AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He frowned down at her. “I should have, but no.”
She’d argued with him about it last night, begging him not to worry her parents or brothers since she wasn’t seriously hurt. Damien had almost done it anyway, but understood Viv wanted to prepare herself for the conversations she faced. Hearing their daughter—their only girl—had been attacked and almost raped would not be easy for her parents. Christ, he could hardly stand the thought of it himself.
“When can I get out of here?”
“The doctor should be here soon.” He brushed a long strand of hair away from her face, touching her gently, not wanting to hurt her further. “The police, too.”
“Oh, God,” she groaned.
“It’ll be fine,” he said, bending to brush a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll be right here with you.”
She stiffened the tiniest bit, and shifted her eyes to gaze past him. “To look out for the team’s interests?”
The muttered comment shocked him so much, he jerked up and took a step away from the bed. “What?”
Shaking her head and closing her eyes, she mumbled, “I’m sorry. I didn’t... I shouldn’t have said that.”
“You don’t really believe it.”
“No. Of course not.” She didn’t sound terribly convinced.
“What, exactly, did Neeley say to you?” he asked, still confused over some of what Viv had relayed to him during those late-night hours.
She didn’t answer the question, instead countering with one of her own. “Why didn’t you let me know you owned the team?”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s a simple question. Why didn’t you say anything about it?”
He had to wonder if Viv was suffering from more than shock. Maybe she had a concussion. “I really don’t understand.”
“It’s a simple question.”
“Viv, you knew I was one of the owners.”
She gaped, her brow furrowed, her mouth open. “No. I didn’t.”
“That’s not possible. The day—that first day at the hotel, you left me a note saying you’d found out who I was. That’s why you took off on me!” Realizing he’d never actually voiced it, he assured her, “I swear to you, I had no idea who you were or who had fired you until I saw that story on the news.”
Viv rubbed at her temples, as if to soothe an ache. “That note, I left it because I’d learned you owned the hotel.”
He stiffened. “And?”
“And nothing. That was it. The salesclerk mentioned you were a billionaire, that you owned the building I was standing in. I was...well, I was pretty mad at men at that point, and felt lied to.”
The truth began to sink in. “Are you saying you ran out because I was rich? It had nothing to do with me being CEO of Black Ice, the company that owns the Vanguard?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” She slapped her hand down on the bed. “I had no clue you were the team’s primary owner until last night, when that disgusting pig said he’d been traded because of my relationship with you.”
Damien’s thoughts reeled. It made no sense, how could she not have realized? All these weeks... Well, of course, he’d never done any work with the team while she was present. He’d steered clear of the office for her sake. But still...
“You never wanted to talk about work,” he mumbled. “I assumed it was because you were trying to keep your professional life separate from your personal one. Trying to keep the owner-employee thing totally away from us.”
“No, it was because I live sports nine-to-five, five days a week, and I just didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Especially after what happened.” She licked her lips. “I didn’t want you worrying about me and my problems. I wanted it to just be about you and me.”
He stepped to her bedside again, stroking her unbruised cheek. “It was just about you and me.”
He stared at her, willing her to believe him. He hated the idea that she’d believe he’d only been involved with her as some way to avoid a lawsuit or trouble for the team. The concept was ludicrous, and he could beat Bruno Neeley all over again for putting it into his head.
Of course, Sam and the other attorneys had certainly floated the possibility, too. So Viv might have gotten this impression anyway. But, damn it, that still didn’t make it true.
“Viv, listen to me,” he insisted, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I hate what happened to you, all of it, from that TV fiasco to last night. I’d do anything to make it not have happened.”
“I know,” she said with a weary sigh.
