat and gloves. It was a lot colder than he’d thought it would be.

Just imagining Eliza sleeping outside in this weather
sickened him. What if she hadn’t come to see him last night? Instead of
spending the night in his bed, she would have been curled up in an alleyway
somewhere or in a crowded shelter.

“Rabb, you still there?” Archer asked.

He got in the short line up at the counter. “Yeah, sorry
about that. I ducked inside to grab a coffee.” He placed his order when the
girl behind the counter asked, and then returned to his call. “Listen, I need
to hire you to do something for me.”

“You need a P.I.? What for?”

“I need you to check on something for me.”

Rabb paid and then moved off to the side to wait for his
order. He could hear Archer rummaging around and knew he was searching for pen
and paper. Yes, he used electronic gadgets for his work, but Archer still
preferred to take his notes the old-fashioned way.

“Shoot,” his buddy told him.

“Eliza Hart. She’s a friend of mine who’s had some trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?”

Rabb took his coffee, nodded his thanks and left the café.
“She has a stalker and he put her in the hospital.” He knew Eliza would have a
fit if she knew he was doing this, but he didn’t care. His number one priority
was keeping her safe.

Archer whistled long and low. “That so? What else can you
tell me?”

“Detective Mitchell Zurkowski is handling the case, but the
stalker is a slick son of a bitch who always has an alibi. His name is Jason
Ware. I’m not sure where he’s working now, but it will likely be in the
financial district somewhere.”

“You sure this woman isn’t lying? If the police haven’t
pressed charges because of the attack, then maybe he didn’t do it.”

“I’m sure.” He knew Eliza well enough to know she wasn’t
lying about this. She’d lost everything—her home, her dreams and almost her
life.

“I’ll give the detective a call and then go from there.
Anything else you can tell me?”

Rabb sipped his coffee. “She worked with me at Bruno’s.”

“Ahh.” The amusement in Archer’s voice had him tensing.
“Pretty, is she?”

“Yes, but it’s not like that. He hurt her, Archer. Damn near
killed her.”

“I’ll get right on it and get back to you as soon as I know
anything,” he promised.

“Thanks. I appreciate it.” Rabb ended the call and tucked
his phone back into his pocket. He knew his friend probably thought he was
nuts, but Rabb didn’t care.

He strode down the sidewalk, sipped his coffee and let his
mind wander back over last night. The sex had been phenomenal. No doubt about
it. He hadn’t had many serious relationships, but he’d always liked the ladies
and they’d always liked him. He’d had his fair share of women but no one came
close to what he’d shared with Eliza last night.

His dick was semi-erect already, despite the chilling cold.
He could practically feel her soft skin beneath his hands and the bite of her
nails digging into his shoulders, taste the sweet cream from between her silky
thighs and hear her deep moans of pleasure.

Even too thin and not at her best, Eliza put all other women
to shame. There was something about her that slammed into his chest and gripped
his heart. He didn’t like it, but there was nothing he could do about it.

He’d walked away from her the first time because he’d been a
coward. He hated to admit it, but it was true. The pull she had on him had made
it easy for him to believe Jason’s lies. He’d wanted some excuse to walk away,
to save himself from falling deeper for Eliza, and Jason had given it to him.

Rabb admitted he’d been a fool allowing Jason to play him.
It wasn’t an easy admission for him to make, but damned if he was going to make
the same mistake twice.

The electronics store came into view and he opened the door.
Perfect timing. They’d just opened and the crowds weren’t too bad yet. Any
shopping this close to Christmas was risky. He made his way to the phone kiosk
and grabbed a clerk’s attention. “I need a phone.”

Eliza traced her finger around the rim of her mug. Both
Nevar and Allison were watching her. They were trying to be polite, but there
was no denying they were both curious. And why wouldn’t they be? She was a
complete stranger and Rabb had not only left her here, but he’d also kissed her
in front of them. They had to be wondering what that was all about.

“Look, I’m sorry Rabb dumped me in your lap like this.” She
pushed aside the mug. “I’ll just get my things from his place and leave.” His
brother probably had a key to Rabb’s place and would let her in long enough to
gather her belongings. She had no idea where she would go. Probably the soup
kitchen for lunch and then to the shelter early so she could try to get a bed
for the night.

“No.” Nevar leaned back in his chair and studied her.
“Stay.”

Eliza looked around the apartment, admiring the cozy
sectional sofa in the living room area. They were seated around a lovely wood
dining table that was large enough to seat six.

“Eliza.” Nevar waited until he had her attention once again.
“How do you know Rabb?”

“We used to work together at Bruno’s Bar and Grill.” She
didn’t mind sharing that with them.

“Where do you work now?” Nevar asked.

She shrugged. “Nowhere at the moment.” She wanted to sink
beneath the table. Damn Rabb for abandoning her here. And damn her for being
stupid enough to leave her belongings locked in his place.

“You looking for a job?” Nevar’s scrutiny deepened. Eliza
was beginning to feel like a bug under a microscope. It wasn’t a pleasant
sensation.

“Leave the poor woman alone, Nevar,” Allison scolded. “Let
her have her coffee in peace.”

“I’m not bothering you, am I?” It was almost a challenge.

Eliza thought about denying it, but then she nodded. “Yes.
Yes, you are.”

Allison laughed while Nevar looked completely nonplussed.
“See I told you,” Allison teased. She turned to Eliza. “I admit I’m as curious
as he is. Rabb isn’t the type to just drop a woman off at our door and ask us
to look out for her.”

Eliza rubbed her forehead. She was getting a headache. “I
should wait for Rabb at his place. You both probably have things to do, places
to be.” She wouldn’t take off until he got back but only because she’d given
him her promise to stay.

Nevar shook his head. “Not happening. My brother asked me to
keep you here.”

“He didn’t really mean it.” Eliza was grasping at straws.

One of Nevar’s brows arched. “Of course he meant it.”

Eliza sighed. “You’re not going to let me go, are you?”

“Nope.” Nevar slung one arm around Allison’s shoulders.
“Besides, I can’t wait to see you and Rabb together. I get a feeling there are
going to be fireworks.” He checked his watch. “I’ve got to get to work.”

“Can I do anything to help?” Eliza would rather stay busy
than wonder what Rabb was doing. Anything to keep her mind off him and her
worries.

Nevar studied her and she had a feeling his eagle eyes
didn’t miss a thing. “You up for it?”

“Yeah, I’m up for it.” She tired easily, but she could still
work. She needed to do something to earn her keep, to repay Rabb for his
kindness.

“Okay then.” He pushed away from the table. “Come with me
and I’ll show you the club.”

Allison rose. “I’ve got some errands to run this morning,
but I’ll be back in a few hours. I’d hang around,” she said almost
apologetically, “but I took today off from work so I could finish my Christmas
shopping.”

Nevar caught Allison’s shoulders and pulled her against him.
Eliza turned away as the two kissed. There was no missing the heat and the love
between the two of them. Allison’s ring caught the light and sparkled brightly.

Eliza hated herself for feeling jealous. She wanted what the
other woman had. She’d lost her home and her life to Jason. She’d lost the love
of her life too. It still hurt her that Rabb had walked away. She knew Jason
was a consummate liar, but Rabb should have talked to her.

Last night they’d been as close as two people could be. Her
nipples tingled and she was grateful for the layers of clothing covering her.
Rabb had made her feel alive for the first time in months, made her remember
she was a woman, with a woman’s wants and needs. Up until then, she’d been
sexually dead since the last time she’d seen him.

She licked her lips, remembering how his mouth pressed
against hers, how he’d licked and nibbled, how his tongue had teased. Her pussy
began to throb, a slow, heavy pulse of need. Eliza wrapped her arms around
herself and shuddered. He’d gotten under her skin so fast and so deep. She’d
tried to protect herself, but Rabb smashed through her defenses without even
trying.

“You ready?”

While she’d been daydreaming, Nevar and Allison had finished
kissing. Now he was standing next to her waiting. She wondered what he saw when
he looked at her? She knew she looked less than her best, but there was nothing
she could do about that.

She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “I’m ready.”

Nevar held the door for her and blew Allison another kiss.
“I’ll see you later, Eliza,” Allison called after her. She didn’t answer, not
able to commit to anything at the moment. She might still be here or she might
be gone.

Eliza felt as though she was being pulled in two different
directions. She wanted to be with Rabb, to have a job and a chance at a life.
But with the threat of Jason still hanging over her, she didn’t know how that
was possible.

She followed Nevar down the stairs until they hit the foyer
at the bottom. The heavy steel door that separated the rest of the building
from the bar was locked. He pulled a set of keys out of his pocket and unlocked
it.

Eliza walked into the place and waited while Nevar opened a
panel and turned on the overhead lights. She admitted she was interested to see
the place. Sure she’d seen it last night, but she really hadn’t been paying
much attention. All her focus had been on Rabb.

Nevar led her down the short hallway, past the office and
into the club. “Welcome to Hatter’s.” He lifted a section of the bar and walked
behind it.

Eliza meandered around the iron tables, running her fingers
over the backs of the chairs and admiring the thick, red velvet padding on the
seats. Along the far wall, cozy booths waited for people to fill them.
Oversized playing cards were framed and mounted on the walls.

She wandered into the area at the far end. The dance floor
was bigger than she’d imagined. The floors were rustic wood in a mellow shade
of medium brown. She remembered the area had flashed with red and white lights
last night.

She turned and made her way back to the long oak bar. A
series of china teapots and cups sat on a glass shelf above the bar. They
looked delicate and had to be vintage. They should have looked out of place in
a bar, but somehow they fit. The light fixtures that hung over the bar were in
the shape of top hats. Brass and glass accents adorned the bar itself, adding a
touch of sophistication.

It was whimsical and lovely.

“Well, what do you think?” Nevar asked.

“It’s wonderful. Magical.”

He smiled at her and she caught her breath. He reminded her
of Rabb at that moment. “You must be very proud of the place.” Rabb had talked
about it often when they’d worked together. It had been his dream to open this
place and he’d succeeded.